Dietary pro-oxidant therapy by a vitamin K precursor targets PI 3-kinase VPS34 function

Science. 2024 Oct 25;386(6720):eadk9167. doi: 10.1126/science.adk9167. Epub 2024 Oct 25.

Abstract

Men taking antioxidant vitamin E supplements have increased prostate cancer (PC) risk. However, whether pro-oxidants protect from PC remained unclear. In this work, we show that a pro-oxidant vitamin K precursor [menadione sodium bisulfite (MSB)] suppresses PC progression in mice, killing cells through an oxidative cell death: MSB antagonizes the essential class III phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase VPS34-the regulator of endosome identity and sorting-through oxidation of key cysteines, pointing to a redox checkpoint in sorting. Testing MSB in a myotubular myopathy model that is driven by loss of MTM1-the phosphatase antagonist of VPS34-we show that dietary MSB improved muscle histology and function and extended life span. These findings enhance our understanding of pro-oxidant selectivity and show how definition of the pathways they impinge on can give rise to unexpected therapeutic opportunities.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Class III Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases* / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Cysteine / metabolism
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Humans
  • Longevity / drug effects
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Muscular Diseases* / drug therapy
  • Oxidants* / administration & dosage
  • Oxidants* / pharmacology
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Prostatic Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases, Non-Receptor / metabolism
  • Vitamin K 3* / administration & dosage
  • Vitamin K 3* / pharmacology

Substances

  • Class III Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Cysteine
  • Oxidants
  • PIK3C3 protein, mouse
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases, Non-Receptor
  • Vitamin K 3