scholarly journals A Simplified Scintillation Proximity Assay for Fatty Acid Synthase Activity: Development and Comparison with Other FAS Activity Assays

2009 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 636-642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan W. Bays ◽  
Armetta D. Hill ◽  
Ilona Kariv

Fatty acid synthase (FAS), an essential enzyme for de novo lipogenesis, has been implicated in a number of disease states, including obesity, dyslipidemia, and cancer. To identify small-molecule inhibitors of FAS, the authors developed a bead-based scintillation proximity assay (SPA) to detect the fatty acid products of FAS enzymatic activity. This homogeneous SPA assay discriminates between a radiolabeled hydrophilic substrate of FAS (acetyl-coenzyme A) and the labeled lipophilic products of FAS (fatty acids), generating signal only when labeled fatty acids are present. The assay requires a single addition of unmodified polystyrene imaging SPA beads and can be miniaturized to 384- or 1536-well density with appropriate assay statistics for high-throughput screening. High-potency FAS inhibitors were used to compare the sensitivity of the SPA bead assay with previously described assays that measure FAS reaction intermediates (CoA-SH and NADP +). The advantages and disadvantages of these different FAS assays in small-molecule inhibitor discovery are discussed. ( Journal of Biomolecular Screening 2009:636-642)

2002 ◽  
Vol 282 (3) ◽  
pp. E507-E513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Bassilian ◽  
Syed Ahmed ◽  
Shu K. Lim ◽  
Laszlo G. Boros ◽  
Catherine S. Mao ◽  
...  

De novo lipogenesis and dietary fat uptake are two major sources of fatty acid deposits in fat of obese animals. To determine the relative contribution of fatty acids from these two sources in obesity, we have determined the distribution of c16 and c18 fatty acids of triglycerides in plasma, liver, and epididymal fat pad of Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats and their lean littermates (ZL) under two isocaloric dietary fat conditions. Lipogenesis was also determined using the deuterated water method. Conversion of palmitate to stearate and stearate to oleate was calculated from the deuterium incorporation by use of the tracer dilution principle. In the ZL rat, lipogenesis was suppressed from 70 to 24%, conversion of palmitate to stearate from 86 to 78%, and conversion of stearate to oleate from 56 to 7% in response to an increase in the dietary fat-to-carbohydrate ratio. The results suggest that suppression of fatty acid synthase and stearoyl-CoA desaturase activities is a normal adaptive mechanism to a high-fat diet. In contrast, de novo lipogenesis, chain elongation, and desaturation were not suppressed by dietary fat in the ZDF rat. The lack of ability to adapt to a high-fat diet resulted in a higher plasma triglyceride concentration and excessive fat accumulation from both diet and de novo synthesis in the ZDF rat.


2011 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 495-499 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline A. Lewis ◽  
Beatrice Griffiths ◽  
Claudio R. Santos ◽  
Mario Pende ◽  
Almut Schulze

In recent years several reports have linked mTORC1 (mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1) to lipogenesis via the SREBPs (sterol-regulatory-element-binding proteins). SREBPs regulate the expression of genes encoding enzymes required for fatty acid and cholesterol biosynthesis. Lipid metabolism is perturbed in some diseases and SREBP target genes, such as FASN (fatty acid synthase), have been shown to be up-regulated in some cancers. We have previously shown that mTORC1 plays a role in SREBP activation and Akt/PKB (protein kinase B)-dependent de novo lipogenesis. Our findings suggest that mTORC1 plays a crucial role in the activation of SREBP and that the activation of lipid biosynthesis through the induction of SREBP could be part of a regulatory pathway that co-ordinates protein and lipid biosynthesis during cell growth. In the present paper, we discuss the increasing amount of data supporting the potential mechanisms of mTORC1-dependent activation of SREBP as well as the implications of this signalling pathway in cancer.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caterina Bartolacci ◽  
Cristina Andreani ◽  
Goncalo Dias do Vale ◽  
Stefano Berto ◽  
Margherita Melegari ◽  
...  

Mutant KRAS (KM) is the most common oncogene in lung cancer (LC). KM regulates several metabolic networks, but their role in tumorigenesis is still not sufficiently characterized to be exploited in cancer therapy. To identify metabolic networks specifically deregulated in KMLC, we characterized the lipidome of genetically engineered LC mice, cell lines, patient derived xenografts and primary human samples. We also determined that KMLC, but not EGFR-mutant (EGFR-MUT) LC, is enriched in triacylglycerides (TAG) and phosphatidylcholines (PC). We also found that KM upregulates fatty acid synthase (FASN), a rate-limiting enzyme in fatty acid (FA) synthesis promoting the synthesis of palmitate and PC. We determined that FASN is specifically required for the viability of KMLC, but not of LC harboring EGFR-MUT or wild type KRAS. Functional experiments revealed that FASN inhibition leads to ferroptosis, a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-and iron-dependent cell death. Consistently, lipidomic analysis demonstrated that FASN inhibition in KMLC leads to accumulation of PC with polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) chains, which are the substrate of ferroptosis. Integrating lipidomic, transcriptome and functional analyses, we demonstrated that FASN provides saturated (SFA) and monounsaturated FA (MUFA) that feed the Lands cycle, the main process remodeling oxidized phospholipids (PL), such as PC. Accordingly, either inhibition of FASN or suppression of the Lands cycle enzymes PLA2 and LPCAT3, promotes the intracellular accumulation of lipid peroxides and ferroptosis in KMLC both in vitro and in vivo. Our work supports a model whereby the high oxidative stress caused by KM dictates a dependency on newly synthesized FA to repair oxidated phospholipids, establishing a targetable vulnerability. These results connect KM oncogenic signaling, FASN induction and ferroptosis, indicating that FASN inhibitors already in clinical trial in KMLC patients (NCT03808558) may be rapidly deployed as therapy for KMLC.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_6) ◽  
pp. vi169-vi169
Author(s):  
Kevin Murnan ◽  
Serena Tommasini-Ghelfi ◽  
Lisa Hurley ◽  
Corey Dussold ◽  
Daniel Wahl ◽  
...  

Abstract Increased de novo synthesis, mobilization and uptake of fatty acids are required to provide sufficient lipids for membrane biogenesis in support of rapid tumor cell division and growth. In addition to their structural roles as components of the plasma membrane, fatty acid-derived lipids regulate ferroptotic cell death, a type of programmed cell death, when oxidized by iron-dependent lipoxygenase enzymes. De novo lipogenesis and the defense against oxidative lipid damage require large amounts of cytosolic NADPH. Our group has recently found that HGG up-regulate wild-type Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (referred to hereafter as ‘wt-IDH1high HGG’) to generate large quantities of cytosolic NADPH. RNAi-mediated knockdown of wt-IDH1, alone and in combination with radiation therapy (RT), slows the growth of patient-derived HGG xenografts, while overexpression of wt-IDH1 promotes intracranial HGG growth. Isotope tracer and liquid chromatography-based lipidomic studies indicated that wt-IDH1 supports the de novo biosynthesis of mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and promotes the incorporation of monounsaturated phospholipids into the plasma membrane, while displacing polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) phospholipids. In addition, enhanced NADPH production in wt-IDH1high HGG increases glutathione (GSH) level, reduces reactive oxygen species (ROS), activates the phospholipid peroxidase glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4)-driven lipid repair pathway, and dampens the accumulation of PUFA-containing lipid peroxides, known executioners of ferroptosis. To pharmacologically target wt-IDH1,we have used and characterized wt-IDH1i-13, a first-in-class competitive α,β-unsaturated enone (AbbVie). wt-IDH1i-13 potently inhibits wt-IDH1 enzymatic activity, by covalently binding to the NADP+ binding pocket. Our data indicate that wt-IDH1i-13 promotes ferroptosis, which can be rescued by pre-treatment of cells with the peroxyl scavenger and ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin. wt-IDH1i-13 is brain-penetrant, and similar to genetic ablation, reduces progression and extends the survival of wt-IDH1high HGG bearing mice, alone and in combination with RT. These studies credential to wt-IDH1i-13 as a novel therapeutic modality for the treatment of wt-IDH1 gliomas.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Hulse ◽  
Sarah M Johnson ◽  
Sarah Boyle ◽  
Lisa Beatrice Caruso ◽  
Italo Tempera

Latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) is the major transforming protein of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and is critical for EBV-induced B-cell transformation in vitro. Several B-cell malignancies are associated with latent LMP1-positive EBV infection, including Hodgkin’s and diffuse large B-cell lymphomas. We have previously reported that promotion of B cell proliferation by LMP1 coincided with an induction of aerobic glycolysis. To further examine LMP1-induced metabolic reprogramming in B cells, we ectopically expressed LMP1 in an EBV-negative Burkitt’s lymphoma (BL) cell line preceding a targeted metabolic analysis. This analysis revealed that the most significant LMP1-induced metabolic changes were to fatty acids. Significant changes to fatty acid levels were also found in primary B cells following EBV-mediated B-cell growth transformation. Ectopic expression of LMP1 and EBV-mediated B-cell growth transformation induced fatty acid synthase (FASN) and increased lipid droplet formation. FASN is a crucial lipogenic enzyme responsible for de novo biogenesis of fatty acids in transformed cells. Furthermore, inhibition of lipogenesis caused preferential killing of LMP1-expressing B cells and significantly hindered EBV immortalization of primary B-cells. Finally, our investigation also found that USP2a, a ubiquitin-specific protease, is significantly increased in LMP1-positive BL cells and mediates FASN stability. Our findings demonstrate that ectopic expression of LMP1 and EBV-mediated B-cell growth transformation leads to induction of FASN, fatty acids and lipid droplet formation, possibly pointing to a reliance on lipogenesis. Therefore, the use of lipogenesis inhibitors could potentially be used in the treatment of LMP1+ EBV associated malignancies by targeting a LMP1-specific dependency on lipogenesis. Importance Despite many attempts to develop novel therapies, EBV-specific therapies currently remain largely investigational and EBV-associated malignancies are often associated with a worse prognosis. Therefore, there is a clear demand for EBV-specific therapies for both prevention and treatment of viral-associated malignancies. Non-cancerous cells preferentially obtain fatty acids from dietary sources whereas cancer cells will often produce fatty acids themselves by de novo lipogenesis, often becoming dependent on the pathway for cell survival and proliferation. LMP1 and EBV-mediated B-cell growth transformation leads to induction of FASN, a key enzyme responsible for the catalysis of endogenous fatty acids. Preferential killing of LMP1-expressing B cells following inhibition of FASN suggests that targeting LMP-induced lipogenesis could be an effective strategy in treating LMP1-positive EBV-associated malignancies. Importantly, targeting unique metabolic perturbations induced by EBV could be a way to explicitly target EBV-positive malignancies and distinguish their treatment from EBV-negative counterparts.


2010 ◽  
Vol 299 (6) ◽  
pp. E918-E927 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael C. Rudolph ◽  
Jenifer Monks ◽  
Valerie Burns ◽  
Meridee Phistry ◽  
Russell Marians ◽  
...  

The lactating mammary gland synthesizes large amounts of triglyceride from fatty acids derived from the blood and from de novo lipogenesis. The latter is significantly increased at parturition and decreased when additional dietary fatty acids become available. To begin to understand the molecular regulation of de novo lipogenesis, we tested the hypothesis that the transcription factor sterol regulatory element binding factor (SREBF)-1c is a primary regulator of this system. Expression of Srebf1c mRNA and six of its known target genes increased ≥2.5-fold at parturition. However, Srebf1c-null mice showed only minor deficiencies in lipid synthesis during lactation, possibly due to compensation by Srebf1a expression. To abrogate the function of both isoforms of Srebf1, we bred mice to obtain a mammary epithelial cell-specific deletion of SREBF cleavage-activating protein (SCAP), the SREBF escort protein. These dams showed a significant lactation deficiency, and expression of mRNA for fatty acid synthase ( Fasn), insulin-induced gene 1 ( Insig1), mitochondrial citrate transporter ( Slc25a1), and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 2 ( Scd2) was reduced threefold or more; however, the mRNA levels of acetyl-CoA carboxylase-1α ( Acaca) and ATP citrate lyase ( Acly) were unchanged. Furthermore, a 46% fat diet significantly decreased de novo fatty acid synthesis and reduced the protein levels of ACACA, ACLY, and FASN significantly, with no change in their mRNA levels. These data lead us to conclude that two modes of regulation exist to control fatty acid synthesis in the mammary gland of the lactating mouse: the well-known SREBF1 system and a novel mechanism that acts at the posttranscriptional level in the presence of SCAP deletion and high-fat feeding to alter enzyme protein.


1991 ◽  
Vol 260 (1) ◽  
pp. R153-R158 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Bhatia ◽  
G. N. Wade

The effects of pregnancy and ovarian steroids on the in vivo distribution of newly synthesized fatty acids (incorporation of tritium from 3H2O into fatty acid) in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) were examined. During late, but not early, gestation hamsters had reduced levels of newly synthesized fatty acids in heart, liver, uterus, and white adipose tissues (parametrial and inguinal fat pads). Treatment of ovariectomized hamsters with estradiol + progesterone significantly decreased fatty acid synthesis-uptake in heart, liver, and inguinal white adipose tissue. Treatment with either estradiol or progesterone alone was without significant effect in any tissue. Pretreatment of hamsters with Triton WR-1339 (tyloxapol), an inhibitor of lipoprotein lipase activity and tissue triglyceride uptake, abolished the effects of estradiol + progesterone in white adipose tissue and heart but not in liver. Thus hamsters lose body fat during pregnancy in part because of decreased de novo lipogenesis. The effect of pregnancy on lipogenesis is mimicked by treatment with estradiol + progesterone but not by either hormone alone. Furthermore, it appears that the liver is the principal site of estradiol + progesterone action on lipogenesis in Syrian hamsters.


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