Small-Molecule Screen Identifies De Novo Nucleotide Synthesis as a Vulnerability of Cells Lacking SIRT3

Cell Rep. 2018 Feb 20;22(8):1945-1955. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.01.076.

Abstract

Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) is a NAD+-dependent deacetylase downregulated in aging and age-associated diseases such as cancer and neurodegeneration and in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced metabolic disorders. Here, we performed a small-molecule screen and identified an unexpected metabolic vulnerability associated with SIRT3 loss. Azaserine, a glutamine analog, was the top compound that inhibited growth and proliferation of cells lacking SIRT3. Using stable isotope tracing of glutamine, we observed its increased incorporation into de novo nucleotide synthesis in SIRT3 knockout (KO) cells. Furthermore, we found that SIRT3 KO cells upregulated the diversion of glutamine into de novo nucleotide synthesis through hyperactive mTORC1 signaling. Overexpression of SIRT3 suppressed mTORC1 and growth in vivo in a xenograft tumor model of breast cancer. Thus, we have uncovered a metabolic vulnerability of cells with SIRT3 loss by using an unbiased small-molecule screen.

Keywords: SIRT3; azaserine; glutamine; mTORC1; mitochondria; nucleotide synthesis; proliferation; sirtuin; small-molecule screen.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Azaserine / pharmacology
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Female
  • Fibroblasts / drug effects
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Glutamine / metabolism
  • Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 / metabolism
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Nude
  • Nucleotides / biosynthesis*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Sirtuin 3 / deficiency*
  • Sirtuin 3 / metabolism
  • Small Molecule Libraries / pharmacology*
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects

Substances

  • Nucleotides
  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • Glutamine
  • Azaserine
  • Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1
  • Sirtuin 3