Cited by 375Cell death mechanisms and regulationCancer, Hypoxia, and MetabolismAutophagy in Disease and Therapy

ATF4 Regulates MYC-Mediated Neuroblastoma Cell Death upon Glutamine Deprivation

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Qing, Guoliang, Li, Bo, Vu, Annette, Skuli, Nicolas, Walton, Zandra E., Liu, Xueyuan, Mayes, Patrick A., Wise, David R. +4 more·2012·Cancer Cell

Abstract

Oncogenic Myc alters mitochondrial metabolism, making it dependent on exogenous glutamine (Gln) for cell survival. Accordingly, Gln deprivation selectively induces apoptosis in MYC-overexpressing cells via unknown mechanisms. Using MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma as a model, we identify PUMA, NOXA, and TRB3 as executors of Gln-starved cells. Gln depletion in MYC-transformed cells induces apoptosis through ATF4-dependent, but p53-independent, PUMA and NOXA induction. MYC-transformed cells depend on both glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamate dehydrogenase to maintain Gln homeostasis and suppress apoptosis. Consequently, either ATF4 agonists or glutaminolysis inhibitors potently induce apoptosis in vitro and inhibit tumor growth in vivo. These results reveal mechanisms whereby Myc sensitizes cells to apoptosis, and validate ATF4 agonists and inhibitors of Gln metabolism as potential Myc-selective cancer therapeutics.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.ccr.2012.09.021

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  • CHK1 inhibitors and glutaminase inhibitors are considered potential candidates for treating Myc-overexpressing cancers.

    “Similarly, checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) inhibitors625–627 and glutaminase (GLS) inhibitors628–634 are also considered potential candidates for treating Myc-overexpressing cancers.”
  • Glutamine deprivation suppresses cancer growth and induces cell death in several cancers.

    “Thus, glutamine deprivation suppresses cancer growth and even induces cell death in several cancers6,7.”

    From Glutamine reliance in cell metabolism (2020) · cites this paper as [6]

  • In cancer cells, the use of glutamate-derived nitrogen for NEAA production may be favored to preserve nitrogen for anabolic reactions and may prevent apoptosis induced by ATF4 activation upon glutamine deprivation.

    “In cancer cells, the use of glutamate-derived nitrogen for NEAA production may be favored in various types of cancer cells to preserve nitrogen for anabolic reactions48 and may prevent apoptosis induced by ATF4 activation upon glutamine deprivation6.”

    From Glutamine reliance in cell metabolism (2020) · cites this paper as [6]

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Authors
Qing, G., Li, B., Vu, A., Skuli, N., Walton, Z. E., Liu, X., Mayes, P. A., Wise, D. R., Thompson, C. B., Maris, J. M., Hogarty, M. D., & Simon, M. C.
Affiliations
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute (US)
  • Abramson Cancer Center (US)
  • Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (US)
Corresponding author
Simon, M. Celeste
Venue
Cancer Cell
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2012-11
Volume
22
Issue
5
Pages
631-644
ISSN
1535-6108 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2110508238
Cited by
375
References
44
Citations by year
2026: 16 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 25 · 2023: 30 · 2022: 32 · 2021: 37 · 2020: 30 · 2019: 27 · 2018: 25 · 2017: 31 · 2016: 31 · 2015: 28 · 2014: 27 · 2013: 13
FWCI
8.75
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cancer Cell (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (1F32CA137988, CA104838, CA105463, CA97323)
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (81171928)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Cell death mechanisms and regulation
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cancer Research › Cancer, Hypoxia, and Metabolism
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Autophagy in Disease and Therapy
Keywords
ATF4, c-Myc, neuroblastoma, glutamine deprivation, apoptosis, PUMA, Noxa, TRB3, glutamine metabolism, aspartate aminotransferase, glutamate dehydrogenase, MYCN amplification
MeSH terms
Aminooxyacetic Acid, Animals, Glutamine, Humans, Mice, Inbred BALB C, Mice, Nude, Neuroblastoma, Proto-Oncogene Proteins, Repressor Proteins, Tumor Suppressor Protein p53, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc, Apoptosis, Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases, Cell Cycle Proteins, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2, Caspases, Cell Proliferation, Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins, bcl-2-Associated X Protein, Mice, Activating Transcription Factor 4

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