αKG-driven RNA polymerase II transcription of cyclin D1 licenses malic enzyme 2 to promote cell-cycle progression
Yanting Yang,
Zhenxi Zhang,
Wei Li,
Yufan Si,
Li Li,
Wenjing Du
Affiliations
Yanting Yang
State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
Zhenxi Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
Wei Li
State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
Yufan Si
State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
Li Li
State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
Wenjing Du
State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China; Corresponding author
Summary: Increased metabolic activity usually provides energy and nutrients for biomass synthesis and is indispensable for the progression of the cell cycle. Here, we find a role for α-ketoglutarate (αKG) generation in regulating cell-cycle gene transcription. A reduction in cellular αKG levels triggered by malic enzyme 2 (ME2) or isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) depletion leads to a pronounced arrest in G1 phase, while αKG supplementation promotes cell-cycle progression. Mechanistically, αKG directly binds to RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) and increases the level of RNAPII binding to the cyclin D1 gene promoter via promoting pre-initiation complex (PIC) assembly, consequently enhancing cyclin D1 transcription. Notably, αKG addition is sufficient to restore cyclin D1 expression in ME2- or IDH1-depleted cells, facilitating cell-cycle progression and proliferation in these cells. Therefore, our findings indicate a function of αKG in gene transcriptional regulation and cell-cycle control.
