A non-catalytic scaffolding activity of hexokinase 2 contributes to EMT and metastasis

Catherine S. Blaha; Gopalakrishnan Ramakrishnan; Sang-Min Jeon; Veronique Nogueira; Hyunsoo Rho; Soeun Kang; Prashanth Bhaskar; Alexander R. Terry; Alexandre F. Aissa; Maxim V. Frolov; Krushna C. Patra; R. Brooks Robey; Nissim Hay

doi:10.1038/s41467-022-28440-3

Nature Communications (Feb 2022)

A non-catalytic scaffolding activity of hexokinase 2 contributes to EMT and metastasis

Catherine S. Blaha,
Gopalakrishnan Ramakrishnan,
Sang-Min Jeon,
Veronique Nogueira,
Hyunsoo Rho,
Soeun Kang,
Prashanth Bhaskar,
Alexander R. Terry,
Alexandre F. Aissa,
Maxim V. Frolov,
Krushna C. Patra,
R. Brooks Robey,
Nissim Hay

Affiliations

Catherine S. Blaha: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago
Gopalakrishnan Ramakrishnan: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago
Sang-Min Jeon: College of Pharmacy, Ajou University Yeongtong-gu
Veronique Nogueira: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago
Hyunsoo Rho: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago
Soeun Kang: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago
Prashanth Bhaskar: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago
Alexander R. Terry: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago
Alexandre F. Aissa: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago
Maxim V. Frolov: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago
Krushna C. Patra: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago
R. Brooks Robey: Veterans Affairs Medical Center, White River Junction
Nissim Hay: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-28440-3
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13, no. 1
pp. 1 – 20

Abstract

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Hexokinase 2 expression is markedly induced in cancer cells and contributes to cancer cell metabolism. Here, the authors show that hexokinase 2 can contribute to the metastatic spread of cancer cells independently of its glycolytic function via inhibiting the activity of GSK3β, which in turn elevates the protein levels of the EMT transcription factor SNAIL.

Published in Nature Communications

ISSN: 2041-1723 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

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