TRAP1 Inhibition Increases Glutamine Synthetase Activity in Glutamine Auxotrophic Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Cells.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Cancer cells are distinct in terms of glutamine dependence. Here we investigated the different susceptibility of glutamine-independent and glutamine-dependent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to treatment with tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated protein 1 (TRAP1) inhibitor gamitrinib-triphenylphosphonium (G-TPP).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cell viability and proliferation under glutamine deprivation and G-TPP treatment were determined by the MTT and colony-formation assays. Protein and mRNA expression were determined by western blot and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Colorimetric-based assay was performed to check for glutamine synthetase (GS) activity.

RESULTS

NSCLC cells showed diverse adaptation under glutamine-depleted condition and were categorized into glutamine-independent and glutamine-dependent cells. Treatment with G-TPP particularly increased GS activity and induced cell death due to energy shortage indicated by phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in glutamine-dependent cells.

CONCLUSION

This finding provides better understanding of TRAP1-mediated glutamine metabolism through GS activity, and evidence that TRAP1 could be a promising therapeutic target for glutamine-addicted cancer.