The PLAG1-GDH1 Axis Promotes Anoikis Resistance and Tumor Metastasis through CamKK2-AMPK Signaling in LKB1-Deficient Lung Cancer. Author Lingtao Jin, Jaemoo Chun, Chaoyun Pan, Avi Kumar, Guojing Zhang, Youna Ha, Dan Li, Gina Alesi, Yibin Kang, Lu Zhou, Wen-Mei Yu, Kelly Magliocca, Fadlo Khuri, Cheng-Kui Qu, Christian Metallo, Taofeek Owonikoko, Sumin Kang Publication Year 2018 Type Journal Article Abstract Loss of LKB1 is associated with increased metastasis and poor prognosis in lung cancer, but the development of targeted agents is in its infancy. Here we report that a glutaminolytic enzyme, glutamate dehydrogenase 1 (GDH1), upregulated upon detachment via pleomorphic adenoma gene 1 (PLAG1), provides anti-anoikis and pro-metastatic signals in LKB1-deficient lung cancer. Mechanistically, the GDH1 product α-KG activates CamKK2 by enhancing its substrate AMPK binding, which contributes to energy production that confers anoikis resistance. The effect of GDH1 on AMPK is evident in LKB1-deficient lung cancer, where AMPK activation predominantly depends on CamKK2. Targeting GDH1 with R162 attenuated tumor metastasis in patient-derived xenograft model and correlation studies in lung cancer patients further validated the clinical relevance of our finding. Our study provides insight into the molecular mechanism by which GDH1-mediated metabolic reprogramming of glutaminolysis mediates lung cancer metastasis and offers a therapeutic strategy for patients with LKB1-deficient lung cancer. Keywords Animals, Mice, Humans, DNA-Binding Proteins, Enzyme Activation, Female, HEK293 Cells, Cell Line, Tumor, Mice, Inbred NOD, Anoikis, Neoplasm Metastasis, Lung Neoplasms, Mice, Nude, Neoplasm Transplantation, Transplantation, Heterologous, A549 Cells, Glutamate Dehydrogenase, AMP-Activated Protein Kinases, Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Kinase, Mice, SCID, Small Cell Lung Carcinoma, Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases, AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases Journal Mol Cell Volume 69 Issue 1 Pages 87-99.e7 Date Published 2018 Jan 04 ISSN Number 1097-4164 DOI 10.1016/j.molcel.2017.11.025 Alternate Journal Mol Cell PMCID PMC5777230 PMID 29249655 PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle ScholarBibTeXEndNote X3 XML