Inhibition of α-KG-dependent histone and DNA demethylases by fumarate and succinate that are accumulated in mutations of FH and SDH tumor suppressors

M Xiao, H Yang, W Xu, S Ma, H Lin, H Zhu… - Genes & …, 2012 - genesdev.cshlp.org
M Xiao, H Yang, W Xu, S Ma, H Lin, H Zhu, L Liu, Y Liu, C Yang, Y Xu, S Zhao, D Ye
Genes & development, 2012genesdev.cshlp.org
Two Krebs cycle genes, fumarate hydratase (FH) and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), are
mutated in a subset of human cancers, leading to accumulation of their substrates, fumarate
and succinate, respectively. Here we demonstrate that fumarate and succinate are
competitive inhibitors of multiple α-ketoglutarate (α-KG)-dependent dioxygenases, including
histone demethylases, prolyl hydroxylases, collagen prolyl-4-hydroxylases, and the TET (ten-
eleven translocation) family of 5-methlycytosine (5mC) hydroxylases. Knockdown of FH and …
Two Krebs cycle genes, fumarate hydratase (FH) and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), are mutated in a subset of human cancers, leading to accumulation of their substrates, fumarate and succinate, respectively. Here we demonstrate that fumarate and succinate are competitive inhibitors of multiple α-ketoglutarate (α-KG)-dependent dioxygenases, including histone demethylases, prolyl hydroxylases, collagen prolyl-4-hydroxylases, and the TET (ten-eleven translocation) family of 5-methlycytosine (5mC) hydroxylases. Knockdown of FH and SDH results in elevated intracellular levels of fumarate and succinate, respectively, which act as competitors of α-KG to broadly inhibit the activity of α-KG-dependent dioxygenases. In addition, ectopic expression of tumor-derived FH and SDH mutants inhibits histone demethylation and hydroxylation of 5mC. Our study suggests that tumor-derived FH and SDH mutations accumulate fumarate and succinate, leading to enzymatic inhibition of multiple α-KG-dependent dioxygenases and consequent alterations of genome-wide histone and DNA methylation. These epigenetic alterations associated with mutations of FH and SDH likely contribute to tumorigenesis.
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