ERCC6L-mediated stabilization of HIF-1α enhances glycolysis and stemness properties of lung adenocarcinoma cells

Abstract Molecular signatures are increasingly recognized as pivotal factors in therapy selection for lung adenocarcinomas (LUAD). A developing therapeutic approach focuses on targeting metabolic dependencies within cancer cells. ERCC6L, a vital protein involved in chromosome separation during cell...

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Main Authors: Zhimin Lu, Xuming Yao, Jialu Jiang, Guoxin Hou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2025-07-01
Series:Cell Death and Disease
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-025-07879-4
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author Zhimin Lu
Xuming Yao
Jialu Jiang
Guoxin Hou
author_facet Zhimin Lu
Xuming Yao
Jialu Jiang
Guoxin Hou
author_sort Zhimin Lu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Molecular signatures are increasingly recognized as pivotal factors in therapy selection for lung adenocarcinomas (LUAD). A developing therapeutic approach focuses on targeting metabolic dependencies within cancer cells. ERCC6L, a vital protein involved in chromosome separation during cell mitosis, emerges as a compelling subject concerning its impact on LUAD tumorigenesis and progression. Our investigation uncovered elevated levels of ERCC6L in LUAD, significantly associated with unfavorable patient outcomes. Functional analyses elucidate ERCC6L’s role in promoting LUAD cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by inducing glycolysis and stemness characteristics. Mechanistically, our data reveal ERCC6L’s involvement in upregulating aerobic glycolysis through the induction of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) expression and transcriptional activity in LUAD cells. Furthermore, ERCC6L stabilizes HIF-1α by inhibiting its hydroxylation and ubiquitin-mediated degradation. The ERCC6L/HIF-1α axis plays a crucial functional role in enhancing cancer stemness and LUAD progression both in vitro and in vivo. Hence, our findings underscore the significance of the ERCC6L/HIF-1α axis in regulating aerobic glycolysis in LUAD cells, suggesting its potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target for LUAD patients.
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spelling doaj-art-0feb5a4c9be5491cbeedb5a8b5d4c37c2025-08-20T03:42:10ZengNature Publishing GroupCell Death and Disease2041-48892025-07-0116111410.1038/s41419-025-07879-4ERCC6L-mediated stabilization of HIF-1α enhances glycolysis and stemness properties of lung adenocarcinoma cellsZhimin Lu0Xuming Yao1Jialu Jiang2Guoxin Hou3Department of Outpatient, Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, The First Hospital of JiaxingDepartment of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, The First Hospital of JiaxingDepartment of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, The First Hospital of JiaxingDepartment of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, The First Hospital of JiaxingAbstract Molecular signatures are increasingly recognized as pivotal factors in therapy selection for lung adenocarcinomas (LUAD). A developing therapeutic approach focuses on targeting metabolic dependencies within cancer cells. ERCC6L, a vital protein involved in chromosome separation during cell mitosis, emerges as a compelling subject concerning its impact on LUAD tumorigenesis and progression. Our investigation uncovered elevated levels of ERCC6L in LUAD, significantly associated with unfavorable patient outcomes. Functional analyses elucidate ERCC6L’s role in promoting LUAD cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by inducing glycolysis and stemness characteristics. Mechanistically, our data reveal ERCC6L’s involvement in upregulating aerobic glycolysis through the induction of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) expression and transcriptional activity in LUAD cells. Furthermore, ERCC6L stabilizes HIF-1α by inhibiting its hydroxylation and ubiquitin-mediated degradation. The ERCC6L/HIF-1α axis plays a crucial functional role in enhancing cancer stemness and LUAD progression both in vitro and in vivo. Hence, our findings underscore the significance of the ERCC6L/HIF-1α axis in regulating aerobic glycolysis in LUAD cells, suggesting its potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target for LUAD patients.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-025-07879-4
spellingShingle Zhimin Lu
Xuming Yao
Jialu Jiang
Guoxin Hou
ERCC6L-mediated stabilization of HIF-1α enhances glycolysis and stemness properties of lung adenocarcinoma cells
Cell Death and Disease
title ERCC6L-mediated stabilization of HIF-1α enhances glycolysis and stemness properties of lung adenocarcinoma cells
title_full ERCC6L-mediated stabilization of HIF-1α enhances glycolysis and stemness properties of lung adenocarcinoma cells
title_fullStr ERCC6L-mediated stabilization of HIF-1α enhances glycolysis and stemness properties of lung adenocarcinoma cells
title_full_unstemmed ERCC6L-mediated stabilization of HIF-1α enhances glycolysis and stemness properties of lung adenocarcinoma cells
title_short ERCC6L-mediated stabilization of HIF-1α enhances glycolysis and stemness properties of lung adenocarcinoma cells
title_sort ercc6l mediated stabilization of hif 1α enhances glycolysis and stemness properties of lung adenocarcinoma cells
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-025-07879-4
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AT xumingyao ercc6lmediatedstabilizationofhif1aenhancesglycolysisandstemnesspropertiesoflungadenocarcinomacells
AT jialujiang ercc6lmediatedstabilizationofhif1aenhancesglycolysisandstemnesspropertiesoflungadenocarcinomacells
AT guoxinhou ercc6lmediatedstabilizationofhif1aenhancesglycolysisandstemnesspropertiesoflungadenocarcinomacells