The m5C methyltransferase NSUN2 promotes progression of acute myeloid leukemia by regulating serine metabolism

Summary: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is one of the most prevalent heterogeneous hematologic malignancies with a complicated etiology. RNA post-transcriptional modifications have been linked to the incidence and progression of AML, while the detailed mechanism remains to be elucidated. In this study...

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Main Authors: Songyu Li, Ya Liu, Xiang Wu, Minjia Pan, Hongxia Zhao, Yunguang Hong, Qinghua Zhang, Shushu Hu, Aorong Ouyang, Guangru Li, Minhui Wu, Shanshan Fan, Zhirong Jia, Shanchao Zhao, Guocai Wu, Xiangwei Gao, Zhigang Yang, Zhanghui Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-05-01
Series:Cell Reports
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124725004322
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author Songyu Li
Ya Liu
Xiang Wu
Minjia Pan
Hongxia Zhao
Yunguang Hong
Qinghua Zhang
Shushu Hu
Aorong Ouyang
Guangru Li
Minhui Wu
Shanshan Fan
Zhirong Jia
Shanchao Zhao
Guocai Wu
Xiangwei Gao
Zhigang Yang
Zhanghui Chen
author_facet Songyu Li
Ya Liu
Xiang Wu
Minjia Pan
Hongxia Zhao
Yunguang Hong
Qinghua Zhang
Shushu Hu
Aorong Ouyang
Guangru Li
Minhui Wu
Shanshan Fan
Zhirong Jia
Shanchao Zhao
Guocai Wu
Xiangwei Gao
Zhigang Yang
Zhanghui Chen
author_sort Songyu Li
collection DOAJ
description Summary: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is one of the most prevalent heterogeneous hematologic malignancies with a complicated etiology. RNA post-transcriptional modifications have been linked to the incidence and progression of AML, while the detailed mechanism remains to be elucidated. In this study, we find that NOP2/Sun domain family member 2 (NSUN2), a methyltransferase of 5-methylcytosine (m5C) RNA methylation, is upregulated in AML and predicts a poor prognosis for patients with AML. Knockdown of NSUN2 in AML cells inhibits proliferation and colony formation and promotes apoptosis. Depletion of NSUN2 in AML mice reduces the tumor burden and prolongs survival. Mechanistically, NSUN2 promotes the expression of phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH) and serine hydroxymethyltransferase 2 (SHMT2), two key enzymes in the serine/glycine biosynthesis pathway, by stabilizing the corresponding mRNAs through regulation of m5C modifications. Overall, our findings demonstrate a critical role of NSUN2 in AML development and highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting the NSUN2/m5C axis for the treatment of this cancer.
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publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Elsevier
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series Cell Reports
spelling doaj-art-56f84748933444739bfd43d5cda4e53b2025-08-20T02:15:20ZengElsevierCell Reports2211-12472025-05-0144511566110.1016/j.celrep.2025.115661The m5C methyltransferase NSUN2 promotes progression of acute myeloid leukemia by regulating serine metabolismSongyu Li0Ya Liu1Xiang Wu2Minjia Pan3Hongxia Zhao4Yunguang Hong5Qinghua Zhang6Shushu Hu7Aorong Ouyang8Guangru Li9Minhui Wu10Shanshan Fan11Zhirong Jia12Shanchao Zhao13Guocai Wu14Xiangwei Gao15Zhigang Yang16Zhanghui Chen17Zhanjiang Institute of Clinical Medicine, Central People’s Hospital of Zhanjiang, Zhanjiang 524000, China; Department of Hematology, Central People’s Hospital of Zhanjiang, Zhanjiang 524000, China; Zhanjiang Key Laboratory of Leukemia Pathogenesis and Targeted Therapy Research, Zhanjiang 524000, ChinaZhanjiang Institute of Clinical Medicine, Central People’s Hospital of Zhanjiang, Zhanjiang 524000, ChinaZhanjiang Institute of Clinical Medicine, Central People’s Hospital of Zhanjiang, Zhanjiang 524000, ChinaDepartment of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, ChinaZhanjiang Institute of Clinical Medicine, Central People’s Hospital of Zhanjiang, Zhanjiang 524000, ChinaDepartment of Hematology, Central People’s Hospital of Zhanjiang, Zhanjiang 524000, China; Zhanjiang Key Laboratory of Leukemia Pathogenesis and Targeted Therapy Research, Zhanjiang 524000, ChinaDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510080, ChinaDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510080, ChinaDepartment of Urology, Maoming People’s Hospital, Maoming 525000, ChinaZhanjiang Institute of Clinical Medicine, Central People’s Hospital of Zhanjiang, Zhanjiang 524000, ChinaZhanjiang Institute of Clinical Medicine, Central People’s Hospital of Zhanjiang, Zhanjiang 524000, ChinaZhanjiang Institute of Clinical Medicine, Central People’s Hospital of Zhanjiang, Zhanjiang 524000, ChinaZhanjiang Institute of Clinical Medicine, Central People’s Hospital of Zhanjiang, Zhanjiang 524000, ChinaDepartment of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, ChinaDepartment of Hematology, Central People’s Hospital of Zhanjiang, Zhanjiang 524000, ChinaZhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, ChinaZhanjiang Institute of Clinical Medicine, Central People’s Hospital of Zhanjiang, Zhanjiang 524000, China; Department of Hematology, Central People’s Hospital of Zhanjiang, Zhanjiang 524000, China; Zhanjiang Key Laboratory of Leukemia Pathogenesis and Targeted Therapy Research, Zhanjiang 524000, ChinaZhanjiang Institute of Clinical Medicine, Central People’s Hospital of Zhanjiang, Zhanjiang 524000, China; Corresponding authorSummary: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is one of the most prevalent heterogeneous hematologic malignancies with a complicated etiology. RNA post-transcriptional modifications have been linked to the incidence and progression of AML, while the detailed mechanism remains to be elucidated. In this study, we find that NOP2/Sun domain family member 2 (NSUN2), a methyltransferase of 5-methylcytosine (m5C) RNA methylation, is upregulated in AML and predicts a poor prognosis for patients with AML. Knockdown of NSUN2 in AML cells inhibits proliferation and colony formation and promotes apoptosis. Depletion of NSUN2 in AML mice reduces the tumor burden and prolongs survival. Mechanistically, NSUN2 promotes the expression of phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH) and serine hydroxymethyltransferase 2 (SHMT2), two key enzymes in the serine/glycine biosynthesis pathway, by stabilizing the corresponding mRNAs through regulation of m5C modifications. Overall, our findings demonstrate a critical role of NSUN2 in AML development and highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting the NSUN2/m5C axis for the treatment of this cancer.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124725004322CP: CancerCP: Metabolism
spellingShingle Songyu Li
Ya Liu
Xiang Wu
Minjia Pan
Hongxia Zhao
Yunguang Hong
Qinghua Zhang
Shushu Hu
Aorong Ouyang
Guangru Li
Minhui Wu
Shanshan Fan
Zhirong Jia
Shanchao Zhao
Guocai Wu
Xiangwei Gao
Zhigang Yang
Zhanghui Chen
The m5C methyltransferase NSUN2 promotes progression of acute myeloid leukemia by regulating serine metabolism
Cell Reports
CP: Cancer
CP: Metabolism
title The m5C methyltransferase NSUN2 promotes progression of acute myeloid leukemia by regulating serine metabolism
title_full The m5C methyltransferase NSUN2 promotes progression of acute myeloid leukemia by regulating serine metabolism
title_fullStr The m5C methyltransferase NSUN2 promotes progression of acute myeloid leukemia by regulating serine metabolism
title_full_unstemmed The m5C methyltransferase NSUN2 promotes progression of acute myeloid leukemia by regulating serine metabolism
title_short The m5C methyltransferase NSUN2 promotes progression of acute myeloid leukemia by regulating serine metabolism
title_sort m5c methyltransferase nsun2 promotes progression of acute myeloid leukemia by regulating serine metabolism
topic CP: Cancer
CP: Metabolism
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124725004322
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