ALDOC and PGK1 coordinately induce glucose metabolism reprogramming and promote development of colorectal cancer

Abstract Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a significant health challenge globally, demanding a comprehensive understanding of its molecular underpinnings for effective management. In this study, we investigated the role of Aldolase C (ALDOC), a glycolytic enzyme, in CRC pathogenesis. Transcriptomic a...

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Main Authors: Liyong Huang, Yixin Tong, Xu Li, Wei Wang, Zhen Wang, Bingchen Chen, Jifu E., Ruzhen Zhou, Hantao Wang, Jinghu He
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-06-01
Series:Molecular Medicine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s10020-025-01252-z
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author Liyong Huang
Yixin Tong
Xu Li
Wei Wang
Zhen Wang
Bingchen Chen
Jifu E.
Ruzhen Zhou
Hantao Wang
Jinghu He
author_facet Liyong Huang
Yixin Tong
Xu Li
Wei Wang
Zhen Wang
Bingchen Chen
Jifu E.
Ruzhen Zhou
Hantao Wang
Jinghu He
author_sort Liyong Huang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a significant health challenge globally, demanding a comprehensive understanding of its molecular underpinnings for effective management. In this study, we investigated the role of Aldolase C (ALDOC), a glycolytic enzyme, in CRC pathogenesis. Transcriptomic analysis of CRC tissues from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) revealed a substantial upregulation of ALDOC, correlating with adverse clinical outcomes. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of locally collected patient-derived tissues corroborated these findings, demonstrating elevated ALDOC expression in tumor tissues, particularly in advanced stages. Functional studies elucidated the regulatory role of ALDOC in CRC cell phenotypes. ALDOC knockdown significantly inhibited cell proliferation, induced apoptosis, arrested cell cycle progression, and suppressed cell migration in vitro. Moreover, in vivo studies using xenograft models confirmed that ALDOC knockdown attenuated tumor growth. Mechanistically, ALDOC was found to interact with hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF1A) and enhance its transcriptional activity on phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1), a key glycolytic enzyme. Dual-luciferase reporter assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments validated the ALDOC-mediated transcriptional activation of PGK1. Further functional rescue experiments revealed a synergistic interplay between ALDOC and PGK1 in regulating CRC cell phenotypes. Additionally, ALDOC was implicated in promoting aerobic glycolysis in CRC cells, potentially through PGK1 regulation. Collectively, our findings unveil ALDOC as a critical regulator of CRC pathogenesis, offering insights into its potential as a therapeutic target and highlighting the ALDOC/PGK1 axis as a promising avenue for further investigation in CRC.
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spelling doaj-art-ac8f2cc7089a4aa59e1878ea6d5946402025-08-20T02:36:50ZengBMCMolecular Medicine1528-36582025-06-0131111410.1186/s10020-025-01252-zALDOC and PGK1 coordinately induce glucose metabolism reprogramming and promote development of colorectal cancerLiyong Huang0Yixin Tong1Xu Li2Wei Wang3Zhen Wang4Bingchen Chen5Jifu E.6Ruzhen Zhou7Hantao Wang8Jinghu He9Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterDepartment of GI Surgery, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical UniversityDepartment of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical UniversityDepartment of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical UniversityDepartment of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical UniversityDepartment of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical UniversityDepartment of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical UniversityDepartment of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical UniversityDepartment of General Surgery, Shanghai 411 Hospital, RongTong Medical Healthcare Group Co. Ltd.Abstract Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a significant health challenge globally, demanding a comprehensive understanding of its molecular underpinnings for effective management. In this study, we investigated the role of Aldolase C (ALDOC), a glycolytic enzyme, in CRC pathogenesis. Transcriptomic analysis of CRC tissues from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) revealed a substantial upregulation of ALDOC, correlating with adverse clinical outcomes. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of locally collected patient-derived tissues corroborated these findings, demonstrating elevated ALDOC expression in tumor tissues, particularly in advanced stages. Functional studies elucidated the regulatory role of ALDOC in CRC cell phenotypes. ALDOC knockdown significantly inhibited cell proliferation, induced apoptosis, arrested cell cycle progression, and suppressed cell migration in vitro. Moreover, in vivo studies using xenograft models confirmed that ALDOC knockdown attenuated tumor growth. Mechanistically, ALDOC was found to interact with hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF1A) and enhance its transcriptional activity on phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1), a key glycolytic enzyme. Dual-luciferase reporter assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments validated the ALDOC-mediated transcriptional activation of PGK1. Further functional rescue experiments revealed a synergistic interplay between ALDOC and PGK1 in regulating CRC cell phenotypes. Additionally, ALDOC was implicated in promoting aerobic glycolysis in CRC cells, potentially through PGK1 regulation. Collectively, our findings unveil ALDOC as a critical regulator of CRC pathogenesis, offering insights into its potential as a therapeutic target and highlighting the ALDOC/PGK1 axis as a promising avenue for further investigation in CRC.https://doi.org/10.1186/s10020-025-01252-zColorectal cancerALDOCPGK1GlycolysisMolecular mechanism
spellingShingle Liyong Huang
Yixin Tong
Xu Li
Wei Wang
Zhen Wang
Bingchen Chen
Jifu E.
Ruzhen Zhou
Hantao Wang
Jinghu He
ALDOC and PGK1 coordinately induce glucose metabolism reprogramming and promote development of colorectal cancer
Molecular Medicine
Colorectal cancer
ALDOC
PGK1
Glycolysis
Molecular mechanism
title ALDOC and PGK1 coordinately induce glucose metabolism reprogramming and promote development of colorectal cancer
title_full ALDOC and PGK1 coordinately induce glucose metabolism reprogramming and promote development of colorectal cancer
title_fullStr ALDOC and PGK1 coordinately induce glucose metabolism reprogramming and promote development of colorectal cancer
title_full_unstemmed ALDOC and PGK1 coordinately induce glucose metabolism reprogramming and promote development of colorectal cancer
title_short ALDOC and PGK1 coordinately induce glucose metabolism reprogramming and promote development of colorectal cancer
title_sort aldoc and pgk1 coordinately induce glucose metabolism reprogramming and promote development of colorectal cancer
topic Colorectal cancer
ALDOC
PGK1
Glycolysis
Molecular mechanism
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s10020-025-01252-z
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