Mitochondrial uncoupling inhibits serine catabolism via FTO activation in metastatic breast cancer

The mitochondrial serine catabolic pathway (MSCP) supports tumor proliferation and metastasis, yet no therapies target the MSCP. Because cancer cells rely on the MSCP when respiration is suppressed, we hypothesized that reactivating respiration would inhibit the MSCP.

Mitochondrial respiration was activated in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells using uncouplers [niclosamide ethanolamine (NEN) and BAM15]. Metabolic activity through the MSCP was assessed using U-¹³C-serine tracing and expression of key MSCP enzymes (SHMT2, MTHFD2, and MTHFD1L) were evaluated at the mRNA and protein levels. The NAD⁺:NADH ratio and 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG) levels were determined using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The role of m⁶A RNA demethylase fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) in regulating MSCP enzymes was examined using pharmacologic and genetic approaches. The therapeutic potential of mitochondrial uncoupling was tested in vivo using a lung metastasis model.

Activation of mitochondrial respiration with NEN or BAM15 inhibited MSCP activity, as indicated by reduced labeling of glycine and purines from U-¹³C-serine. Mitochondrial uncoupling markedly decreased the levels of SHMT2, MTHFD2, and MTHFD1L protein, despite unchanged or elevated mRNA levels. This post-transcriptional suppression was mediated by an increased NAD⁺:NADH ratio, leading to reduced 2-HG production and subsequent activation of FTO. Inhibition of FTO, either pharmacologically or genetically, restored MSCP enzyme protein levels. Dietary mitochondrial uncoupling significantly suppressed lung metastasis in vivo.

The findings herein demonstrated that mitochondrial uncouplers inhibit MSCP through FTO-dependent m⁶A demethylation. This work identified mitochondrial uncoupling as a novel and promising therapeutic approach for promoting m⁶A demethylation and targeting MSCP in metastatic breast cancer.