Fatty acid synthase reprograms the epigenome in uterine leiomyosarcomas

PLoS One. 2017 Jun 27;12(6):e0179692. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0179692. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

SK-UT-1 uterine leiomyosarcomas (Ut-LMS) cells were transduced with a fatty acid synthase (FASN)-containing retroviral vector to recapitulate the "lipogenic phenotype of cancer." Consistent with this model, forced expression of FASN enhanced SK-UT-1 proliferation, migration, and cellular motion. Further investigation showed FASN promotes trimethylation of H3K9 (H3K9me3) and acetylation of H3K27 (H3K27ac) in SK-UT-1 cells. In contrast, siRNA targeting of FASN in high endogenous FASN expressing SK-LMS-1 Ut-LMS cells inhibits trimethylation of H3K9 and acetylation of H3K27. Palmitate, the predominant fatty acid product of FASN, increased H3K9me3, H3K27ac and H3K27me3 detection in SK-UT-1 cells. FASN promoted histone 3 methylation and acetylation through alteration of histone 3-modifying enzymatic activities (HDAC, HDM, HMT and HAT). ChIP-seq in SK-UT-1-FASN cells with anti-H3K9me3 antibody identified regions of enriched binding compared to vector-only cells. One differentially-enriched gene, CRISP1, was investigated further by ChIP-PCR. The transcriptionally repressive function of H3K9me3 was confirmed in CRISP1. Our results provide mechanistic insight into the pathobiology of the "lipogenic phenotype of cancer." Here, FASN reprograms the Ut-LMS epigenome through chromatin remodeling to promote the "malignant phenotype."

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Epigenesis, Genetic*
  • Fatty Acid Synthases / genetics*
  • Fatty Acid Synthases / metabolism
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • Leiomyosarcoma / genetics*
  • Leiomyosarcoma / metabolism
  • Leiomyosarcoma / pathology
  • Uterine Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Uterine Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Uterine Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Fatty Acid Synthases