Cancer cells switch their metabolism toward glucose metabolism to sustain their uncontrolled proliferation. Consequently, glycolytic intermediates are diverted into the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) to produce macromolecules necessary for cell growth. The transcription regulator RIP140 controls glucose metabolism in tumor cells, but its role in cancer-associated reprogramming of cell metabolism remains poorly understood. Here, we show that, in human breast cancer cells and mouse embryonic fibroblasts, RIP140 inhibits the expression of the gene-encoding G6PD, the first enzyme of the PPP. RIP140 deficiency increases G6PD activity as well as the level of NADPH, a reducing cofactor essential for macromolecule synthesis. Moreover, G6PD knock-down inhibits the gain of proliferation observed when RIP140 expression is reduced. Importantly, RIP140-deficient cells are more sensitive to G6PD inhibition in cell proliferation assays and tumor growth experiments. Altogether, this study describes a novel role for RIP140 in regulating G6PD levels, which links its effect on breast cancer cell proliferation to metabolic rewiring.
Keywords: G6PD; RIP140; breast cancer; pentose phosphate pathway; transcription.