MUC1 oncoprotein promotes autophagy in a survival response to glucose deprivation

  • Authors:
    • Li Yin
    • Surender Kharbanda
    • Donald Kufe
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: June 1, 2009     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo_00000300
  • Pages: 1691-1699
Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

Tumor cells survive under conditions of nutrient deprivation by mechanisms that are not fully understood. The MUC1 oncoprotein is aberrantly overexpressed by most human carcinomas and blocks oxidative stress-induced death. The present studies show that MUC1 inhibits the induction of necrosis in response to the deprivation of glucose. MUC1 suppressed glucose deprivation-induced increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and thereby depletion of ATP and cell death. Cells respond to oxidative stress and energy depletion with the induction of autophagy. Our results demonstrate that MUC1 blocks depletion of ATP and sustains growth of glucose-deprived cells by a mechanism sensitive to the autophagy inhibitor, 3-methyladenine. Silencing expression of ATG7, a protein essential for the formation of autophagic vacuoles, also attenuated the MUC1-sustained increases in ATP and growth in response to glucose deprivation. Moreover, we found that MUC1 stimulates AMPK activation and thereby promotes lysosomal turnover of LC3-II, a marker of starvation-induced autophagic activity. These results indicate that MUC1 suppresses glucose deprivation-induced increases in ROS and thereby promotes ATP production and survival. The findings also indicate that the overexpression of MUC1 as found in human cancers could provide a survival advantage in microenvironments with low glucose levels.

Related Articles

Journal Cover

June 2009
Volume 34 Issue 6

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Yin L, Kharbanda S and Kufe D: MUC1 oncoprotein promotes autophagy in a survival response to glucose deprivation. Int J Oncol 34: 1691-1699, 2009
APA
Yin, L., Kharbanda, S., & Kufe, D. (2009). MUC1 oncoprotein promotes autophagy in a survival response to glucose deprivation. International Journal of Oncology, 34, 1691-1699. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo_00000300
MLA
Yin, L., Kharbanda, S., Kufe, D."MUC1 oncoprotein promotes autophagy in a survival response to glucose deprivation". International Journal of Oncology 34.6 (2009): 1691-1699.
Chicago
Yin, L., Kharbanda, S., Kufe, D."MUC1 oncoprotein promotes autophagy in a survival response to glucose deprivation". International Journal of Oncology 34, no. 6 (2009): 1691-1699. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo_00000300