XThe eEF2 kinase confers resistance to nutrient deprivation by blocking translation elongation

Gabriel Leprivier, Marc Remke, Barak Rotblat, Adrian Dubuc, Abigail Rachele F. Mateo, Marcel Kool, Sameer Agnihotri, Amal El-Naggar, Bin Yu, Syam Prakash Somasekharan, Brandon Faubert, Gaëlle Bridon, Cristina E. Tognon, Joan Mathers, Ryan Thomas, Amy Li, Adi Barokas, Brian Kwok, Mary Bowden, Stephanie SmithXiaochong Wu, Andrey Korshunov, Thomas Hielscher, Paul A. Northcott, Jason D. Galpin, Christopher A. Ahern, Ye Wang, Martin G. McCabe, V. Peter Collins, Russell G. Jones, Michael Pollak, Olivier Delattre, Martin E. Gleave, Eric Jan, Stefan M. Pfister, Christopher G. Proud, W. Brent Derry, Michael D. Taylor, Poul H. Sorensen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

316 Scopus citations

Abstract

Metabolic adaptation is essential for cell survival during nutrient deprivation. We report that eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase (eEF2K), which is activated by AMP-kinase (AMPK), confers cell survival under acute nutrient depletion by blocking translation elongation. Tumor cells exploit this pathway to adapt to nutrient deprivation by reactivating the AMPK-eEF2K axis. Adaptation of transformed cells to nutrient withdrawal is severely compromised in cells lacking eEF2K. Moreover, eEF2K knockdown restored sensitivity to acute nutrient deprivation in highly resistant human tumor cell lines. In vivo, overexpression of eEF2K rendered murine tumors remarkably resistant to caloric restriction. Expression of eEF2K strongly correlated with overall survival in human medulloblastoma and glioblastoma multiforme. Finally, C. elegans strains deficient in efk-1, the eEF2K ortholog, were severely compromised in their response to nutrient depletion. Our data highlight a conserved role for eEF2K in protecting cells from nutrient deprivation and in conferring tumor cell adaptation to metabolic stress. PaperClip

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1064
Number of pages1
JournalCell
Volume153
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 23 2013
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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