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Dissecting cell-type-specific metabolism in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

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Authors

Li, Zhaoqi 
Danai, Laura V 
Westermark, Anna M 
Darnell, Alicia M 

Abstract

Tumors are composed of many different cell types including cancer cells, fibroblasts, and immune cells. Dissecting functional metabolic differences between cell types within a mixed population can be challenging due to the rapid turnover of metabolites relative to the time needed to isolate cells. To overcome this challenge, we traced isotope-labeled nutrients into macromolecules that turn over more slowly than metabolites. This approach was used to assess differences between cancer cell and fibroblast metabolism in murine pancreatic cancer organoid-fibroblast co-cultures and tumors. Pancreatic cancer cells exhibited increased pyruvate carboxylation relative to fibroblasts, and this flux depended on both pyruvate carboxylase and malic enzyme 1 activity. Consequently, expression of both enzymes in cancer cells was necessary for organoid and tumor growth, demonstrating that dissecting the metabolism of specific cell populations within heterogeneous systems can identify dependencies that may not be evident from studying isolated cells in culture or bulk tissue.

Description

Keywords

PDAC, cancer biology, malic enzyme 1, metabolic heterogeneity, mouse, organoid culture, pancreatic cancer, pyruvate carboxylase, Animals, Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal, Female, Male, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Pancreatic Neoplasms, Tumor Microenvironment

Journal Title

Elife

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2050-084X
2050-084X

Volume Title

9

Publisher

eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd
Sponsorship
Medical Research Council (MR/P008801/1)