In human cancers, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) plays a dual role by acting as both a tumor suppressor and a promoter of tumor metastasis. Although TGF-β1 contributes to the metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells and tumor-associated stromal cells, little is known of the molecular mechanisms connecting this cytokine with enhanced glycolysis. PFKFB3 is a homodymeric bifunctional enzyme, belonging to the family of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatases, that controls the conversion of fructose-6-phosphate (Fru-6-P) to fructose-2,6-bisphosphate (Fru-2,6-P ). This metabolite is important for the dynamic regulation of glycolytic flux by allosterically activating phosphofructokinase-1, a rate-limiting enzyme in glycolysis. The PFKFB3 gene is involved in cell proliferation via its role in carbohydrate metabolism. Here, we studied the mechanisms connecting TGF-β1, glucose metabolism, and PFKFB3 in glioblastoma cell lines. We demonstrate that TGF-β1 upregulates PFKFB3 mRNA and protein expression resulting in an increase in fructose 2,6-bisphosphate concentration, glucose uptake, glycolytic flux and lactate production. Moreover, these increases in PFKFB3 mRNA and protein expression and Fru-2,6-P concentration were reduced when the Smad3, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathways were inhibited. We demonstrate that inhibition of PFKFB3 activity with 3PO or siRNA-mediated knockdown of PFKFB3 significantly eliminated the capacity of the T98G cells to form colonies by TGF-β1, one of the hallmarks of transformation. Taken together, these results show that TGF-β1 induces PFKFB3 expression through activation of the p38 MAPK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways that complement and converge with early activation of Smad signaling. This suggests that PFKFB3 induction by TGF-β1 can be one of the main mechanisms mediating the reprogramming of glioma cells.

Cells respond to fluctuating nutrient supply by adaptive changes in organelle dynamics and in metabolism. How such changes are orchestrated on a cell-wide scale is unknown. We show that endosomal signaling lipid turnover by MTM1, a phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate [PI(3)P] 3-phosphatase mutated in X-linked centronuclear myopathy in humans, controls mitochondrial morphology and function by reshaping the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Starvation-induced endosomal recruitment of MTM1 impairs PI(3)P-dependent contact formation between tubular ER membranes and early endosomes, resulting in the conversion of ER tubules into sheets, the inhibition of mitochondrial fission, and sustained oxidative metabolism. Our results unravel an important role for early endosomal lipid signaling in controlling ER shape and, thereby, mitochondrial form and function to enable cells to adapt to fluctuating nutrient environments.

X-linked centronuclear myopathy (XLCNM) is a severe human disease without existing therapies caused by mutations in the phosphoinositide 3-phosphatase MTM1. Loss of MTM1 function is associated with muscle fiber defects characterized by impaired localization of β-integrins and other components of focal adhesions. Here we show that defective focal adhesions and reduced active β-integrin surface levels in a cellular model of XLCNM are rescued by loss of phosphatidylinositiol 3-kinase C2β (PI3KC2β) function. Inactivation of the Mtm1 gene impaired myoblast differentiation into myotubes and resulted in reduced surface levels of active β1-integrins as well as corresponding defects in focal adhesions. These phenotypes were rescued by concomitant genetic loss of Pik3c2b or pharmacological inhibition of PI3KC2β activity. We further demonstrate that a hitherto unknown role of PI3KC2β in the endocytic trafficking of active β1-integrins rather than rescue of phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate levels underlies the ability of Pik3c2b to act as a genetic modifier of cellular XLCNM phenotypes. Our findings reveal a crucial antagonistic function of MTM1 and PI3KC2β in the control of active β-integrin surface levels, thereby providing a molecular mechanism for the adhesion and myofiber defects observed in XLCNM. They further suggest specific pharmacological inhibition of PI3KC2β catalysis as a viable treatment option for XLCNM patients.