The interaction between apigenin and PKM2 restrains progression of colorectal cancer

• Published in: The Journal of nutritional biochemistry 2023-11, Vol.121, p.109430-109430, Article 109430
• Main Authors: Shi, Jiangying, Ji, Xiaodan, Shan, Shuhua, Zhao, Mengyun, Bi, Cai, Li, Zhuoyu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amino Acids - metabolism; Apigenin; Apigenin - pharmacology; Apigenin - therapeutic use; apoptosis; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Colorectal cancer (CRC); colorectal neoplasms; Colorectal Neoplasms - drug therapy; Colorectal Neoplasms - genetics; Colorectal Neoplasms - metabolism; Glycolysis; Humans; lysine; mutagens; pyruvate kinase; Pyruvate Kinase - genetics; Pyruvate Kinase - metabolism; Pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2); therapeutics; Thyroid Hormone-Binding Proteins; toxicity
• ISSN: 0955-2863; 1873-4847
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2023.109430

Apigenin, a flavonoid that widely existed in vegetables and fruits, possesses anticarcinogenic, low toxicity, and no mutagenic properties, suggesting that apigenin is a potential therapeutic agent for tumors. However, the underlying anti-cancer molecular target of apigenin is still unclear. Therefore, to reveal the direct target and amino acid site of apigenin against colorectal cancer is the focus of this study. In the present study, the results proved that the anti-CRC activity of apigenin was positively correlated with pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) expression, characterized by the inhibition of cell proliferation and increase of apoptotic effects induced by apigenin in LS-174T cells of knock down PKM2. Next, pull-down and MALDI-TOF/TOF analysis determined that apigenin might interact directly with PKM2 in HCT-8 cells. Further, the study confirmed that lysine residue 433 (K433) was a key amino acid site for PKM2 binding to apigenin. Apigenin restricted the glycolysis of LS-174T and HCT-8 cells by targeting the K433 site of PKM2, thereby playing an anti-CRC role in vivo and in vitro. Meanwhile, apigenin markedly attenuated tumor growth without any adverse effects. Taken together, these findings reveal that apigenin is worthy of consideration as a promising PKM2 inhibitor for the prevention of CRC. A schematic diagram of apigenin selectively binding to K433 site of PKM2 to inhibit the growth of colorectal cancer. [Display omitted]