p53 regulation of ammonia metabolism through urea cycle controls polyamine biosynthesis

Le Li, Youxiang Mao, Lina Zhao, Lijia Li, Jinjun Wu, Mengjia Zhao, Wenjing Du, Li Yu and Peng Jiang ()
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Le Li: Tsinghua University
Youxiang Mao: Tsinghua University
Lina Zhao: Tsinghua University
Lijia Li: Tsinghua University
Jinjun Wu: Tsinghua University
Mengjia Zhao: Tsinghua University
Wenjing Du: Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College
Li Yu: Tsinghua University
Peng Jiang: Tsinghua University

Nature, 2019, vol. 567, issue 7747, 253-256

Abstract: Abstract Cancer cells exhibit altered and usually increased metabolic processes to meet their high biogenetic demands1,2. Under these conditions, ammonia is concomitantly produced by the increased metabolic processing. However, it is unclear how tumour cells dispose of excess ammonia and what outcomes might be caused by the accumulation of ammonia. Here we report that the tumour suppressor p53, the most frequently mutated gene in human tumours, regulates ammonia metabolism by repressing the urea cycle. Through transcriptional downregulation of CPS1, OTC and ARG1, p53 suppresses ureagenesis and elimination of ammonia in vitro and in vivo, leading to the inhibition of tumour growth. Conversely, downregulation of these genes reciprocally activates p53 by MDM2-mediated mechanism(s). Furthermore, the accumulation of ammonia causes a significant decline in mRNA translation of the polyamine biosynthetic rate-limiting enzyme ODC, thereby inhibiting the biosynthesis of polyamine and cell proliferation. Together, these findings link p53 to ureagenesis and ammonia metabolism, and further reveal a role for ammonia in controlling polyamine biosynthesis and cell proliferation.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-0996-7

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