Expression of activated VEGFR2 by R1051Q mutation alters the energy metabolism of Sk-Mel-31 melanoma cells by increasing glutamine dependence

Abstract

Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) activating mutations are emerging as important oncogenic driver events. Understanding the biological implications of such mutations may help to pinpoint novel therapeutic targets. Here we show that activated VEGFR2 via the pro-oncogenic R1051Q mutation induces relevant metabolic changes in melanoma cells. The expression of VEGFR2^R1051Q leads to higher energy metabolism and ATP production compared to control cells expressing VEGFR2^WT. Furthermore, activated VEGFR2^R1051Q augments the dependence on glutamine (Gln) of melanoma cells, thus increasing Gln uptake and their sensitivity to Gln deprivation and to inhibitors of glutaminase, the enzyme initiating Gln metabolism by cells. Overall, these results highlight Gln addiction as a metabolic vulnerability of tumors harboring the activating VEGFR2^R1051Q mutation and suggest novel therapeutic approaches for those patients harboring activating mutations of VEGFR2.

Keywords: Energy metabolism; Glutamine; Mutation; VEGFR2.