Journal: The Journal of Clinical Investigation
Article Title: The cholesterol biosynthesis enzyme FAXDC2 couples Wnt/ β -catenin to RTK/MAPK signaling
doi: 10.1172/JCI171222
Figure Lengend Snippet: ( A ) Postlanosterol cholesterol biosynthesis via Bloch and KR pathways, highlighting key steps and associated enzymes. *Proposed location of FAXDC2 in the pathway. ( B ) Conversion of T-MAS to zymostenol, highlighting reduction at C24 and demethylation at C4 involving sterol methyl oxidase (SMO). *SMO indicates either MSMO1 or FAXDC2 sterol methyl oxidase. ( C ) MSMO1 and FAXDC2 structures predicted by AlphaFold show considerable homology (root-mean-square deviation of atomic positions 1.36 Å). ( D ) Like MSMO1, FAXDC2 colocalizes with NSDHL in the SER. Epitope-tagged MSMO1, NSDHL, and FAXDC2 constructs were expressed in HeLa cells, and their localization was visualized by staining with fluorescence-tagged anti-epitope antibodies. ( E – G ) Combined knockdown of FAXDC2 and MSMO1 reduces total cholesterol levels and prevents cellular proliferation. HPAF-II cells, HPAF-II cells with doxycycline-inducible (DOX-inducible) single-guide (isg) RNAs targeting FAXDC2 or MSMO1 alone, and FAXDC2 -KO cells with DOX-isg targeting MSMO1 were cultured for 10 days. ( E ) Representative images of crystal violet staining from 3 independent experiments. ( F ) Crystal violet dye was solubilized, and absorbance was measured at 570 nm. ( G ) Total cholesterol levels were significantly reduced in the FAXDC2 and MSMO1 double-KO cells compared with the single knockouts. ( H and I ) ETC-159 treatment reduces C4-methyl sterols in HPAF-II orthotopic tumors with high FAXDC2 expression. Sterol levels in mice treated with vehicle or ETC-159 were measured by GC-MS. Data from individual tumor samples ( n = 4–5 per group) from 2 independent experiments were combined to calculate P values, controlling for batch effects. ( J – L ) Stabilized β-catenin, which represses FAXDC2, increased C4-methyl sterol levels independent of upstream Wnt signaling inhibition. C4-methyl sterol levels in HPAF-II tumors with and without stabilized β-catenin from mice treated with ETC-159 or vehicle were analyzed by GC-MS. Each point denotes an individual tumor, n = 4–5 per group. ( M ) C4-methyl sterols are reduced in TCF7L2-KO HCT116 xenografts compared with control tumors. Sterol levels were measured by GC-MS. Each point depicts an individual tumor sample. P values were calculated by Mann-Whitney U test ( G and M ) and unpaired t test ( J – L ). * P ≤ 0.05, ** P ≤ 0.01, *** P ≤ 0.001.
Article Snippet: For flow cytometric analysis, cells were seeded in 60 mm dishes and transfected with 50 μM siRNAs against FAXDC2 , MSMO1 , RAB11A , RAB11B , RAB4 , RAB25 , RAB7 , or EHD1 (Qiagen).
Techniques: Construct, Staining, Fluorescence, Knockdown, Cell Culture, Expressing, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Inhibition, Control, MANN-WHITNEY