Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 19, 2026

Utilizing 18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging and Quantitative Histology to Measure Dynamic Changes in the Glucose Metabolism in Mouse Models of Lung Cancer
06:51

Utilizing 18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging and Quantitative Histology to Measure Dynamic Changes in the Glucose Metabolism in Mouse Models of Lung Cancer

Published on: July 21, 2018

18.8K

Maf1, A New PTEN Target Linking RNA and Lipid Metabolism

Deborah L Johnson1, Bangyan L Stiles2

  • 1Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.

Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism: TEM
|June 15, 2016
PubMed

Insights

The tumor suppressor PTEN regulates lipid accumulation and cell growth via Maf1. Maf1 links RNA and lipid metabolism, potentially explaining cancer risks associated with obesity.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology
  • Metabolism

Background:

  • PTEN is a critical tumor suppressor involved in metabolic disease and cancer.
  • The molecular link between PTEN dysregulation, metabolic disease, and cancer is not well understood.
  • Maf1 is a newly identified PTEN target that plays a role in repressing intracellular lipid accumulation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of Maf1 in connecting PTEN's lipid-regulating functions with its tumor suppressor activity.
  • To explore the molecular mechanisms by which Maf1 influences intracellular lipid accumulation and biosynthetic capacity.
  • To elucidate the relationship between RNA metabolism and lipid metabolism in the context of cancer development.

Main Methods:

  • Investigated Maf1 as a PTEN target.
  • Studied Maf1's role in repressing ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and transfer RNA (tRNA) expression.
  • Examined the impact of Maf1 on intracellular lipid accumulation.
  • Utilized animal models to study the effects of dysregulated RNA polymerase I- and III-dependent transcription on lipid metabolism.

Main Results:

  • Maf1 connects PTEN's repression of intracellular lipid accumulation to its tumor suppressor function.
  • Maf1 restrains biosynthetic capacity and oncogenic transformation by repressing rRNA and tRNA expression.
  • Maf1 was shown to control intracellular lipid accumulation.
  • Dysregulation of RNA polymerase I and III transcription, leading to increased rRNA and tRNA levels, altered lipid metabolism and storage in animal models.

Conclusions:

  • Maf1 is a key mediator linking PTEN's tumor suppressor functions to the regulation of RNA and lipid metabolism.
  • The findings reveal novel connections between RNA metabolism and lipid metabolism.
  • These connections may help explain the epidemiological link between obesity and cancer.
  • Targeting the RNA-lipid metabolism axis could offer new therapeutic strategies for obesity-related cancers.

More Related Videos

Intracellular Phosphoflow Cytometry of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patient-Derived Xenotransplants07:38

Intracellular Phosphoflow Cytometry of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patient-Derived Xenotransplants

Published on: June 6, 2025

896
The Soft Agar Colony Formation Assay08:01

The Soft Agar Colony Formation Assay

Published on: October 27, 2014

114.3K

Related Concept Videos

PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway01:22

PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway

The mammalian target of rapamycin  (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates growth, proliferation, and cell survival in response to hormones, growth factors, or nutrient availability. This kinase exists in two structurally and functionally distinct forms: mTOR complex 1  (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2  (mTORC2). The first form (mTORC1) is composed of a rapamycin-sensitive Raptor and proline-rich Akt substrate, PRAS40. In contrast,  mTORC2 consists of a...
6.2K
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
5.0K
Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the...
5.4K
MAPK Signaling Cascades01:07

MAPK Signaling Cascades

Mitogen-activated protein kinase, or MAPK pathway, activates three sequential kinases to regulate cellular responses such as proliferation, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis. The canonical MAPK pathway starts with a mitogen or growth factor binding to an RTK. The activated RTKs stimulate Ras, which recruits Raf or MAP3 Kinase (MAPKKK), the first kinase of the MAPK signaling cascade. Raf further phosphorylates and activates MEK or MAP2 Kinases (MAPKK), which in turn phosphorylates MAP...
9.1K
Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply01:24

Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply

Rapidly dividing tumors, embryos, and wounded tissues require more oxygen than usual, lowering the oxygen concentration in the blood. At low oxygen or hypoxic conditions, an oxygen-sensitive transcription factor called the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 or HIF1 is activated. HIF1 is a dimeric protein of alpha (ɑ) and beta (β) subunits.  Under optimal oxygen conditions, HIF1β is present in the nucleus while HIF1ɑ remains in the cytosol. HIF1ɑ is hydroxylated by prolyl...
3.9K
Lipids as Anchors01:32

Lipids as Anchors

In the plasma membrane, the lipids forming the bilayer can also act as an anchor to tether proteins to the membrane. The three main types of lipid anchors found in eukaryotes are – prenyl groups, fatty acyl groups, and glycosylphosphatidylinositol or GPI groups. Prenyl and fatty acyl groups act as anchors on the cytosolic surface of the membrane, whereas GPI anchors proteins on the extracellular side.
The carboxy-terminal of most of the prenylated proteins, such as Ras proteins, contains...
7.9K