Nudix Hydrolase 13 Impairs the Initiation of Colorectal Cancer by Inhibiting PKM1 ADP-Ribosylation

Metabolic dysregulation has been implicated as a key factor in colorectal cancer (CRC) initiation, however, the underlying driving forces and mechanisms remain poorly understood. Herein, transcriptome profiling of paired early-stage CRCs and adenomas identifies Nudix hydrolase 13 (NUDT13) as a critical suppressor. Elevated NUDT13 expression impedes the proliferation of CRC cells under hypoxic conditions and markedly inhibits CRC initiation by upregulating PKM1. Mechanistically, NUDT13 directly binds and stabilizes PKM1 protein by reducing its poly ADP-ribosylation (PARylation), which is catalyzed by PARP1 at E275/D281/E282/E285/D296, thereby inducing an oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) phenotype in CRC cells. Moreover, spatiotemporal knockout of Nudt13 enhances intestinal tumorigenesis in mice, which can be significantly suppressed by PARP1 inhibitor Olaparib. Notably, residues E245/E248/E249 within the Nudix box motif of NUDT13 are essential for PKM1 PARylation, and a mimic peptide derived from this motif is sufficient to stabilize PKM1 protein and robustly inhibit CRC tumorigenesis. Collectively, this study reveals a previously unknown PARylation-dependent mechanism that regulates PKM1 protein stability and switches the metabolic pathway of CRC cells, providing a promising target for CRC treatment.