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Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Intracellular Phosphoflow Cytometry of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patient-Derived Xenotransplants
Published on: June 6, 2025
PAPOLA-mediated hyperactive polyadenylation promotes leukemogenesis and leukemia stem cell self-renewal through
Siyao Guo1,2, Yutong Zou3, Canfeng Zhang2
1Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Polyadenylation is key for mRNA function. In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), elevated poly(A) polymerase alpha (PAPOLA) drives cancer growth by altering metabolism, offering a new therapeutic target.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
- RNA Biology
Background:
- Polyadenylation regulates mRNA stability and translation.
- Dysregulation of poly(A) tail length in cancer is not well understood.
- Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of polyadenylation in AML.
- To identify key regulators of polyadenylation in AML.
- To explore potential therapeutic targets for AML.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of primary AML samples and cell lines.
- Utilized multiple mouse models of AML.
- Investigated the role of poly(A) polymerase alpha (PAPOLA) and its downstream targets.
- Pharmacological inhibition of PAPOLA using cordycepin.
Main Results:
- Identified widespread poly(A) tail elongation and PAPOLA upregulation in AML.
- High PAPOLA expression correlates with poor clinical outcomes in AML patients.
- PAPOLA-driven hyperactive polyadenylation promotes leukemogenesis and sustains leukemia stem cells.
- PAPOLA upregulates glutathione S-transferase mu 2 (GSTM2), activating the 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE)-dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (DLD) axis, driving AML progression.
- Cordycepin treatment suppressed metabolic reprogramming and impaired leukemogenesis.
Conclusions:
- Hyperactive polyadenylation is a core oncogenic mechanism in AML.
- The PAPOLA-GSTM2-HNE-DLD axis links RNA processing to cancer metabolism in AML.
- Targeting PAPOLA presents a promising therapeutic strategy for AML.
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