Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026

04:01
Revealing the Ferroptotic Phenotype of Medulloblastoma
Published on: March 15, 2024
PLA2G2F suppresses ferroptosis through phospholipid remodeling
Yingying Hu1,2, Joleen Csuka3, Presha Rajbhandari4
1Cell Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
Nature Structural & Molecular Biology
|July 22, 2026
Summary
Researchers identified phospholipase A2 group IIF (PLA2G2F) as a key suppressor of ferroptosis in bladder cancer. This finding suggests that targeting PLA2G2F or its regulator, PPARG, could enhance cancer therapy.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent cell death, is a promising cancer therapy target.
- Phospholipid peroxidation drives ferroptosis, making related enzymes critical in cancer progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- Identify ferroptosis suppressors in bladder cancer.
- Elucidate the regulation and mechanism of action of PLA2G2F in ferroptosis.
- Explore therapeutic strategies targeting ferroptosis in bladder cancer.
Main Methods:
- Genetic and pharmacological analyses to study PLA2G2F and PPARG.
- Lipidomic profiling to understand PLA2G2F's substrate specificity.
- Cellular localization studies to determine PLA2G2F's mechanism.
Main Results:
- PLA2G2F identified as a ferroptosis suppressor in bladder cancer.
- PPARG upregulates PLA2G2F, conferring ferroptosis resistance.
- PLA2G2F acts intracellularly at the endoplasmic reticulum, targeting specific phospholipids.
Conclusions:
- PLA2G2F is an ER-resident ferroptosis suppressor regulated by PPARG in bladder cancer.
- Inhibiting PPARG or PLA2G2F can sensitize bladder cancer cells to ferroptosis.
- PLA2G2F represents a potential therapeutic target for bladder cancer treatment.
Related Concept Videos
Necrosis
Necrosis is considered as an “accidental” or unexpected form of cell death that ends in cell lysis. The first noticeable mention of “necrosis” was in 1859 when Rudolf Virchow used this term to describe advanced tissue breakdown in his compilation titled “Cell Pathology”.
Morphological Manifestations of Necrosis
Necrotic cells show different types of morphological appearance depending on the type of tissue and infection. In coagulative necrosis, cells become anucleated and die, but their...
Morphological Manifestations of Necrosis
Necrotic cells show different types of morphological appearance depending on the type of tissue and infection. In coagulative necrosis, cells become anucleated and die, but their...
Phosphoinositides and PIPs
Phosphoinositides are a group of phospholipids containing a glycerol backbone with two fatty acid chains and a phosphate attached to a myoinositol sugar ring. The inositol head group extends into the cytoplasm, where it is modified by adding phosphate groups to form phosphatidylinositol phosphates or PIPs.
Different phosphoinositides are synthesized and recruited on the cytosolic face of the plasma membrane. The localization of specific phosphoinositides concentrated in separate membrane...
Different phosphoinositides are synthesized and recruited on the cytosolic face of the plasma membrane. The localization of specific phosphoinositides concentrated in separate membrane...
Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells
Cells undergoing apoptosis form apoptotic bodies that must be removed immediately to prevent inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and necrosis. Phagocytosis is carried out by professional phagocytes such as macrophages or immature dendritic cells. Non-professional phagocytes such as epithelial cells and fibroblasts also take part in this process; however, they are not as effective as professional phagocytes.
Normal cells contain receptors that prevent them from being recognized by phagocytes.
Normal cells contain receptors that prevent them from being recognized by phagocytes.
Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade
When a ligand binds to a cell-surface receptor, the receptor's intracellular domain changes shape, which may either activate its enzyme function or allow its binding to other molecules. The initial signal is amplified by most signal transduction pathways. This means that a single ligand molecule can activate multiple molecules of a downstream target. Proteins that relay a signal are most commonly phosphorylated at one or more sites, activating or inactivating the protein. Kinases catalyze the...
Protein Kinases and Phosphatases
Proteins undergo chemical modifications that trigger changes in the charge, structure, and conformation of the proteins. Phosphorylation, acetylation, glycosylation, nitrosylation, ubiquitination, lipidation, methylation, and proteolysis are various protein modifications that regulate protein activity. Such modifications are usually enzyme-driven.
Protein kinases
Many proteins in the cell are regulated by phosphorylation, the addition of a phosphate group. A family of enzymes called kinases...
Protein kinases
Many proteins in the cell are regulated by phosphorylation, the addition of a phosphate group. A family of enzymes called kinases...
Synthesis of Phosphatidylcholine in the ER Membrane
The ER synthesizes lipids for building cell membranes and performing cellular functions such as energy storage and signaling. The lipid synthesis machinery embedded in the ER membrane primarily collects all reactants from the cytosol. Following synthesis, the secretory pathway and the ER contact sites distribute these lipids to other cellular organelles. Additionally, the energy-rich triacylglycerides are transported from the ER via lipid droplets.
The major components of all eukaryotic cell...
The major components of all eukaryotic cell...