Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41015595›Full record

ArticleCell death and differentiation2026

AMPK-activated BAP1 regulates pVHL stability and tumor-suppressive functions.

Mei Li, Lei Huang, Jiayi Chen, Tangming Guan, Yalei Wen, Yingjie Zhu, Xiao Yang, Caishi Zhang, Xiuqing Ma, Rui Wan and 5 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cell death and differentiation, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Mei Li *Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Central People's Hospital of Zhanjiang, Zhanjiang, China.
Lei Huang *State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment/International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Ministry of Education (MOE) of China/College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
Jiayi ChenState Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment/International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Ministry of Education (MOE) of China/College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
Tangming GuanState Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment/International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Ministry of Education (MOE) of China/College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.ORCID 0000-0002-4617-8221
Yalei WenResearch Institute for Maternal and Child Health, The Affiliated Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
Yingjie ZhuState Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment/International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Ministry of Education (MOE) of China/College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.ORCID 0009-0008-6574-8294
Xiao YangState Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment/International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Ministry of Education (MOE) of China/College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
Caishi ZhangState Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment/International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Ministry of Education (MOE) of China/College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
Xiuqing MaState Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment/International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Ministry of Education (MOE) of China/College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
Rui WanState Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment/International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Ministry of Education (MOE) of China/College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
Yuanqiao HeCenter of Laboratory Animal Science, Nanchang University, Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Laboratory Animal and Nanchang Royo Biotech Co. Ltd, Nanchang, China.
Yang ZhouState Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment/International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Ministry of Education (MOE) of China/College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
Yan SongDepartment of Pathology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China. songyan@cicams.ac.cn.ORCID 0000-0002-3898-2615
Haoxing ZhangGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Genome Stability and Disease Prevention, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China. zhang.haoxing@szu.edu.cn.ORCID 0000-0002-0551-2916
Tongzheng LiuState Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment/International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Ministry of Education (MOE) of China/College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China. liutongzheng@jnu.edu.cn.ORCID 0000-0003-0859-3923

Funding

China Postdoctoral Science Foundation 2024M750581National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 82404654
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) protein (pVHL) functions as a potent tumor suppressor by mediating the degradation or inactivation of various substrates, including HIFα and Akt. However, pVHL is frequently downregulated in numerous cancers harboring wild-type VHL, and underlying mechanisms remains elusive. Aberrant glucose metabolism is a hallmark of cancer, driving tumor progression and therapeutic resistance. Despite this, the connection between glucose homoeostasis and pVHL turnover and functions has yet to be defined. In this study, we demonstrate that dysregulated glucose metabolism destabilizes pVHL in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), colorectal, and ovarian cancer cells. Mechanistically, energy stress induced by glucose starvation, 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG), or metformin activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which subsequently phosphorylates and activates BAP1, a deubiquitinase whose specific function in targeting pVHL for deubiquitination and stabilization had not been previously characterized. Specifically, AMPKα phosphorylates BAP1 at residues S123, S469, and S583, enhancing the interaction between BAP1 and pVHL and promoting pVHL stabilization and tumor-suppressive function both in vitro and in vivo. Conversely, disrupting BAP1 phosphorylation through AMPKα depletion or reconstitution with a phosphorylation-defective BAP1 mutant (S123A/S469A/S583A) abolishes the BAP1-pVHL interaction, leading to impaired pVHL stabilization and accelerated tumor progression in cancer cell lines and patient-derived xenograft models. Clinically, our analysis reveals a positive correlation between levels of phosphorylated AMPKα (p-AMPKα), phosphorylated Ser123-BAP1 (pSer123-BAP1), and pVHL levels in PDAC, colorectal cancer, and ovarian cancer specimens. Collectively, these findings elucidate a novel mechanism linking dysregulated glucose metabolism to compromised function of the BAP1-pVHL tumor-suppressive axis. Our results suggest that therapeutic strategies designed to activate this pathway may represent a promising approach for treating cancers characterized by downregulated wild-type VHL and aberrant glucose metabolism.

Indexed as

AMP-Activated Protein KinasesTumor Suppressor ProteinsUbiquitin ThiolesteraseVon Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor ProteinAnimalsCell Line, TumorFemaleGlucoseHumansMiceMice, NudeOvarian NeoplasmsPhosphorylationProtein StabilityAMP-Activated Protein KinasesBAP1 protein, humanGlucoseTumor Suppressor ProteinsUbiquitin ThiolesteraseVHL protein, humanVon Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein

Identifiers

PMID41015595
PMCPMC13035857

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.