p53 induces circFRMD4A to suppress cancer development through glycolytic reprogramming and cuproptosis

Abstract

Cuproptosis is a type of copper-induced cell death that mainly impacts cells relying on mitochondrial metabolism. Although p53 regulates glycolytic metabolism, its role in cuproptosis remains unclear. Here, we report that the circular RNA, circFRMD4A, is crucial for p53-mediated metabolic reprogramming and cuproptosis. CircFRMD4A originates from the transcript of FRMD4A, which is transcriptionally activated by p53, and the formation of circFRMD4A is facilitated by the RNA-binding protein EWSR1. CircFRMD4A functions as a tumor suppressor and enhances the sensitivity of cancer cells to elesclomol-induced cuproptosis. Mechanistic analysis reveals that circFRMD4A interacts with and inactivates the pyruvate kinase PKM2, leading to a decrease in lactate production and a redirection of glycolytic flux toward the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Finally, p53 agonists and elesclomol coordinately suppress the growth of cancer in a xenograft mouse model. Altogether, our study uncovers that p53 promotes glycolytic reprogramming and cuproptosis via circFRMD4A and suggests a potential combination strategy against cancers with wild-type p53.

Keywords: EWSR1; FRMD4A; PKM2; TCA cycle; cancer therapy; circular RNA; cuproptosis; glycolysis; p53; tumor metabolism.