The Role of Phosphoglycerate Dehydrogenase in Cell Proliferation and Tumor Progression

The study explored the role of phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH) in cancer cell proliferation and tumor progression. PHGDH, which catalyzes the first step in the serine biosynthesis pathway, was found to be amplified in human cancers, and its expression was crucial for the proliferation of PHGDH-amplified cells. The research suggested that PHGDH might be an important source of NADPH, necessary for biosynthesis and redox maintenance. Experiments with mutant PHGDH enzymes indicated that its ability to produce NADPH was essential for cell proliferation. Additionally, overexpression of PHGDH in a transgenic mouse model led to abnormal melanin granules in hair follicles and accelerated tumor growth in a melanoma model. The findings concluded that PHGDH's metabolic activity was significant for cancer cell proliferation and that its amplification or overexpression could promote tumorigenesis at various stages.