Scientists decode ASCT2 protein as possible cancer drug target

7The human glutamine transporter ASCT2 is upregulated in several forms of cancer and acts as a docking platform for a wide range of pathogenic retroviruses. Researchers from the University of Groningen have used cryo-electron microscopy to elucidate the structure of the protein, which may generate leads for drug development.

In human cells, the ASCT2 protein imports the amino acid glutamine and maintains the amino acid balance in many tissues. Levels of ASCT2 increase in several types of cancer, probably due to the increased demand for glutamine. Furthermore, several types of retrovirus infect human cells by first docking on this protein.

Revealing the ASCT2 structure

ASCT2 is part of a larger family of similar transporters. To understand how this family of amino acid transporters works, and to help design drugs that block glutamine transport by ASCT2 or its role as a viral docking station, University of Groningen scientists have resolved the 3D structure of the protein. They were unable to grow crystals from the protein, which are required for X-ray diffraction studies, and so resorted to the technique of single particle cryo-electron microscopy. The human gene for ASCT2 was expressed in yeast cells, and the human protein was purified for imaging.

The structure was determined at a resolution of 3.85 Å, which revealed striking new insights.

The cryo-EM images reveal a familiar type of ‘lift-structure’, in which part of the protein travels up and down through the cell membrane. In the upper position, substrate enters the lift, which then moves down to release the substrate inside the cell. The structure of ASCT2 revealed the lift in the lower position.

“To our surprise, this part of the protein was further down than we had ever seen before in similar protein structures, and it was rotated.” says Professor of Biochemistry Dirk Slotboom. “It had been thought that the substrate enters and leaves the lift through different openings, but our results suggest it might well use the same opening.”

This information could help design molecules that stop glutamine transport by ASCT2, says Albert Guskov, Assistant Professor in Crystallography. “Some tests in mice with small molecules that block transport have been published.” Blocking glutamine transport would be a way to kill cancer cells. “This new structure allows for a more rational design of transport inhibitors.”

Another surprise observation are the spikes that protrude on the outside of each of the three monomers. “They have never been seen before,” says Slotboom. “These are the places where retroviruses dock.” This is consistent with mutagenic studies performed by others. Again, knowing the shape of the spikes could help design molecules that block the viruses from docking.

The protein structure was resolved in about four months, which is remarkably fast for cryo-EM. Different scientists, each with their own specialty, worked in parallel, which sped up the process. Furthermore, PhD student Alisa Garaeva, who is first author of the paper, played a central role in ensuring the project ran efficiently.

Future studies will be carried out to capture ASCT2 in different configurations; for example, inside a lipid bilayer rather than the detergent micelles used in the present study and with the lift in different positions. Paulino, Slotboom and Guskov conclude that studying different states will help them understand how this protein functions.

The study was published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology.