PDK1 promotes breast cancer progression by enhancing the stability and transcriptional activity of HIF-1α

Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1(PDK1)phosphorylates the pyruvate dehydroge-nase complex,which inhibits its activity.Inhibiting pyruvate dehydrogenase complex inhibits the tricarboxylic acid cycle and the reprogramming of tumor cell metabolism to glycolysis,which plays an important role in tumor progression.This study aims to elucidate how PDK1 pro-motes breast cancer progression.We found that PDK1 was highly expressed in breast cancer tissues,and PDK1 knockdown reduced the proliferation,migration,and tumorigenicity of breast cancer cells and inhibited the HIF-1α(hypoxia-inducible factor 1α)pathway.Further investigation showed that PDK1 promoted the protein stability of HIF-1αby reducing the level of ubiquitination of HIF-1α.The HIF-1αprotein levels were dependent on PDK1 kinase activity.Furthermore,HIF-1αphosphorylation at serine 451 was detected in wild-type breast cancer cells but not in PDK1 knockout breast cancer cells.The phosphorylation of HIF-1αat Ser 451 stabilized its protein levels by inhibiting the interaction of HIF-1αwith von Hippel-Lindau and prolyl hydroxylase domain.We also found that PDK1 enhanced HIF-1αtranscriptional ac-tivity.In summary,PDK1 enhances HIF-1αprotein stability by phosphorylating HIF-1αat Ser451 and promotes HIF-1αtranscriptional activity by enhancing the binding of HIF-1αto P300.PDK1 and HIF-1αform a positive feedback loop to promote breast cancer progression.