SLC38A6, regulated by EP300-mediated modifications of H3K27ac, promotes cell proliferation, glutamine metabolism and mitochondrial respiration in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common form of liver cancer. The incidence of HCC is increasing and effective prevention methods are needed. The solute carrier family 38 member 6 (SLC38A6) plays an important role in the metabolism of glutamine, which is a central nutrient for many cancers. However, the regulation and function of SLC38A6 in HCC are unclear. SLC38A6 levels in human HCC tissue arrays and cells were determined. SLC38A6 was silenced or overexpressed to determine its role in regulating cell viability, colony formation, cell cycle progression, glutamine metabolism and mitochondrial respiration. A luminescence assay was used to study the interaction between SLC38A6 and EP300. The interactions between SLC38A6, H3K27ac and EP300 were determined using chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Quantitative RT-PCR and immunoblots were performed to measure mRNAs and proteins, respectively. SLC38A6 expression was higher in HCC compared with expression in normal tissue. Silencing SLC38A6 inhibited cell viability, colony formation, cell cycle progression, glutamine metabolism and mitochondrial respiration, while SLC38A6 overexpression had the opposite effects. Silencing SLC38A6 also inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Silencing EP300 significantly suppressed the interaction between H3K27ac and the SLC38A6 promoter, leading to decreased SLC38A6. SLC38A6 is regulated by EP300-mediated modifications of H3K27ac and promotes viability, colony formation, cell cycle progression, glutamine metabolism and mitochondrial respiration in HCC cells.