A Role for Cytosolic Fumarate Hydratase in Urea Cycle Metabolism and Renal Neoplasia

• FH-deficient cells accumulate fumarate and urea cycle metabolites
• Cytosolic FH is critical for renal cyst development in FH1-deficient mice
• Restoration of cytosolic FH activity restores urea cycle defects
• Arginine depletion reduces viability of FH1-deficient cells

SummaryThe identification of mutated metabolic enzymes in hereditary cancer syndromes has established a direct link between metabolic dysregulation and cancer. Mutations in the Krebs cycle enzyme, fumarate hydratase (FH), predispose affected individuals to leiomyomas, renal cysts, and cancers, though the respective pathogenic roles of mitochondrial and cytosolic FH isoforms remain undefined. On the basis of comprehensive metabolomic analyses, we demonstrate that FH1-deficient cells and tissues exhibit defects in the urea cycle/arginine metabolism. Remarkably, transgenic re-expression of cytosolic FH ameliorated both renal cyst development and urea cycle defects associated with renal-specific FH1 deletion in mice. Furthermore, acute arginine depletion significantly reduced the viability of FH1-deficient cells in comparison to controls. Our findings highlight the importance of extramitochondrial metabolic pathways in FH-associated oncogenesis and the urea cycle/arginine metabolism as a potential therapeutic target.

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