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Protein kinase A regulates ferroptosis by controlling GPX4 m(6)A modification through phosphorylation of ALKBH5

Authors

  • X. Zhao
  • Y. Sun
  • J. Zou
  • Y. Wu
  • M. Huang
  • H. Kong
  • G. Liu
  • H. Gerhardt
  • W. Gu
  • Y. Zhang
  • M. Shang
  • X. Wang

Journal

  • Cell Death and Differentiation

Citation

  • Cell Death Differn

Abstract

  • GPX4-dependent ferroptosis has emerged as a therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. Here, we demonstrated that protein kinase A (PKA) participates in the regulation of ferroptosis by controlling the m(6)A modification of GPX4 in an ALKBH5-dependent manner. Notably, we identified ALKBH5, an m(6)A demethylase, as a novel target of PKA, which drives phosphorylation-dependent degradation of ALKBH5 protein. Moreover, the deletion of ALKBH5 represses ferroptotic cell death by maintaining GPX4 m(6)A modification and stability. Thus, by regulating ALKBH5-dependent GPX4 stability, PKA acts as a key regulator of ferroptosis. Our study unveils the involvement of PKA in m(6)A modification, which could control GPX4-dependent ferroptosis and tumor progression.


DOI

doi:10.1038/s41418-025-01453-3