Nuclear-localized HKDC1 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma through phosphorylating RBBP5 to upregulate H3K4me3

Metabolic enzymes play significant roles in the pathogenesis of various cancers through both canonical and noncanonical functions. Hexokinase domain-containing protein 1 (HKDC1) functions beyond glucose metabolism, but its underlying mechanisms in tumorigenesis are not fully understood. Here, we demonstrate that nuclear-localized HKDC1 acts as a protein kinase to promote hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell proliferation. Mechanistically, HKDC1 phosphorylates RB binding protein 5 (RBBP5) at Ser497, which is crucial for MLL1 complex assembly and subsequent H3K4me3 modification. This leads to the transcriptional activation of mitosis-related genes, thereby driving cell cycle progression and proliferation. Notably, targeting HKDC1’s protein kinase activity, but not its hexokinase activity, blocks RBBP5 phosphorylation and suppresses tumor growth. Clinical analysis further reveals that RBBP5 phosphorylation positively correlates with HKDC1 levels and poor HCC prognosis. These findings highlight the protein kinase function of HKDC1 in the activation of H3K4me3, gene expression, and HCC progression.