Alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase is a therapeutic vulnerability in acute myeloid leukemia [KL974_shOGDH]

Perturbations in intermediary metabolism contribute to the pathogenesis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and can produce therapeutically actionable dependencies. Here, we probed whether alpha-ketoglutarate (aKG) metabolism represents a specific vulnerability in AML. Using functional genomics, metabolomics, and mouse models, we identified the aKG dehydrogenase complex, which catalyzes the conversion of aKG to succinyl CoA, as a molecular dependency across multiple models of adverse-risk AML. Inhibition of 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase (OGDH), the E1 subunit of the aKG dehydrogenase complex, impaired AML progression and drove differentiation. Mechanistically, hindrance of aKG flux through the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle resulted in rapid exhaustion of aspartate pools and blockade of de novo nucleotide biosynthesis, while cellular bioenergetics was largely preserved. Additionally, increased aKG levels following OGDH inhibition impacted the biosynthesis of other critical amino acids. Thus, this work has identified a previously undescribed, functional link between certain TCA cycle components and nucleotide biosynthesis enzymes across AML. This metabolic node may serve as a cancer-specific vulnerability amenable to therapeutic targeting in AML and perhaps in other cancers with similar metabolic wiring. Overall design: RNA sequencing of murine p53-mutant AML cell lines was perfored at days 0, 2, and/or 4 after induction of the indicated BFP-linked shRNAs with doxycycline. Two independent shRNAs targeting Ogdh (shOgdh346 and shOgdh2081) and a control shRNA (shRen713) were used. Sorted, induced (BFPplus) cells are included for all shRNAs. Undinduced (BFPmin) cells at each timepoint are included for control samples.