Usnic acid target CRYAB phosphorylation to induce ferroptosis

This study elucidates the critical role of CRYAB phosphorylation in driving the progression of liver metastasis in colorectal cancer, and validates that usnic acid exerts anti-metastatic activity by modulating this post-translational modification. Mechanistically, in addition to its established pro-apoptotic function, usnic acid triggers ferroptosis via suppressing CRYAB phosphorylation at the S59 site. These results construct a mechanistic basis for usnic acid as a promising therapeutic candidate against metastatic colorectal cancer, underscoring the translational potential of targeting CRYAB phosphorylation and ferroptosis for the clinical intervention of colorectal cancer liver metastases.