Supplementary MaterialsAdditional document 1: Shape S1. change of tumors remain to become explored. Methods The expressions of KPNA2 in glioblastoma and normal human brain samples were analyzed by immunohistochemical analysis. The activities of key enzymes in glycolysis, purchase H 89 dihydrochloride the production of lactate acid and glucose uptake were investigated by colorimetry. GLUT-1 expression was measured by flow cytometry. CCK8 was used to examine the cell viability in vitro, and the xenograft models in nude mice were established to explore the roles of KPNA2 in vivo. In addition, Co-IP, subcellular fractionation, western blot, immunofluorescence and luciferase assay were used to investigate the internal connection between KPNA2, c-myc and E2F1. Results In the present study, we found that KPNA2 was highly expressed in the glioma compared to the normal brain tissues. Level of KPNA2 was an independent predictor of prognosis in the glioma patients. Knockdown of KPNA2 in the glioblastoma cell lines U87 and U251 decreased deoxyglucose uptake, activities of the key glycolytic enzymes and lactate production. The level of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) purchase H 89 dihydrochloride was moderately decreased. Additioanlly, tumor proliferation and invasiveness were concomitantly downregulated. We have identified c-myc as a potential mediator of KPNA2. Aberrant expression of KPNA2 significantly changed the subcellular distribution of c-myc as well as its expression level. E2F1, another key cargo protein of KPNA2, was further identified to play a potential role in regulating the transcription of c-myc by KPNA2. Conclusions Our findings suggested that KPNA2, a potential tumor oncogene, performs its function in part via regulating cellular metabolism through c-myc signaling axis. It would provide a possible explanation for Warburg effect and thus offer a new perspective to the tasks of KPNA2 in gliomagenesis. Electronic supplementary materials The web version of the content (10.1186/s13046-018-0861-9) contains supplementary materials, which is open to certified users. strong course=”kwd-title” Keywords: KPNA2, Warburg impact, c-myc, Glioma, E2F1 Background Based on the American Tumor Annals and Culture of Translational Medication, central nervous program invasive cancers take into account 3% of most cancers, as well as the mortality and morbidity possess improved yr by yr [1, 2], as the vast majority which are gliomas. Because of the infiltrative character of gliomas, even though current remedies, including medical resection, adjuvant purchase H 89 dihydrochloride radiotherapy and chemotherapy possess produced an abundance of research results, their prognosis is extremely poor and death occurs inevitably from either recurrence or disease progression [3]. Patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a type IV glioma based on pathological criteria, for instance, have a median survival time of only about 15?months [4]. Cancer cells mainly depend on glycolysis for energy metabolism, even when there is sufficient oxygen. This is the core content of Warburg effect. It helps cancer cells survival under fluctuating oxygen tension microenvironment, which is lethal for normal cells [5]. It was reported that in glioblastomas, glycolytic metabolism is three times higher than regular brain cells [6], which may be controlled by many tumor and oncogenes suppressor genes, such as for example HIF-1 and c-MYC [7]. Although a lot work continues to be performed for the change between glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation of gliomas, the system of Warburg effect is p150 unclear still. Dysfunction of nucleocytoplasmic transportation can be seen in many malignant natural behaviors frequently, including gilomas [8]. Nucleocytoplasmic transportation occurs when substances need to get with the Nuclear Pore Complexes (NPCs) within the nuclear membrane. Karyopherins are in charge of the shuttling of macromolecules bigger than about 40?kDa. The karyopherin family members contains import (importins) and export elements (exportins). A lot more than 20 people from the karyopherin family members have been referred to [9, 10]. Importin acts as an adaptor that links the nuclear localization sign(NLS) formulated with cargo protein towards the NPCs, so when the NLS known, importin docks the ternary complicated on the NPC and facilitates the translocation from the cargo protein in to the nucleus [11]. Karyopherin 2 (KPNA2, also called importin-1 or RAG cohort 1) is among the seven people of karyopherin.