MAT2A (Methionine Adenosyltransferase 2A)

AG-270 showed lack of cancer specificity in combination with rMETase when tested on both cancer and normal cells. The present results contrast with numerous chemotherapy agents, which in combination with rMETase are synergistic on cancer cells but not on normal cells. The present findings suggest that MAT2A inhibition affects crucial metabolic pathways in normal as well as cancer cell types and thus AG-270 may not be suitable as a cancer-specific therapeutic strategy.

This study developed two novel MAT2A-targeted PET tracers: the 18F-labeled [18F]1d, derived from AZ-28, demonstrates rapid tumor uptake (equilibrium ∼20 min), high tumor-to-muscle ratio, and specific MAT2A binding in H1975 xenografts, though it shows some bone uptake due to defluorination; the 68Ga-labeled [68Ga]1s, based on AG-270, retains high MAT2A affinity (IC50 = 6.23 nM) and exhibits superior pharmacokinetics─low liver uptake, renal clearance, and high cellular internalization (80%)...Molecular docking confirms key interactions with the MAT2A allosteric site. Both tracers provide promising tools for solid tumor diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and precision oncology.

MAT2A also elevates aerobic glycolysis in osteosarcoma cells through the PARN-PI3K-AKT pathway, while pharmacological inhibition of MAT2A reduces glycolysis, SRF and PARN expression, and tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. These findings identify a previously unrecognized regulatory mechanism linking MAT2A to transcriptional control and metabolic reprogramming, and highlight MAT2A as a promising therapeutic target for osteosarcoma.

INSM1 overexpression in SH-SY-5Y cells upregulated neuroendocrine and thyroid hormone-related genes (CHGA, CHGB, DDC, NCAM1, DIO3, TH), while suppressing genes involved in cell cycle (RRM, CDC25A), methionine metabolism (AHCY, MAT2A), transcriptional regulation (MYBL2, EZH2), and oncogenic signaling (ALK, LINC011667). These findings suggest that INSM1 promotes NB aggressiveness by sustaining a neuroendocrine progenitor-like phenotype through metabolic-epigenetic coupling.

MAT2A, BCAT1 and GCLM were selected for small interfering RNA experiments and the results exhibited that apoptosis rates significantly promoted in HL60/R when MAT2A, BCAT1 or GCLM were interfered. An integrative analysis of proteomic and metabolomic data revealed significant disruptions in amino acid metabolism in HL60/R cells, including the metabolic pathways of alanine, aspartate and glutamate, cysteine and methionine, as well as glutathione metabolism.

MTA-cooperative PRMT5 inhibitors such as BMS-986504/MRTX1719 and AMG 193 target the PRMT5-MTA complex, while inhibitors of the SAM synthetase methionine adenosyl transferase 2A (MAT2A), such as IDE397, deprive PRMT5 of its methyl donor SAM. In this review article, we summarize the mechanisms of action, preclinical data, and clinical data available thus far for these novel classes of oncology precision medicine and discuss potential future directions relevant to MTAP deletion as a promising synthetic lethal vulnerability for cancer therapy.

Our work uncovers a neutrophil-driven, MAT2A-dependent activation of methionine metabolism as a critical metabolic mechanism fueling liver metastasis in BC. These findings position the TAN-MAT2A-methionine axis as a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of BCLM.

This review summarizes current knowledge on the biological functions of MTAP, the mechanisms linking its loss to oncogenesis, and the evolving landscape of therapeutic strategies targeting MTAP-deficient cancers. Understanding these molecular dependencies offers novel opportunities for the development of precision-based therapies across diverse tumor types.

We further assess the current landscape of clinical trials investigating MTAP-targeted inhibitors, evaluating their limitations and potential avenues for improvement. The insights gained from this review will inform future research directions beyond the promising PRMT5/MAT2A axis for rational combination therapies that would work synergistically to eradicate this devastating disease.

MAT2A silencing induces cell cycle arrest, enhances apoptosis, and inhibits malignant phenotypes of GC cells, including proliferation, migration, and invasion, through activation of the p53 signaling pathway.

Inhibitors of ferroptosis (Fer-1), necroptosis (GSK872), SAM synthesis (cycloleucine), or polyamine synthesis (sardomozide and difluoromethylornithine) were used...These results suggest that cysteine-glutathione and SAM-polyamine metabolic pathways are critical modulators of ferroptosis of hepatic cancer cells. Since normal liver cells were more resistant to ferroptosis than cancer cells, cysteine restriction may be exploited in treating hepatic cancer by inducing ferroptosis specifically in cancer cells without affecting normal cells in the liver.

CRC cells secrete both MATα2 within EVs and free MATα2-t. EV-MATα2 can be internalized and act as a transcription factor to lower hepatocytes' MAT1A, the major defense against CRLM, while promoting CRC oncogenicity. Freely released MATα2-t acts as a ligand in an autocrine fashion to activate FAK, which is essential for CRC survival. Taken together, secreted MATα2 plays an essential role in promoting CRLM.