Objective To explore the role of glutamine fructose-6-phosphate transaminase 2 (GFPT2) in the migration of prostate cancer cells and its underlying molecular mechanism.

Methods  The mRNA expression of GFPT2 in RWPE-1 and five human prostate cancer cell lines was detected by qRT-PCR. Analyzing the immunohistochemistry data of GFPT2 from the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) for normal prostate tissue and prostate cancer tissue. The GFPT2 knockdown cell models were established using siRNA. Cell migration ability was assessed through Transwell assay and Cell scratch assay. The biomarkers of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were determined by Western blot.

Results  Compared with RWPE-1 cells, GFPT2 mRNA expression was significantly upregulated in high-metastatic prostate cancer cell lines (PC3 and DU145). Immunohistochemistry data from the HPA indicated that the expression level of GFPT2 in prostate cancer tissue was significantly higher than in normal prostate tissue. In vitro, GFPT2 knockdown markedly reduced O-GlcNAcylation levels in prostate cancer cells. Additionally, GFPT2 knockdown significantly suppressed the migration of prostate cancer cells, upregulated the protein level of E-cadherins, and downregulated the protein levels of N-cadherin and Vimentin.

Conclusion  GFPT2 is upregulated in prostate cancer and promotes tumor cell migration, making it a promising new target for inhibiting prostate cancer metastasis.

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