Vol. 24 No. 1 (2025): Mapana Journal of Sciences
Research Articles

Palmitic acid-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress links metabolic stress to senescence and regulates cell fate via PERK signalling in colon cancer cells

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  • Valappan Veetil Soumya,
  • Snijesh Valiya Parambath,
  • Chevookaren Francis Binoy,
  • Achuthan C Raghavamenon,
  • Suraj Kadunganattil,
  • Babu Thekkekara Devassy
Valappan Veetil Soumya
Department of Biochemistry, Amala Cancer Research Centre (Recognized Centre of University of Calicut), Thrissur - 680 555, Kerala, India
Snijesh Valiya Parambath
Division of Molecular Medicine, St. John's Research Institute, Bangalore - 560 034 Karnataka, India
Chevookaren Francis Binoy
Research and Post-Graduate Department of Zoology, St. Thomas College (Autonomous), Thrissur – 680 001, Affiliated to University of Calicut, Kerala, India
Achuthan C Raghavamenon
Department of Biochemistry, Amala Cancer Research Centre (Recognized Centre of University of Calicut), Thrissur - 680 555, Kerala, India
Suraj Kadunganattil
Department of Biochemistry, Amala Cancer Research Centre (Recognized Centre of University of Calicut), Thrissur - 680 555, Kerala, India
Babu Thekkekara Devassy
Department of Biochemistry, Amala Cancer Research Centre (Recognized Centre of University of Calicut), Thrissur - 680 555, Kerala, India,
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12723/mjs.72.1

Published 2025-04-05

Keywords

  • Palmitic acid,
  • ER stress,
  • UPR,
  • PERK pathway,
  • senescence,
  • colon cancer
    • ...More
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Copyright (c) 2025

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Abstract

Palmitic acid promotes cancer progression and induces endoplasmic reticulum stress, which is associated with a misfolded/unfolded protein response. The study aims to explore the impact of metabolic-stress induced by palmitic acid on cell fate decisions in colon cancer cell HCT15, with a specific focus on PERK signalling that connects metabolic-stress to senescence. Palmitic acid-induced oxidative stress is evidenced by increased ROS production, elevated MDA levels, and alterations in antioxidant activities. Bioinformatics analysis of GEO datasets on senescence in HCT15 cells revealed a PERK-mediated pathway, supporting a link between palmitic acid-induced metabolic stress and senescence. This study emphasises the critical role of palmitic acid-induced ER stress in connecting metabolic stress to senescence in colon cancer cells and the involvement of PERK signalling as a key mediator in this process. These insights provide a deeper understanding of how metabolic stress contributes to senescence, potentially revealing new therapeutic targets for managing colon cancer progression.

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