The glycolysis regulator PFKFB4 interacts with ICMT and activates RAS/AKT signaling-dependent cell migration in melanoma

Cell migration is a complex process, tightly regulated during embryonic development and abnormally activated during cancer metastasis. RAS-dependent signaling is a major nexus controlling essential cell parameters including proliferation, survival and migration, utilizing downstream effectors such as the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. In melanoma, oncogenic mutations frequently enhance RAS, PI3K/AKT or MAP kinase signaling, and trigger other cancer hallmarks among which the activation of metabolism regulators. PFKFB4 is one of these critical regulators of glycolysis and of the Warburg effect. Here however, we explore a novel function of PFKFB4 in melanoma cell migration. We find that PFKFB4 interacts with ICMT, a post-translational modifier of RAS. PFKFB4 promotes ICMT/RAS interaction, controls RAS localization at the plasma membrane, activates AKT signaling and enhances cell migration. We thus provide evidence of a novel and glycolysis-independent function of PFKFB4 in human cancer cells. This unconventional activity links the metabolic regulator PFKFB4 to RAS-AKT signaling and impacts melanoma cell migration. Highlights - PFKFB4, a known regulator of glycolysis, also displays an unconventional role in melanoma cell migration. - PFKFB4 interacts with ICMT and promotes RAS localization at the plasma membrane. - PFKFB4 and ICMT cooperation modulates AKT signaling and controls melanoma cell migration.