ZBTB1 Regulates Asparagine Synthesis and Leukemia Cell Response to L-Asparaginase (Cell Metabolism)

Williams et al. identify mediators of the amino acid response pathway in leukemia and demonstrate that ZBTB1 is necessary for cellular proliferation specifically under asparagine deprivation. ZBTB1 associates with the promoter of ASNS and promotes the transcriptional upregulation of ASNS under asparagine deprivation. Loss of ZBTB1 sensitizes leukemic cells to L-asparaginase treatment in vitro and in vivo.