Activation of ALOX12 by a multi-organelle-orienting photosensitizer drives ACSL4-independent cell ferroptosis

Ferroptosis is a recently-defined tumor suppression mechanism, but the sensitivity of many tumorigenic cells to ferroptosis is limited by their deficient expression of acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4). Here, we report the discovery of a photosensitizer, namely TPCI, which can evoke ACSL4-independent ferroptosis of cancer cells in photodynamic therapy. Through co-localization with 12-lipoxygenase (ALOX12) in multiple subcellular organelles, TPCI activates ALOX12 to generate lipid reactive oxygen species in large quantity and trigger cell ferroptosis. Intriguingly, confining TPCI exclusively in lysosomes switches the cell death from ferroptosis to apoptosis. More strikingly, the ferroptosis mediated by TPCI-induced ALOX12 activation does not require the participation of ACSL4. Therefore, our study identifies TPCI as the first ALOX12 activator to induce ferroptosis independent of ACSL4, which renders a viable therapeutic approach on the basis of distinct ferroptosis of cancer cells, regardless their ACSL4 expressions.

Automated summary

This study discovered a photosensitizer TPCI that can induce ACSL4-independent ferroptosis of cancer cells in photodynamic therapy. TPCI activates ALOX12 to generate lipid reactive oxygen species and trigger cell ferroptosis. Interestingly, confining TPCI exclusively in lysosomes switches the cell death from ferroptosis to apoptosis. The ferroptosis mediated by TPCI-induced ALOX12 activation does not require ACSL4.