O-GlcNAcylation of DDX46 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression by activating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

O-linked-β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) modification, also known as O-GlcNAcylation, is a dynamic and reversible protein modification. Aberrant O-GlcNAcylation are associated with the pathogenesis of cancers. DEAD-box helicase 46 (DDX46) is an ATP-dependent RNA helicase associated with cancer development; however, its role and regulation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. In this study, we observed that the level of O-GlcNAcylation of DDX46 was significantly elevated in HCC mouse models and patients. In addition, direct OGT-DDX46 interaction facilitates O-GlcNAcylation at the Ser257 site. Mechanically, we discovered that O-GlcNAcylation enhances the stability of DDX46 by impeding ubiquitin-mediated degradation. Increased expression of DDX46 activates the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, promoting the proliferation and invasion of HCC. Taken together, our study highlights the critical role of DDX46 O-GlcNAcylation in HCC progression, thus proposing targeted disruption of this cascade as a novel therapeutic strategy for HCC treatment.