Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41698889›Full record

ArticleCell discovery2026

Palmitic acid activates c-Myc via dual palmitoylation-dependent pathways to promote colon cancer.

Wenxin Du, Jianing Zhang, Yuexin Wang, Minjun Li, Ji Cao, Bo Yang, Qiaojun He, Xuejing Shao, Meidan Ying

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cell discovery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. The Roles of ProteinCancer communications (London, England) · 2026
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Wenxin DuInstitute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Jianing ZhangInstitute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Yuexin WangInstitute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Minjun LiInstitute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Ji CaoInstitute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Bo YangInstitute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Qiaojun HeInstitute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Xuejing ShaoInstitute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. xjshao@zju.edu.cn.
Meidan YingInstitute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. mying@zju.edu.cn.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) U23A20534
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

c-Myc is broadly hyperactivated in colon cancer, yet the mechanisms sustaining its transcriptional activation remain elusive. Here we identify palmitic acid (PA) as a metabolite cue that activates c-Myc via dual palmitoylation-dependent pathways operating across tumor initiation and progression. In colitis models, PA-rich diets exacerbate inflammation and enrich MYC target programs without increasing Myc mRNA. Mechanistically, the palmitoyltransferase ZDHHC9, upregulated by IL-1β, directly palmitoylates c-Myc at C171, enhancing c-Myc/MAX dimerization and transcriptional activity; genetic or pharmacologic inhibition diminishes c-Myc palmitoylation and target gene expression. During tumor progression, c-Myc transactivates FATP2, increasing PA uptake and reinforcing c-Myc palmitoylation, thereby establishing a feedforward loop and metabolic addiction to PA. Functionally, PA accelerates xenograft growth, whereas targeting ZDHHC9 and FATP2 inhibits c-Myc function to suppress tumor burden. These findings uncover metabolite-driven control of c-Myc through palmitoylation and highlight ZDHHC9/FATP2 as actionable vulnerabilities for colon cancer treatment.

Identifiers

PMID41698889
PMCPMC12909841

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.