RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 TPX2 lactylation is required for the cell cycle regulation and hepatocellular carcinoma progression JF Life Science Alliance JO Life Sci. Alliance FD Life Science Alliance LLC SP e202402978 DO 10.26508/lsa.202402978 VO 8 IS 6 A1 Liu, Shengzhi A1 Cai, Jin A1 Qian, Xiaoyu A1 Zhang, Junjiao A1 Zhang, Yi A1 Meng, Xiang A1 Wang, Mingjie A1 Gao, Ping A1 Zhong, Xiuying YR 2025 UL http://www.life-science-alliance.org/content/8/6/e202402978.abstract AB Targeting protein for Xklp2 (TPX2) is critical for mitosis and spindle assembly because of its control of Aurora kinase A (AURKA). However, the regulation of TPX2 activity and its subsequent effects on mitosis and cancer progression remain unclear. Here, we show that TPX2 is lactylated at K249 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumour tissues and that this process is regulated by the lactylase CBP and the delactylase HDAC1. Lactate reduction via either shRNAs targeting lactate dehydrogenase A or the lactate dehydrogenase A inhibitor GSK2837808A decreases the level of TPX2 lactylation. Importantly, TPX2 lactylation is required for the cell cycle regulation and tumour growth. Mechanistically, TPX2 lactylation disrupts protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) binding to AURKA, enhances AURKA T288 phosphorylation, and facilitates the cell cycle progression. Overall, our study reveals a previously unappreciated role of TPX2 lactylation in regulating cell cycle progression and HCC tumorigenesis, exposing an important correlation between metabolic reprogramming and cell cycle regulation in HCC.The previously published lactylome data of the HCC cohort reanalysed in this study were available in the NODE database (The National Omics Data Encyclopedia) with the accession code OEP002852. All other data generated or analysed in this study and source data are available upon request.