Elitsa Ananieva-Stoyanova, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Biochemistry and Nutrition

Elitsa Ananieva-Stoyanova, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Biochemistry and Nutrition
Additional Roles
Associate Professor, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Program
Associate Professor, Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences Program
Associate Professor, Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences Program
515-271-1529 (Office Phone)
Areas of Expertise
My long term research interest is to study the cellular metabolism of proliferating cells such as cancer and immune cells. There are fundamental differences in central metabolic pathways operating in proliferating cells as opposed to normal cells and deciphering the molecular mechanisms that trigger those differences will provide basis for the discovery of novel (metabolic) approaches for cancer treatment and cancer immunotherapy.
More specifically, my research focuses on the branched chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolic pathway and our current aims are:
- Characterize the role of BCAA metabolism in immunity and inflammation
- Study the molecular mechanisms of gene and protein regulation of BCAA enzymes in cancer and immune cells with the ultimate goal to improve the performance of the immune system to fight cancer
- Characterize BCAA metabolism in bone cancer and explore new (metabolic or nutritional) approaches to fight bone cancer
- Engage high schoolers through outreach activities in community projects to increase awareness of cancer
Overview of Branched Chain Amino Acid Metabolism
The essential BCAAs comprise around 40% of the free amino acids in the blood plasma and act as nutrient signals regulating protein synthesis and degradation (Hutson et al., 2005, J Nutr, 135: 1557S). To ensure adequate supply of BCAAs for protein synthesis and to prevent buildup of toxic metabolites, the concentrations of BCAAs are regulated during the first two steps of their degradation pathway (transamination and oxidative decarboxylation), catalyzed by the branched chain aminotransferase isozymes (mitochondrial BCATm and cytosolic BCATc) and the branched chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase enzyme complex (BCKDC), respectively (Sweatt et al., 2004, Am. J Physiol, 286: E64).
Genetic disorders, such as maple syrup urine disorder (MSUD), methylmalonic acidaemia, and propionic acidaemia result from defects in the BCAA catabolic enzymes and mainly affect the central nervous system (Chuang et al., 2006, J Nutr, 136: 243S).
Apart from genetic disorders, dysregulations in BCAA catabolism may impact both the immune system and cancer growth, as BCAAs are necessary to fuel immune and cancer cells, supporting efficient immune function and sustaining cancer growth (Calder PC, 2006, J Nutr 136, 288S; Zhou et al., 2013, Mol Cancer ,12: 53). This implies that both immune and cancer cells share similar metabiotic requirements for BCAAs.
Most important findings about BCAA metabolism in immune and cancer cells
T lymphocytes:
- Upon pathogen or cancer encounter, T lymphocytes (T cells) become activated which triggers their rapid growth and proliferation
- Leucine uptake increases upon T cell activation via Slc7a5 (leucine transporter) (Sinclair et al., 2013, Nature Immunol, 14: 500)
- The activated T cells use leucine to stimulate the complex I of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTORC1), the latter is an activator of protein translation, glycolysis, and cell growth (Fig.1)
- The gene for BCATc (called BCAT1) is selectively induced upon T cell activation
- By transaminating leucine, BCATc controls the leucine supply to mTORC1 thus providing negative feedback regulation of T cell activation (Fig. 1A)
- T cells from a global BCATc knockout (BCATc-/-) mouse have up-regulated mTORC1 signaling, experience higher glycolytic rate and produce more interferon gamma (IFNƴ)
- Refer to Ananieva et al (2014, J Biol Chem, 289: 18793) and Ananieva et al (2016 Advances in Nutrition 7: 798S-805S) for more information

Cancer:
- BCAT1 gene was proposed as a prognostic cancer marker in:
- Lung cancer (Diaz-Lagares A et al., Clin Cancer Res. 2016 Jul 1;22(13):3361-71)
- Lymphoblastic leukemia (Safavi S et al., Haematologica. 2015 Jan;100(1):55-61.)
- Ovarian cancer (Wang ZQ et al., 2015 Oct 13;6(31):31522-43)
- Colorectal cancer (Mitchell SM et al., BMC Cancer. 2014 Jan 31;14:54)
- Glioblastoma (Tönjes M et al., Nat Med. 2013 Jul;19(7):901-8)
- Breast cancer (Zhang EYJet al., Proteome Res. 2013 Jun 7;12(6):2805-17)
- Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (Zhou W et al., Mol Cancer. 2013 Jun 8;12:53)
- BCAT1 gene expression in cancer is regulated by:
- The oncogene c-Myc
- Methylation (epigenetic modification)
- BCAT2 gene was proposed as a prognostic cancer marker in:
- Glioma cancer (Conway ME et al.,Brain Pathol. 2016 Apr 12. doi: 10.1111/bpa.12385)
Ananieva EA & Wilkinson AC, 2017. Branched Chain Amino Acid Metabolism in Cancer. Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care (in press)
Papathanassiu, AE, Ko J-H, Imprialou M, Bagnati M, Koturan S, Vu HA, Cucchi D, Steve McAdoo S, Ananieva EA, Mauro C, Behmoaras J. BCAT1 control metabolic reprogramming in activated human macrophages and is a target for autoimmune inflammatory disease, 2017. Nature Communications 12: 8:16040.
Ananieva EA, Jones M, Van Horn C, Hutson S. Liver transgenic mouse model of BCATm reveals the important role of the liver in maintaining BCAA homeostasis, 2017. The Journal of Biochemical Nutrition 40:132-140.
Ananieva EA, Powell JD, Hutson SM, 2016. Leucine metabolism in T cell activation: mTOR signaling and beyond. Review. Advances in Nutrition 7: 798S-805S
Ananieva EA, 2015. Targeting Amino Acid Metabolism in Cancer growth and Anti-Tumor Immune Response. Review. World Journal of Biological Chemistry, Nov 26;6(4):281-9.
Ananieva EA, Patel CH, Drake CH, Powell JD, Hutson SM. 2014. Cytosolic Branched Chain Aminotransferase (BCATc) Regulates mTORC1 Signaling and Glycolytic Metabolism in CD4+ T cells. J Biol Chem 289: 18793–18804.
Brunetti-Pierri N, Lanpher B, Erez A, Ananieva E, Islam M, Marini J, Sun Q, Yu C, Hegde M, Li J, Wynn R, Chuang D, Hutson S, Lee B. 2011. Phenylbutyrate therapy for Maple Syrup Urine disease. Human Mol Genetics 20:631-640.
Ananieva EA, Gillaspy G. 2009. Switches in Nutrient and Inositol Signaling. Plant Signaling & Behavior 4:304.306.
Ananieva EA, Gillaspy G, Ely A*, Burnette RN, F. Les Erickson. 2008. Interaction of the WD40 Domain of a Myo-Inositol Polyphosphate 5-Phosphatase with SnRK1 links Inositol, Sugar and Stress Signaling. Plant Physiol. 148: 1868-1882.
Ercetin ME, Ananieva E, Safee NM, Torabinejad J, Robinson JY, Gillaspy GE. 2008. A Phosphoinositide-Specific Myo-Inositol Polyphosphate 5-Phosphatase Required for Seedling Growth. Plant Mol. Biol. 67:375-388.
Ananieva EA, Christov KN, Popova LP. 2004. Exogenous Treatment with Salicylic Acid Leads to Increased Antioxidant Capacity in Leaves of Barley Plants Exposed to Paraquat. J Plant Physiol., 161: 319-328.
Popova LP, Ananieva EA, Hristova VA, Christov KN, Georgieva K, Alexieva VS, Stoinova Zh. 2003. Salicylic Acid and Methyl Jasmonate – Induced Protection on Photosynthesis to Paraquat Oxidative Stress. Bulg. J Plant Physiol., Special Issue, 133-152.
Ananieva EA, Alexieva VS, Popova LP. 2002. Treatment with Salicylic Acid Decreases the Effects of Paraquat on Photosynthesis. J Plant Physiol., 159: 685-693.
Ananieva EA, Popova LP. 2002. Regulatory Role of Salicylic Acid in Paraquat-Induced Oxidative Damage in Barley Plants. Compt. Rend. Acad. Bulg. Sci. 55: 65-68.
- 2011 – ASBMB Postdoctoral Travel Award, ASBMB National meeting, Washington, DC
- 2009 – Kendall W. King Memorial Scholarship, Dept. of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, VA
- 2009 – Sigma Xi Research Award for Ph.D. Degree Candidates, Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society of USA
- 2009 – Best Poster in Science (1st Place), 25th GSA Research Symposium, Virginia Tech, VA
- 2009 – Graduate Research Developmental Program Grant, Virginia Tech, VA
- 2007 – Phyllis G. and Reginald H. Nelson IV Graduate Tuition Scholarship, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech, VA
- 2007 – ASBMB Graduate Travel Award, ASBMB National meeting, Washington, DC
- 2001 – European Travel Award, International Conference on Plant Growth Substances, Czech Republic
- 2001-2004 – Junior Scientist Research Grant, Bulgarian National Fund for Scientific Investigations, Bulgaria
DMU Directories
Email Elitsa Ananieva-Stoyanova