An artificial metabzyme for tumour-cell-specific metabolic therapy

Metabolic dysregulation constitutes a pivotal feature of cancer progression. Enzymes with multiple metal active sites play a major role in this process. Here we report the first metabolic-enzyme-like FeMoO₄ nanocatalyst, dubbed ‘artificial metabzyme’. It showcases dual active centres, namely, Fe²⁺ and tetrahedral Mo⁴⁺, that mirror the characteristic architecture of the archetypal metabolic enzyme xanthine oxidoreductase. Employing spatially dynamic metabolomics in conjunction with the assessments of tumour-associated metabolites, we demonstrate that FeMoO₄ metabzyme catalyses the metabolic conversion of tumour-abundant xanthine into uric acid. Subsequent metabolic adjustments orchestrate crosstalk with immune cells, suggesting a potential therapeutic pathway for cancer. Our study introduces an innovative paradigm in cancer therapy, where tumour cells are metabolically reprogrammed to autonomously modulate and directly interface with immune cells through the intervention of an artificial metabzyme, for tumour-cell-specific metabolic therapy.