Hepatic Tm6sf2 overexpression affects cellular ApoB-trafficking, plasma lipid levels, hepatic steatosis and atherosclerosis.

The human transmembrane 6 superfamily member 2 (TM6SF2) gene has been implicated in plasma lipoprotein metabolism, alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and myocardial infarction in multiple genome-wide association studies. To investigate the role of Tm6sf2 in metabolic homeostasis, we generated mice with elevated expression using adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene delivery. Hepatic overexpression of mouse Tm6sf2 resulted in phenotypes previously observed in Tm6sf2-deficient mice including reduced plasma lipid levels, diminished hepatic triglycerides secretion and increased hepatosteatosis. Furthermore, increased hepatic Tm6sf2 expression protected against the development of atherosclerosis in LDL-receptor/ApoB48-deficient mice. In cultured human hepatocytes, Tm6sf2 overexpression reduced apolipoprotein B secretion and resulted in its accumulation within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) suggesting impaired ER-to-Golgi trafficking of pre-very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) particles. Analysis of two metabolic trait-associated coding polymorphisms in the human TM6SF2 gene (rs58542926 and rs187429064) revealed that both variants impact TM6SF2 expression by affecting the rate of protein turnover. These data demonstrate that rs58542926 (E167K) and rs187429064 (L156P) are functional variants and suggest that they influence metabolic traits through altered TM6SF2 protein stability. Taken together, our results indicate that cellular Tm6sf2 level is an important determinant of VLDL metabolism and further implicate TM6SF2 as a causative gene underlying metabolic disease and trait associations at the 19p13.11 locus.

The interrelationship between cholinergic pathway in the magnocellular paraventricular nucleus and natriuresis.

The central nervous system is known to play important roles in the regulation of renal sodium excretion. The present study was designed to reveal the interrelationship between cholinergic pathway in the magnocellular paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and the natriuresis induced by brain cholinergic stimuli. The results indicated that urinary sodium excretion was significantly increased at 40 min after intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of carbachol (CBC). Immunohistochemical studies showed that CBC increased choline acetyltransferase-immunoreactivity (ChAT-IR) in the magnocellular PVN and renal proximal convoluted tubule (PCT), respectively. After pretreatment with atropine, urinary sodium excretion was significantly reduced, and carbachol-increased ChAT-IR in the magnocellular PVN and PCT was also significantly decreased. These results suggested that brain cholinergic stimuli induced the natriuresis and increased the activity of cholinergic neurons in the magnocellular PVN and cholinergic system in the PCT. The blockade of muscarinic receptor completely abolished the natriuresis and partially inhibited carbachol-exerted stimulatory effects in the magnocellular PVN and PCT. To summarize, brain cholinergic pathway and peripheral cholinergic system in kidney were found to contribute to the natriuresis following brain cholinergic stimulation. Our findings revealed novel evidence that PVN was involved in the natriuresis via humoral mechanisms.

Lipase maturation factor 1 (lmf1) is induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress through activating transcription factor 6α (Atf6α) signaling.

Lipase maturation factor 1 (Lmf1) is a critical determinant of plasma lipid metabolism, as demonstrated by severe hypertriglyceridemia associated with its mutations in mice and human subjects. Lmf1 is a chaperone localized to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and required for the post-translational maturation and activation of several vascular lipases. Despite its importance in plasma lipid homeostasis, the regulation of Lmf1 remains unexplored. We report here that Lmf1 expression is induced by ER stress in various cell lines and in tunicamycin (TM)-injected mice. Using genetic deficiencies in mouse embryonic fibroblasts and mouse liver, we identified the Atf6α arm of the unfolded protein response as being responsible for the up-regulation of Lmf1 in ER stress. Experiments with luciferase reporter constructs indicated that ER stress activates the Lmf1 promoter through a GC-rich DNA sequence 264 bp upstream of the transcriptional start site. We demonstrated that Atf6α is sufficient to induce the Lmf1 promoter in the absence of ER stress, and this effect is mediated by the TM-responsive cis-regulatory element. Conversely, Atf6α deficiency induced by genetic ablation or a dominant-negative form of Atf6α abolished TM stimulation of the Lmf1 promoter. In conclusion, our results indicate that Lmf1 is an unfolded protein response target gene, and Atf6α signaling is sufficient and necessary for activation of the Lmf1 promoter. Importantly, the induction of Lmf1 by ER stress appears to be a general phenomenon not restricted to lipase-expressing cells, which suggests a lipase-independent cellular role for this protein in ER homeostasis.

Transgenic expression and genetic variation of Lmf1 affect LPL activity in mice and humans.

OBJECTIVE: Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is a principal enzyme in lipoprotein metabolism, tissue lipid utilization, and energy metabolism. LPL is synthesized by parenchymal cells in adipose, heart, and muscle tissues followed by secretion to extracellular sites, where lipolyic function is exerted. The catalytic activity of LPL is attained during posttranslational maturation, which involves glycosylation, folding, and subunit assembly within the endoplasmic reticulum. A lipase-chaperone, lipase maturation factor 1 (Lmf1), has recently emerged as a critical factor in this process. Previous studies demonstrated that loss-of-function mutations of Lmf1 result in diminished lipase activity and severe hypertriglyceridemia in mice and human subjects. The objective of this study is to investigate whether, beyond its role as a required factor in lipase maturation, variation in Lmf1 expression is sufficient to modulate LPL activity in vivo. METHODS AND RESULTS: To assess the effects of Lmf1 overexpression in adipose and muscle tissues, we generated aP2-Lmf1 and Mck-Lmf1 transgenic mice. Characterization of relevant tissues revealed increased LPL activity in both mouse strains. In the omental and subcutaneous adipose depots, Lmf1 overexpression was associated with increased LPL specific activity without changes in LPL mass. In contrast, increased LPL activity was due to elevated LPL protein level in heart and gonadal adipose tissue. To extend these studies to humans, we detected association between LMF1 gene variants and postheparin LPL activity in a dyslipidemic cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that variation in Lmf1 expression is a posttranslational determinant of LPL activity.

Early hepatic insulin resistance precedes the onset of diabetes in obese C57BLKS-db/db mice.

OBJECTIVE: To identify metabolic derangements contributing to diabetes susceptibility in the leptin receptor-deficient obese C57BLKS/J-db/db (BKS-db) mouse strain. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Young BKS-db mice were used to identify metabolic pathways contributing to the development of diabetes. Using the diabetes-resistant B6-db strain as a comparison, in vivo and in vitro approaches were applied to identify metabolic and molecular differences between the two strains. RESULTS: Despite higher plasma insulin levels, BKS-db mice exhibit lower lipogenic gene expression, rate of lipogenesis, hepatic triglyceride and glycogen content, and impaired insulin suppression of gluconeogenic genes. Hepatic insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 and IRS-2 expression and insulin-stimulated Akt-phosphorylation are decreased in BKS-db primary hepatocytes. Hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp studies indicate that in contrast to hepatic insulin resistance, skeletal muscle is more insulin sensitive in BKS-db than in B6-db mice. We also demonstrate that elevated plasma triglyceride levels in BKS-db mice are associated with reduced triglyceride clearance due to lower lipase activities. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates the presence of metabolic derangements in BKS-db before the onset of beta-cell failure and identifies early hepatic insulin resistance as a component of the BKS-db phenotype. We propose that defects in hepatic insulin signaling contribute to the development of diabetes in the BKS-db mouse strain.

A functionally important hydrogen-bonding network at the betaDP/alphaDP interface of ATP synthase.

ATP synthase uses a unique rotary mechanism to couple ATP synthesis and hydrolysis to transmembrane proton translocation. The F1 subcomplex has three catalytic nucleotide binding sites, one on each beta subunit, at the interface to the adjacent alpha subunit. In the x-ray structure of F1 (Abrahams, J. P., Leslie, A. G. W., Lutter, R., and Walker, J. E. (1994) Nature 370, 621-628), the three catalytic beta/alpha interfaces differ in the extent of inter-subunit interactions between the C termini of the beta and alpha subunits. At the closed betaDP/alphaDP interface, a hydrogen-bonding network is formed between both subunits, which is absent at the more open betaTP/alphaTP interface and at the wide open betaE/alphaE interface. The hydrogen-bonding network reaches from betaL328 (Escherichia coli numbering) and betaQ441 via alphaQ399, betaR398, and alphaE402 to betaR394, and ends in a cation/pi interaction between betaR394 and alphaF406. Using mutational analysis in E. coli ATP synthase, the functional importance of the betaDP/alphaDP hydrogen-bonding network is demonstrated. Its elimination results in a severely impaired enzyme but has no pronounced effect on the binding affinities of the catalytic sites. A possible role for the hydrogen-bonding network in coupling of ATP synthesis/hydrolysis and rotation will be discussed.

Mutations in LMF1 cause combined lipase deficiency and severe hypertriglyceridemia.

Hypertriglyceridemia is a hallmark of many disorders, including metabolic syndrome, diabetes, atherosclerosis and obesity. A well-known cause is the deficiency of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), a key enzyme in plasma triglyceride hydrolysis. Mice carrying the combined lipase deficiency (cld) mutation show severe hypertriglyceridemia owing to a decrease in the activity of LPL and a related enzyme, hepatic lipase (HL), caused by impaired maturation of nascent LPL and hepatic lipase polypeptides in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Here we identify the gene containing the cld mutation as Tmem112 and rename it Lmf1 (Lipase maturation factor 1). Lmf1 encodes a transmembrane protein with an evolutionarily conserved domain of unknown function that localizes to the ER. A human subject homozygous for a deleterious mutation in LMF1 also shows combined lipase deficiency with concomitant hypertriglyceridemia and associated disorders. Thus, through its profound effect on lipase activity, LMF1 emerges as an important candidate gene in hypertriglyceridemia.

Identification of the betaTP site in the x-ray structure of F1-ATPase as the high-affinity catalytic site.

ATP synthase uses a unique rotary mechanism to couple ATP synthesis and hydrolysis to transmembrane proton translocation. The F(1) subcomplex has three catalytic nucleotide binding sites, one on each beta subunit, with widely differing affinities for MgATP or MgADP. During rotational catalysis, the sites switch their affinities. The affinity of each site is determined by the position of the central gamma subunit. The site with the highest nucleotide binding affinity is catalytically active. From the available x-ray structures, it is not possible to discern the high-affinity site. Using fluorescence resonance energy transfer between tryptophan residues engineered into gamma and trinitrophenyl nucleotide analogs on the catalytic sites, we were able to determine that the high-affinity site is close to the C-terminal helix of gamma, but at considerable distance from its N terminus. Thus, the beta(TP) site in the x-ray structure [Abrahams JP, Leslie AGW, Lutter R, Walker JE (1994) Nature 370:621-628] is the high-affinity site, in agreement with the prediction of Yang et al. [Yang W, Gao YQ, Cui Q, Ma J, Karplus M (2003) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 100:874-879]. Taking into account the known direction of rotation, the findings establish the sequence of affinities through which each catalytic site cycles during MgATP hydrolysis as low --> high --> medium --> low.

The cld mutation: narrowing the critical chromosomal region and selecting candidate genes.

Combined lipase deficiency (cld) is a recessive, lethal mutation specific to the tw73 haplotype on mouse Chromosome 17. While the cld mutation results in lipase proteins that are inactive, aggregated, and retained in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), it maps separately from the lipase structural genes. We have narrowed the gene critical region by about 50% using the tw18 haplotype for deletion mapping and a recombinant chromosome used originally to map cld with respect to the phenotypic marker tf. The region now extends from 22 to 25.6 Mbp on the wild-type chromosome, currently containing 149 genes and 50 expressed sequence tags (ESTs). To identify the affected gene, we have selected candidates based on their known role in associated biological processes, cellular components, and molecular functions that best fit with the predicted function of the cld gene. A secondary approach was based on differences in mRNA levels between mutant (cld/cld) and unaffected (+/cld) cells. Using both approaches, we have identified seven functional candidates with an ER localization and/or an involvement in protein maturation and folding that could explain the lipase deficiency, and six expression candidates that exhibit large differences in mRNA levels between mutant and unaffected cells. Significantly, two genes were found to be candidates with regard to both function and expression, thus emerging as the strongest candidates for cld. We discuss the implications of our mapping results and our selection of candidates with respect to other genes, deletions, and mutations occurring in the cld critical region.

Does F1-ATPase have a catalytic site that preferentially binds MgADP?

During ATP synthesis, ATP synthase has to bind MgADP in the presence of an excess of MgATP. Thus, for efficient ATP synthesis it would be desirable if incoming substrate could be bound to a catalytic site with a preference for MgADP over MgATP. We tested three hypotheses predicting the existence of such a site. However, our results showed that, at least in absence of an electrochemical proton gradient, none of the three catalytic sites has a higher affinity for MgADP than for MgATP.

Genetic analysis of the diabetes-prone C57BLKS/J mouse strain reveals genetic contribution from multiple strains.

The C57BLKS/J (BKS) inbred mouse strain is a widely used animal model of type 2 diabetes. In the presence of the diabetes (db) mutation, obese BKS-db mice develop severe diabetes. Genetic studies of diabetes-susceptibility in this strain are facilitated by the fact that BKS is a genetic composite between the diabetes-resistant C57BL/6J (B6) and susceptible DBA/2J (DBA) strains. On this basis, it has been hypothesized that diabetes-susceptibility in BKS is conferred by DBA-derived alleles. However, recent studies revealed non-B6/non-DBA genetic material in BKS. To identify the origin of this genetic component, we generated a genomic map of BKS using 537 microsatellite markers. Our results demonstrate that, in addition to B6 and DBA, BKS contains alleles from at least three other strains, including 129, C57BL/10 and an unidentified mouse strain. We also analyzed two congenic strains, B6-db and BKS-db, which are widely used for the genetic mapping of diabetes-susceptibility loci. We identified several donor-derived genomic regions introduced during the generation of these congenic strains. In summary, our study reveals novel aspects of the genetic fine-structure of BKS and related strains and facilitates the identification of diabetes-susceptibility loci in this mouse model.

Modulation of baroreceptor activity by gene transfer of nitric oxide synthase to carotid sinus adventitia.

Administration of nitric oxide (NO) or NO donors to isolated carotid sinus and carotid bodies inhibits the activity of baroreceptor and chemoreceptor afferent nerves. Furthermore, NO synthase (NOS) is present in endothelial cells and in sensory nerves innervating the carotid sinus region. The major goal of this study was to determine whether overexpression of NOS in carotid sinus modulates baroreceptor activity. Rabbits were anesthetized, and adenoviral vectors (5 x 10(8) plaque-forming units) encoding genes for either beta-galactosidase (beta-Gal) or endothelial type III NOS (eNOS) were applied topically to the adventitial surface of one carotid sinus. In some experiments, the NOS inhibitor N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) was applied to the carotid sinus immediately after the vector. Four to five days later, baroreceptor activity and carotid sinus diameter were measured from the vascularly isolated carotid sinus of the anesthetized rabbits. Transgene expression was confirmed by X-Gal staining of beta-Gal and measurement of NOS activity by citrulline assay. The expression was restricted to the carotid sinus adventitia. Baroreceptor activity was decreased significantly, and the pressure-activity curve was shifted to higher pressures in eNOS-transduced (n = 5) compared with beta-Gal-transduced (n = 5) carotid sinuses. The pressure corresponding to 50% of maximum activity averaged 55 +/- 6 and 76 +/- 7 mmHg in beta-Gal- and eNOS-transduced carotid sinuses, respectively (P < 0.05). Decreased baroreceptor activity was accompanied by a significant increase in carotid diameter in the eNOS-transduced carotid sinuses (n = 5). l-NAME prevented the inhibition of baroreceptor activity and the increase in carotid diameter in eNOS-transduced carotid sinuses (n = 5). We conclude that adenoviral-mediated gene transfer of eNOS to carotid sinus adventitia causes sustained, NO-dependent inhibition of baroreceptor activity and resetting of the baroreceptor function curve to higher pressures.

Maturation of lipoprotein lipase in the endoplasmic reticulum. Concurrent formation of functional dimers and inactive aggregates.

The maturation of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) into a catalytically active enzyme was believed to occur only after its transport from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi apparatus. To test this hypothesis, LPL located in these two subcellular compartments was separated and compared. Heparin affinity chromatography resolved low affinity, inactive LPL displaying ER characteristics from a high affinity, active fraction exhibiting both ER and Golgi forms. The latter forms were further separated by beta-ricin chromatography and were found to have comparable activities per unit of LPL mass. Thus, LPL must reach a functional conformation in the ER. Active LPL, regardless of its cellular location, exhibited the expected dimer conformation. However, inactive LPL, found only in the ER, was highly aggregated. Kinetic analysis indicated a concurrent formation of LPL dimer and aggregate and indicated that the two forms have dissimilar fates. Whereas the dimer remained stable even when confined to the ER, the aggregate was degraded. Degradation rates were not affected by proteasomal or lysosomal inhibitors but were markedly reduced by ATP depletion. Lowering the redox potential in the ER by dithiothreitol caused the dimer to associate with calnexin, BiP, and protein-disulfide isomerase to form large, inactive complexes; dithiothreitol removal induced complex dissociation with restoration of the functional LPL dimer. In contrast, the LPL aggregate was only poorly associated with ER chaperones, appearing to be trapped in an irreversible, inactive conformation destined for ER degradation.