Cell death-inducing DFF45-like effector, a lipid droplet-associated protein, might be involved in the differentiation of human adipocytes
FEBS JOURNAL
Authors: Li, Fanfan; Gu, Yu; Dong, Wenpeng; Li, Hang; Zhang, Liying; Li, Nanlin; Li, Wangzhou; Zhang, Lijun; Song, Yue; Jiang, Lina; Ye, Jing; Li, Qing
Abstract
Cell death-inducing DFF45-like effector (CIDE) family proteins, including cell death-inducing DFF45-like effector A (CIDEA), cell death-inducing DFF45-like effector B (CIDEB) and cell death-inducing DFF45-like effector C (CIDEC) [fat-specific protein of 27 kDa in rodent (FSP27) in rodents], were originally identified by their sequence homology to the N-terminal region of DNA fragmentation factor DFF40/45. Recent reports have revealed that CIDE family proteins play important roles in lipid metabolism. Several studies involving knockdown mice revealed that FSP27 is a lipid droplet-targeting protein that can promote the formation of lipid droplets. However, the detailed roles of human CIDEC in the differentiation of human adipocytes remain unknown. In the present study, we found that the expression of CIDEC increased during the differentiation of fetal adipose tissues, but decreased during the de-differentiation of adipocytic tumors, suggesting that the expression of CIDEC should be positively correlated with the differentiation of adipocytes. Furthermore, we verified that human CIDEC was localized on the surface of lipid droplets. Using human primary pre-adipocytes, we confirmed that the expression of CIDEC was elevated during the differentiation of pre-adipocytes, and knockdown of CIDEC in human primary pre-adipocytes resulted in differentiation defects. These data demonstrate that CIDEC is essential for the differentiation of adipose tissue. Together with regulating adipocyte lipid metabolism, CIDEC should be a potential target for regulating adipocyte differentiation and reducing fat cell mass.
Proteomic Analysis of Native Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor-4 alpha (HNF4 alpha) Isoforms, Phosphorylation Status, and Interactive Cofactors
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
Authors: Daigo, Kenji; Kawamura, Takeshi; Ohta, Yoshihiro; Ohashi, Riuko; Katayose, Satoshi; Tanaka, Toshiya; Aburatani, Hiroyuki; Naito, Makoto; Kodama, Tatsuhiko; Ihara, Sigeo; Hamakubo, Takao
Abstract
Hepatocyte nuclear factor-4 alpha (HNF4 alpha, NR2A1) is a nuclear receptor that has a critical role in hepatocyte differentiation and the maintenance of homeostasis in the adult liver. However, a detailed understanding of native HNF4 alpha in the steady-state remains to be elucidated. Here we report the native HNF4 alpha isoform, phosphorylation status, and complexes in the steady-state, as shown by shotgun proteomics in HepG2 hepatocarcinoma cells. Shotgun proteomic analysis revealed the complexity of native HNF4 alpha, including multiple phosphorylation sites and inter-isoform heterodimerization. The associating complexes identified by label-free semiquantitative proteomic analysis include the following: the DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit, histone acetyltransferase complexes, mRNA splicing complex, other nuclear receptor coactivator complexes, the chromatin remodeling complex, and the nucleosome remodeling and histone deacetylation complex. Among the associating proteins, GRB10 interacting GYF protein 2 (GIGYF2, PERQ2) is a new candidate cofactor in metabolic regulation. Moreover, an unexpected heterodimerization of HNF4 alpha and hepatocyte nuclear factor-4 alpha was found. A biochemical and genomewide analysis of transcriptional regulation showed that this heterodimerization activates gene transcription. The genes thus transcribed include the cell death-inducing DEF45-like effector b (CIDEB) gene, which is an important regulator of lipid metabolism in the liver. This suggests that the analysis of the distinctive stoichiometric balance of native HNF4 alpha and its cofactor complexes described here are important for an accurate understanding of transcriptional regulation.