Project description:Obesity is a major risk factor underlying the development of metabolic disease and a growing public health concern globally. Strategies to promote skeletal muscle metabolism can be effective to limit the progression of metabolic disease. Here, we demonstrate that the levels of the Hippo pathway transcriptional co-activator YAP are decreased in muscle biopsies from obese, insulin-resistant humans and mice. Targeted disruption of Yap in adult skeletal muscle resulted in incomplete oxidation of fatty acids and lipotoxicity. Integrated 'omics analysis from isolated adult muscle nuclei revealed that Yap regulates a transcriptional profile associated with metabolic substrate utilisation. In line with these findings, increasing Yap abundance in the striated muscle of obese (db/db) mice enhanced energy expenditure and attenuated adiposity. Our results demonstrate a vital role for Yap as a mediator of skeletal muscle metabolism. Strategies to enhance Yap activity in skeletal muscle warrant consideration as part of comprehensive approaches to treat metabolic disease.
Project description:The Hippo signalling pathway effector Yap positively regulates adult skeletal muscle mass. However, the biological processes that are modulated by Yap in skeletal muscle remain elusive. Using an integrated transcriptomics and proteomics approach, we define the transcriptional programme regulated by Yap in adult skeletal muscle and demonstrate that Yap is a regulator of metabolic substrate utilisation. Inhibition of Yap in mammalian skeletal muscle results in increased, but incomplete, oxidation of fatty acids and features of lipotoxicity. In line with these findings, we demonstrate that Yap abundance is reduced in the skeletal musculature of obese db/db mice, and in muscle biopsies from obese, insulin-resistant humans where YAP levels positively correlate with whole-body metabolic flexibility. Increasing Yap abundance in the striated muscle of db/db mice attenuated the accumulation of fat mass and development of hepatic steatosis. Our findings demonstrate a vital role for Yap in skeletal muscle as a mediator of metabolic substrate utilisation. Modulating Yap activity in skeletal muscle warrants consideration as part of comprehensive approaches to treat metabolic disease.
Project description:The Hippo signalling pathway effector Yap positively regulates adult skeletal muscle mass. However, the biological processes that are modulated by Yap in skeletal muscle remain elusive. Using an integrated transcriptomics and proteomics approach, we define the transcriptional programme regulated by Yap in adult skeletal muscle and demonstrate that Yap is a regulator of metabolic substrate utilisation. Inhibition of Yap in mammalian skeletal muscle results in increased, but incomplete, oxidation of fatty acids and features of lipotoxicity. In line with these findings, we demonstrate that Yap abundance is reduced in the skeletal musculature of obese db/db mice, and in muscle biopsies from obese, insulin-resistant humans where YAP levels positively correlate with whole-body metabolic flexibility. Increasing Yap abundance in the striated muscle of db/db mice attenuated the accumulation of fat mass and development of hepatic steatosis. Our findings demonstrate a vital role for Yap in skeletal muscle as a mediator of metabolic substrate utilisation. Modulating Yap activity in skeletal muscle warrants consideration as part of comprehensive approaches to treat metabolic disease.
