Project description:G-quadruplex structure (G4) is a type of DNA secondary structure that widely exists in the genomes of many organisms. G4s are believed to participate in multiple biological processes. Acyl- CoA binding protein (ACBP), a ubiquitously expressed and highly conserved protein in eukaryotic cells, plays important roles in lipid metabolism by transporting and protecting acyl-CoA esters. Here, we report the functional identification of a G4 in the promoter of the ACBP gene in silkworm and human cancer cells. We found that G4 exists as a conserved element in the promoters of ACBP genes in invertebrates and vertebrates. The BmACBP G4 bound with G4-binding protein LARK regulated BmACBP transcription, which was blocked by the G4 stabilizer pyridostatin (PDS) and G4 antisense oligonucleotides. PDS treatment with 5 th instar silkworm larvae decreased the BmACBP expression and triacylglycerides (TAG) level, resulting in reductions in fat body mass, body size and weight and growth and metamorphic rates. PDS treatment and knocking out of the HsACBP G4 in human hepatic adenocarcinoma HepG2 cells inhibited the expression of HsACBP and decreased the TAG level and cell proliferation. Altogether, our findings suggest that G4 of the ACBP genes is involved in regulation of lipid metabolism processes in invertebrates and vertebrates.
Project description:G-quadruplex structure (G4) is a type of DNA secondary structure that widely exists in the genomes of many organisms. G4s are believed to participate in multiple biological processes. Acyl-CoA binding protein (ACBP), a ubiquitously expressed and highly conserved protein in eukaryotic cells, plays important roles in lipid metabolism by transporting and protecting acyl-CoA esters. Here, we report the functional identification of a G4 in the promoter of the ACBP gene in silkworm and human cancer cells. We found that G4 exists as a conserved element in the promoters of ACBP genes in invertebrates and vertebrates. The BmACBP G4 bound with G4-binding protein LARK regulated BmACBP transcription, which was blocked by the G4 stabilizer pyridostatin (PDS) and G4 antisense oligonucleotides. PDS treatment with fifth instar silkworm larvae decreased the BmACBP expression and triacylglycerides (TAG) level, resulting in reductions in fat body mass, body size and weight and growth and metamorphic rates. PDS treatment and knocking out of the HsACBP G4 in human hepatic adenocarcinoma HepG2 cells inhibited the expression of HsACBP and decreased the TAG level and cell proliferation. Altogether, our findings suggest that G4 of the ACBP genes is involved in regulation of lipid metabolism processes in invertebrates and vertebrates.
Project description:The mechanisms underlying the formation of acyl protein modifications remain poorly understood. By investigating the reactivity of endogenous acyl-CoA metabolites, we found a class of acyl-CoAs that undergoes intramolecular catalysis to form reactive intermediates which non-enzymatically modify proteins. Based on this mechanism, we predicted, validated, and characterized the protein modification: 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl(HMG)-lysine. In a model of altered HMG-CoA metabolism, we found evidence of two additional protein modifications: 3-methylglutaconyl(MGc)-lysine and 3-methylglutaryl(MG)-lysine. Using quantitative proteomics, we compared the ‘acylomes’ of two reactive acyl-CoA species, namely HMG-CoA and glutaryl-CoA, which are generated in different pathways. We found proteins that are uniquely modified by each reactive metabolite, as well as common proteins and pathways. We identified the tricarboxylic acid cycle as a pathway commonly regulated by acylation, and validated malate dehydrogenase as a key target. These data identify a fundamental relationship between reactive acyl-CoA species and proteins, and define a new regulatory paradigm in metabolism.
Project description:5 day RNAi treatment to knockdown Enigma, CG9006, a Drosophila mitochondrial protein with homology to acyl-CoA dehydrogenases. Experiment Overall Design: Kc-167 cells, 5 day treatment with Enigma-specific RNAi or beta-lactamase control RNAi. Specifics:1.6X10^6 cells in 0.5mL of serum-free Sang's M3 media incubated for 1 hour with 20ug of dsRNA, subsequently equal volume of M3 media containing 10% serum was added. Cells harvested after 5 days. RNAi efficiency measured by immunoblot for Enigma.
Project description:Acyl-CoAs are essential for life. These metabolites serve as fundamental cellular building blocks in the biosynthesis of lipids, intermediates in energy production via the TCA cycle, and essential precursors for reversible protein acetylation. Each of these roles are dependent on acyl-CoA/protein interactions, physical contacts that can regulate protein function via a variety of mechanisms. We utilized systems-level analyses to characterize novel protein networks that interact with metabolic acyl-CoAs, and evaluate the potential of these interactions to facilitate enzyme activity or non-enzymatic acylation. Our studies provide a roadmap for integrating chemoproteomic data with systems biology analysis, and establish a novel resource for understanding the diverse signaling roles of acyl-CoAs in biology and disease.
Project description:The Mycobacterium tuberculosis acyl-CoA carboxylases provide the building blocks for de novo fatty acid biosynthesis by fatty acid synthase (FAS) I and for the elongation of FAS I end-products by the FAS II complex to produce meromycolic acids. M. tuberculosis genome contains three biotin carboxylase subunits (AccA1-3) and 6 carboxyltransferase subunits (AccD1-6) of which AccD6 is located in a genetic locus that contains members of the FAS II complex. We found by microarray and quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis that the transcripts of AccA3, AccD4, AccD5 and AccD6 are expressed at high levels during exponential growth phases of M. tuberculosis in vitro. Keywords: Time course, developmental stages
Project description:Floodings already have a nearly 60% share in the worldwide damage to crops provoked by natural disasters. Climate change will cause plants to be even more frequently exposed to oxygen limiting conditions (hypoxia) in the near future due to heavy precipitation and concomitant waterlogging or flooding events in large areas of the world. Although the homeostatic regulation of adaptive responses to low oxygen stress in plants is well described, it remained unknown by which initial trigger the molecular response to low-oxygen stress is activated. Here, we show that a hypoxia-induced decline of the ATP level of the cell reduces LONG-CHAIN ACYL-COA SYNTHETASE (LACS) activity, which leads to a shift in the composition of the acyl-CoA pool. High oleoyl-CoA levels release the transcription factor RELATED TO APETALA 2.12 (RAP2.12) from its interaction partner ACYL-COA BINDING PROTEIN (ACBP) at the plasma membrane to induce low oxygen-specific gene expression. We show that different acyl-CoAs provoke unique molecular responses revealing a novel role as cellular signalling component also in plants. In terms of hypoxia signalling, dynamic acyl-CoA levels integrate the cellular energy status into the oxygen signalling cascade with ACBP and RAP2.12 being the central hub. The conserved nature of the ACBP:RAP2.12 module in crops and the novel mechanistic understanding of how low-oxygen stress responses are initiated by oleoyl-CoA in plants provide useful leads for enhancing future food security.
Project description:Phosphatidylcholine (PC) is an abundant membrane lipid component in most eukaryotes including yeast. PC has been assigned a multitude of functions in addition to that of building block of the lipid bilayer. Here we show that PC is evolvable essential in yeast by isolating suppressor mutants devoid of PC that exhibit robust growth. The requirement for PC is suppressed by monosomy of chromosome XV, or by a point mutation in the ACC1 gene encoding acetyl-CoA carboxylase. Although these two genetic adaptations rewire lipid biosynthesis differently, both decrease Acc1 activity thereby reducing the average acyl chain length. Accordingly, soraphen A, a specific inhibitor of Acc1, rescues a yeast mutant with deficient PC synthesis. In the aneuploid suppressor, up-regulation of lipid synthesis is instrumental to accomplish feed-back inhibition of Acc1 by acyl-CoA produced by the fatty acid synthase (FAS). The results show that yeast regulates acyl chain length by fine-tuning the activities of Acc1 and FAS, and indicate that PC evolved by benefitting the maintenance of membrane fluidity.