Project description:The detachment of epithelial cells, but not cancer cells, causes anoikis due to reduced energy production. Invasive tumor cells generate three splice variants of the metastasis gene osteopontin. The cancer-specific form osteopontin-c supports anchorage-independence through inducing oxidoreductases and upregulating intermediates/enzymes in the hexose monophosphate shunt, glutathione cycle, glycolysis, glycerol phosphate shuttle, and mitochondrial respiratory chain. Osteopontin-c signaling upregulates glutathione (consistent with the induction of the enzyme GPX-4), glutamine and glutamate (which can feed into the tricarboxylic acid cycle). Consecutively, the cellular ATP levels are elevated. The elevated creatine may be synthesized from serine via glycine and also supports the energy metabolism by increasing the formation of ATP. Metabolic probing with N-acetyl-L-cysteine, L-glutamate, or glycerol identified differentially regulated pathway components, with mitochondrial activity being redox dependent and the creatine pathway depending on glutamine. The effects are consistent with a stimulation of the energy metabolism that supports anti-anoikis. Our findings imply a synergism in cancer cells between osteopontin-a, which increases the cellular glucose levels, and osteopontin-c, which utilizes this glucose to generate energy. mRNA profiles of MCF-7 cells transfected with osteopontin-a, osteopontin-c and vector control were generated by RNA-Seq, in triplicate, by Illumina HiSeq.
Project description:Global gene expression analysis reveals that PIMT regulates many genes involved in energy metabolism, calcium signaling, and oxidative phosphorylation in myocardium.
Project description:Vitamin D deficiency and mutations in Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) are associated with liver disease and obesity, but the functions of vitamin D signaling in metabolism are poorly understood. Though vitamin D signaling is best known for its functions in mineral homeostasis and skeleton calcification in terrestrial vertebrates, this is unlikely to be the evolutionary function of vitamin D signaling. We utilize tissue-specific genetic modulation of Vdr signaling to investigate the function of the vitamin D endocrine system in zebrafish. We find that hepatocyte Vdr regulates organismal response to nutritional cues and coordinates hepatic and organismal energy metabolism by balancing energy storage and tissue growth.
Project description:Glucagon, an essential regulator of glucose and lipid metabolism, also promotes weight loss, in part through potentiation of fibroblast-growth factor 21 (FGF21) secretion. However, FGF21 is only a partial mediator of metabolic actions ensuing from GcgR-activation, prompting us to search for additional pathways. Intriguingly, chronic GcgR agonism increases plasma bile acid levels. We hypothesized that GcgR agonism regulates energy metabolism, at least in part, through farnesoid X receptor (FXR). To test this hypothesis, we studied whole body and liver-specific FXR knockout (FXR∆liver) mice. Chronic GcgR agonist (IUB288) administration in diet-induced obese (DIO) Gcgr, Fgf21 and Fxr whole body or liver-specific knockout (∆liver) mice failed to reduce body weight (BW) when compared to wildtype (WT) mice. IUB288 increased energy expenditure and respiration in DIO WT mice, but not FXR∆liver mice. GcgR agonism increased [14C]-palmitate oxidation in hepatocytes isolated from WT mice in a dose-dependent manner, an effect blunted in hepatocytes from FXR∆liver mice. Our data clearly demonstrate that control of whole body energy expenditure by GcgR agonism requires intact FXR signaling in the liver. This heretofore-unappreciated aspect of glucagon biology has implications for the use of GcgR agonism in the therapy of metabolic disorders.
