Deep congenic analysis identifies many strong, context-dependent QTLs, one of which, Slc35b4, regulates obesity and glucose homeostasis.

Although central to many studies of phenotypic variation and disease susceptibility, characterizing the genetic architecture of complex traits has been unexpectedly difficult. For example, most of the susceptibility genes that contribute to highly heritable conditions such as obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) remain to be identified despite intensive study. We took advantage of mouse models of diet-induced metabolic disease in chromosome substitution strains (CSSs) both to characterize the genetic architecture of diet-induced obesity and glucose homeostasis and to test the feasibility of gene discovery. Beginning with a survey of CSSs, followed with genetic and phenotypic analysis of congenic, subcongenic, and subsubcongenic strains, we identified a remarkable number of closely linked, phenotypically heterogeneous quantitative trait loci (QTLs) on mouse chromosome 6 that have unexpectedly large phenotypic effects. Although fine-mapping reduced the genomic intervals and gene content of these QTLs over 3000-fold, the average phenotypic effect on body weight was reduced less than threefold, highlighting the "fractal" nature of genetic architecture in mice. Despite this genetic complexity, we found evidence for 14 QTLs in only 32 recombination events in less than 3000 mice, and with an average of four genes located within the three body weight QTLs in the subsubcongenic strains. For Obrq2a1, genetic and functional studies collectively identified the solute receptor Slc35b4 as a regulator of obesity, insulin resistance, and gluconeogenesis. This work demonstrated the unique power of CSSs as a platform for studying complex genetic traits and identifying QTLs.

Function of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in mammary gland epithelial cells.

Previously, we have shown that Pck1 expression in mammary gland adipocytes and white adipose tissue maintains triglyceride stores through glyceroneogenesis, and these lipids were used for synthesis of milk triglycerides during lactation. Reduced milk triglycerides during lactation resulted in patterning of the newborn for insulin resistance. In this study, the role of Pck1 in mammary gland epithelial cells was analyzed. The developmental expression of Pck1 decreased in isolated mouse mammary gland epithelial cells through development and during lactation. Using HC11, a clonal mammary epithelial cell line, we found that both Janus kinase 2 signal transducers and activators of transcription 5 and the AKT pathways contributed to the repression of Pck1 mRNA by prolactin. These pathways necessitate three accessory factor regions of the Pck1 promoter for repression by prolactin. Using [U-(13)C(6)]glucose, [U-(13)C(3)]pyruvate, and [U-(13)C(3)]glycerol in HC11 cells, we determined that Pck1 functions in the pathway for the conversion of gluconeogenic precursors to glucose and contributes to glycerol-3-phosphate synthesis through glyceroneogenesis. Therefore, Pck1 plays an important role in both the mammary gland adipocytes and epithelial cells during lactation.

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (Pck1) helps regulate the triglyceride/fatty acid cycle and development of insulin resistance in mice.

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the cytosolic form of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (Pck1) in the development of insulin resistance. Previous studies have shown that the roles of Pck1 in white adipose tissue (WAT) in glyceroneogenesis and reesterification of free fatty acids (FFA) to generate triglyceride are vital for the prevention of diabetes. We hypothesized that insulin resistance develops when dysregulation of Pck1 occurs in the triglyceride/fatty acid cycle, which regulates lipid synthesis and transport between adipose tissue and the liver. We examined this by analyzing mice with a deletion of the PPARgamma binding site in the promoter of Pck1 (PPARE(-/-)). This mutation reduced the fasting Pck1 mRNA expression in WAT in brown adipose tissue (BAT). To analyze insulin resistance, we performed hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic glucose clamp analyses. PPARE(-/-) mice were profoundly insulin resistant and had more FFA and glycerol released during the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp compared with wild-type mice (WT). Finally, we analyzed insulin secretion in isolated islets. We found a 2-fold increase in insulin secretion in the PPARE(-/-) mice at 16.7 mM glucose. Thus, the PPARE site in the Pck1 promoter is essential for maintenance of lipid metabolism and glucose homeostasis and disease prevention.

Reduced milk triglycerides in mice lacking phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in mammary gland adipocytes and white adipose tissue contribute to the development of insulin resistance in pups.

Obesity and type 2 diabetes are growing problems worldwide in adults and children. In this study, we focused on understanding the patterning of insulin resistance as a result of altered perinatal nutrition. We analyzed mice in which the binding site for PPARgamma was deleted from the promoter of the cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase gene (Pck1) (PPARE(-/-)). We analyzed pups from dams with the same genotype as well as fostered and cross-fostered pups. Pck1 expression and triglyceride concentration in the milk were measured. The PPARE mutation reduced Pck1 expression in white adipose tissue (WAT) to 2.2% of wild type (WT) and reduced Pck1 expression in whole mammary gland tissue to 1% of WT. The female PPARE(-/-) mice had reduced lipid storage in mammary gland adipocytes and in WAT, resulting in a 40% reduction of milk triglycerides during lactation. Pups from PPARE(-/-) dams had insulin resistance as early as 14 d after birth, a condition that persisted into adulthood. WT pups fostered by PPARE(-/-) dams had lower body weights and plasma insulin concentrations compared with WT pups reared by WT dams. PPARE(-/-) pups fostered by WT dams had improved glucose clearance compared with pups raised by PPARE(-/-) dams. PPARE(+/-) and PPARE(-/-) dams also patterned newborn pups for reduced growth and insulin resistance in utero. Thus, the in utero environment and altered nutrition during the perinatal period cause epigenetic changes that persist into adulthood and contribute to the development of insulin resistance.

Molecular cloning and functional identification of invertase isozymes from green bamboo Bambusa oldhamii.

Three Bo beta fruct cDNAs encoding acid invertases were cloned from shoots of the green bamboo Bambusa oldhamii. On the basis of the amino acid sequences of their products and phylogenetic analyses, Bo beta fruct1 and Bo beta fruct2 were determined to encode cell wall invertases, whereas Bo beta fruct3encodes a vacuolar invertase. The recombinant proteins encoded by Bo beta fruct2 and Bo beta fruct3 were produced in Pichia pastoris and purified to near homogeneity using ammonium sulfate fractionation and immobilized metal affinity chromatography. The pH optima, pI values, and substrate specificities of the isolated enzymes were consistent with those of plant cell wall or vacuolar invertases. The growth-dependent expression of Bo beta fruct1 and Bo beta fruct2 in the base regions of shoots underscores their roles in sucrose unloading and providing substrates for shoot growth. Its high sucrose affinity suggests that the Bo beta fruct2-encoded enzyme is important for maintaining the sucrose gradient between source and sink organs, while the predominant expression of Bo beta fruct3 in regions of active cell differentiation and expansion suggests functions in osmoregulation and cell enlargement.

Vacuolar invertases in sweet potato: molecular cloning, characterization, and analysis of gene expression.

Two cDNAs (Ib beta fruct2 and Ib beta fruct3) encoding vacuolar invertases were cloned from sweet potato leaves, expressed in Pichia pastoris, and the recombinant proteins were purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation and chromatography on Ni-NTA agarose. The deduced amino acid sequences encoded by the cDNAs contained characteristic conserved elements of vacuolar invertases, including the sequence R[G/A/P]xxxGVS[E/D/M]K[S/T/A/R], located in the prepeptide region, Wxxx[M/I/V]LxWQ, located around the starting site of the mature protein, and an intact beta-fructosidase motif. The pH optimum, the substrate specificity, and the apparent K(m) values for sucrose exhibited by the recombinant proteins were similar to those of vacuolar invertases purified from sweet potato leaves and cell suspensions, thus confirming that the proteins encoded by Ib beta fruct2 and Ib beta fruct3 are vacuolar invertases. Moreover, northern analysis revealed that the expression of the two genes was differentially regulated. With the exception of mature leaves and sprouting storage roots, Ib beta fruct2 mRNA is widely expressed among the tissues of the sweet potato and is more abundant in young sink tissues. By contrast, Ib beta fruct3 mRNA was only detected in shoots and in young and mature leaves. It appears, therefore, that these two vacuolar invertases play different physiological roles during the development of the sweet potato plant.

Genetic factors for resistance to diet-induced obesity and associated metabolic traits on mouse chromosome 17.

Obesity is associated with increased susceptibility to dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and hypertension, a combination of traits that comprise the traditional definition of the metabolic syndrome. Recent evidence suggests that obesity is also associated with the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Despite the high prevalence of obesity and its related conditions, their etiologies and pathophysiology remains unknown. Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the development of obesity and NAFLD. Previous genetic analysis of high-fat, diet-induced obesity in C57BL/6J (B6) and A/J male mice using a panel of B6-Chr(A/J)/NaJ chromosome substitution strains (CSSs) demonstrated that 17 CSSs conferred resistance to high-fat, diet-induced obesity. One of these CSS strains, CSS-17, which is homosomic for A/J-derived chromosome 17, was analyzed further and found to be resistant to diet-induced steatosis. In the current study we generated seven congenic strains derived from CCS-17, fed them either a high-fat, simple-carbohydrate (HFSC) or low-fat, simple-carbohydrate (LFSC) diet for 16 weeks and then analyzed body weight and related traits. From this study we identified several quantitative trait loci (QTLs). On a HFSC diet, Obrq13 protects against diet-induced obesity, steatosis, and elevated fasting insulin and glucose levels. On the LFSC diet, Obrq13 confers lower hepatic triglycerides, suggesting that this QTL regulates liver triglycerides regardless of diet. Obrq15 protects against diet-induced obesity and steatosis on the HFSC diet, and Obrq14 confers increased final body weight and results in steatosis and insulin resistance on the HFSC diet. In addition, on the LFSC diet, Obrq 16 confers decreased hepatic triglycerides and Obrq17 confers lower plasma triglycerides on the LFSC diet. These congenic strains provide mouse models to identify genes and metabolic pathways that are involved in the development of NAFLD and aspects of diet-induced metabolic syndrome.