The adrenergic-induced ERK3 pathway drives lipolysis and suppresses energy dissipation.

Obesity-induced diabetes affects >400 million people worldwide. Uncontrolled lipolysis (free fatty acid release from adipocytes) can contribute to diabetes and obesity. To identify future therapeutic avenues targeting this pathway, we performed a high-throughput screen and identified the extracellular-regulated kinase 3 (ERK3) as a hit. We demonstrated that ß-adrenergic stimulation stabilizes ERK3, leading to the formation of a complex with the cofactor MAP kinase-activated protein kinase 5 (MK5), thereby driving lipolysis. Mechanistically, we identified a downstream target of the ERK3/MK5 pathway, the transcription factor FOXO1, which promotes the expression of the major lipolytic enzyme ATGL. Finally, we provide evidence that targeted deletion of ERK3 in mouse adipocytes inhibits lipolysis, but elevates energy dissipation, promoting lean phenotype and ameliorating diabetes. Thus, ERK3/MK5 represents a previously unrecognized signaling axis in adipose tissue and an attractive target for future therapies aiming to combat obesity-induced diabetes.

SCD1 regulates the AMPK/SIRT1 pathway and histone acetylation through changes in adenine nucleotide metabolism in skeletal muscle.

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) is a rate-limiting enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of monounsaturated fatty acids. It plays an important role in regulating skeletal muscle metabolism. Lack of the SCD1 gene increases the rate of fatty acid ß-oxidation through activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway and the upregulation of genes that are related to fatty acid oxidation. The mechanism of AMPK activation under conditions of SCD1 deficiency has been unclear. In the present study, we found that the ablation/inhibition of SCD1 led to AMPK activation in skeletal muscle through an increase in AMP levels whereas muscle-specific SCD1 overexpression decreased both AMPK phosphorylation and the adenosine monophosphate/adenosine triphosphate (AMP/ATP) ratio. Changes in AMPK phosphorylation that were caused by SCD1 down- and upregulation affected NAD+ levels following changes in NAD+ -dependent deacetylase sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) activity and histone 3 (H3K9) acetylation and methylation status. Moreover, mice with muscle-targeted overexpression of SCD1 were more susceptible to high-fat diet-induced lipid accumulation and the development of insulin resistance compared with wild-type mice. These data show that SCD1 is involved in nucleotide (ATP and NAD+ ) metabolism and suggest that the SCD1-dependent regulation of muscle steatosis and insulin sensitivity are mediated by cooperation between AMPK- and SIRT1-regulated pathways. Altogether, the present study reveals a novel mechanism that links SCD1 with the maintenance of metabolic homeostasis and insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle.

Diacylglycerol-evoked activation of PKC and PKD isoforms in regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism: a review.

Protein kinase C (PKC) and Protein kinase D (PKD) isoforms can sense diacylglycerol (DAG) generated in the different cellular compartments in various physiological processes. DAG accumulates in multiple organs of the obese subjects, which leads to the disruption of metabolic homeostasis and the development of diabetes as well as associated diseases. Multiple studies proved that aberrant activation of PKCs and PKDs contributes to the development of metabolic diseases. DAG-sensing PKC and PKD isoforms play a crucial role in the regulation of metabolic homeostasis and therefore might serve as targets for the treatment of metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes.

Islet ß-cell failure in type 2 diabetes--Within the network of toxic lipids.

Obesity-related type 2 diabetes develops in individuals with the onset of ß-cell dysfunction. Pancreatic islet lipotoxicity is now recognized as a primary reason for the onset and progression of the disease. Such dysfunction is reflected by the aberrant secretory capacity and detrimental loss of ß-cell mass and survival. Elevated circulating serum fatty acid levels and disordered lipid metabolism management are particularly interesting in the search for biologically relevant triggers of ß-cell demise. Herein, we review various types of toxic lipid metabolites that may play a significant role in pancreatic islet failure. The lipotoxic effect on ß-cells depends on the type of lipid mediator (e.g., long-chain fatty acids, diacylglycerols, ceramides, phospholipids), cellular location of its action (e.g., endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria), and associated-organelle conditions (e.g., membranes, vesicles). We also discuss various aspects of lipid action in ß-cells, including effects on metabolic pathways, stress responses (e.g., oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and autophagy), and gene expression.

Quantum-chemical studies on the favored and rare tautomers of neutral and redox adenine.

All possible twenty-three prototropic tautomers of neutral and redox adenine (nine amine and fourteen imine forms, including geometric isomerism of the exo ═NH group) were examined in vacuo {DFT(B3LYP)/6-311+G(d,p)}. The NH → NH conversions as well as those usually omitted, NH → CH and CH → CH, were considered. An interesting change of the tautomeric preference occurs when proceeding from neutral to reduced adenine. One-electron reduction favors the nonaromatic amine C8H-N10H tautomer. This tautomeric preference is similar to that (C2H) for reduced imidazole. Water molecules (PCM model) seem to not change this trend. They influence solely the relative energies. The DFT vertical detachment energy in the gas phase is positive for each tautomer, e.g., 0.03 eV for N9H-N10H and 1.84 eV for C8H-N10H. The DFT adiabatic electron affinity for the favored process, neutral N9H-N10H → reduced C8H-N10H (ground states), is equal to 0.18 eV at 0 K (ZPE included). One-electron oxidation does not change the tautomeric preference in the gas phase. The aromatic amine N9H-N10H tautomer is favored for the oxidized molecule similarly as for the neutral one. The DFT adiabatic ionization potential for the favored process, neutral N9H-N10H → oxidized N9H-N10H (ground states), is equal to 8.12 eV at 0 K (ZPE included). Water molecules (PCM model) seem to influence solely the composition of the tautomeric mixture and the relative energies. They change the energies of the oxidation and reduction processes by ca. 2 eV.

Adipose- and muscle-derived Wnts trigger pancreatic ß-cell adaptation to systemic insulin resistance.

Wnt signaling molecules are associated with obesity, hyperlipidemia, and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Here, we show that two Wnt proteins, WNT3a and WNT4, are specifically secreted by skeletal muscle and adipose tissue during the development of insulin resistance and play an important role in cross-talk between insulin-resistant tissues and pancreatic beta cells. The activation of Frizzled receptor and Wnt signaling in pancreatic islets via circulating WNT3a in blood resulted in higher insulin secretion and an increase in beta cell proliferation, thus leading to islet adaptation in a pre-diabetic state. Interestingly, in fully developed T2D, the expression profiles of Wnt3a and Wnt4 in adipose tissue and muscle cells and blood plasma levels of these proteins were opposite to the pre-diabetic state, thus favoring the downregulation of Wnt signaling in beta cells and resulting in dysfunctional pancreatic islets. These results demonstrate that alterations in the secretion profile of a canonical Wnt activator (WNT3a) and inhibitor (WNT4) from insulin-resistant tissues during the development of T2D are responsible for triggering progression from a pre-diabetic to a diabetic state. We also show here that WNT3a and WNT4 are potent myokines, and their expression and secretion are regulated in response to nutritional and metabolic changes.

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase regulates inflammatory gene expression by changing DNA methylation level in 3T3 adipocytes.

Adipocytes are one of the primary sources of inflammatory cytokines that drive the low-grade inflammation associated with obesity and obesity-related diseases. Stearoyl-CoA desaturase, a key adipogenic enzyme in rodents and humans, plays significant role in the regulation of adipocyte inflammation via a mechanism that involves the regulation of inflammatory gene expression. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that the stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1-related regulation of gene expression might be driven by changes in DNA methylation. We showed that stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 overexpression causes the global hypomethylation of DNA, even as early as 12h after the induction of differentiation, with the greatest difference seen in mature adipocytes. In contrast, both the silencing of stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 gene expression by siRNA and inhibition of stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 activity resulted in DNA hypermethylation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The analysis of the promoter methylation of 22 genes that are related to the inflammatory response showed that the level of methylation of CpG sites in interleukin-10 receptor a, interleukin-4 receptor a, interleukin-6 signal transducer, and transforming growth factor ß 1 promoters was strongly related to stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 expression or activity. The changes in methylation at CpG promoter sites correlated with differential expression of the aforementioned genes. The results show that stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 regulates the level of DNA methylation in adipocytes and suggest that the mechanism by which stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 affects adipocyte inflammation may involve changes in the methylation of inflammatory genes.

DFT studies on one-electron oxidation and one-electron reduction for 2- and 4-aminopyridines.

Quantum-chemical calculations {DFT(B3LYP)/6-311+G(d,p)} were performed for all possible tautomers (aromatic and nonaromatic) of neutral 2- and 4-aminopyridines and their oxidized and reduced forms. One-electron oxidation has no important effect on the tautomeric preference for 2-aminopyridine. The amine tautomer is favored. However, oxidation increases the stability of the imine NH tautomer, and its contribution in the tautomeric mixture cannot be neglected. In the case of 4-aminopyridine, one-electron oxidation increases the stability of both the amine and imine NH tautomers. Consequently, they possess very close energies. As major tautomers, they dictate the composition of the tautomeric mixture. The CH tautomers may be considered as very rare forms for both neutral and oxidized aminopyridines. A reverse situation takes place for the reduced forms of aminopyridines. One-electron reduction favors the C3 atom for the labile proton for both aminopyridines. This may partially explain the origin of the CH tautomers for the anionic states of nucleobases containing the exo NH(2) group.

Consequences of one-electron oxidation and one-electron reduction for 4-aminopyrimidine--DFT studies.

The consequences of one-electron oxidation and one-electron reduction were studied for 4-aminopyrimidine (4APM), which displays prototropic tautomerism. Since experimental techniques are incapable of detecting less than 0.1% of minor tautomers, quantum-chemical calculations [DFT(B3LYP)/6-311+G(d,p)] were carried out for all possible tautomers of neutral 4AMP and its redox forms, 4APM (+ •) and 4APM (- •). Four tautomers were considered: one amine and three imine tautomers (two NH and one CH form). Geometric isomerism of the exo = NH group was also taken into account. One-electron oxidation (4APM - e → 4APM (+ •)) has no significant effect on the tautomeric preferences; it influences solely the composition of the tautomeric mixture. The amine tautomer is favored for both 4APM (+ •) and 4APM. An interesting change in the tautomeric preference occurs for 4APM (- •). One-electron reduction (4APM + e → 4APM (- •)) favors the C5 atom for the labile proton. The preference of the imine CH tautomer in the tautomeric mixture of 4APM (- •) may partially explain the origin of CH tautomers in nucleobases.

Consequence of one-electron oxidation and one-electron reduction for aniline.

Quantum-chemical calculations were performed for all possible isomers of neutral aniline and its redox forms, and intramolecular proton-transfer (prototropy) accompanied by π-electron delocalization was analyzed. One-electron oxidation (PhNH(2) - e → [PhNH(2)](+•)) has no important effect on tautomeric preferences. The enamine tautomer is preferred for oxidized aniline similarly as for the neutral molecule. Dramatical changes take place when proceeding from neutral to reduced aniline. One-electron reduction (PhNH(2) + e → [PhNH(2)](-•)) favors the imine tautomer. Independently on the state of oxidation, π- and n-electrons are more delocalized for the enamine than imine tautomers. The change of the tautomeric preferences for reduced aniline may partially explain the origin of the CH tautomers for reduced nucleobases (cytosine, adenine, and guanine).