scholarly journals Retrospective on Cholesterol Homeostasis: The Central Role of Scap

2018 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 783-807 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael S. Brown ◽  
Arun Radhakrishnan ◽  
Joseph L. Goldstein
Keyword(s):  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Cholesterol Synthesis ◽  
Regulatory Element ◽  
Cholesterol Content ◽  
Proteolytic Processing ◽  
Cholesterol Homeostasis ◽  
Sterol Regulatory Element ◽  
Polytopic Membrane Protein

Scap is a polytopic membrane protein that functions as a molecular machine to control the cholesterol content of membranes in mammalian cells. In the 21 years since our laboratory discovered Scap, we have learned how it binds sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) and transports them from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi for proteolytic processing. Proteolysis releases the SREBP transcription factor domains, which enter the nucleus to promote cholesterol synthesis and uptake. When cholesterol in ER membranes exceeds a threshold, the sterol binds to Scap, triggering several conformational changes that prevent the Scap–SREBP complex from leaving the ER. As a result, SREBPs are no longer processed, cholesterol synthesis and uptake are repressed, and cholesterol homeostasis is restored. This review focuses on the four domains of Scap that undergo concerted conformational changes in response to cholesterol binding. The data provide a molecular mechanism for the control of lipids in cell membranes.

scholarly journals mTORC1 activates SREBP-2 by suppressing cholesterol trafficking to lysosomes in mammalian cells

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (30) ◽  
pp. 7999-8004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walaa Eid ◽  
Kristin Dauner ◽  
Kevin C. Courtney ◽  
AnneMarie Gagnon ◽  
Robin J. Parks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Trafficking ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Cholesterol Synthesis ◽  
Regulatory Element ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Cholesterol Trafficking ◽  
Endosomal Recycling ◽  
Sterol Regulatory Element ◽  
Dual Blockade ◽  
Mtorc1 Activation

mTORC1 is known to activate sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) including SREBP-2, a master regulator of cholesterol synthesis. Through incompletely understood mechanisms, activated mTORC1 triggers translocation of SREBP-2, an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) resident protein, to the Golgi where SREBP-2 is cleaved to translocate to the nucleus and activate gene expression for cholesterol synthesis. Low ER cholesterol is a well-established trigger for SREBP-2 activation. We thus investigated whether mTORC1 activates SREBP-2 by reducing cholesterol delivery to the ER. We report here that mTORC1 activation is accompanied by low ER cholesterol and an increase of SREBP-2 activation. Conversely, a decrease in mTORC1 activity coincides with a rise in ER cholesterol and a decrease in SERBP-2 activity. This rise in ER cholesterol is of lysosomal origin: blocking the exit of cholesterol from lysosomes by U18666A or NPC1 siRNA prevents ER cholesterol from increasing and, consequently, SREBP-2 is activated without mTORC1 activation. Furthermore, when mTORC1 activity is low, cholesterol is delivered to lysosomes through two membrane trafficking pathways: autophagy and rerouting of endosomes to lysosomes. Indeed, with dual blockade of both pathways by Atg5−/−and dominant-negative rab5, ER cholesterol fails to increase when mTORC1 activity is low, and SREBP-2 is activated. Conversely, overexpressing constitutively active Atg7, which forces autophagy and raises ER cholesterol even when mTORC1 activity is high, suppresses SREBP-2 activation. We conclude that mTORC1 actively suppresses autophagy and maintains endosomal recycling, thereby preventing endosomes and autophagosomes from reaching lysosomes. This results in a reduction of cholesterol in the ER and activation of SREBP-2.

Contribution of high fat diet induced PCSK9 upregulation to a mouse model of PCOS is mediated partly by SREBP2

Reproduction ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-jing Guo ◽  
Yi-cheng Wang ◽  
Yong-dan Ma ◽  
Zhi-hui Cui ◽  
Li-xue Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Fat Diet ◽  
Cholesterol Metabolism ◽  
Regulatory Element ◽  
Follicular Development ◽  
Cholesterol Homeostasis ◽  
High Fat ◽  
Prevention And Treatment ◽  
Element Binding Protein ◽  
Sterol Regulatory Element

The incidence of PCOS due to highfat diet (HFD) consumption has been increasing significantly. However, the mechanism by which an HFD contributes to the pathogenesis of PCOS has not been elucidated. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a key protein that regulates cholesterol metabolism. Our previous study revealed abnormally high PCSK9 levels in serum from patients with PCOS and in serum and hepatic and ovarian tissues from PCOS model mice, suggesting that PCSK9 is involved in the pathogenesis of PCOS. However, the factor that induces high PCSK9 expression in PCOS remained unclear. In this study, Pcsk9 knockout mice were used to further prove the role of PCSK9 in PCOS. We also studied the effects of an HFD on the expression of PCSK9 and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (SREBP2), a regulator of cholesterol homeostasis and a key transcription factor that regulates the expression of PCSK9, and the roles of these proteins in PCOS pathology. Our results indicated HFD may play an important role by inducing abnormally high PCSK9 expression via SREBP2 upregulation. We further investigated the effects of an effective SREBPs inhibitor, fatostain, and found that it could reduce HFD induced PCSK9 expression, ameliorate hyperlipidemia and improve follicular development in PCOS model mice. Our study thus further elucidates the important role of an HFD in the pathogenesis of PCOS and provides a new clue in the prevention and treatment of this disorder.

scholarly journals Wnt signaling mediates oncogenic synergy between Akt and Dlx5 in T-cell lymphomagenesis by enhancing cholesterol synthesis

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yinfei Tan ◽  
Eleonora Sementino ◽  
Zemin Liu ◽  
Kathy Q. Cai ◽  
Joseph R. Testa
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cholesterol Synthesis ◽  
Regulatory Element ◽  
Cholesterol Biosynthesis ◽  
Homeobox Gene ◽  
Rna Seq ◽  
Expression Of Genes ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Sterol Regulatory Element

Abstract The Dlx5 homeobox gene was first implicated as an oncogene in a T-ALL mouse model expressing myristoylated (Myr) Akt2. Furthermore, overexpression of Dlx5 was sufficient to drive T-ALL in mice by directly activating Akt and Notch signaling. These findings implied that Akt2 cooperates with Dlx5 in T-cell lymphomagenesis. To test this hypothesis, Lck-Dlx5;Lck-MyrAkt2 transgenic mice were generated. MyrAkt2 synergized with Dlx5 to greatly accelerate and enhance the dissemination of T-lymphomagenesis. RNA-seq analysis performed on lymphomas from Lck-Dlx5;Lck-MyrAkt mice revealed upregulation of genes involved in the Wnt and cholesterol biosynthesis pathways. Combined RNA-seq and ChIP-seq analysis of lymphomas from Lck-Dlx5;Lck-MyrAkt mice demonstrated that β-catenin directly regulates genes involved in sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 2 (Srebf2)-cholesterol synthesis. These lymphoma cells had high Lef1 levels and were highly sensitive to β-catenin and Srebf2-cholesterol synthesis inhibitors. Similarly, human T-ALL cell lines with activated NOTCH and AKT and elevated LEF1 levels were sensitive to inhibition of β-catenin and cholesterol pathways. Furthermore, LEF1 expression positively correlated with expression of genes involved in the cholesterol synthesis pathway in primary human T-ALL specimens. Together, these data suggest that targeting β-catenin and/or cholesterol biosynthesis, together with AKT, could have therapeutic efficacy in a subset of T-ALL patients.

New insights into the activation of sterol regulatory element-binding proteins by proteolytic processing

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 417-423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Inoue ◽  
Ryuichiro Sato
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Small Molecules ◽  
Recent Progress ◽  
Binding Proteins ◽  
Regulatory Element ◽  
Acid Synthesis ◽  
Proteolytic Processing ◽  
Endoplasmic Reticulum Membrane ◽  
Post Translational Modification ◽  
Sterol Regulatory Element

AbstractSterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) are transcription factors that regulate a wide variety of genes involved in cholesterol and fatty acid synthesis. After transcription, SREBPs are controlled at multiple post-transcriptional levels, including proteolytic processing and post-translational modification. Among these, proteolytic processing is a crucial regulatory step that activates SREBPs, which are synthesized as inactive endoplasmic reticulum membrane proteins. In this review, we focus on recent progress with regard to signaling pathways and small molecules that affect activation of SREBPs by proteolytic processing.

Altered cholesterol homeostasis in cultured and in vivo models of cystic fibrosis

2007 ◽  
Vol 292 (2) ◽  
pp. L476-L486 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole M. White ◽  
Dechen Jiang ◽  
James D. Burgess ◽  
Ilya R. Bederman ◽  
Stephen F. Previs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cystic Fibrosis ◽  
Cholesterol Synthesis ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Cholesterol Content ◽  
Cholesterol Homeostasis ◽  
Lysosomal Storage ◽  
In Vivo Models ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Nasal Tissue

Determining how the regulation of cellular processes is impacted in cystic fibrosis (CF) is fundamental to understanding disease pathology and to identifying new therapeutic targets. In this study, unesterified cholesterol accumulation is observed in lung and trachea sections obtained from CF patients compared with non-CF tissues, suggesting an inherent flaw in cholesterol processing. An alternate staining method utilizing a fluorescent cholesterol probe also indicates improper lysosomal storage of cholesterol in CF cells. Excess cholesterol is also manifested by a significant increase in plasma membrane cholesterol content in both cultured CF cells and in nasal tissue excised from cftr −/− mice. Impaired intracellular cholesterol movement is predicted to stimulate cholesterol synthesis, a hypothesis supported by the observation of increased de novo cholesterol synthesis in lung and liver of cftr −/− mice compared with controls. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of cholesterol transport is sufficient to cause CF-like elevation in cytokine production in wild-type cells in response to bacterial challenge but has no effect in CF cells. These data demonstrate via multiple methods in both cultured and in vivo models that cellular cholesterol homeostasis is inherently altered in CF. This perturbation of cholesterol homeostasis represents a potentially important process in CF pathogenesis.

scholarly journals SCAP/SREBP pathway is required for the full steroidogenic response to cyclic AMP

2016 ◽  
Vol 113 (38) ◽  
pp. E5685-E5693 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masami Shimizu-Albergine ◽  
Brian Van Yserloo ◽  
Martin G. Golkowski ◽  
Shao-En Ong ◽  
Joseph A. Beavo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cyclic Amp ◽  
Leydig Cells ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Regulatory Element ◽  
De Novo Synthesis ◽  
Intracellular Lipid ◽  
Element Binding Protein ◽  
Short Palindromic Repeat ◽  
Sterol Regulatory Element

Luteinizing hormone (LH) stimulates steroidogenesis largely through a surge in cyclic AMP (cAMP). Steroidogenic rates are also critically dependent on the availability of cholesterol at mitochondrial sites of synthesis. This cholesterol is provided by cellular uptake of lipoproteins, mobilization of intracellular lipid, and de novo synthesis. Whether and how these pathways are coordinated by cAMP are poorly understood. Recent phosphoproteomic analyses of cAMP-dependent phosphorylation sites in MA10 Leydig cells suggested that cAMP regulates multiple steps in these processes, including activation of the SCAP/SREBP pathway. SCAP [sterol-regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP) cleavage-activating protein] acts as a cholesterol sensor responsible for regulating intracellular cholesterol balance. Its role in cAMP-mediated control of steroidogenesis has not been explored. We used two CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat)-Cas9 (CRISPR associated protein 9) knockout approaches to test the role of SCAP in steroidogenesis. Our results demonstrate that SCAP is required for progesterone production induced by concurrent inhibition of the cAMP phosphodiesterases PDE4 and PDE8. These inhibitors increased SCAP phosphorylation, SREBP2 activation, and subsequent expression of cholesterol biosynthetic genes, whereas SCAP deficiency largely prevented these effects. Reexpression of SCAP in SCAP-deficient cells restored SREBP2 protein expression and partially restored steroidogenic responses, confirming the requirement of SCAP–SREBP2 in steroidogenesis. Inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-Coenzyme A reductase and isoprenylation attenuated, whereas exogenously provided cholesterol augmented, PDE inhibitor-induced steroidogenesis, suggesting that the cholesterol substrate needed for steroidogenesis is provided by both de novo synthesis and isoprenylation-dependent mechanisms. Overall, these results demonstrate a novel role for LH/cAMP in SCAP/SREBP activation and subsequent regulation of steroidogenesis.

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