Shigehiro Osada

Wnt4 and Wnt5a promote adipocyte differentiation.

The roles of the non‐canonical Wnt pathway during adipogenesis are not well known, though Wnt10b is known to function as a negative regulator for adipogenesis by activating the canonical Wnt pathway. We focused on the roles of Wnt4, Wnt5a and Wnt6, which are thought to be part of the non‐canonical Wnt pathway. The expression of these genes changed dramatically at the initial stage of adipogenesis. Furthermore, the inhibition of Wnt4 or Wnt5a expression prevented the accumulation of triacylglycerol and decreased the expression of adipogenesis‐related genes. Wnt4 and Wnt5a have crucial roles in adipogenesis as positive regulators.

Silencer binding proteins function on multiple cis-elements in the glutathione transferase P gene

The glutathione transferase P (GST-P) gene is specifically expressed during chemical hepatocarcinogenesis of the rat, whereas mRNA of this gene is virtually undetectable in normal liver. We have previously identified a stretch of DNA, that acted negatively in transcription, at 400 bp upstream from the cap site of the rat GST-P gene. Further characterization has revealed that this negative fragment functions in an orientation and position independent manner, suggesting that it is acting as a silencer. This silencer consists of multiple negative elements to which nuclear factors bind. This silencer is active not only in rat non-hepatoma and hepatoma cells but also in human and mouse cell lines, suggesting that these elements function as general regulators of basal gene expression. At least two proteins bind to this silencer fragment, one of which, designated SF-A (Silencer Factor A), has been partially purified. SF-A binds to several regions in this silencer, and likely plays an important role on negative regulation of this gene.

FAD24 Acts in Concert with Histone Acetyltransferase HBO1 to Promote Adipogenesis by Controlling DNA Replication

Preadipocytes differentiate into adipocytes through approximately two rounds of mitosis, referred to as mitotic clonal expansion (MCE), but the events early in the differentiation process are not fully understood. Previously, we identified and characterized a novel gene, fad24 (factor for adipocyte differentiation 24), induced to express at the early stages of adipocyte differentiation. Although fad24 clearly has crucial roles in adipogenesis, its precise functions remain unknown. Here we show that the knockdown of fad24 by RNAi in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes repressed MCE. Moreover, FAD24 interacts with HBO1, a histone acetyltransferase and positive regulator of DNA replication initiation. The knockdown of hbo1 repressed MCE and adipogenesis, indicating that FAD24 acts in concert with HBO1 to promote adipogenesis by controlling DNA replication. Regarding the molecular mechanisms behind the regulation of DNA replication by fad24, we revealed that FAD24 co-localizes with HBO1 to chromatin during late mitosis, which is when the prereplication initiation complex is assembled. Furthermore, chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments indicated that FAD24 localizes to origins of DNA replication with HBO1. When fad24 expression was inhibited during adipocyte differentiation, the recruitment of HBO1 to origins of DNA replication was reduced. Thus, FAD24 controls DNA replication by recruiting HBO1 to origins of DNA replication and is required for MCE during adipocyte differentiation.

Histone acetyltransferase MOZ acts as a co-activator of Nrf2-MafK and induces tumour marker gene expression during hepatocarcinogenesis.

HATs (histone acetyltransferases) contribute to the regulation of gene expression, and loss or dysregulation of these activities may link to tumorigenesis. Here, we demonstrate that expression levels of HATs, p300 and CBP [CREB (cAMP-response-element-binding protein)-binding protein] were decreased during chemical hepatocarcinogenesis, whereas expression of MOZ (monocytic leukaemia zinc-finger protein; MYST3)--a member of the MYST [MOZ, Ybf2/Sas3, Sas2 and TIP60 (Tat-interacting protein, 60 kDa)] acetyltransferase family--was induced. Although the MOZ gene frequently is rearranged in leukaemia, we were unable to detect MOZ rearrangement in livers with hyperplastic nodules. We examined the effect of MOZ on hepatocarcinogenic-specific gene expression. GSTP (glutathione S-transferase placental form) is a Phase II detoxification enzyme and a well-known tumour marker that is specifically elevated during hepatocarcinogenesis. GSTP gene activation is regulated mainly by the GPE1 (GSTP enhancer 1) enhancer element, which is recognized by the Nrf2 (nuclear factor-erythroid 2 p45 subunit-related factor 2)-MafK heterodimer. We found that MOZ enhances GSTP promoter activity through GPE1 and acts as a co-activator of the Nrf2-MafK heterodimer. Further, exogenous MOZ induced GSTP expression in rat hepatoma H4IIE cells. These results suggest that during early hepatocarcinogenesis, aberrantly expressed MOZ may induce GSTP expression through the Nrf2-mediated pathway.

CTG Triplet Repeat in Mouse Growth Inhibitory Factor/Metallothionein III Gene Promoter Represses the Transcriptional Activity of the Heterologous Promoters

Growth inhibitory factor/metallothionein III (GIF/MT-III) is expressed specifically in brain, and neither mRNA nor protein is detected in other organs. This tissuespecific expression might be regulated by negative elements as well as positive elements, such as tissue-specific enhancers. To investigate the repression mechanisms of this gene in organs other than the brain, transfection experiments were performed by using various deletion mutants. Interestingly, a 25 CTG repeat in the promoter region seemed to contribute to the repression activity. Moreover, the repression activity of this 25 CTG repeat was also observed in various promoters and in a direction and position independent manner, indicating that this element could act as a silencer. However, no binding protein was detected by gel-shift and footprint analyses. These results strongly suggest that the CTG repeat functions as a negative element, and that this effect is caused by unknown mechanisms, rather than by interactions between specific cis-elements and specific trans-acting factors as reported previously. It is also possible that the CTG repeat functions as a general silencer in many genes.

The role of C/EBPδ in the early stages of adipogenesis

Adipocyte differentiation is a complex process triggered and facilitated by transcription factors such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) alpha. Most about the cascade underlying the differentiation process, especially events in the early stages, remain to be elucidated. Early on in adipocyte differentiation, the C/EBPbeta and C/EBPdelta genes are rapidly induced to express and later activate PPARgamma and C/EBPalpha expression. C/EBPbeta also plays a crucial role in mitotic clonal expansion (MCE), the approximately two rounds of mitosis which occurs soon after preadipocytes are stimulated by differentiation inducers and a necessary step for adipocyte differentiation. However, the effect of C/EBPdelta, another member of the C/EBP family, on MCE remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the role of C/EBPdelta in the early stages of adipogenesis. A remarkable induction of C/EBPdelta gene expression after the initiation of differentiation was observed not in proliferating preadipocytes, but in growth-arrested, differentiable cells. RNAi-mediated knockdown of C/EBPdelta dramatically suppressed cell growth after differentiation was induced, and inhibited conversion into lipid-laden adipocytes. Furthermore, silencing of C/EBPdelta impaired the expression of factor for adipocyte differentiation (fad) 49, which is up-regulated and plays a crucial role early in adipogenesis. Taken together, these findings show that C/EBPdelta is involved in MCE and gene expression in the early stages of adipocyte differentiation.

peg10, an imprinted gene, plays a crucial role in adipocyte differentiation

An imprinted gene, paternally expressed gene (peg) 10, was isolated as one of the genes expressed early in adipogenesis. The expression of peg10 was elevated after the addition of inducers, and was detected in adipocyte differentiable 3T3‐L1 cells, but not observed in the non‐adipogenic cell line NIH‐3T3. Moreover, the knockdown of peg10 by RNA interference (RNAi) inhibited the differentiation of 3T3‐L1 cells into lipid‐laden adipocytes. Interestingly, peg10 RNAi‐treatment reduced the expressions of C/EBPβ and C/EBPδ, and inhibited mitotic clonal expansion. These findings strongly indicate that peg10 plays a crucial role at the immediate early stage of adipocyte differentiation.

Identification of DNA binding-site preferences for nuclear factor I-A.

Nuclear factor I (NFI) proteins constitute a large family of DNA binding proteins. These proteins promote the initiation of adenovirus replication and regulate the transcription of viral and cellular genes. The binding sites for NFI have been reported in a wide variety of promoters, and they exhibit flexibility in their sequences. To clarify the DNA binding site of NFI‐A, one of the NFI proteins, we performed a polymerase chain reaction‐mediated random site selection, and determined the optimal sequence as 5′‐TTGGCANNNN(G/T)CCA(G/A)‐3′.

A novel gene, fad49, plays a crucial role in the immediate early stage of adipocyte differentiation via involvement in mitotic clonal expansion

Adipogenesis is accomplished via a complex series of steps, and the events at the earliest stage remain to be elucidated. To clarify the molecular mechanisms of adipocyte differentiation, we previously isolated 102 genes expressed early in mouse 3T3‐L1 preadipocyte cells using a PCR subtraction system. About half of the genes isolated appeared to be unknown. After isolating full‐length cDNAs of the unknown genes, one of them, named factor for adipocyte differentiation 49 (fad49), appeared to be a novel gene, as the sequence of this clone showed no identity to known genes. FAD49 contains a phox homology (PX) domain and four Src homology 3 (SH3) domains, suggesting that it may be a novel scaffold protein. We found that the PX domain of FAD49 not only has affinity for phosphoinositides, but also binds to its third SH3 domain. Expression of fad49 was transiently elevated 3 h after differentiation was induced, and diminished 24 h after induction. Induction of the fad49 gene was observed in adipocyte differentiable 3T3‐L1 cells, but not in non‐adipogenic NIH‐3T3 cells. RNAi‐mediated knockdown of fad49 significantly impaired adipocyte differentiation. Moreover, the knockdown of fad49 by RNAi inhibited mitotic clonal expansion, and reduced the expression of CCAAT/enhancer‐binding protein β (C/EBPβ) and C/EBPδ at the immediate early phase. Taken together, these results show that fad49, a novel gene, plays a crucial role in the immediate early stage of adipogenesis.

Two nuclear localization signals are required for nuclear translocation of nuclear factor 1-A.

Nuclear factor 1 (NF1) proteins are encoded by at least four genes (NF1‐A, B, C, X). Although DNA‐binding and the transcription regulation domains of these proteins are well characterized, the nuclear localization signals (NLSs) are still unknown in all NF1s. We have identified two NLSs in NF1‐A, and both are required for full translocation to the nucleus, although one of them itself has a partial translocation ability. These two NLSs are conserved in all four NF1s. Interestingly, three isoforms of NF1‐A (NF1‐A1, A2, A4) have two NLSs and translocate completely to the nucleus. In contrast, NF1‐A3 lacks the second NLS and partially stays in the cytoplasm. Since NF1s construct homodimer and heterodimer, these findings indicate the differential regulations of the NF1 translocation.