Novel interactomics approach identifies ABCA1 as direct target of evodiamine, which increases macrophage cholesterol efflux

Sci Rep. 2018 Jul 23;8(1):11061. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-29281-1.

Abstract

Evodiamine, a bioactive alkaloid from the fruits of the traditional Chinese medicine Evodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth. (Fructus Evodiae, Wuzhuyu), recently gained attention as a dietary supplement for weight loss and optimization of lipid metabolism. In light of its use by patients and consumers, there is an urgent need to elucidate the molecular targets affected by this natural product. Using a novel interactomics approach, the Nematic Protein Organisation Technique (NPOT), we report the identification of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1), a key membrane transporter contributing to cholesterol efflux (ChE), as a direct binding target of evodiamine. The binding of evodiamine to ABCA1 is confirmed by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) experiments. Examining the functional consequences of ABCA1 binding reveals that evodiamine treatment results in increased ABCA1 stability, elevated cellular ABCA1 protein levels, and ultimately increased ChE from THP-1-derived human macrophages. The protein levels of other relevant cholesterol transporters, ABCG1 and SR-B1, remain unaffected in the presence of evodiamine, and the ABCA1 mRNA level is also not altered.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1 / genetics
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1 / metabolism*
  • Biological Transport / drug effects
  • Cell Line
  • Cholesterol / metabolism*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Macrophages / drug effects*
  • Macrophages / metabolism*
  • Quinazolines / pharmacology*
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Substances

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1
  • Quinazolines
  • Cholesterol
  • evodiamine