WDR76 mediates obesity and hepatic steatosis via HRas destabilization

Sci Rep. 2019 Dec 23;9(1):19676. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-56211-6.

Abstract

Ras/MAPK (mitogen active protein kinase) signaling plays contradictory roles in adipocyte differentiation and is tightly regulated during adipogenesis. However, mechanisms regulating adipocyte differentiation involving Ras protein stability regulation are unknown. Here, we show that WD40 repeat protein 76 (WDR76), a novel Ras regulating E3 linker protein, controls 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation through HRas stability regulation. The roles of WDR76 in obesity and metabolic regulation were characterized using a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity model using Wdr76-/- mice and liver-specific Wdr76 transgenic mice (Wdr76Li-TG). Wdr76-/- mice are resistant to HFD-induced obesity, insulin resistance and hyperlipidemia with an increment of HRas levels. In contrast, Wdr76Li-TG mice showed increased HFD-induced obesity, insulin resistance with reduced HRas levels. Our findings suggest that WDR76 controls HFD-induced obesity and hepatic steatosis via HRas destabilization. These data provide insights into the links between WDR76, HRas, and obesity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3T3-L1 Cells
  • Adipocytes / metabolism
  • Adipogenesis / physiology
  • Animals
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / deficiency
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / deficiency
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Diet, High-Fat / adverse effects
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Fatty Liver / etiology
  • Fatty Liver / metabolism*
  • Fatty Liver / pathology
  • Hyperlipidemias / etiology
  • Hyperlipidemias / metabolism
  • Insulin Resistance / genetics
  • Insulin Resistance / physiology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Obesity / etiology
  • Obesity / metabolism*
  • Protein Stability
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / metabolism*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Wdr76 protein, mouse
  • Hras protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)