The multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) tumor suppressor regulates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma-dependent adipocyte differentiation

Mol Cell Biol. 2009 Sep;29(18):5060-9. doi: 10.1128/MCB.01001-08. Epub 2009 Jul 13.

Abstract

Menin, the product of the MEN1 (multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1) tumor suppressor gene, is involved in activation of gene transcription as part of an MLL1 (mixed-lineage leukemia 1)/MLL2 (KMT2A/B)-containing protein complex which harbors methyltransferase activity for lysine 4 of histone H3 (H3K4). As MEN1 patients frequently develop lipomas and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) is expressed in several MEN1-related tumor types, we investigated regulation of PPARgamma activity by menin. We found that menin is required for adipocyte differentiation of murine 3T3-L1 cells and PPARgamma-expressing mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Menin augments PPARgamma target gene expression through recruitment of H3K4 methyltransferase activity. Menin interacts directly with the activation function 2 transcription activation domain of PPARgamma in a ligand-independent fashion. Ligand-dependent coactivation, however, is dependent on the LXXLL motif of menin and the intact helix 12 of PPARgamma. We propose that menin is an important factor in PPARgamma-mediated adipogenesis and that loss of PPARgamma function may contribute to lipoma development in MEN1 patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3T3-L1 Cells
  • Adipocytes / cytology*
  • Adipocytes / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation*
  • Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Lysine / metabolism
  • Methylation
  • Mice
  • PPAR gamma / chemistry
  • PPAR gamma / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
  • Transcription, Genetic

Substances

  • FABP4 protein, human
  • Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins
  • Histones
  • Ligands
  • MEN1 protein, human
  • Men1 protein, mouse
  • PPAR gamma
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Lysine