Dual attenuation of proteasomal and autophagic BMAL1 degradation in Clock Δ19/+ mice contributes to improved glucose homeostasis

Sci Rep. 2015 Jul 31:5:12801. doi: 10.1038/srep12801.

Abstract

Circadian clocks orchestrate essential physiology in response to various cues, yet their mechanistic and functional plasticity remains unclear. Here, we investigated Clock(Δ19/+) heterozygous (Clk/+) mice, known to display lengthened periodicity and dampened amplitude, as a model of partially perturbed clocks. Interestingly, Clk/+ mice exhibited improved glycemic control and resistance to circadian period lengthening under high-fat diet (HFD). Furthermore, BMAL1 protein levels in Clk/+ mouse liver were upregulated compared with wild-type (WT) mice under HFD. Pharmacological and molecular studies showed that BMAL1 turnover entailed proteasomal and autophagic activities, and CLOCKΔ19 attenuated both processes. Consistent with an important role of BMAL1 in glycemic control, enhanced activation of insulin signaling was observed in Clk/+ mice relative to WT in HFD. Finally, transcriptome analysis revealed reprogramming of clock-controlled metabolic genes in Clk/+ mice. Our results demonstrate a novel role of autophagy in circadian regulation and reveal an unforeseen plasticity of circadian and metabolic networks.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ARNTL Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Autophagy / physiology*
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism*
  • CLOCK Proteins / genetics*
  • CLOCK Proteins / metabolism
  • Circadian Rhythm / genetics
  • Circadian Rhythm / physiology
  • Diet, High-Fat / adverse effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Homeostasis
  • Insulin / metabolism
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / metabolism*
  • Sequestosome-1 Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • ARNTL Transcription Factors
  • Bmal1 protein, mouse
  • Blood Glucose
  • Insulin
  • Sequestosome-1 Protein
  • Sqstm1 protein, mouse
  • CLOCK Proteins
  • Clock protein, mouse
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex