Ajuba Preferentially Binds LXRα/RXRγ Heterodimer to Enhance LXR Target Gene Expression in Liver Cells

Mol Endocrinol. 2015 Nov;29(11):1608-18. doi: 10.1210/me.2015-1046. Epub 2015 Sep 21.

Abstract

The liver X receptors (LXRs) are important regulators of lipid, cholesterol, and glucose homeostasis by transcriptional regulation of many key genes in these processes, and the transcriptional activities of LXRs are finely controlled by cooperating with retinoid X receptors and many other coregulators. Here, we report that the LIM protein Ajuba binds to the hinge and the ligand binding domains of LXRα via its C-terminal tandem LIM motifs and enhances LXR target gene expression in liver cells. Depletion of Ajuba in HepG2 cells and in mouse primary hepatocytes decreases LXR target gene expression, whereas stable expression of Ajuba in HepG2 cells results in increased expression of these genes. Mechanistic investigations found that Ajuba selectively interacts with LXRα/retinoid X receptor-γ heterodimer to form a ternary complex, which displays a higher transactivation activity to LXR target genes. Moreover, Ajuba and LXR mutually affect their DNA binding activity at endogenous target chromatins and the cooperation between Ajuba and LXRα is dependent on the functional LXR response elements located in the target promoters. Together, our studies demonstrate that Ajuba is a novel coactivator for LXRs and may play important role in lipid and glucose metabolism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Line
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation / genetics*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • Hepatocytes / metabolism
  • Humans
  • LIM Domain Proteins / genetics
  • LIM Domain Proteins / metabolism*
  • Liver X Receptors
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Orphan Nuclear Receptors / metabolism*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Protein Binding
  • Retinoid X Receptor gamma / metabolism*
  • Transcriptional Activation / genetics*

Substances

  • AJUBA protein, human
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • LIM Domain Proteins
  • Liver X Receptors
  • NR1H3 protein, human
  • Nr1h3 protein, mouse
  • Orphan Nuclear Receptors
  • Retinoid X Receptor gamma

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Ministry of Sciences and Technology of China Grant 2012BAI02B05; National Science Foundation of China Grants 81172028, 81372309, and 81270317; and Shanghai Committee of Science and Technology Grants 13JC1401302, 12PJ1405800, 13ZR1423300, 11410709000, and 124119a5700.