Summary The synthesis of Type I collagen, the main component of the bone matrix, precedes the expression of Runx2, the earliest determinant of osteoblast differentiation. We hypothesized that the osteoblast's energetic needs might explain this apparent paradox. We show here that glucose, the main nutrient of osteoblasts, is transported in these cells through Glut1 whose expression precedes that of Runx2. Glucose uptake favors osteoblast differentiation by suppressing the AMPK-dependent proteasomal degradation of Runx2 and promotes bone formation by inhibiting another function of AMPK. While Runx2 cannot induce osteoblast differentiation when glucose uptake is compromised, raising blood glucose levels restores collagen synthesis in Runx2-null osteoblasts and initiates bone formation in Runx2-deficient embryos. Moreover, Runx2 favors Glut1 expression, and this feed-forward regulation between Runx2 and Glut1 determines the onset of osteoblast differentiation during development and the extent of bone formation throughout life. These results reveal an unexpected intricacy between bone and glucose metabolism.

In the originally published author list, we inadvertently misspelled Takashi Iezaki's surname. The author list has been corrected online.

Bone resorption by osteoclasts requires a large number of lysosomes that release proteases in the resorption lacuna. Whether lysosomal biogenesis is a consequence of the action of transcriptional regulators of osteoclast differentiation or is under the control of a different and specific transcriptional pathway remains unknown. We show here, through cell-based assays and cell-specific gene deletion experiments in mice, that the osteoclast differentiation factor RANKL promotes lysosomal biogenesis once osteoclasts are differentiated through the selective activation of TFEB, a member of the MITF/TFE family of transcription factors. This occurs following PKCb phosphorylation of TFEB on three serine residues located in its last 15 amino acids. This post-translational modification stabilizes and increases the activity of this transcription factor. Supporting these biochemical observations, mice lacking in osteoclasts-either TFEB or PKCb-show decreased lysosomal gene expression and increased bone mass. Altogether, these results uncover a RANKL-dependent signaling pathway taking place in differentiated osteoclasts and culminating in the activation of TFEB to enhance lysosomal biogenesis-a necessary step for proper bone resorption.[Keywords: osteoclast; RANKL; lysosomal biogenesis; TFEB; PKCb] Supplemental material is available for this article. Received January 11, 2013; revised version accepted March 21, 2013. Bone is constantly remodeled through the coordinated action of two cell types: the osteoblast and the osteoclast (Ducy et al. 2000;Teitelbaum 2000). While the osteoblast synthesizes and mineralizes the bone extracellular matrix (ECM), the osteoclast is responsible for resorbing this mineralized ECM. To achieve this specialized task, differentiated and multinucleated osteoclasts attach tightly to the bone surface and generate closed resorption lacunae. These resorption lacunae are characterized by an acidic pH (;4.5) and contain numerous proteases that are exported by the large number of lysosomes present in this cell type (Coxon and Taylor 2008). Proteases and acidification of the lacunae are both necessary for efficient bone resorption. The importance of lysosomal biogenesis for osteoclast function and optimum bone resorption underscores the need to elucidate how this aspect of osteoclast biology is regulated.Over the last two decades, our understanding of the mechanisms by which cells of the myeloid lineage differentiate into functional multinucleated osteoclasts has made considerable progress (Teitelbaum and Ross 2003;Takayanagi 2007). This led to the identification of two cytokines, RANKL and M-CSF (Yoshida et al. 1990;Lacey et al. 1998), as critical determinants of this process and the identification of numerous transcription factors acting downstream from these cytokines. Some of these factors-PU.1, c-FOS, JunB, Fra-1, NFkB, and PPARg-act early in the differentiation process within the myeloid precursor cells (Grigoriadis et al. 1994;Iotsova et al. 1997;Tondravi et al. 1997;Matsuo et al. 2000;Kenner et ...

Summary The E3 ubiquitin ligase Smurf1 targets the master regulator of osteoblast differentiation Runx2, for degradation yet the function of Smurf1 if any during osteoblast differentiation in vivo is ill-defined. Here we show that Smurf1 prevents osteoblast differentiation by decreasing Runx2 accumulation in osteoblasts. Remarkably, mice harboring a substitution-mutation at serine 148 (S148) in Smurf1 that prevents its phosphorylation by AMPK (Smurf1ki/ki) display an equally severe premature osteoblast differentiation phenotype as Smurf1−/− mice, a high bone mass and are also hyperinsulinemic and hypoglycemic. Consistent with the fact that Smurf1 targets the insulin receptor for degradation, there is in Smurf1ki/ki mice an increase in insulin signaling in osteoblasts that triggers a rise in the circulating levels of osteocalcin, a hormone that favors insulin secretion. These results identify Smurf1 as a determinant of osteoblast differentiation during development, of bone formation and glucose homeostasis post-natally and demonstrate the necessity of S148 for these functions.

X-linked myotubular myopathy (XLMTM) is a congenital disorder caused by mutations of the myotubularin gene, MTM1. Myotubularin belongs to a large family of conserved lipid phosphatases that include both catalytically active and inactive myotubularin-related proteins (i.e., “MTMRs”). Biochemically, catalytically inactive MTMRs have been shown to form heteroligomers with active members within the myotubularin family through protein-protein interactions. However, the pathophysiological significance of catalytically inactive MTMRs remains unknown in muscle. By in vitro as well as in vivo studies, we have identified that catalytically inactive myotubularin-related protein 12 (MTMR12) binds to myotubularin in skeletal muscle. Knockdown of the mtmr12 gene in zebrafish resulted in skeletal muscle defects and impaired motor function. Analysis of mtmr12 morphant fish showed pathological changes with central nucleation, disorganized Triads, myofiber hypotrophy and whorled membrane structures similar to those seen in X-linked myotubular myopathy. Biochemical studies showed that deficiency of MTMR12 results in reduced levels of myotubularin protein in zebrafish and mammalian C2C12 cells. Loss of myotubularin also resulted in reduction of MTMR12 protein in C2C12 cells, mice and humans. Moreover, XLMTM mutations within the myotubularin interaction domain disrupted binding to MTMR12 in cell culture. Analysis of human XLMTM patient myotubes showed that mutations that disrupt the interaction between myotubularin and MTMR12 proteins result in reduction of both myotubularin and MTMR12. These studies strongly support the concept that interactions between myotubularin and MTMR12 are required for the stability of their functional protein complex in normal skeletal muscles. This work highlights an important physiological function of catalytically inactive phosphatases in the pathophysiology of myotubular myopathy and suggests a novel therapeutic approach through identification of drugs that could stabilize the myotubularin-MTMR12 complex and hence ameliorate this disorder.