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The mitochondrial enriched GCN5-like 1 (GCN5L1) protein has been shown to modulate mitochondrial protein acetylation, mitochondrial content and mitochondrial retrograde signaling. Here we show that hepatic GCN5L1 ablation reduces fasting glucose levels and blunts hepatic gluconeogenesis without affecting systemic glucose tolerance. PEPCK and G6Pase transcript levels are downregulated in hepatocytes from GCN5L1 liver specific knockout mice and their upstream regulator, FoxO1 protein levels are decreased via proteasome-dependent degradation and via reactive oxygen species mediated ERK-1/2 phosphorylation. ERK inhibition restores FoxO1, gluconeogenic enzyme expression and glucose production. Reconstitution of mitochondrial-targeted GCN5L1 blunts mitochondrial ROS, ERK activation and increases FoxO1, gluconeogenic enzyme expression and hepatocyte glucose production. We suggest that mitochondrial GCN5L1 modulates post-translational control of FoxO1, regulates gluconeogenesis and controls metabolic pathways via mitochondrial ROS mediated ERK activation. Exploring mechanisms underpinning GCN5L1 mediated ROS signaling may expand our understanding of the role of mitochondria in gluconeogenesis control.

PAQR3 is a member of the progestin and adipoQ receptor (PAQR) family and was recently characterized as a spatial regulator that negatively modulates Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling cascade. However, little is known about the physiological functions of PAQR3 in the tumorigenesis of colorectal cancers. The function of PAQR3 in colorectal cancer development in mice was analyzed by crossing Paqr3-depleted mice with Apc(Min/+) mice that have a germline mutation of the gene-encoding tumor suppressor adenomatous polyposis coli (APC). The survival time and tumor area in the small intestine of the Apc(Min/+) mice was significantly aggravated by Paqr3 deletion. The cell proliferation rate, anchorage-independent growth, EGF-stimulated ERK phosphorylation and EGF-induced nuclear accumulation of β-catenin were inhibited by PAQR3 overexpression and enhanced by PAQR3 knockdown in SW-480 colorectal cancer cells. In humans, the expression level of PAQR3 was significantly decreased in colorectal cancer samples in comparison with adjacent normal tissues. In addition, the expression level of PAQR3 was inversely associated with tumor grade in the colorectal cancer samples. Collectively, our data reveal for the first time that PAQR3 has a tumor suppressor activity in the development of colorectal cancers.

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) mediates insulin actions by relaying signals from insulin receptors (IRs) to downstream targets. The p110α catalytic subunit of class IA PI3K is the primary insulin-responsive PI3K implicated in insulin signaling. We demonstrate here a new mode of spatial regulation for the p110α subunit of PI3K by PAQR3 that is exclusively localized in the Golgi apparatus. PAQR3 interacts with p110α, and the intracellular targeting of p110α to the Golgi apparatus is reduced by PAQR3 downregulation and increased by PAQR3 overexpression. Insulin-stimulated PI3K activity and phosphoinositide (3,4,5)-triphosphate production are enhanced by Paqr3 deletion and reduced by PAQR3 overexpression in hepatocytes. Deletion of Paqr3 enhances insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of AKT and glycogen synthase kinase 3β, but not phosphorylation of IR and IR substrate-1 (IRS-1), in hepatocytes, mouse liver, and skeletal muscle. Insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation to the plasma membrane and glucose uptake are enhanced by Paqr3 ablation. Furthermore, PAQR3 interacts with the domain of p110α involved in its binding with p85, the regulatory subunit of PI3K. Overexpression of PAQR3 dose-dependently reduces the interaction of p85α with p110α. Thus, PAQR3 negatively regulates insulin signaling by shunting cytosolic p110α to the Golgi apparatus while competing with p85 subunit in forming a PI3K complex with p110α.

Liver glycogen metabolism plays an important role in glucose homeostasis. Glycogen synthesis is mainly regulated by glycogen synthase that is dephosphorylated and activated by protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) in combination with glycogen-targeting subunits or G subunits. There are seven G subunits (PPP1R3A to G) that control glycogenesis in different organs. PPP1R3G is a recently discovered G subunit whose expression is changed along the fasting-feeding cycle and is proposed to play a role in postprandial glucose homeostasis. In this study, we analyzed the physiological function of PPP1R3G using a mouse model with liver-specific overexpression of PPP1R3G. PPP1R3G overexpression increases hepatic glycogen accumulation, stimulates glycogen synthase activity, elevates fasting blood glucose level, and accelerates postprandial blood glucose clearance. In addition, the transgenic mice have a reduced fat composition, together with decreased hepatic triglyceride level. Fasting-induced hepatic steatosis is relieved by PPP1R3G overexpression. In addition, PPP1R3G overexpression is able to elevate glycogenesis in primary hepatocytes. The glycogen-binding domain is indispensable for the physiological activities of PPP1R3G on glucose metabolism and triglyceride accumulation in the liver. Cumulatively, these data indicate that PPP1R3G plays a critical role in postprandial glucose homeostasis and liver triglyceride metabolism via its regulation on hepatic glycogenesis.

BackgroundTGF-β has been known to play an important role in various liver diseases including fibrosis and alcohol-induced fatty liver. Smad7 is an intracellular negative regulator of TGF-β signaling. It is currently unclear whether endogenous Smad7 has an effect on liver function and alcoholic liver damage.Methodology/Principal FindingsWe used Cre/loxP system by crossing Alb-Cre mice with Smad7loxP/loxP mice to generate liver-specific deletion of Smad7 with loss of the indispensable MH2 domain. Alcoholic liver injury was achieved by feeding mice with a liquid diet containing 5% ethanol for 6 weeks, followed by a single dose of ethanol gavage. Deletion of Smad7 in the liver was associated with increased Smad2/3 phosphorylation in the liver or upon TGF-β treatment in primary hepatocytes. The majority of mice with liver specific deletion of Smad7 (Smad7liver-KO) were viable and phenotypically normal, accompanied by only slight or no reduction of Smad7 expression in the liver. However, about 30% of Smad7liver-KO mice with high efficiency of Smad7 deletion had spontaneous liver dysfunction, demonstrated as low body weight, overall deterioration, and increased serum levels of AST and ALT. Degeneration and elevated apoptosis of liver cells were observed with these mice. TGF-β-induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) was accelerated in Smad7-deleted primary hepatocytes. In addition, alcohol-induced liver injury and steatosis were profoundly aggravated in Smad7 deficient mice, associated with upregulation of critical genes involved in lipogenesis and inflammation. Furthermore, alcohol-induced ADH1 expression was significantly abrogated by Smad7 deletion in hepatocytes.Conclusion/SignificanceIn this study, we provided in vivo evidence revealing that endogenous Smad7 plays an important role in liver function and alcohol-induced liver injury.