Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

N Iritani

Publications and source records attributed to N Iritani.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Soybean protein suppresses hepatic lipogenic enzyme gene expression in Wistar fatty rats.

The effects of dietary soybean protein on lipogenic enzyme gene expression in livers of genetically fatty rats (Wistar fatty) have been investigated. When Wistar fatty rats and their lean littermates (7-8-wk old) were fed a casein or soybean protein isolate diet containing hydrogenated fat (4% hydrogenated fat plus 1% corn oil) or corn oil (5%) for 3 wk, the hepatic messenger RNA concentrations and activities of lipogenic enzymes were significantly lower in rats fed soybean protein than in those fed casein, regardless of genotype or dietary fat. The conversion rates of thyroxine to triiodothyronine by liver microsomes and plasma triiodothyronine concentrations were lower in the fatty rats than in the lean rats and were significantly greater in rats fed soybean protein than in those fed casein. Conversely, plasma and liver triacylglycerol concentrations were lower in soybean protein-fed fatty and lean rats than in those fed casein. The body weight was less in the fatty rats fed soybean protein than in those fed casein after 3 wk of feeding. Moreover, dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids suppressed lipogenic enzyme gene expression in the lean rats but did not in the fatty rats. Dietary soybean protein appeared to be useful for the reduction of obesity.

ATP Citrate (pro-S)-Lyase↗

Nutritional regulation of lipogenic enzyme gene expression in rat epididymal adipose tissue.

The time courses of gene expression, and the nutritional regulation of gene expression of lipogenic enzymes (acetyl-CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthase, ATP citrate-lyase, malic enzyme, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) in epididymal adipose tissue after refeeding food-deprived rats have been investigated and compared with those in liver (previously reported). The mRNA concentrations of lipogenic enzymes reached maximum levels at 24 h after the refeeding in adipose tissue and at 8-16 h in liver, while the enzyme induction reached maximum at 48-72 h in both tissues. Moreover, the mRNAs were more strongly induced in adipose tissue than in liver, whereas the enzyme induction (except malic enzyme) was lower. In adipose tissue of rats fed a carbohydrate diet without protein, the mRNA concentrations of acetyl-CoA carboxylase, ATP-citrate lyase, malic enzyme, and fatty acid synthase reached comparable levels to those of the carbohydrate/protein diet group. The protein feeding increased the enzyme induction in adipose tissue. As regards reduction of gene expression, lipogenic enzyme mRNA concentrations were not so markedly reduced by starvation or polyunsaturated fatty acids in adipose tissue as in liver. The differences in regulation of lipogenic enzyme gene expression and induction between adipose tissue and liver can be ascribed to tissue specificity.

ATP Citrate (pro-S)-Lyase↗

Insulin/glucose-, pyruvate- and polyunsaturated fatty acid-responsive region(s) of rat fatty acid synthase gene promoter.

To investigate the regulatory DNA sequences required for polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-suppression of fatty acid synthase (FAS) gene as well as for insulin and/or carbohydrate-stimulation of this gene, primary hepatocytes were transfected with plasmids containing the 5'-flanking sequence of the rat FAS gene fused to the CAT gene. Sequences from -1604, -88 or -57 to +79 of the FAS gene directed an increase in CAT activity in the hepatocytes when insulin/glucose was added to the medium, in accordance with the responses on the endogenous FAS gene expression. The CAT activities were reduced by the addition of PUFA. Further deletion to -34, however, resulted in loss of the responses. The results suggest that the region from -57 to -34 of the FAS gene may be responsible for regulation due to insulin/glucose and PUFAs. Moreover, the region was also responsible for stimulation due to pyruvate alone.

Animals↗

Polyunsaturated fatty acid regulation of lipogenic enzyme gene expression in liver of genetically obese rat.

The polyunsaturated fatty acid regulation of lipogenic enzyme gene expression in genetically obese rats (Wistar fatty, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus) has been investigated. The hepatic mRNA concentrations and activities of lipogenic enzymes in the fatty and lean rat were greatly increased by feeding a hydrogenated fat diet to fasted rats, and also reached similar maximum levels with similar time courses. By feeding a corn oil diet, however, the increases were markedly reduced in the lean rats, but were not significantly reduced in the fatty rats. Consequently, when the animals were fed corn oil, the mRNA concentrations and activities in the fatty rats were higher than those in the lean. Thus, it appeared that the higher gene expression in the fatty rats can be ascribed to the defects of polyunsaturated fatty acid suppression. On the other hand, insulin binding to receptors in the liver was reduced by the corn oil diet in the lean rats but was not reduced in the fatty rats (although the insulin binding level was lower in the Wistar fatty rats than in the lean). Changes in the insulin receptor autophosphorylation and kinase activity toward exogenous substrate were similar to the insulin binding. It is suggested that the polyunsaturated fatty acids may not suppress insulin binding activity to receptors in the livers of the fatty rats, probably due to down regulation by hyperinsulinemia. The defects of polyunsaturated fatty acid suppression of lipogenic enzyme gene expression may be one of the factors of obesity.

Animals↗

Diet differentially regulates glucokinase and L-type pyruvate kinase gene expression in rat liver.

The regulation of gene expression of glucokinase (GK) and L-type pyruvate kinase (L-PK) in rat liver was investigated and compared with the previously reported regulation of lipogenic enzymes. Experiments were conducted in which the time courses and responses to diet quantity of mRNA concentrations and enzyme activities after refeeding a carbohydrate/protein diet (CP) to food-deprived rats were measured. The effects of dietary nutrients on the gene expression were investigated in rats refed either the CP diet, a carbohydrate diet without protein (C), a protein diet without carbohydrate (P), or a carbohydrate/protein/corn oil diet (CPF). The effects of the CPF diet on the gene expression after insulin treatment to diabetic rats were also investigated. After refeeding the CP diet, GK mRNA concentration and enzyme activity reached maximum levels in 2 h and 16-24 h, respectively, whereas those of L-PK peaked in 16 h and 48 h, respectively, similar timecourse to lipogenic enzymes. Moreover, GK mRNA concentrations were maximal in rats fed 20% of the ad libitum diet intake, and L-PK mRNA concentrations, like lipogenic enzyme mRNA, were maximal in rats fed approximately 50% of ad libitum intake. GK mRNA concentrations were significantly increased in parallel with an increase in plasma insulin and glucose concentrations. GK and L-PK mRNA and enzyme levels in rats fed the C diet were comparably induced to the levels in those fed the CP diet. L-PK mRNA induction by the CP diet was significantly reduced by dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (CPF diet), whereas the GK mRNA induction was not significantly reduced.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Polyunsaturated fatty acid-mediated suppression of insulin-dependent gene expression of lipogenic enzymes in rat liver.

The effects of dietary polyunsaturated fat on insulin-dependent gene expression of lipogenic enzymes and a possible mechanism for PUFA-mediated suppression of the gene expression have been investigated in rat livers. When diabetic rats were injected with insulin, the insulin dose-dependent induction of lipogenic enzyme mRNAs were markedly reduced with increasing dietary corn oil. On the other hand, the PUFA-mediated suppression of the mRNA concentrations was partially restored by treatment with pioglitazone, a candidate for increasing insulin receptor phosphorylation. Moreover, insulin binding to receptors of liver, receptor autophosphorylation, and kinase activity toward exogenous substrate were lower in the corn oil diet group than in the hydrogenated fat group. The PUFA-mediated suppression of insulin binding was somewhat restored by pioglitazone, and the suppression of insulin receptor phosphorylation was significantly restored. It is suggested that the PUFA-mediated suppression of insulin-dependent gene expression of lipogenic enzymes can be ascribed to a decrease in insulin receptor binding primarily and also to receptor phosphorylation. Thus, PUFA appears to suppress the lipogenic enzyme gene expression stimulated by insulin.

ATP Citrate (pro-S)-Lyase↗

Growth and essential fatty acid levels of plasma and liver of suckling rats from mothers fed on fat-free or various fat diets.

The milk fatty acid compositions of mothers fed on a fat-free or various fat diets, and the effects on growth and fatty acid compositions of their pups were studied. Even the milk of essential fatty acid-deficient mothers fed on a fat-free or hydrogenated fat diet contained about 3 and 1.7%, n-6 and n-3 fatty acids, respectively. In the plasma of the suckling pups, however, the proportions of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids rapidly increased to about 20 and 3-5%, respectively, at 1 week after birth. In particular, the PUFAs markedly increased in the liver PC and PE, and the high levels were maintained until weaning. Although the PUFA compositions of suckling pups were influenced with those of maternal diet, small amounts of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids were usually maintained in the plasma and liver. After weaning to the same diets (without PUFAs) as the mothers, however, the n-3 and n-6 fatty acids rapidly decreased and endogenous n-9 eicosatrienoic acid appeared. On the other hand, the growth during suckling was not significantly different among the litters of mothers fed on diets with or without n-3 or n-6 fatty acids. After the weaning, however, the growth was improved in the following order: corn oil, perilla oil > fish oil > fat-free, hydrogenated fat diet group. n-3 fatty acids appeared to be used partially as substitutes for n-6. However, the essentiality was not clear, as the n-3 fatty acids always coexisted with the n-6. Thus, it appeared that small amounts of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids in milk were supplied to the suckling animals regardless of maternal diet and supported growth.

Animals↗

Effects of nutrients and hormones on gene expression of ATP citrate-lyase in rat liver.

Northern-blot analyses demonstrated a strong gene expression of ATp citrate-lyase in liver and adipose tissue of rat and a weak expression in brain, heart, small intestine and muscle. After refeeding a carbohydrate/protein diet to fasted rats, the transcriptional rate had already increased within 2 h, the mRNA concentration reached a maximal level of approximately 30-fold increased in 16 h, and the enzyme induction increased sixfold in 48 h. By feeding only carbohydrate without protein, the transcriptional rate was increased threefold, and the mRNA concentration and enzyme induction comparably, to the levels in the carbohydrate/protein diet. It appears that protein feeding is not necessary to induce ATP citrate-lyase. In diabetic rats fed on a glucose diet, the transcriptional rate, mRNA concentration and enzyme level were very low in comparison with the normal. By fructose feeding, however, the transcriptional rate was more greatly increased and the mRNA concentration increased comparably to the levels reached by insulin treatment, while the enzyme induction was not so increased. Thus, it is suggested that insulin is important in regulated translation in addition to transcription. However, triiodothyronine treatment did not have much effect on the gene expression. As a result of the present experiment, it is noted that ATP citrate-lyase-gene expression was greatly dependent on carbohydrate.

ATP Citrate (pro-S)-Lyase↗

Regulation of hepatic lipogenic enzyme gene expression by diet quantity in rats fed a fat-free, high carbohydrate diet.

This investigation concerns the effects of the level of intake of a high carbohydrate diet on transcriptional rate, mRNA concentration and enzyme induction for lipogenic enzymes in rat liver. Six hours after refeeding fasted rats, the transcriptional rates in livers reached low maximum levels with small quantities of diet, but the mRNA concentrations continued to increase as diet intake increased. Greater diet intake primarily increased transcriptional rates and mRNA concentrations of lipogenic enzymes. After refeeding for 16 h, the mRNA concentrations were sigmoidly increased relative to the diet quantity and reached maximum levels of 20-, 110-, 22- and 16-fold above each fasted level for acetyl-CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthase, malic enzyme and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, respectively. After 3 d of refeeding (in a steady state of lipogenic enzyme activities), however, the transcriptional rates, mRNA concentrations and activity inductions of all the enzymes were sigmoidly increased relative to diet quantity, but were not different among the enzymes. Consequently, fatty acid synthesis and triglyceride levels in the liver were not increased by feeding less than 70% of ad libitum intake but were greatly increased by feeding greater than 70% of ad libitum intake.

Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase↗

Nutritional and hormonal regulation of mRNA levels of lipogenic enzymes in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes.

The effects of nutrients and hormones on the mRNA levels of acetyl-CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthase, malic enzyme, and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase were examined in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes during the process of induction. The addition of both glucose and insulin to the culture medium markedly enhanced the lipogenic enzyme mRNA induction due to either of them, in 16 h. Fructose or glycerol proved to be an effective substitute for glucose, suggesting that glycolytic metabolites were involved in the mRNA induction. It is remarkable that mRNA induction of acetyl-CoA carboxylase was the most sensitive to glucose and also to insulin among the lipogenic enzymes. Polyunsaturated fatty acids markedly reduced the mRNA induction of lipogenic enzymes. Dexamethasone enhanced all the lipogenic enzyme mRNA induction by insulin. On the other hand, triiodothyronine addition greatly increased the mRNA concentrations of lipogenic enzymes, but dexamethasone decreased rather than increased the mRNA induction by triiodothyronine. The effects of insulin on the induction of the lipogenic enzyme mRNAs were similar, but those of triiodothyronine were not. Triiodothyronine markedly enhanced malic enzyme mRNA induction by insulin with dexamethasone, and tended to enhance the induction of the acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthase mRNAs, but not that of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase mRNA. It appeared that insulin and triiodothyronine synergistically enhanced lipogenic enzyme mRNA induction by glucose, but the mechanisms were different.

Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase↗

Effects of aging on gene expression of acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthase in rat liver.

After refeeding a fat-free diet to fasted rats, the time courses of transcriptional rates, mRNA concentrations, and enzyme induction of hepatic acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthase were compared between 1.5- and 18-month-old rats. In the old rats, the levels were mostly 40-70% of those in the young animals. Moreover, the peaks of the levels tended to be delayed in the old animals. The transcriptional rates were increased within only 1 h after the refeeding in the young animals, but not until 6 h in the old. The mRNA concentrations reached maximum at 16 h in the young rats, but at 24 h in the old. In the old rats, the incorporation of [3H]leucine into the enzyme proteins was also decreased roughly in proportion to the enzyme induction. The mRNA concentrations in the liver polysomes were roughly proportional to the total mRNAs. Thus, the translational activities did not appear to be altered by aging. It is suggested that the age-dependent decreases of acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthase induction can be mainly ascribed to the transcriptional steps.

Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase↗

Molecular mechanism of induction of key enzymes related to lipogenesis.

Key enzymes related to lipogenesis in the liver are induced by a high glucose diet or insulin and suppressed by starvation, diabetes, or glucagon. Most of these enzymes are also induced by dietary fructose, even in diabetic liver. This regulation occurs at the posttranscriptional level as well as at the transcriptional level. We studied extensively the molecular mechanism of induction of L-type pyruvate kinase (LPK). The transcription of the LPK gene in the liver was stimulated by insulin and inhibited by glucagon. This insulin action required ongoing protein synthesis and metabolism of glucose and was enhanced by glucocorticoid. On the other hand, the mechanism of induction of the LPK by dietary fructose depended on plasma insulin levels. Dietary fructose stimulated transcription of the LPK gene in normal rats, whereas it acted mainly at the posttranscriptional level in diabetic rats. These fructose effects were attributable to a common metabolite of fructose and glycerol. The induction of LPK mRNA by dietary glucose was impaired in the liver of Wistar fatty rats, a model of obese non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, but fructose-induced accumulation of the mRNA was not. Studies on transgenic mice indicated that the 5'-flanking region up to -3 kb of the LPK gene contained all cis-acting elements necessary for tissue-specific expression of LPK and its stimulation by diets and insulin. Further analysis using a transient expression assay revealed the presence of three cis-acting elements necessary for expression of LPK in hepatocytes in the region up to -170 kb. However, these elements alone were not sufficient for dietary and hormonal regulation of this enzyme when analyzed in transgenic mice.

Animals↗

Diurnal variations of lipogenic enzyme mRNA quantities in rat liver.

The diurnal variations in mRNA quantities of lipogenic enzymes (acetyl-CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthase, malic enzyme and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) in rat livers were detected. When the rats began feeding actively after lights out at 1900 h, the mRNA quantities were high from 0500 h to 0900 h in the morning. The variation in fatty acid synthase mRNA quantities was the most dramatic. However, no measurable variation in any enzyme levels including fatty acid synthase was detected. It may be because the half-lives of the enzymes are too long to be effected by the mRNAs which were high for several hours.

Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase↗

Effects of nutrients and hormones on transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of fatty acid synthase in rat liver.

The effects of nutrients and hormones on transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of fatty acid synthase in rat liver were investigated following cDNA cloning. When fasted rats were fed a carbohydrate/protein diet, the transcriptional rate was greatly increased even in 1 h. The transcriptional rate, mRNA concentration and enzyme induction reached maximum levels in 4 h, 8-16 h and 48 h, respectively. Although dietary carbohydrate increased each level more than protein did, both carbohydrate and protein were required to reach a high level. Corn oil feeding markedly decreased the transcriptional rate. In diabetic rats, the transcriptional rate, mRNA concentration and enzyme induction were very low in comparison with the normal. By treating the diabetic rats with insulin, however, the transcriptional rate was increased 5-fold in 1 h and 15-fold in 6 h, preceding a great increase in the mRNA and enzyme levels. On the other hand, fructose feeding or triiodothyronine treatment of diabetic rats abundantly increased the mRNA concentration and somewhat increased the transcriptional rate. Thus, it is suggested that insulin mainly stimulates the transcription of the fatty acid synthase gene, whereas triiodothyronine and fructose mainly increase the mRNA stability.

Animals↗

Effects of nutrients and hormones on transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase in rat liver.

The effects of nutrients and hormones on transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase in rat liver were investigated following a cDNA cloning. After refeeding a carbohydrate/protein diet to fasted rats, the transcriptional rate was increased 2.5-fold in only 1 h. The mRNA concentration reached a maximal level of 9-12-fold increase in 8-16 h, and the enzyme induction increased 10-fold in 48 h. By a carbohydrate diet without protein, the transcriptional rate, mRNA concentration and enzyme induction were similarly increased to the levels in the carbohydrate/protein diet. It appears that protein feeding is not necessary to induce acetyl-CoA carboxylase. Corn oil feeding decreased the transcriptional rate. In diabetic rats, the transcriptional rate, mRNA concentration and enzyme induction were very low in comparison with the normal. After insulin treatment, the transcriptional rate was increased 2-fold (the normal level) in 2 h in diabetic rats. By fructose feeding to diabetic rats, the transcriptional rate and mRNA concentration were increased similarly to the levels reached by insulin treatment, while the enzyme induction was increased by only 60%. Thus, it is suggested that insulin is importantly involved in the transcription and also translation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase. On the other hand, triiodothyronine treatment increased the mRNA and enzyme levels in diabetic and normal rats, and somewhat increased the transcriptional rate only in diabetic rats. Triiodothyronine appears to stabilize the mRNA besides having an insulin-like action in acetyl-CoA carboxylase transcription.

Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase↗

Effects of ageing on transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of malic enzyme and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in rat liver.

We previously found an age-dependent impairment of induction of lipogenic enzymes in rat liver [Iritani et al. (1981) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 665, 636-639]. Further, we have found that after refeeding a fat-free diet to fasted rats, increases in transcriptional rate, mRNA concentration and enzyme induction of hepatic malic enzyme and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were always lower in 18-month-old rats than in 1.5-month-old rats. In the young rats, the transcriptional rates reached the maximum level in 4 h and the mRNA reached maximum levels in 16 h. The peaks tended to delay in the older rats. The half-lives of the mRNAs were not significantly longer in the old than in the young animals. The incorporation of [3H]leucine into the enzyme proteins was also decreased roughly in proportion to the enzyme induction. The mRNA concentrations in the liver polysomes were roughly proportional to the total mRNA. Thus, no effects of ageing on mRNA stability or on the translational activity of the enzymes could be found. It is suggested that the age-dependent decreases of malic enzyme and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase induction can be mainly ascribed to the transcriptional steps. Moreover, the transcriptional rate, mRNA concentration and induction of malic enzyme were increased by triiodothyronine treatment at a similar rate in both the young and old rats, but the absolute increments were lower in the old animals. The triiodothyronine response to malic enzyme induction also appeared to be primarily decreased at the transcription level.

Aging↗

Effects of nutrients and insulin on transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase synthesis in rat liver.

The transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase induction of rat liver was investigated using a cDNA cloned in our laboratory. By feeding a carbohydrate/protein diet to fasted rats, the mRNA concentration and enzyme induction of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49) reached maximal levels about 10-fold those in the fasted rats at 16 h and 72 h, respectively, whereas the transcriptional rate was increased about 3-fold in 6 h. In the protein fed (without carbohydrate) group, both the mRNA concentration and enzyme induction were increased to about 60% of the levels in the carbohydrate/protein fed group and in the group fed on a carbohydrate diet (without protein) to 30-40%. Further, dietary fat significantly reduced the transcriptional rate, mRNA concentration and enzyme induction to less than half, suggesting that dietary fat primarily reduced transcription. Thus, dietary nutrients appear to be involved in the steps preceding the translation. On the other hand, in diabetic rats, the transcriptional rate was significantly decreased as compared to the normal level and restored by insulin-treatment in 4 h. The mRNA concentration was very low in diabetic rats, and was restored to the normal level by insulin treatment in 8 h, and was half restored by fructose feeding. However, the enzyme induction of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was scarcely restored by fructose, unless accompanied by insulin treatment. Thus, it is suggested that insulin is involved in translation as well as in transcription. Further, the insulin-dependent increase of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase mRNA was blocked by cycloheximide, suggesting that synthesis of a peptide is required.

Animals↗