The N-terminal region of acyl-CoA synthetase 3 is essential for both the localization on lipid droplets and the function in fatty acid uptake

Cytosolic lipid droplets (LDs) are storage organelles for neutral lipids derived from endogenous metabolism. Acyl-CoA synthetase family proteins are essential enzymes in this biosynthetic pathway, contributing activated fatty acids. Fluorescence microscopy showed that ACSL3 is localized to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and LDs, with the distribution dependent on the cell type and the supply of fatty acids. The N-terminus of ACSL3 was necessary and sufficient for targeting reporter proteins correctly, as demonstrated by subcellular fractionation and confocal microscopy. The N-terminal region of ACSL3 was also found to be functionally required for the enzyme activity. Selective permeabilization and in silico analysis suggest that ACSL3 assumes a hairpin membrane topology, with the N-terminal hydrophobic amino acids forming an amphipathic helix restricted to the cytosolic leaflet of the ER membrane. ACSL3 was effectively translocated from the ER to nascent LDs when neutral lipid synthesis was stimulated by the external addition of fatty acids. Cellular fatty acid uptake was increased by overexpression and reduced by RNA interference of ACSL3. In conclusion, the structural organization of ACSL3 allows the fast and efficient movement from the ER to emerging LDs. ACSL3 not only esterifies fatty acids with CoA but is also involved in the cellular uptake of fatty acids, presumably indirectly by metabolic trapping. The unique localization of the acyl-CoA synthetase ACSL3 on LDs suggests a function in the local synthesis of lipids.     

Involvement of ACSL in local synthesis of neutral lipids in cytoplasmic lipid droplets in human hepatocyte HuH7

Lipid droplets (LDs) function as intracellular storage depots of neutral lipids. Recently, we identified long-chain acyl-coenzyme A synthetase 3 (ACSL3) as a major LD-associated protein in the human hepatocyte cell line HuH7. In this study, we investigated whether droplet-associated ACSL is involved in lipid metabolism in LDs. Addition of oleic acid (OA) to culture medium was shown to enhance the intracellular accumulation of LDs in the cells, which was accompanied by an increase of droplet ACSL3. When LD-enriched cells induced by OA were further incubated without OA for 3 days, approximately 80% of LDs were retained in the cells. Conversely, cellular LD content was greatly decreased after the addition of an ACSL inhibitor, triacsin C. This was accompanied by a concomitant decrease of the droplet ACSL3. Incubation of isolated LD fractions with (14)C-labeled OA or palmitic acid resulted in [(14)C]acyl-CoA generation in vitro, indicating the presence of ACSL activity in LDs. The droplet ACSL activity varied according to the quantity of LDs in their emergence and disappearance in cells. Incubation of the LD fraction with [(14)C]oleoyl-CoA resulted in radioactive triacylglycerol and cholesteryl esters. These results suggest that LD ACSL activity is involved in local synthesis of neutral lipids and LD formation.     

脂酰辅酶A长链合成酶3及其相关疾病

脂滴(lipid droplets)是细胞内脂质贮存和调节细胞脂质稳态的重要细胞器,其表面具有多种脂滴相关蛋白质。长链酰基辅酶A合成酶家族的成员脂酰辅酶A长链合成酶3(acyl CoA long chain synthetase 3,ACSL3)即脂滴相关蛋白质的一种,也是生物合成过程中必需的酶之一。ACSL3广泛分布于大多数细胞中的脂滴表面,其在脂滴的合成、自噬的调节和细胞铁死亡等多种病理生理过程中发挥着不同的作用。此外,多项研究表明,ACSL3还广泛参与到多种疾病的发生发展,包括动脉粥样硬化、非酒精性脂肪肝病、糖尿病和肿瘤等。当前,国内对ACSL3的研究相对集中于ACSL3与动物育种和生长的关系,而对ACSL3在脂质代谢中的作用机制及其与疾病的关系鲜有报道。本文基于国内外对ACSL3的研究,对该基因的结构、在细胞脂代谢中的作用机制及其相关疾病进行归纳,进一步探究ACSL3在脂滴的合成、自噬、铁死亡过程中的作用,为防治动脉粥样硬化、非酒精性脂肪肝病、糖尿病(glucose)等多种ACSL3相关疾病提供新的理论依据。     

The MAP1-LC3 conjugation system is involved in lipid droplet formation

Lipid droplets (LDs) are ubiquitous in eukaryotic cells, while excess free fatty acids and glucose in plasma are converted to triacylglycerol (TAG) and stored as LDs. However, the mechanism for the generation and growth of LDs in cells is largely unknown. We show here that the LC3 lipidation system essential for macroautophagy is involved in LD formation. LD formation accompanied by accumulation of TAG induced by starvation was largely suppressed in the hepatocytes that cannot execute autophagy. Under starvation conditions, LDs in addition to autophagosomes were abundantly formed in the cytoplasm of these tissue cells. Moreover, LC3 was localized on the surface of LDs and LC3-II (lipidation form) was fractionated to a perilipin (LD marker)-positive lipid fraction from the starved liver. Taken together, these results indicate that the LC3 conjugation system is critically involved in lipid metabolism via LD formation.     

Fatty acid transport by vectorial acylation in mammals: roles played by different isoforms of rat long-chain acyl-CoA synthetases

Mammals express multiple isoforms of acyl-CoA synthetase (ACSL1 and ACSL3-6) in various tissues. These enzymes are essential for fatty acid metabolism providing activated intermediates for complex lipid synthesis, protein modification, and beta-oxidation. Yeast in contrast express four major ACSLs, which have well-defined functions. Two, Faa1p and Faa4p, are specifically required for fatty acid transport by vectorial acylation. Four ACSLs from the rat were expressed in a yeast faa1delta faa4delta strain and their roles in fatty acid transport and trafficking characterized. All four restored ACS activity yet varied in substrate preference. ACSL1, 4, and 6 were able to rescue fatty acid transport activity and triglyceride synthesis. ACSL5, however, was unable to facilitate fatty acid transport despite conferring robust oleoyl-CoA synthetase activity. This is the first study evaluating the role of the mammalian ACSLs in fatty acid transport and supports a role for ACSL1, 4, and 6 in transport by vectorial acylation.     

CIDE family proteins control lipid homeostasis and the development of metabolic diseases

Dysregulation of lipid homeostasis leads to the development of metabolic disorders including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Lipid droplets (LDs) are subcellular organelles vital in the maintenance of lipid homeostasis by coordinating lipid synthesis, lipid storage, lipid secretion and lipolysis. Under fed condition, free fatty acids (FFAs) are remodeled and esterified into neutral lipids by lipogenesis and stored in the LDs. The lipid storage capacity of LDs is controlled by its growth via local lipid synthesis or by LD fusion. During fasting, neutral lipids are hydrolyzed by lipolysis, released as FFAs and secreted to meet energy demand. C ell death‐i nducing D NA fragmentation factor alpha (DFFA)‐like e ffector (CIDE) family proteins composed of Cidea, Cideb and Cidec/Fsp27 are ER‐ and LD‐associated proteins and have emerged as important regulators of lipid homeostasis. Notably, when localized on the LDs, CIDE proteins enrich at the LD‐LD contact sites (LDCSs) and control LD fusion and growth. Here, we summarize these recent advances made on the role of CIDE proteins in the regulation of lipid metabolism with a particular focus on the molecular mechanisms underlying CIDE‐mediated LD fusion and growth.     

Differentially localized acyl-CoA synthetase 4 isoenzymes mediate the metabolic channeling of fatty acids towards phosphatidylinositol

The acyl-CoA synthetase 4 (ACSL4) has been implicated in carcinogenesis and neuronal development. Acyl-CoA synthetases are essential enzymes of lipid metabolism, and ACSL4 is distinguished by its preference for arachidonic acid. Two human ACSL4 isoforms arising from differential splicing were analyzed by ectopic expression in COS cells. We found that the ACSL4_v1 variant localized to the inner side of the plasma membrane including microvilli, and was also present in the cytosol. ACSL4_v2 contains an additional N-terminal hydrophobic region; this isoform was located at the endoplasmic reticulum and on lipid droplets. A third isoform was designed de novo by appending a mitochondrial targeting signal. All three ACSL4 variants showed the same specific enzyme activity. Overexpression of the isoenzymes increased cellular uptake of arachidonate to the same degree, indicating that the metabolic trapping of fatty acids is independent of the subcellular localization. Remarkably, phospholipid metabolism was changed by ACSL4 expression. Labeling with arachidonate showed that the amount of newly synthesized phosphatidylinositol was increased by all three ACSL4 isoenzymes but not by ACSL1. This was dependent on the expression level and the localization of the ACSL4 isoform. We conclude that in our model system exogenous fatty acids are channeled preferentially towards phosphatidylinositol by ACSL4 overexpression. The differential localization of the endogenous isoenzymes may provide compartment specific precursors of this anionic phospholipid important for many signaling processes.     

Nuclear lipid droplets form in the inner nuclear membrane in a seipin-independent manner

Nuclear lipid droplets (LDs) in hepatocytes are derived from precursors of very-low-density lipoprotein in the ER lumen, but it is not known how cells lacking the lipoprotein secretory function form nuclear LDs. Here, we show that the inner nuclear membrane (INM) of U2OS cells harbors triglyceride synthesis enzymes, including ACSL3, AGPAT2, GPAT3/GPAT4, and DGAT1/DGAT2, and generates nuclear LDs in situ. mTOR inhibition increases nuclear LDs by inducing the nuclear translocation of lipin-1 phosphatidic acid (PA) phosphatase. Seipin, a protein essential for normal cytoplasmic LD formation in the ER, is absent in the INM. Knockdown of seipin increases nuclear LDs and PA in the nucleus, whereas seipin overexpression decreases these. Seipin knockdown also up-regulates lipin-1β expression, and lipin-1 knockdown decreases the effect of seipin knockdown on nuclear LDs without affecting PA redistribution. These results indicate that seipin is not directly involved in nuclear LD formation but instead restrains it by affecting lipin-1 expression and intracellular PA distribution.     

Altered Lipid Droplet Dynamics in Hepatocytes Lacking Triacylglycerol Hydrolase Expression

Lipid droplets (LDs) form from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and grow in size by obtaining triacylglycerols (TG). Triacylglycerol hydrolase (TGH), a lipase residing in the ER, is involved in the mobilization of TG stored in LDs for the secretion of very-low-density lipoproteins. In this study, we investigated TGH-mediated changes in cytosolic LD dynamics. We have found that TGH deficiency resulted in decreased size and increased number of LDs in hepatocytes. Using fluorescent fatty acid analogues to trace LD formation, we observed that TGH deficiency did not affect the formation of nascent LDs on the ER. However, the rate of lipid transfer into preformed LDs was significantly slower in the absence of TGH. Absence of TGH expression resulted in increased levels of membrane diacylglycerol and augmented phospholipid synthesis, which may be responsible for the delayed lipid transfer. Therefore, altered maturation (growth) rather than nascent formation (de novo synthesis) may be responsible for the observed morphological changes of LDs in TGH-deficient hepatocytes.     

mmBCFA C17iso ensures endoplasmic reticulum integrity for lipid droplet growth

In eukaryote cells, lipid droplets (LDs) are key intracellular organelles that dynamically regulate cellular energy homeostasis. LDs originate from the ER and continuously contact the ER during their growth. How the ER affects LD growth is largely unknown. Here, we show that RNAi knockdown of acs-1, encoding an acyl-CoA synthetase required for the biosynthesis of monomethyl branched-chain fatty acids C15iso and C17iso, remarkably prevented LD growth in Caenorhabditis elegans. Dietary C17iso, or complex lipids with C17iso including phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and triacylglycerol, could fully restore the LD growth in the acs-1RNAi worms. Mechanistically, C17iso may incorporate into phospholipids to ensure the membrane integrity of the ER so as to maintain the function of ER-resident enzymes such as SCD/stearoyl-CoA desaturase and DGAT2/diacylglycerol acyltransferase for appropriate lipid synthesis and LD growth. Collectively, our work uncovers a unique fatty acid, C17iso, as the side chain of phospholipids for determining the ER homeostasis for LD growth in an intact organism, C. elegans.     

The FATP1-DGAT2 complex facilitates lipid droplet expansion at the ER-lipid droplet interface

At the subcellular level, fat storage is confined to the evolutionarily conserved compartments termed lipid droplets (LDs), which are closely associated with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). However, the molecular mechanisms that enable ER-LD interaction and facilitate neutral lipid loading into LDs are poorly understood. In this paper, we present evidence that FATP1/acyl-CoA synthetase and DGAT2/diacylglycerol acyltransferase are components of a triglyceride synthesis complex that facilitates LD expansion. A loss of FATP1 or DGAT2 function blocked LD expansion in Caenorhabditis elegans. FATP1 preferentially associated with DGAT2, and they acted synergistically to promote LD expansion in mammalian cells. Live imaging indicated that FATP1 and DGAT2 are ER and LD resident proteins, respectively, and electron microscopy revealed FATP1 and DGAT2 foci close to the LD surface. Furthermore, DGAT2 that was retained in the ER failed to support LD expansion. We propose that the evolutionarily conserved FATP1-DGAT2 complex acts at the ER-LD interface and couples the synthesis and deposition of triglycerides into LDs both physically and functionally.     

Seipin regulates ER–lipid droplet contacts and cargo delivery

Seipin is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane protein implicated in lipid droplet (LD) biogenesis and mutated in severe congenital lipodystrophy (BSCL2). Here, we show that seipin is stably associated with nascent ER–LD contacts in human cells, typically via one mobile focal point per LD. Seipin appears critical for such contacts since ER–LD contacts were completely missing or morphologically aberrant in seipin knockout and BSCL2 patient cells. In parallel, LD mobility was increased and protein delivery from the ER to LDs to promote LD growth was decreased. Moreover, while growing LDs normally acquire lipid and protein constituents from the ER, this process was compromised in seipin‐deficient cells. In the absence of seipin, the initial synthesis of neutral lipids from exogenous fatty acid was normal, but fatty acid incorporation into neutral lipids in cells with pre‐existing LDs was impaired. Together, our data suggest that seipin helps to connect newly formed LDs to the ER and that by stabilizing ER–LD contacts seipin facilitates the incorporation of protein and lipid cargo into growing LDs in human cells.     

Plin3 protects against alcoholic liver injury by facilitating lipid export from the endoplasmic reticulum

Hepatic lipid accumulation is the most common pathological characteristic of alcoholic liver disease (ALD). In mammalian cells, excess neutral lipids are stored in lipid droplets (LDs). As a member of perilipin family proteins, Plin3 was recently found to regulate the LD biogenesis. However, the roles and mechanism of Plin3 in ALD progression remain unclear. Herein, we found that alcohol stimulated Plin3 expression in both mouse livers and cultured AML12 mouse hepatic cells, which was accompanied by excess LD accumulation in hepatocytes. The elevations of Plin3 in alcohol-treated hepatocytes paralleled with the levels of both PPARα and γ, and the protein degradation of Plin3 was also reduced after alcohol exposure. Moreover, Plin3 knockdown increased cellular sensitivity to alcohol-induced apoptosis, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and inflammatory cytokines release, including TNF-α, IL-1, and IL-6β. Notably, alcohol exacerbated triglycerides (TG) accumulation in the ER and caused ER dilation in Plin3-knockdown AML12 cells. Finally, we observed that Plin3 interacted with dynein subunit Dync1i1 and mediated the colocalization of LDs and microtubules, while high concentration of alcohol disrupted microtubules and caused dispersion of excess small LDs in cytoplasm. Summarily, Plin3 promotes lipid export from the ER and reduces ER lipotoxic stress, thereby, protecting against alcoholic liver injury. Moreover, Plin3 could be an adapter protein mediating LD transport by microtubules. This study explored the roles of Plin3 in alcohol-induced hepatic injury, suggesting Plin3 as a potential target for the prevention of ALD progression.     

Recruitment of TIP47 to lipid droplets is controlled by the putative hydrophobic cleft

Adipose differentiation-related protein (ADRP) and TIP47 show sequence similarity, particularly in their N-terminal PAT-1 domain. Under standard culture conditions, ADRP existed in most lipid droplets (LDs), whereas TIP47 was observed only in some LDs and recruited to LDs on treatment with fatty acids. By analyzing deletion mutants, we found that the C-terminal half of TIP47, or more specifically the putative hydrophobic cleft [S.J. Hickenbottom, A.R. Kimmel, C. Londos, J.H. Hurley, Structure of a lipid droplet protein; the PAT family member TIP47, Structure (Camb) 12 (2004) 1199-1207.], was involved in LD targeting and responsiveness to fatty acids. The result contrasted with that observed for ADRP and implied a distinct LD-targeting mechanism for TIP47. Consistent with this, overexpression of Rab18 decreased ADRP, but not TIP47, from LDs, and TIP47 did not displace pre-existing ADRP from LDs. But ADRP may be a factor to control the TIP47 behavior, because TIP47 in LDs increased upon down-regulation of ADRP. The results suggested that the putative hydrophobic cleft is critical for the unique characteristics of TIP47.     

Activation of LXR increases acyl-CoA synthetase activity through direct regulation of ACSL3 in human placental trophoblast cells

Placental fatty acid transport and metabolism are important for proper growth and development of the feto-placental unit. The nuclear receptors, liver X receptors α and β (LXRα and LXRβ), are key regulators of lipid metabolism in many tissues, but little is known about their role in fatty acid transport and metabolism in placenta. The current study investigates the LXR-mediated regulation of long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 3 (ACSL3) and its functions in human placental trophoblast cells. We demonstrate that activation of LXR increases ACSL3 expression, acyl-CoA synthetase activity, and fatty acid uptake in human tropholast cells. Silencing of ACSL3 in these cells attenuates the LXR-mediated increase in acyl-CoA synthetase activity. Furthermore, we show that ACSL3 is directly regulated by LXR through a conserved LXR responsive element in the ACSL3 promoter. Our results suggest that LXR plays a regulatory role in fatty acid metabolism by direct regulation of ACSL3 in human placental trophoblast cells.     

Quantitative electron microscopy shows uniform incorporation of triglycerides into existing lipid droplets

The lipid droplet (LD) is an organelle with a lipid ester core and a surface phospholipid monolayer. The mechanism of LD biogenesis is not well understood. The present study aimed to elucidate the LD growth process, for which we developed a new electron microscopic method that quantifies the proportion of existing and newly synthesized triglycerides in individual LDs. Our method takes advantage of the reactivity of unsaturated fatty acids and osmium tetroxide, which imparts LDs an electron density that reflects fatty acid composition. With this method, existing triglyceride-rich LDs in 3Y1 fibroblasts were observed to incorporate newly synthesized triglycerides at a highly uniform rate. This uniformity and its persistence even after microtubules were depolymerized suggest that triglycerides in fibroblasts are synthesized in the local vicinity of individual LDs and then incorporated. In contrast, LDs in 3T3-L1 adipocytes showed heterogeneity in the rate at which lipid esters were incorporated, indicating different mechanisms of LD growth in fibroblasts and adipocytes.     

LC3, a microtubule-associated protein1A/B light chain3, is involved in cytoplasmic lipid droplet formation

The cytoplasmic lipid droplet (LD) is one of organelles that has a neutral lipid core with a single phospholipid layer. LDs are believed to be generated between the two leaflets of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane and to play various roles, such as high effective energy storage. However, it remains largely unknown how LDs are generated and grow in the cytoplasm. We have previously shown that the Atg conjugation system that is essential for autophagosome formation is involved in LD formation in hepatocytes and cardiac myocytes. We show here that LC3 itself is involved in LD formation by using RNA interference (RNAi). All cultured cell lines examined, in which the expression of LC3 was suppressed by RNAi, showed reduced LD formation. Triacylglycerol, a major component of LDs, was synthesized and degraded in LC3 mRNA-knockdown cells as well as in control cells. Interestingly, potential of the bulk protein degradation in the knockdown-cells was also evident in the control cells. These findings indicate that LC3 is involved in the LD formation regardless of the bulk degradation, and that LC3 has two pivotal roles in cellular homeostasis mediated by autophagy and lipid metabolism.     

Born this way – Biogenesis of lipid droplets from specialized ER subdomains

Both the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and lipid droplets (LDs) are key players in lipid handling. In addition to this functional connection, the two organelles are also tightly linked due to the fact that the ER is the birthplace of LDs. LDs have an atypical architecture, consisting of a neutral lipid core that is covered by a phospholipid monolayer. LD biogenesis starts with neutral lipid synthesis in the ER membrane and formation of small neutral lipid lenses between its leaflets, followed by budding of mature LDs toward the cytosol.Several ER proteins have been identified that are required for efficient LD formation, among them seipin, Pex30, and FIT2. Recent evidence indicates that these LD biogenesis factors might cooperate with specific lipids, thus generating ER subdomains optimized for LD assembly. Intriguingly, LD biogenesis reacts dynamically to nutrient stress, resulting in a spatial reorganization of LD formation in the ER.     

Preferential lipolysis of DGAT1 over DGAT2 generated triacylglycerol in Huh7 hepatocytes

Two distinct diacylglycerol acyltransferases (DGAT1 and DGAT2) catalyze the final committed step of triacylglycerol (TG) synthesis in hepatocytes. After its synthesis in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) TG is either stored in cytosolic lipid droplets (LDs) or is assembled into very low-density lipoproteins in the ER lumen. TG stored in cytosolic LDs is hydrolyzed by adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) and the released fatty acids are converted to energy by oxidation in mitochondria. We hypothesized that targeting/association of ATGL to LDs would differ depending on whether the TG stores were generated through DGAT1 or DGAT2 activities. Individual inhibition of DGAT1 or DGAT2 in Huh7 hepatocytes incubated with oleic acid did not yield differences in TG accretion while combined inhibition of both DGATs completely prevented TG synthesis suggesting that either DGAT can efficiently esterify exogenously supplied fatty acid. DGAT2-made TG was stored in larger LDs, whereas TG formed by DGAT1 accumulated in smaller LDs. Inactivation of DGAT1 or DGAT2 did not alter expression (mRNA or protein) of ATGL, the ATGL activator ABHD5/CGI-58, or LD coat proteins PLIN2 or PLIN5, but inactivation of both DGATs increased PLIN2 abundance despite a dramatic reduction in the number of LDs. ATGL was found to preferentially target to LDs generated by DGAT1 and fatty acids released from TG in these LDs were also preferentially used for fatty acid oxidation. Combined inhibition of DGAT2 and ATGL resulted in larger LDs, suggesting that the smaller size of DGAT1-generated LDs is the result of increased lipolysis of TG in these LDs.     

长链脂酰辅酶A合成酶家族与恶性肿瘤

脂肪酸代谢紊乱容易导致癌症的发生。长链脂酰辅酶A合成酶家族(long chain acyl-coenzyme A synthetase family,ACSLs)负责激活长链脂肪酸,在脂肪酸代谢中发挥重要作用。但在癌细胞中,其调控作用经常被解除,细胞内脂肪酸的分布、种类和数量发生改变,进而导致癌症和其他代谢性疾病的发生。ACSLs 在哺乳动物中包括5种亚型,分别为ACSL1、3、4、5和6。ACSL1在甘油三脂的合成和分配中发挥重要作用;ACSL3有助于脂滴的形成,脂滴对维持脂质稳态具有重要作用;ACSL4的表达与类固醇激素相关,在铁死亡途径中发挥重要作用;ACSL5可以催化外源性脂肪酸的代谢,但不能催化从头合成脂肪酸的代谢;ACSL6在脑内的脂肪酸代谢及生殖器官中精子发生和卵巢功能维持等方面发挥重要作用。ACSLs的调控因子包括转录因子、共激活因子、激素受体、蛋白激酶和小的非编码RNA等。它们通过介导脂肪酸代谢,广泛参与线粒体介导的能量代谢,内质网应激和肿瘤炎性微环境等。此外,ACSLs还作为独立预后因素,成为各种癌症临床诊断和治疗的生物标志物和治疗靶点。近年来,越来越多的研究表明,ACSL家族在癌症的发生发展进程中发挥重要作用。本文从ACSL基因家族,ACSLs与恶性肿瘤及基于ACSLs脂代谢的肿瘤治疗方面进行阐述,为后续ACSL基因家族的研究及肿瘤的靶向治疗提供理论依据和候选分子靶标。