Saturated fatty acids induce endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis independently of ceramide in liver cells

Accumulation of lipids in nonadipose tissues can lead to cell dysfunction and cell death, a phenomenon known as lipotoxicity. However, the signaling pathways and mechanisms linking lipid accumulation to cell death are poorly understood. The present study examined the hypothesis that saturated fatty acids disrupt endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis and promote apoptosis in liver cells via accumulation of ceramide. H4IIE liver cells were exposed to varying concentrations of saturated (palmitate or stearate) or unsaturated (oleate or linoleate) fatty acids. ER homeostasis was monitored using markers of the ER stress response pathway, including phosphorylation of IRE1alpha and eIF2alpha, splicing of XBP1 mRNA, and expression of molecular chaperone (e.g., GRP78) and proapoptotic (CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein) genes. Apoptosis was monitored using caspase activity and DNA laddering. Palmitate and stearate induced ER stress, caspase activity, and DNA laddering. Inhibition of caspase activation prevented DNA laddering. Unsaturated fatty acids did not induce ER stress or apoptosis. Saturated fatty acids increased ceramide concentration; however, inhibition of de novo ceramide synthesis did not prevent saturated fatty acid-induced ER stress and apoptosis. Unsaturated fatty acids rescued palmitate-induced ER stress and apoptosis. These data demonstrate that saturated fatty acids disrupt ER homeostasis and induce apoptosis in liver cells via mechanisms that do not involve ceramide accumulation.     

ClC-3 deficiency protects preadipocytes against apoptosis induced by palmitate in vitro and in type 2 diabetes mice

Palmitate, a common saturated free fatty acid (FFA), has been demonstrated to induce preadipocyte apoptosis in the absence of adipogenic stimuli, suggesting that preadipocytes may be prone to apoptosis under adipogenic insufficient conditions, like type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). ClC-3, encoding Cl^? channel or Cl^?/H⁺ antiporter, is critical for cell fate choices of proliferation versus apoptosis under diseased conditions. However, it is unknown whether ClC-3 is related with preadipocyte apoptosis induced by palmitate or T2DM. Palmitate, but not oleate, induced apoptosis and increase in ClC-3 protein expression and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in 3T3-L1 preadipocyte. ClC-3 specific siRNA attenuated palmitate-induced apoptosis and increased protein levels of Grp78, ATF4, CHOP and phosphorylation of JNK1/2, whereas had no effects on increased phospho-PERK and phospho-eIF2α protein expression. Moreover, the enhanced apoptosis was shown in preadipocytes from high-sucrose/fat, low-dose STZ induced T2DM mouse model with hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia (elevated serum TG and FFA levels) and insulin resistance. ClC-3 knockout significantly attenuated preadipocyte apoptosis and the above metabolic disorders in T2DM mice. These data demonstrated that ClC-3 deficiency prevent preadipocytes against palmitate-induced apoptosis via suppressing ER stress, and also suggested that ClC-3 may play a role in regulating cellular apoptosis and disorders of glucose and lipid metabolism during T2DM.     

Fibrillation of human islet amyloid polypeptide and its toxicity to pancreatic β-cells under lipid environment

BackgroundPrevious studies suggested that fibrillar human IAPP (hIAPP) is more likely to deposit in β-cells, resulting in β-cell injury. However, the changes in the conformation of hIAPP in lipid environment and the mechanism involved in β-cell damage are unclear.MethodsSynthetic hIAPP was incubated with five types of free fatty acids and phospholipids 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-l-serine (POPS), which constitute the cell membrane. Thioflavin-T fluorescence assay was conducted to analyze the degree of hIAPP fibrosis, and circular dichroism spectroscopy was performed to detect the β-fold formation of hIAPP. Furthermore, INS-1 cells were infected with human IAPP delivered by a GV230-EGFP plasmid. The effects of endogenous hIAPP overexpression induced by sodium palmitate on the survival, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and apoptosis of INS-1 cells were evaluated.ResultsThe five types of free fatty acids can accelerate the fibrosis of hIAPP. Sodium palmitate also maintained the stability of fibrillar hIAPP. POPS, not POPC, accelerated hIAPP fibrosis. Treatment of INS-1 cells with sodium palmitate increased the expression of hIAPP, activated ER stress and ER stress-dependent apoptosis signaling pathways, and increased the apoptotic rate.ConclusionFree fatty acids and anionic phospholipid can promote β-fold formation and fibrosis in hIAPP. High lipid induced the overexpression of hIAPP and aggravated ER stress and apoptosis in INS-1 cells, which caused β-cell death in high lipid environment.General significanceOur study reveals free fatty acids and hIAPP synergistically implicated in endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis of islet β-cells.     

Saturated fatty acid induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis in human liver cells via the PERK/ATF4/CHOP signaling pathway

Accumulation of saturated fatty acids in the liver can cause nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study investigated saturated fatty acid induction of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and apoptosis in human liver cells and the underlying causal mechanism. Human liver L02 and HepG2 cell lines were exposed to the saturated fatty acid sodium palmitate. MTT assay was used for cell viability, flow cytometry and Hoechst 33258 staining for apoptosis, RT-PCR for mRNA expression, and Western blot for protein expression. Silence of PRK-like ER kinase (PERK) expression in liver cells was through transient transfection of PERK shRNA. Treatment of L02 and HepG2 cells with sodium palmitate reduced cell viability through induction of apoptosis. Sodium palmitate also induced ER stress in the cells, indicated by upregulation of PERK phosphorylation and expression of BiP, ATF4, and CHOP proteins. Sodium palmitate had little effect on activating XBP-1, a common target of the other two canonical sensors of ER stress, ATF6, and IRE1. Knockdown of PERK gene expression suppressed the PERK/ATF4/CHOP signaling pathway during sodium palmitate-induced ER stress and significantly inhibited sodium palmitate-induced apoptosis in L02 and HepG2 cells. Saturated fatty acid-induced ER stress and apoptosis in these human liver cells were enacted through the PERK/ATF4/CHOP signaling pathway. Future study is warranted to investigate the role of these proteins in mediating saturated fatty acid-induced NAFLD in animal models.     

Vascular metabolic dysfunction and lipotoxicity

The purpose of this study was to determine the role of lipotoxicity in vascular smooth muscle (VSM). C(1)-BODIPY 500/510 C(12) used to assess the ability of VSM A7r5 cells to transport long-chain fatty acids showed that lipid transport did not appear to limit metabolism. Thin layer chromatography revealed that storage of transported fatty acid occurred primarily as mono- and diglycerides and fatty acids but not as triglycerides. We used lipid-induced apoptosis as a measure of lipotoxicity and found that 1.5 mM palmitate (6.8:1) bound to albumin resulted in a 15-fold increase in the number of apoptotic cells compared to the control at 24 hours. This apoptosis did not seem to be due to an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) since VSM cells incubated in palmitate showed less ROS production than cells incubated in albumin only. Similar exposure to oleate did not significantly increase the number of apoptotic cells compared to the control. Oleate actually significantly attenuated the apoptosis induced by palmitate, suggesting that unsaturated fatty acids have a protective effect on cells undergoing palmitate-induced apoptosis. These results suggest that vascular smooth muscle is vulnerable to lipotoxicity and that this lipotoxicity may play a role in the development of atherosclerosis.     

Different role of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in beta-cell apoptosis

It is believed that free fatty acids contribute to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes in humans. We have recently shown that lipoapoptosis of human beta-cells is specifically induced by saturated fatty acids while unsaturated had no effect. In the present study we tested the effect of co-incubation of different saturated and unsaturated free fatty acids on lipoapoptosis in beta-cells. RIN1046-38 cells and isolated human beta-cells were incubated with combinations of saturated fatty acids (palmitate, stearate) and mono- or polyunsaturated fatty acids (palmitoleate, oleate, and linoleate). Cells were incubated for 24-72 h with 1mM fatty acids. All unsaturated fatty acids tested completely prevented palmitate- or stearate-induced apoptosis of rat and human beta-cells as assessed by flow cytometric cell cycle analysis and TUNEL assay. This might suggest that apoptosis in vivo is predominantly determined by the content of unsaturated fatty acids in a mixed fatty acid pool.     

Modulation of palmitate-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis in pancreatic β-cells by stearoyl-CoA desaturase and Elovl6

Induction of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and apoptosis by elevated exogenous saturated fatty acids (FAs) plays a role in the pathogenesis of β-cell dysfunction and loss of islet mass in type 2 diabetes. Regulation of monounsaturated FA (MUFA) synthesis through FA desaturases and elongases may alter the susceptibility of β-cells to saturated FA-induced ER stress and apoptosis. Herein, stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD)1 and SCD2 mRNA expression were shown to be induced in islets from prediabetic hyperinsulinemic Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats, whereas SCD1, SCD2, and fatty acid elongase 6 (Elovl6) mRNA levels were markedly reduced in diabetic ZDF rat islets. Knockdown of SCD in INS-1 β-cells decreased desaturation of palmitate to MUFA, lowered FA partitioning into complex neutral lipids, and increased palmitate-induced ER stress and apoptosis. Overexpression of SCD2 increased desaturation of palmitate to MUFA and attenuated palmitate-induced ER stress and apoptosis. Knockdown of Elovl6 limited palmitate elongation to stearate, increasing palmitoleate production and attenuating palmitate-induced ER stress and apoptosis, whereas overexpression of Elovl6 increased palmitate elongation to stearate and palmitate-induced ER stress and apoptosis. Overall, these data support the hypothesis that enhanced MUFA synthesis via upregulation of SCD2 activity can protect β-cells from elevated saturated FAs, as occurs in prediabetic states. Overt type 2 diabetes is associated with diminished islet expression of SCD and Elovl6, and this can disrupt desaturation of saturated FAs to MUFAs, rendering β-cells more susceptible to saturated FA-induced ER stress and apoptosis.     

Inhibition of palmitate‐induced GADD34 expression augments apoptosis in mouse insulinoma cells (MIN6)

Saturated fatty acids like palmitate induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in pancreatic beta‐cells, an event linked to apoptotic loss of β‐cells in type 2 diabetes. Sustained activation of the ER stress response leads to expression of growth arrest and DNA damage‐inducible protein 34 (GADD34), a regulatory subunit of protein phosphatase 1. In the present study, we have used small interfering RNA in order to knockdown GADD34 expression in insulin‐producing MIN6 cells prior to induction of ER stress by palmitate and evaluated its consequences on RNA‐activated protein kinase‐like ER‐localized eIF2alpha kinase (PERK) signalling and apoptosis. Salubrinal, a specific inhibitor of eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) dephosphorylation, was used as a comparison. Salubrinal treatment augmented palmitate‐induced ER stress and increased GADD34 levels. Both GADD34 knockdown and salubrinal treatment potentiated the cytotoxic effects of palmitate as evidenced by increased DNA fragmentation and activation of caspase 3, with the fundamental difference that the former did not involve enhanced levels of GADD34. The data from this study suggest that sustained activation of PERK signalling and eIF2α phosphorylation sensitizes insulin‐producing MIN6 cells to lipoapoptosis independently of GADD34 expression levels. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sustained Action of Ceramide on the Insulin Signaling Pathway in Muscle Cells: IMPLICATION OF THE DOUBLE-STRANDED RNA-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASE*

In vivo, ectopic accumulation of fatty acids in muscles leads to alterations in insulin signaling at both the IRS1 and Akt steps. However, in vitro treatments with saturated fatty acids or their derivative ceramide demonstrate an effect only at the Akt step. In this study, we adapted our experimental procedures to mimic the in vivo situation and show that the double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) is involved in the long-term effects of saturated fatty acids on IRS1. C2C12 or human muscle cells were incubated with palmitate or directly with ceramide for short or long periods, and insulin signaling pathway activity was evaluated. PKR involvement was assessed through pharmacological and genetic studies. Short-term treatments of myotubes with palmitate, a ceramide precursor, or directly with ceramide induce an inhibition of Akt, whereas prolonged periods of treatment show an additive inhibition of insulin signaling through increased IRS1 serine 307 phosphorylation. PKR mRNA, protein, and phosphorylation are increased in insulin-resistant muscles. When PKR activity is reduced (siRNA or a pharmacological inhibitor), serine phosphorylation of IRS1 is reduced, and insulin-induced phosphorylation of Akt is improved. Finally, we show that JNK mediates ceramide-activated PKR inhibitory action on IRS1. Together, in the long term, our results show that ceramide acts at two distinct levels of the insulin signaling pathway (IRS1 and Akt). PKR, which is induced by both inflammation signals and ceramide, could play a major role in the development of insulin resistance in muscle cells.     

Contribution of endoplasmic reticulum stress,MAPK and PI3K/Akt pathways to the apoptotic death induced by a penicillin derivative in melanoma cells

We have previously examined the in vitro and in vivo antitumor action of TAP7f, a synthetic triazolylpeptidyl penicillin, on murine melanoma cells. In this work, we explored the signal transduction pathways modulated by TAP7f in murine B16-F0 and human A375 melanoma cells, and the contribution of some intracellular signals to the apoptotic cell death. TAP7f decreased ERK1/2 phosphorylation and increased phospho-p38, phospho-JNK and phospho-Akt levels. ERK1/2 blockage suppressed cell growth, while inhibition of p38, JNK and PI3K-I pathways reduced the antitumor effect of TAP7f. Pharmacological inhibition of p38 and JNK, or blockage of PI3K-I/Akt cascade with a dominant negative PI3K-I mutant diminished Bax expression levels and PARP-1 cleavage, indicating the involvement of these pathways in apoptosis. PI3K-I/Akt inhibition also favored an autophagic response, as evidenced by the higher expression levels of Beclin-1 and LC3-II detected in transfected cells exposed to TAP7f. However, although PI3K-I/Akt blockage promoted an autophagic survival response, this mechanism appears not to be critical for TAP7f antitumor action. It was also shown that TAP7f induced ER stress by enhancing the expression of ER stress-related genes and proteins. Downregulation of CHOP protein with specific siRNA increased cell growth and decreased cleavage of PARP-1, supporting its role in apoptosis. Furthermore, it was found that activation of p38, JNK and Akt occurred downstream ER perturbation. In summary, our results showed that TAP7f triggers an apoptotic cell death in melanoma cells through induction of ER stress and activation of p38, JNK and PI3K-I/Akt pathways.

     

Bax signaling regulates palmitate-mediated apoptosis in C(2)C(12) myotubes

Insulin resistance is a primary characteristic of type 2 diabetes. Several lines of evidence suggest that accumulation of free fatty acids in skeletal muscle may at least in part contribute to insulin resistance and may be linked to mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to apoptosis. Palmitate treatment of several cell lines in vitro results in apoptosis and inhibits protein kinase B (Akt) activity in response to insulin. However, the role of Bax and Bcl-2 in regulating palmitate-induced apoptosis has not been well studied. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether palmitate-induced apoptosis in C(2)C(12) myotubes is dependent on Bax to Bcl-2 binding. An additional purpose of this study was to determine whether the changes in Bax to Bcl-2 binding corresponded to decreases in Akt signaling in palmitate-treated myoblasts. Apoptotic signaling proteins were examined in C(2)C(12) myotubes treated overnight with palmitate. Bax to Bcl-2 binding was determined through a coimmunoprecipitation assay that was performed in myotubes after 2 h of serum starvation, followed by 10 min of serum reintroduction. This experiment evaluated whether temporal Akt activity coincided with Bax to Bcl-2 binding. Last, the contribution of Bax to palmitate-induced apoptosis was determined by treatment with Bax siRNA. Palmitate treatment increased apoptosis in C(2)C(12) myotubes as shown by a twofold increase in DNA fragmentation, an approximately fivefold increase in caspase-3 activity, and a 2.5-fold increase in caspase-9 activity. Palmitate treatment significantly reduced Akt protein expression and Akt activity. In addition, there was a fourfold reduction in Bax to Bcl-2 binding with palmitate treatment, which mirrored the reduction in Akt(Ser473) phosphorylation. Furthermore, treatment of the C(2)C(12) myotubes with Bax siRNA attenuated the apoptotic effects of palmitate treatment. These data show that palmitate induces Bax-mediated apoptosis in C(2)C(12) myotubes and that this effect corresponds to reductions in Akt(Ser473) phosphorylation.     

Polyunsaturated fatty acids block platelet-activating factor-induced phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/Akt-mediated apoptosis in intestinal epithelial cells

We have shown earlier that platelet-activating factor (PAF) causes apoptosis in enterocytes via a mechanism that involves Bax translocation to mitochondria, followed by caspase activation and DNA fragmentation. Herein we report that, in rat small intestinal epithelial cells (IEC-6), these downstream apoptotic effects are mediated by a PAF-induced inhibition of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway. Treatment with PAF results in rapid dephosphorylation of Akt, phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1, and the YXXM p85 binding motif of several proteins and redistribution of Akt-pleckstrin homology domain-green fluorescent protein, i.e., an in vivo phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate sensor, from membrane to cytosol. The proapoptotic effects of PAF were inhibited by both n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids but not by a saturated fatty acid palmitate. Indomethacin, an inhibitor of prostaglandin biosynthesis, did not influence the baseline or PAF-induced apoptosis, but 2-bromopalmitate, an inhibitor of protein palmitoylation, inhibited all of the proapoptotic effects of PAF. Our data strongly suggest that an inhibition of the PI 3-kinase/Akt signaling pathway is the main mechanism of PAF-induced apoptosis in enterocytes and that polyunsaturated fatty acids block this mechanism very early in the signaling cascade independently of any effect on prostaglandin synthesis, and probably directly via an effect on protein palmitoylation.     

GSK-3β promotes PA-induced apoptosis through changing β-arrestin 2 nucleus location in H9c2 cardiomyocytes

Palmitic acid (PA), a type of saturated fatty acids, induces cardiovascular diseases by causing cardiomyocyte apoptosis with unclear mechanisms. Akt participates in PA-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. GSK-3β is a substrate of Akt, we investigated its role in PA-induced apoptosis. We reveal that PA inhibits GSK-3β phosphorylation accompanied by inactivation of Akt in H9c2 cardiomyocytes. We also reveal that inhibition the activity of GSK-3β by its inhibitor LiCl or knockdown by siRNA significantly attenuates PA-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis, this suggesting that GSK-3β plays a pro-apoptotic role. To detect its downstream factors, we analyzed the roles of JNK, p38 MAPK and β-arrestin 2 (β-Arr2). Here, we report that GSK-3β regulate PA-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis by affecting the distribution of β-Arr2. PA diminishes the protein level of β-Arr2 and changes its distribution from nucleus to cytoplasm. Either inhibition of β-Arr2 by its siRNA or overexpression of its protein level by transfection of β-Arr2 full-length plasmid promotes PA-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis, which remind us to focus on the changes of its location. β-Arr2 siRNA decreased the background level of β-Arr2 in nucleus in normal H9c2 cells. Overexpression of β-Arr2 increased cytoplasm level of β-Arr2 as PA did. While LiCl, the inhibitor of GSK-3β decreased PA-induced apoptosis, accompany with increased nucleus level of β-Arr2. Then we concluded that GSK-3β is closely associated with cardiomyocyte apoptosis induced by PA, it performs its pro-apoptotic function by affecting the location of β-Arr2. LiCl inhibits PA-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis, which might provide novel therapeutic for cardiovascular diseases induced by metabolic syndrome.     

Palmitic acid acutely stimulates glucose uptake via activation of Akt and ERK1/2 in skeletal muscle cells

Chronic exposure to saturated fatty acids can cause insulin resistance. However, the acute effects of fatty acids are not clear and need to be elucidated because plasma fatty acid concentrations fluctuate postprandially. Here, we present the acute effects of palmitate (PA) on skeletal muscle cells and their underlying molecular mechanisms. Immuno-fluorescence results showed that PA rapidly induced GLUT4 translocation and stimulated glucose uptake in rat skeletal muscle cell line L6. Phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), Akt, and extracellular signal-related kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) was enhanced by PA in a time-dependent manner. Cell surface-bound PA was sufficient to stimulate Akt phosphorylation. The inhibitors of PI3 kinase (PI3K), AMPK, Akt, and ERK1/2 could decrease PA-induced glucose uptake, and PI3K inhibitor decreased AMPK, Akt, and ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Weakening AMPK activity reduced phosphorylation of Akt but not ERK1/2, and Akt inhibitor could not affect ERK1/2 activation either. Meanwhile, ERK1/2 inhibitors had no effect on Akt phosphorylation. Taken together, our data suggest that PA-mediated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle cells may be stimulated by the binding of PA to cell surface and followed by PI3K/AMPK/Akt and PI3K/ERK1/2 pathways independently.     

The mitogenic and antiapoptotic actions of ghrelin in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Ghrelin, a stomach-derived hormone, induces adiposity when administered to rodents. Because ghrelin receptor is abundantly expressed in adipose tissue, we investigated the role of ghrelin in adipocyte biology. We observed ghrelin receptor expression in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and adipocytes. Treatment of preadipocytes with ghrelin induced cellular proliferation and differentiation to mature adipocytes, as well as basal and insulin-stimulated glucose transport, but it inhibited adipocyte apoptosis induced by serum deprivation. Exposure of 3T3-L1 cells to ghrelin caused a rapid activation of MAPKs, especially ERK1/2. Chemical inhibition of MAPK blocked the mitogenic and antiapoptotic effects of ghrelin. Ghrelin also stimulated the insulin receptor substrate-associated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and adipocytes, whereas inhibition of this pathway blocked the effects of ghrelin on cell proliferation, antiapoptosis and glucose uptake. These findings suggest that the direct effects of ghrelin on proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis in adipocytes may play a role in regulating fat cell number. These effects may be mediated via activation of the MAPK and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathways.     

Changes in fatty acids metabolism during differentiation of Atlantic salmon preadipocytes; effects of n-3 and n-9 fatty acids

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) preadipocytes, isolated from visceral adipose tissue, differentiate from an unspecialized fibroblast like cell type to mature adipocytes filled with lipid droplets in culture. The expression of the adipogenic gene markers peroxisome proliferated activated receptor (PPAR) alpha, lipoprotein lipase (LPL), microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP), fatty acid transport protein (FATP) 1 and fatty acid binding protein (FABP) 3 increased during differentiation. In addition, we describe a novel alternatively spliced form of PPARgamma (PPARgamma short), the expression of which increased during differentiation. Eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3, EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3, DHA) lowered the triacylglycerol (TAG) accumulation in mature salmon adipocytes compared to oleic acid (18:1n-9, OA). This finding indicates that a reduced level of highly unsaturated n-3 fatty acids (HUFAs) in fish diets, when the traditional marine oil is exchanged for n-9 fatty acids (FAs) rich vegetable oils (VOs), may influence visceral fat deposition in salmonids. Moreover, major differences in the metabolism of EPA, DHA and OA at different stages during differentiation of adipocytes occur. Most of the EPA and DHA were oxidized in preadipocytes, while they were mainly stored in TAGs in mature adipocytes in contrast to OA which was primarily stored in TAGs at all stages of differentiation.     

Akt phosphorylates MstI and prevents its proteolytic activation, blocking FOXO3 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation

Oxidative stress can induce apoptosis through activation of MstI, subsequent phosphorylation of FOXO and nuclear translocation. MstI is a common component of apoptosis initiated by various stresses. MstI kinase activation requires autophosphorylation and proteolytic degradation by caspases. The role of Akt in regulating MstI activity has not been previously examined. Here, we show that MstI is a physiological substrate of Akt. Akt phosphorylation of MstI diminishes its apoptotic cleavage by caspases and prevents its kinase activity on FOXO3. MstI directly binds to Akt, which is regulated Akt kinase activity. Akt phosphorylates MstI on the Thr(387) residue and protects MstI from apoptotic cleavage in vitro and in apoptotic cells. Interestingly, Akt phosphorylation of MstI strongly inhibits its kinase activity on FOXO3. The phosphorylation mimetic mutant MST1 T387E blocks H2O2-triggered FOXO3 nuclear translocation and apoptosis. Thus, our findings support that Akt blocks MstI-triggered FOXO3 nuclear translocation by phosphorylating MstI, promoting cell survival.