Mutation of the CH1 Domain in the Histone Acetyltransferase CREBBP Results in Autism-Relevant Behaviors in Mice

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of neurodevelopmental afflictions characterized by repetitive behaviors, deficits in social interaction, and impaired communication skills. For most ASD patients, the underlying causes are unknown. Genetic mutations have been identified in about 25 percent of ASD cases, including mutations in epigenetic regulators, suggesting that dysregulated chromatin or DNA function is a critical component of ASD. Mutations in the histone acetyltransferase CREB binding protein (CBP, CREBBP) cause Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome (RTS), a developmental disorder that includes ASD-like symptoms. Recently, genomic studies involving large numbers of ASD patient families have theoretically modeled CBP and its paralog p300 (EP300) as critical hubs in ASD-associated protein and gene interaction networks, and have identified de novo missense mutations in highly conserved residues of the CBP acetyltransferase and CH1 domains. Here we provide animal model evidence that supports this notion that CBP and its CH1 domain are relevant to autism. We show that mice with a deletion mutation in the CBP CH1 (TAZ1) domain (CBP^ΔCH1/ΔCH1) have an RTS-like phenotype that includes ASD-relevant repetitive behaviors, hyperactivity, social interaction deficits, motor dysfunction, impaired recognition memory, and abnormal synaptic plasticity. Our results therefore indicate that loss of CBP CH1 domain function contributes to RTS, and possibly ASD, and that this domain plays an essential role in normal motor function, cognition and social behavior. Although the key physiological functions affected by ASD-associated mutation of epigenetic regulators have been enigmatic, our findings are consistent with theoretical models involving CBP and p300 in ASD, and with a causative role for recently described ASD-associated CBP mutations.     

Lack of cAMP-response element-binding protein 1 in the hypothalamus causes obesity

The melanocortin system in the hypothalamus controls food intake and energy expenditure. Its disruption causes severe obesity in mice and humans. cAMP-response element-binding protein 1 (CREB1) has been postulated to play an important role downstream of the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R), but this hypothesis has never been confirmed in vivo. To test this, we generated mice that lack CREB1 in SIM1-expressing neurons, of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), which are known to be MC4R-positive. Interestingly, CREB1(ΔSIM1) mice developed obesity as a result of decreased energy expenditure and impairment in maintaining their core body temperature and not because of hyperphagia, defining a new role for CREB1 in the PVN. In addition, the lack of CREB1 in the PVN caused a reduction in vasopressin expression but did not affect adrenal or thyroid function. Surprisingly, MC4R function tested pharmacologically was normal in CREB1(ΔSIM1) mice, suggesting that CREB1 is not required for intact MC4R signaling. Thus CREB1 may affect other pathways that are implicated in the regulation of body weight.     

The actions of dichloroacetic acid on blood glucose, liver glycogen and fatty acid synthesis in obese-hyperglycaemic (ob/ob) and lean mice

Obese-hyperglycaemic mice and lean mice were injected with dichloroacetate to determine the significance of gluconeogenesis in maintaining the hyperglycaemia of obese mice and to investigate the effects of a fall in blood glucose on fatty acid synthesis. One hour after the second of two, hourly, injections of dichloroacetate the blood glucose concentrations in fed and starved lean mice were decreased, whereas in obese mice they were sharply increased. In obese and lean mice, both fed and starved, dichloroacetate decreased plasma lactate but insulin was unchanged. The quantity of liver glycogen was decreased in all dichloroacetate treated mice, with the largest falls in fed and starved obese mice, which had much larger glycogen stores than lean mice. Dichloroacetate treatment decreased the concentration of plasma non-esterified fatty acids in fed and starved obese mice and fed lean mice but not in starved lean mice. Fatty acid synthesis in white (inguinal, subcutaneous) adipose tissue was stimulated by dichloroacetate in fed obese mice and inhibited in fed lean mice. Fatty acid synthesis in brown adipose tissue (scapular) was faster than in white adipose tissue and was less affected by dichloroacetate although the changes were in the same direction as in white adipose tissue. We attribute the increased hyperglycaemia of obese mice treated with dichloroacetate to increased glycogenolysis coupled with a failure to secrete additional insulin in response to the raised blood glucose. This high blood glucose concentration in dichloroacetate treated obese mice may in turn explain the increased fatty acid synthesis in their white adipose tissue.     

膜去极化与cAMP在胰岛细胞株HIT中诱导CBP片段的转录活性

为了研究 Ｃ Ｂ Ｐ在胰岛 Ｈ Ｉ Ｔ 细胞中调节基因转录的机制,将不同的 Ｃ Ｂ Ｐ片段瞬时转染到细胞中,观察其转录活性．实验表明,在胰岛 Ｈ Ｉ Ｔ 细胞中,膜去极化及 ｃ Ａ Ｍ Ｐ 均可诱导 Ｃ Ｂ Ｐ３０（ Ｃ Ｒ Ｅ Ｂ结合功能区）转录活性增强,并有协同效应． Ｐ Ｋ Ｃ对 Ｃ Ｂ Ｐ３０ 的转录活性无影响;与 Ｃ Ｒ Ｅ Ｂ有更强结合力的 Ｃ Ｂ Ｐ Ｋ Ｉ Ｘ Ｓ／ Ｂ（氨基酸序列短于 Ｃ Ｂ Ｐ３０ 的 Ｃ Ｒ Ｅ Ｂ结合功能区）其基本转录活性及膜去极化、ｃ Ａ Ｍ Ｐ诱导下的转录活性均比 Ｃ Ｂ Ｐ３０ 更强．反义 Ｃ Ｒ Ｅ Ｂ 的过度表达可降低 ｃ Ａ Ｍ Ｐ诱导的 Ｃ Ｂ Ｐ的转录活性．提示在胰岛 Ｈ Ｉ Ｔ 细胞中,膜去极化及 ｃ Ａ Ｍ Ｐ对共转录因子 Ｃ Ｂ Ｐ转录活性的调节作用通过 Ｃ Ｒ Ｅ Ｂ介导．     

Transcriptional Co-activator p300 Maintains Basal Hepatic Gluconeogenesis

A major cause of fasting hyperglycemia in diabetes mellitus is unregulated hepatic glucose production (HGP). Insulin suppresses HGP by phosphorylating CBP and disassembling the CREB-CBP complex from gluconeogenic genes. p300 is closely related to CBP; but in contrast to CBP, p300 binds constitutively to CREB due to the absence of phosphorylation site found in CBP. In a phosphorylation-competent p300(G442S) knock-in mouse model, we demonstrate that HGP is now exquisitely sensitive to insulin suppression. p300(G422S) and hepatic-deleted p300 mice exhibited significant lower blood glucose levels in the fasted and post-prandial states, indicating a role for p300 in maintaining basal HGP.     

Myosin light chain mono- and di-phosphorylation differentially regulate adhesion and polarity in migrating cells

A high carbohydrate-high fat (HC-HF) diet-associated with hyperinsulinemia has been previously reported to induce accelerated growth of prostate cancer in a xenograft model. High energy supply and insulin/insulin growth factor-1 axis are two of the mechanisms proposed. We hypothesize that metformin may have a protective effect against prostate cancer progression by affecting metabolisms associated with high energy intake. In the present study, animals were randomized into five groups, receiving a HC-HF diet with 50, 100, or 250 mg/kg body weight (mg/kg) metformin in drinking water, a standard diet or HC-HF diet alone. Animals on the HC-HF diet developed obesity and insulin resistance. They had significantly higher body weight, fasting blood glucose at an upper level of normal range, higher insulin secretion and utilization, and fatty degeneration of the liver. Metformin at the doses employed significantly reduced food and water consumption; however, only a dose of 250 mg/kg showed a significant reduction in body weight gain and suppression of gluconeogenesis as well remarkably reduced insulin secretion. There was no observed metformin-related hepato-toxicity in any of the groups. In summary, metformin at various doses exhibits protective effects on the metabolic disorder caused by the HC-HF diet with the most effective protection at a dose of 250 mg/kg. These effects may explain its translational role relating to its anti-neoplastic potential.     

Acute fructose intake suppresses fasting-induced hepatic gluconeogenesis through the AKT-FoxO1 pathway

Excessive intake of fructose increases lipogenesis in the liver, leading to hepatic lipid accumulation and development of fatty liver disease. Metabolic alterations in the liver due to fructose intake have been reported in many studies, but the effect of fructose administration on hepatic gluconeogenesis is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute effects of fructose administration on fasting-induced hepatic gluconeogenesis. C57BL/6J mice were administered fructose solution after 14 h of fasting and plasma insulin, glucose, free fatty acids, and ketone bodies were analysed. We also measured phosphorylated AKT and forkhead box O (FoxO) 1 protein levels and gene expression related to gluconeogenesis in the liver. Furthermore, we measured glucose production from pyruvate after fructose administration. Glucose-administered mice were used as controls. Fructose administration enhanced phosphorylation of AKT in the liver, without increase of blood insulin levels. Blood free fatty acids and ketone bodies concentrations were as high as those in the fasting group after fructose administration, suggesting that insulin-induced inhibition of lipolysis did not occur in mice administered with fructose. Fructose also enhanced phosphorylation of FoxO1 and suppressed gluconeogenic gene expression, glucose-6-phosphatase activity, and glucose production from pyruvate. The present study suggests that acute fructose administration suppresses fasting-induced hepatic gluconeogenesis in an insulin-independent manner.     

膜去极化和cAMP在胰岛细胞株HIT中活化CBPC端片段

在胰岛细胞株 Ｈ Ｉ Ｔ 细胞中,用瞬时转染法观察高 Ｋ＋ 导致的膜去极化与ｃ Ａ Ｍ Ｐ对 Ｃ Ｂ Ｐ Ｃ端片段转录活性的影响．发现二者均可诱导 Ｃ Ｂ Ｐ Ｃ端片段的转录活性增强,并有协同效应; Ｃ Ｂ Ｐ Ｃ端片段的突变体（ Ｓｅｒ １ ７７２ 突变为 Ａｌａ）表现相同的诱导特性,但其基本转录活性降低．说明膜去极化和 ｃ Ａ Ｍ Ｐ对 Ｃ Ｂ Ｐ Ｃ 端片段转录活性的诱导作用与 Ｐ Ｋ Ａ 磷酸化位点 Ｓｅｒ １ ７７２ 无关,而该位点的磷酸化对调节 Ｃ Ｂ Ｐ Ｃ 端片段的基本转录活性起重要作用．蛋白激酶 Ｃ 通路对 Ｃ Ｂ Ｐ Ｔｉ的转录活性无影响．