A cDNA encoding diazepam-binding inhibitor/acyl-CoA-binding protein in Helicoverpa armigera: molecular characterization and expression analysis associated with pupal diapause

The diazepam binding inhibitor (DBI) or the acyl-CoA-binding protein (ACBP) is a 9-10 kDa highly conserved multifunctional protein that plays important roles in GABA(A) receptor activity regulation, lipid absorption and steroidogenesis in various organisms. To study the functions of DBI/ACBP in insect development or diapause, we cloned the cDNA from Helicoverpa armigera (Har) utilizing rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). By homology search, Har-DBI/ACBP is conserved with the DBI/ACBPs known from other insects. Northern blot analysis showed that DBI/ACBP gene expressed in nonneural and neural tissues. RT-PCR combined Southern blot analysis revealed that DBI/ACBP mRNA in the brain of nondiapause individual was much higher than that in the brain of diapausing insects. At early and middle stages of 6th instar larvae, the level of DBI/ACBP mRNA was higher in the midgut of diapause type than that in nondiapause type and low at late 6th instar larval stage and early pupal stage in both types. In the prothoracic gland (PG), DBI/ACBP expression appeared at a high level at middle and late stages of 6th larval instar in both nondiapause and diapause types, and declined after pupation. In vitro experiments revealed that DBI/ACBP mRNA in PG could be stimulated by synthetic H. armigera diapause hormone (Har-DH), suggesting that Har-DH may stimulate the PG to produce ecdysteroids by the DBI/ACBP signal pathway. By in vitro assay, we also found that FGIN-1-27, which has similar functions to DBI/ACBP in ecdysteroidogenesis, could induce PG ecdysteroidogenesis effectively, suggesting that DBI/ACBP regulates biosynthesis of ecdysteroids in PG. Thus, DBI/ACBP indeed plays a key role in metabolism and development in H. armigera.     

Genome organization and expression of the rat ACBP gene family

Acyl-CoA-Binding Protein (ACBP)/Diazepam-Binding Inhibitor (DBI) is a 10 kD protein which has been implicated in a surprisingly large number of biochemical functions. We have unambiguously demonstrated that ACBP binds acyl-CoA esters with high affinity andin vivo functions as an acyl-CoA ester pool former. We have molecularly cloned and characterized the rat ACBP gene family which comprises one expressed and four processed pseudogenes. One of these was shown to exist in two allelic forms. A comprehensive computer-aided analysis of the promoter region of the expressed ACBP gene revealed that it exhibits all the hallmarks of typical housekeeping genes. In addition, the promoter region harbors a number of ptential tissue specific cis-acting elements that may in part regulate the level of ACBP expression in specialized cells.     

The gene encoding acyl-CoA-binding protein is subject to metabolic regulation by both sterol regulatory element-binding protein and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha in hepatocytes

The acyl-CoA-binding protein (ACBP) is a 10-kDa intracellular lipid-binding protein that transports acylCoA esters. The protein is expressed in most cell types at low levels; however, expression is particularly high in cells with a high turnover of fatty acids. Here we confirm a previous observation that ACBP expression in rodent liver is down-regulated by fasting, and we show that insulin but not glucose is the inducer of ACBP expression in primary rat hepatocytes. In keeping with the regulation by insulin, we show that ACBP is a sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c) target gene in hepatocytes. Members of the SREBP family activate the rat ACBP gene through binding sites for SREBP and the auxiliary factors Sp1 and nuclear factor Y in the proximal promoter. In addition, we show that ACBP is a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) alpha target gene in cultured hepatocytes and is induced in the liver by fibrates in a PPARalpha-dependent manner. Thus, ACBP is a dual PPARalpha and SREBP-1c target gene in hepatocytes. Fasting leads to reduced activity of SREBP but increased activity of PPARalpha in hepatocytes, and in keeping with ACBP being a dual target gene, we show that ACBP expression is significantly lower in livers from PPARalpha knock-out mice than in livers from wild type mice. In conclusion, expression of ACBP in rodent hepatocytes is subject to dual metabolic regulation by PPARalpha and SREBP-1c, which may reflect the need for ACBP during lipogenic as well as lipo-oxidative conditions.     

High plasma concentrations of acyl-coenzyme A binding protein (ACBP) predispose to cardiovascular disease: Evidence for a phylogenetically conserved proaging function of ACBP

Autophagy defects accelerate aging, while stimulation of autophagy decelerates aging. Acyl-coenzyme A binding protein (ACBP), which is encoded by a diazepam-binding inhibitor (DBI), acts as an extracellular feedback regulator of autophagy. As shown here, knockout of the gene coding for the yeast orthologue of ACBP/DBI (ACB1) improves chronological aging, and this effect is reversed by knockout of essential autophagy genes (ATG5, ATG7) but less so by knockout of an essential mitophagy gene (ATG32). In humans, ACBP/DBI levels independently correlate with body mass index (BMI) as well as with chronological age. In still-healthy individuals, we find that high ACBP/DBI levels correlate with future cardiovascular events (such as heart surgery, myocardial infarction, and stroke), an association that is independent of BMI and chronological age, suggesting that ACBP/DBI is indeed a biomarker of “biological” aging. Concurringly, ACBP/DBI plasma concentrations correlate with established cardiovascular risk factors (fasting glucose levels, systolic blood pressure, total free cholesterol, triglycerides), but are inversely correlated with atheroprotective high-density lipoprotein (HDL). In mice, neutralization of ACBP/DBI through a monoclonal antibody attenuates anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity, which is a model of accelerated heart aging. In conclusion, plasma elevation of ACBP/DBI constitutes a novel biomarker of chronological aging and facets of biological aging with a prognostic value in cardiovascular disease.     

High plasma concentrations of acyl‐coenzyme A binding protein (ACBP) predispose to cardiovascular disease: Evidence for a phylogenetically conserved proaging function of ACBP

Autophagy defects accelerate aging, while stimulation of autophagy decelerates aging. Acyl‐coenzyme A binding protein (ACBP), which is encoded by a diazepam‐binding inhibitor (DBI), acts as an extracellular feedback regulator of autophagy. As shown here, knockout of the gene coding for the yeast orthologue of ACBP/DBI (ACB1) improves chronological aging, and this effect is reversed by knockout of essential autophagy genes (ATG5, ATG7) but less so by knockout of an essential mitophagy gene (ATG32). In humans, ACBP/DBI levels independently correlate with body mass index (BMI) as well as with chronological age. In still‐healthy individuals, we find that high ACBP/DBI levels correlate with future cardiovascular events (such as heart surgery, myocardial infarction, and stroke), an association that is independent of BMI and chronological age, suggesting that ACBP/DBI is indeed a biomarker of “biological” aging. Concurringly, ACBP/DBI plasma concentrations correlate with established cardiovascular risk factors (fasting glucose levels, systolic blood pressure, total free cholesterol, triglycerides), but are inversely correlated with atheroprotective high‐density lipoprotein (HDL). In mice, neutralization of ACBP/DBI through a monoclonal antibody attenuates anthracycline‐induced cardiotoxicity, which is a model of accelerated heart aging. In conclusion, plasma elevation of ACBP/DBI constitutes a novel biomarker of chronological aging and facets of biological aging with a prognostic value in cardiovascular disease.     

Disruption of the acyl-CoA-binding protein gene delays hepatic adaptation to metabolic changes at weaning

The acyl-CoA-binding protein (ACBP)/diazepam binding inhibitor is an intracellular protein that binds C(14)-C(22) acyl-CoA esters and is thought to act as an acyl-CoA transporter. In vitro analyses have indicated that ACBP can transport acyl-CoA esters between different enzymatic systems; however, little is known about the in vivo function in mammalian cells. We have generated mice with targeted disruption of ACBP (ACBP(-/-)). These mice are viable and fertile and develop normally. However, around weaning, the ACBP(-/-) mice go through a crisis with overall weakness and a slightly decreased growth rate. Using microarray analysis, we show that the liver of ACBP(-/-) mice displays a significantly delayed adaptation to weaning with late induction of target genes of the sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP) family. As a result, hepatic de novo cholesterogenesis is decreased at weaning. The delayed induction of SREBP target genes around weaning is caused by a compromised processing and decreased expression of SREBP precursors, leading to reduced binding of SREBP to target sites in chromatin. In conclusion, lack of ACBP interferes with the normal metabolic adaptation to weaning and leads to delayed induction of the lipogenic gene program in the liver.     

Acyl coenzyme A binding protein (ACBP): An aging- and disease-relevant “autophagy checkpoint”

Acyl coenzyme A binding protein (ACBP), also known as diazepam-binding inhibitor (DBI), is a phylogenetically ancient protein present in some eubacteria and the entire eukaryotic radiation. In several eukaryotic phyla, ACBP/DBI transcends its intracellular function in fatty acid metabolism because it can be released into the extracellular space. This ACBP/DBI secretion usually occurs in response to nutrient scarcity through an autophagy-dependent pathway. ACBP/DBI and its peptide fragments then act on a range of distinct receptors that diverge among phyla, namely metabotropic G protein-coupled receptor in yeast (and likely in the mammalian central nervous system), a histidine receptor kinase in slime molds, and ionotropic gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)_A receptors in mammals. Genetic or antibody-mediated inhibition of ACBP/DBI orthologs interferes with nutrient stress-induced adaptations such as sporulation or increased food intake in multiple species, as it enhances lifespan or healthspan in yeast, plant leaves, nematodes, and multiple mouse models. These lifespan and healthspan-extending effects of ACBP/DBI suppression are coupled to the induction of autophagy. Altogether, it appears that neutralization of extracellular ACBP/DBI results in “autophagy checkpoint inhibition” to unleash the anti-aging potential of autophagy. Of note, in humans, ACBP/DBI levels increase in various tissues, as well as in the plasma, in the context of aging, obesity, uncontrolled infection or cardiovascular, inflammatory, neurodegenerative, and malignant diseases.     

Effects of acyl-coenzyme A binding protein (ACBP)/diazepam-binding inhibitor (DBI) on body mass index

In mice, the plasma concentrations of the appetite-stimulatory and autophagy-inhibitory factor acyl-coenzyme A binding protein (ACBP, also called diazepam-binding inhibitor, DBI) acutely increase in response to starvation, but also do so upon chronic overnutrition leading to obesity. Here, we show that knockout of Acbp/Dbi in adipose tissue is sufficient to prevent high-fat diet-induced weight gain in mice. We investigated ACBP/DBI plasma concentrations in several patient cohorts to discover a similar dual pattern of regulation. In relatively healthy subjects, ACBP/DBI concentrations independently correlated with body mass index (BMI) and age. The association between ACBP/DBI and BMI was lost in subjects that underwent major weight gain in the subsequent 3–9 years, as well as in advanced cancer patients. Voluntary fasting, undernutrition in the context of advanced cancer, as well as chemotherapy were associated with an increase in circulating ACBP/DBI levels. Altogether, these results support the conclusion that ACBP/DBI may play an important role in body mass homeostasis as well as in its failure.Subject terms: Obesity, Diagnostic markers