Dietary fat and the diabetic state alter insulin binding and the fatty acyl composition of the adipocyte plasma membrane.

Control and diabetic rats were fed on semi-purified high-fat diets providing a polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acid ratio (P/S) of 1.0 or 0.25, to examine the effect of diet on the fatty acid composition of major phospholipids of the adipocyte plasma membrane. Feeding the high-P/S diet (P/S = 1.0) compared with the low-P/S diet (P/S = 0.25) increased the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in membrane phospholipids in both control and diabetic animals. The diabetic state decreased the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly arachidonic acid, in adipocyte membrane phospholipids. The decrease in arachidonic acid in membrane phospholipids of diabetic animals tended to be normalized to within the control values when high-P/S diets were given. For control animals, altered plasma-membrane composition was associated with change in insulin binding, suggesting that change in plasma-membrane composition may have physiological consequences for insulin-stimulated functions in the adipocyte.     

Dietary trans fatty acids modulate erythrocyte membrane fatty acyl composition and insulin binding in monkeys

The substitution of trans- for half of the cis-monounsaturated fatty acids in the diet of Macaca fasicularis monkeys resulted in alterations in erythrocyte fatty acid composition and insulin receptor properties but not in membrane fluidity. Both cis and trans diets contained 10% fat and similar fatty acid compositions, except that approximately 50% of the cis-octadecenoate (c-18:1) in the cis diet was replaced with trans-octadecenoate isomers (t-18:1) in the trans diet. Compared with the cis diet, the trans diet resulted in the incorporation of approximately 11% t-18:1, an approximately 50% decrease in c-18:1, an approximately 16% decrease in total saturated fatty acids, and an approximately 20% increase in 18:2(n-6) in erythrocyte membrane lipids. The increase in 18:2(n-6) may reflect on homeostatic mechanisms designed to maintain overall membrane fluidity, as no diet-related changes in fluidity were observed with diphenylhexatriene steady state fluorescence polarization. Values observed for insulin binding and insulin receptor number were higher and binding affinity was lower in monkeys fed the cis diet. In the absence of an effect on overall membrane fluidity, altered receptor activity suggests that insulin receptor activity is dynamic, requiring specific fluid membrane subdomains or highly specific fatty acid-protein interactions.     

Abnormal bile acid pool and composition in neonates of spontaneously diabetic Wistar BB rats and its change during development

Streptozotocin-induced diabetes during pregnancy in rats causes a decrease in primary bile acid pool in neonates. To rule out direct drug effect on the fetus as the basis for this change, studies of bile acid pool and composition at birth and during subsequent development was carried out in neonates of spontaneously diabetic Wistar BB rats and compared to control neonates. The cholic acid pool in neonates of diabetic rats was lower when compared to control neonates at birth. The pool of secondary bile acids was markedly increased in neonates of diabetic rats, with increases in lithocholic and 3 beta,12 alpha-dihydroxycholanoic acid. With age, the cholic acid pool of neonates from diabetic rats was increased and at 3 months of age it was actually higher than in control neonates. The pool of chenodeoxycholic at diabetes onset age was lower in neonates of diabetic rats. HDL-cholesterol was lower in neonates of diabetic rats at 1 week, but this reversed at 3 months of age. These studies firmly establish that neonates of diabetic rats have abnormal bile acid pool and composition at birth which changes to adult diabetic pattern with age.     

Sporulation in Bacillus subtilis is independent of membrane fatty acid composition.

Growth and sporulation of a Bacillus subtilis mutant deficient in branched fatty acid synthesis (gene symbol bfmB) were examined. The mutant, which produces an acyl-coenzyme A:acyl carrier protein transacylase with reduced affinity for branched fatty acid primers, could grow in media containing any one of a wide range of low-molecular-weight fatty acids having branched, cyclic, saturated, or unsaturated carbon chains. The fatty acid composition of cellular lipids depended on the compound used to support growth. Cultures of the bfmB mutant grown in the presence of 3-methylcrotonate contained an unusually high fraction (73%) of straight-chain fatty acids in the cellular lipids. The mutant sporulated with any one of the precursors of branched fatty acids in the medium; isolated spores contained mainly this branched fatty acid and only 10% or less straight-chain fatty acids regardless of the straight-chain fatty acid content of vegetative cells. Exceptional were spores grown in the presence of cyclobutane-carboxylic acid, which contained 28% straight-chain fatty acids. The branched fatty acid composition of spores could be modified greatly by changing the supply of precursors in the medium.     

Plasma fatty acid binding protein 4 is associated with atherogenic dyslipidemia in diabetes

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of adipocyte fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) on the lipid profile in type 2 diabetic subjects. Plasma levels of FABP4 and adiponectin and an extensive lipid profile were analyzed in 169 type 2 diabetic subjects and 105 controls. Type 2 diabetic subjects were categorized according the presence of atherogenic dyslipidemia. Univariate statistical analyses, partial correlation tests, and binary logistic regression models were applied. In type 2 diabetic subjects, FABP4 was positively correlated with plasma triglycerides (P = 0.007), apolipoprotein C-III (apoC-III) (P = 0.009), and all the components of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, including VLDL triglycerides (P = 0.002), VLDL-cholesterol (P = 0.001), and VLDL apoB (P = 0.001). FABP4 was inversely correlated with apoA-I (P = 0.038), HDL-cholesterol (P = 0.002), and HDL apoA-I (P = 0.010) in type 2 diabetic subjects. These correlations are not significantly affected by age, gender, body mass index, adiponectin, insulin, or any pharmacological treatment. The associations are even stronger when the FABP4/adiponectin ratio is considered. None of these associations were observed in controls. High FABP4 and low adiponectin levels are independent predictors of atherogenic dyslipidemia. In conclusion, FABP4 plasma concentrations hold strong potential for development as a clinical biomarker for atherogenic dyslipidemia, independent of obesity and insulin resistance, in type 2 diabetic subjects.     

The A54T polymorphism at the intestinal fatty acid binding protein 2 is associated with insulin resistance in glucose tolerant Caucasians

Background  

An A54T polymorphism at the fatty acid binding protein 2 (FABP2) locus was found to be associated with insulin resistance in non-diabetic Pima Indians. To see whether this association is present in other populations, we performed a cross sectional study to examine the role of this polymorphism on insulin resistance in 55 healthy and normotensive Caucasian subjects with normal glucose tolerance. Insulin sensitivity (%S) and beta cell function (%B) were assessed using the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA). Their genotypes were determined using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. The relationship between the genotypes and the phenotypes was examined.     

Serum lipids and lipoprotein composition in spontaneously diabetic BB Wistar rats

Serum lipid and lipoprotein composition in spontaneously diabetic BB Wistar rats, nondiabetic littermates, and control Wistar rats was studied to elucidate diabetes-related abnormalities of lipoprotein composition. Serum total triglycerides and pre-beta-lipoprotein concentrations of insulin-treated spontaneously diabetic BB and nondiabetic littermate rats were significantly higher than those of control Wistar rats. Serum cholesterol and HDL cholesterol concentrations of spontaneously diabetic BB and nondiabetic littermate rats did not differ from controls. Concentrations of very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL), and high density lipoproteins (HDL) of spontaneously diabetic BB and nondiabetic littermate rats were higher than those of normal rats. With sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis it was observed that the spontaneously diabetic BB and nondiabetic littermate rat VLDL contained higher percentages of apoE relative to total apoC when compared with control Wistar rats. With isoelectric focusing, apoC-II relative percentages in VLDL and HDL of both spontaneously diabetic BB and nondiabetic littermate rats were higher than apoC-II proportions in VLDL and HDL of controls. Apolipoprotein A-I of the control rat HDL showed four isoforms that focused at pI 5.8 (17.3%), 5.75 (30.6%), 5.65 (31.8%), and 5.55 (20.5%); however, the spontaneously diabetic BB and nondiabetic littermate rat HDL apoA-I was mainly represented by two isoforms that focused at pI 5.8 and 5.75. VLDL of both diabetic and nondiabetic BB rats contained higher levels of acidic apoE isoforms compared to their counterparts in control Wistar rats. Although HDL cholesterol concentrations of spontaneously diabetic BB rats remained normal, protein concentrations were higher resulting in a low cholesterol/protein ratio in HDL suggesting that the cholesterol-carrying capacity of spontaneously diabetic BB rat HDL could be less than normal and may be due to an abnormal apoA-I composition. Quantitative alterations of lipid and lipoprotein composition appear in the BB Wistar rat when compared to the Wistar rat, but some of the changes are more pronounced in the spontaneously diabetic BB Wistar rat.     

Cardiac function in spontaneously diabetic BB rats treated with low and high dose insulin

Cardiac abnormalities observed in animals with drug-induced diabetes may be due to the direct cardiotoxic effect of the drugs or factors not related to the diabetic state. The purpose of this investigation was to examine cardiac sarcoplasmic reticular (SR) calcium transport and heart function in the BB rat, a strain in which diabetes occurs spontaneously and clearly resembles insulin-dependent diabetes in humans. Complete insulin withdrawal for 2 or 4 days from BB diabetic rats leads to a spectrum of metabolic derangements including a loss of body weight, hyperglycemia, and elevated triglyceride levels confirming the insulin dependence of this model. The present study involved treating BB diabetic rats with a low (hyperglycemic) and high (normoglycemic) insulin dose for 12 weeks after the detection of glycosuria. The hearts from these animals were then isolated, and SR Ca2+ transport and heart function (using isolated perfused working hearts) were examined and compared with BB nondiabetic littermates or Wistar controls. Strain-related differences were found in ATP-dependent SR Ca2+ transport between the Wistar and BB rats. There were, however, no significant diabetes-related differences in SR Ca2+ transport between the low dose insulin treated diabetic group (LD) and the high dose insulin treated diabetic group (HD) or the nondiabetic littermates. Plasma lipid concentrations of the LD and HD BB rats and nondiabetic littermates were also generally higher than those of control Wistar rats indicating strain-related but not diabetes-related differences. In addition, there were no differences in cardiac function between the LD and BB nondiabetic littermates or Wistar controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

DNA polymorphisms in bovine fatty acid synthase are associated with beef fatty acid composition

The objective of this study was to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the thioesterase (TE) domain of the bovine fatty acid synthase (FASN) gene and to evaluate the extent to which they were associated with beef fatty acid composition. The four exons in FASN that encode for the TE domain were sequenced, and three SNPs, AF285607:g.17924A>G, g.18663T>C and g.18727C>T, were identified. Purebred Angus bulls (n = 331) were classified into three genotype groups, g.17924AA (n = 121), g.17924AG (n = 168) and g.17924GG (n = 42). The g.17924A>G genotype was significantly associated with fatty acid composition of longissimus dorsi muscle of Angus bulls. Cattle with the g.17924GG genotype had lower myristic acid (C14:0; P < 0.0001), palmitic acid (C16:0, P < 0.05) and total saturated fatty acid contents (P < 0.01), greater health index (P < 0.001), oleic acid content (C18:1; P < 0.001) and total monounsaturated fatty acid concentration (P < 0.01) in the total lipids and triacylglycerols fraction than did those with the g.17924AA genotype. Because of the linkage disequilibrium between SNPs g.17924A>G and g.18663T>C, similar significant associations of fatty acid contents with the g.18663T>C genotypes were observed. In conclusion, the SNPs g.17924A>G and g.18663T>C may be used as DNA markers to select breeding stock that have a healthier fatty acid composition.     

The effects of a diet rich in docosahexaenoic acid on organ and vascular fatty acid composition in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Previous research has shown that dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) attenuates the development of high blood pressure in young spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary DHA on organ and vascular fatty acid composition in SHR. Given the important structural and functional role of fatty acids in cell membranes, alterations in fatty acid composition may contribute to the antihypertensive effect of DHA. SHR were fed a purified diet containing either a corn/soybean oil mixture (CSO, control) or a DHA-enriched oil for 6 weeks. The DHA diet markedly increased the levels of DHA in the aorta, renal artery, plasma, liver, heart, kidney, and lung by 5-, 15-, 7-, 6-, 3.8-, 3.5-, and 8.8-fold (P<0.001), respectively. The levels of eicosapentaenoic acid were also increased while there was a concomitant reduction in arachidonic and adrenic acids. Therefore, dietary DHA increases the incorporation of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in specific organs and vascular tissue in SHR at the expense of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids.     

NPA binding activity is peripheral to the plasma membrane and is associated with the cytoskeleton

N-1-Naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA) binding activity is released into the supernatant when plasma membranes are subjected to high-salt treatment, indicating that this activity is peripherally associated with the membrane. Extraction of plasma membrane vesicles with Triton X-100 resulted in retention of NPA binding activity in the detergent-insoluble cytoskeletal pellet. Treatment of this pellet with KI released NPA binding activity, actin, and alpha-tubulin. Dialysis to remove KI led to the repolymerization of cytoskeletal elements and movement of NPA binding activity into an insoluble cytoskeletal pellet. NPA binding activity partitioned into the detergent-insoluble cytoskeletal pellet obtained from both zucchini and maize membranes and was released from these pellets by KI treatment. Treatment of a cytoskeletal pellet with cytochalasin B doubled NPA binding activity in the resulting supernatant. Together, these experiments indicate that NPA binding activity is peripherally associated with the plasma membrane and interacts with the cytoskeleton in vitro.     

Impaired non-esterified fatty acid suppression is associated with endothelial dysfunction in insulin resistant subjects.

In a recent study, we found a significant association between insulin resistance (IR) and disturbed flow-associated (endothelial-dependent) vasodilation in first-degree relatives of subjects with type 2 diabetes. However, the mechanisms linking insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction (ED) have not been fully elucidated. Experimental data have pointed out that non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) have a modulating effect on NO-synthase activity, and therefore on endothelial function. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether insulin resistance associated impaired NEFA suppression is present in subjects with ED. We examined 53 first-degree relatives (FDR) of patients with type 2 diabetes (32f, 21 m, mean age 35 years). Endothelial function was measured as flow-associated vasodilation (FAD%) of the brachial artery. Insulin sensitivity was evaluated with a standard hyperinsulinemic glucose clamp (insulin infusion rate of 1 mU/kg/min). While under fasting conditions, NEFA did not differ between groups with high or low FAD (0.415+/-0.033 vs. 0.394 +/- 0.040 mmol/l; p = n. s.), reduced FAD% was significantly associated with higher non-esterified fatty acids concentrations during steady state of the glucose clamp (0.072+/-0.022 vs. 0.039+/-0.016mmol/l; p=0.04). This association was independent of insulin levels under fasting conditions and during the glucose clamp. In conclusion, our results reveal a significant association between endothelial dysfunction and impaired non-esterified fatty acid suppression in insulin resistant subjects. As insulin resistance of lipolysis is a feature of the insulin resistance syndrome, these results suggest that elevated NEFA concentrations could play a role linking endothelial dysfunction and insulin resistance in vivo.     

Diet fat alters the structure and function of the nuclear envelope: modulation of membrane fatty acid composition, NTPase activity and binding of triiodothyronine

Mice were fed a diet either high or low in P/S ratio to determine the effect of altering dietary lipid on the fatty acid composition of liver nuclear envelopes and thereby on functions of the nuclear envelope. Mice fed the high P/S diet exhibited higher levels of C18:2 omega 6 and unsaturates in liver nuclear envelopes, higher specific activity of NTPase and specific binding for L-triiodothyronine at 15 degrees C and 22 degrees C compared with the low P/S diet fed group. These observations indicate that diet-induced differences in the fatty acid composition of nuclear envelope lipid affects functions of the nuclear envelope.     

Diet fat composition alters membrane phospholipid composition, insulin binding, and glucose metabolism in adipocytes from control and diabetic animals

The present study was designed to determine if diet fat-induced alteration in the fatty acid composition of the adipocyte plasma membrane alters insulin binding and the insulin responsiveness of glucose metabolism in control and diabetic states. Normal (control) and diabetic (streptozotocin-induced) rats were fed high fat semipurified diets providing a high or low polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acid (P/S) ratio. Feeding a high P/S diet increased the polyunsaturated fatty acid content of major membrane phospholipids of the adipocyte plasma membrane from both normal and diabetic animals. The diabetic state was associated with an elevated content of linoleic acid and a reduced level of arachidonic acid consistent with reduced delta 6-desaturation. Feeding the high P/S diet to diabetic animals increased membrane linoleic acid content and prevented the decrease observed in the arachidonic acid of membrane phospholipids. The high P/S diet was associated with increased insulin binding in nondiabetic animals but did not change the amount of insulin bound by cells from diabetic animals. Significantly (p less than 0.05) increased rates of insulin-stimulated glucose transport and lipogenesis (glucose incorporation into lipids) were observed in control animals fed the high as compared to the low P/S diet. The rates of insulin-stimulated glucose transport, oxidation, and lipogenesis were lower (p less than 0.05) for cells from diabetic as compared to control animals. However, feeding a high P/S diet significantly improved rates for all three of these functions (p less than 0.05). It is concluded that diet-induced alterations in membrane composition may provide a mechanism for improving the cellular response to insulin in cells from diabetic animals.     

Acute insulin withdrawal contributes to ischemic heart failure in spontaneously diabetic BB Wistar rats

The contribution of poor metabolic control to myocardial ischemic failure was determined in isolated working hearts from insulin-dependent BB Wistar rats. Removal of insulin treatment 24 h prior to study (uncontrolled diabetic rats) resulted in significant increases in serum glucose, serum fatty acids, and myocardial triglyceride, compared with animals in which insulin treatment was not withheld (insulin-treated diabetic rats). Isolated working hearts obtained from these two groups were subjected to a 40% reduction in coronary flow in the presence of a maintained metabolic demand (hearts were paced at 200 beats/min and perfused at an 80 mmHg (1 mmHg = 133.3 Pa) left aortic afterload, 11.5 mmHg left atrial preload). Within 15 min of ischemia, a significant deterioration of mechanical function occurred in the uncontrolled diabetic rats, whereas function was maintained in the insulin-treated diabetic rats. Oxygen consumption by the two groups of hearts was similar prior to the onset of ischemia and decreased during ischemia in parallel with the work performed by the hearts. This suggests that the accelerated failure rate in uncontrolled diabetic rat hearts is unlikely a result of an increased oxygen requirement. These data are a direct demonstration that acute changes in metabolic control of the diabetic can contribute to the severity of myocardial ischemic injury.     

Regulation of membrane fatty acid composition by temperature in mutants of Arabidopsis with alterations in membrane lipid composition

Background  

A wide range of cellular responses occur when plants are exposed to elevated temperature, including adjustments in the unsaturation level of membrane fatty acids. Although membrane bound desaturase enzymes mediate these adjustments, it is unknown how they are regulated to achieve these specific membrane compositions. Furthermore, the precise roles that different membrane fatty acid compositions play in photosynthesis are only beginning to be understood. To explore the regulation of the membrane composition and photosynthetic function in response to temperature, we examined the effect of temperature in a collection of mutants with altered membrane lipid fatty acid composition.