title: PPARs: transcriptional effectors of fatty acids and their derivatives.
abstract: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are nuclear hormone receptors that mediate the effects of fatty acids and their derivatives at the transcriptional level. These receptors stimulate transcription after activation by their cognate ligand and binding to the promoter of target genes. In this review, we discuss how fatty acids affect PPAR functions in the cell. We first describe the structural features of the ligand binding domains of PPARs, as defined by crystallographic analyses. We then present the ligand-binding characteristics of each of the three PPARs (alpha, beta/delta, gamma) and relate ligand activation to various cellular processes: (i) fatty acid catabolism and modulation of the inflammatory response for PPARalpha, (ii) embryo implantation, cell proliferation and apoptosis for PPARbeta, and (iii) adipocytic differentiation, monocytic differentiation and cell cycle withdrawal for PPARgamma. Finally, we present possible cross-talk between the PPAR pathway and different endocrine routes within the cell, including the thyroid hormone and retinoid pathways.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Biologie Animale, Bâtiment de Biologie, Université de Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Hihi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Michalik
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wahli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005227:Fatty Acids; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D014157:Transcription Factors