Insulin activates the rat sterol-regulatory-element-binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c) promoter through the combinatorial actions of SREBP, LXR, Sp-1 and NF-Y cis-acting elements.
The enhanced synthesis of fatty acids in the liver and adipose tissue in response to insulin is critically dependent on the transcription factor SREBP-1c (sterol-regulatory-element-binding protein 1c). Insulin increases the expression of the SREBP-1c gene in intact liver and in hepatocytes cultured in vitro. To learn the mechanism of this stimulation, we analysed the activation of the rat SREBP-1c promoter and its truncated or mutated congeners driving a luciferase reporter gene in transiently transfected rat hepatocytes. The rat SREBP-1c promoter contains binding sites for LXR (liver X receptor), Sp1, NF-Y (nuclear factor-Y) and SREBP itself. We have found that each of these sites is required for the full stimulatory response of the SREBP-1c promoter to insulin. Mutation of either the putative LXREs (LXR response elements) or the SRE (sterol response element) in the proximal SREBP-1c promoter reduced the stimulatory effect of insulin by about 50%. Insulin and the LXR agonist TO901317 increased the association of SREBP-1 with the SREBP-1c promoter. Ectopic expression of LXRalpha or SREBP-1c increased activity of the SREBP-1c promoter, and this effect is further enhanced by insulin. The Sp1 and NF-Y sites adjacent to the SRE are also required for full activation of the SREBP-1c promoter by insulin. We propose that the combined actions of the SRE, LXREs, Sp1 and NF-Y elements constitute an insulin-responsive cis-acting unit of the SREBP-1c gene in the liver.
Department of Pharmacology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 874 Union Avenue, Memphis, TN 38163, USA. lcagen@utmem.edu
Lauren M
LM
Cagen
Xiong
X
Deng
Henry G
HG
Wilcox
Edwards A
EA
Park
Rajendra
R
Raghow
Marshall B
MB
Elam
D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D023081:CCAAT-Binding Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000819:agonists / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000071518:Liver X Receptors; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D057093:Orphan Nuclear Receptors; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011485:Protein Binding; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000819:agonists / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020218:Response Elements / Q000235:genetics*; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D051705:Sp3 Transcription Factor; D051780:Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1; D013449:Sulfonamides; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D000096926:Benzenesulfonamides
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D023081:CCAAT-Binding Factor; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated; D007328:Insulin; D000071518:Liver X Receptors; D057093:Orphan Nuclear Receptors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor; D051705:Sp3 Transcription Factor; D051780:Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1; D013449:Sulfonamides; D014157:Transcription Factors; C000605215:Nr1h3 protein, rat; C497389:Srebf1 protein, rat; C423915:T0901317; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D000096926:Benzenesulfonamides; C402244:nuclear factor Y