Transgenic muscle-specific Nor-1 expression regulates multiple pathways that effect adiposity, metabolism, and endurance.
The mRNA encoding Nor-1/NR4A3 is rapidly and strikingly induced by β2-adrenergic signaling in glycolytic and oxidative skeletal muscle. In skeletal muscle cells, Nor-1 expression is important for the regulation of oxidative metabolism. Transgenic skeletal muscle-specific expression of activated Nor-1 resulted in the acquisition of an endurance phenotype, an increase in type IIA/X oxidative muscle fibers, and increased numbers of mitochondria. In the current study, we used dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and magnetic resonance imaging analysis to demonstrate decreased adiposity in transgenic (Tg) Nor-1 mice relative to that in wild-type littermates. Furthermore, the Tg-Nor-1 mice were resistant to diet-induced weight gain and maintained fasting glucose at normoglycemic levels. Expression profiling and RT-quantitative PCR analysis revealed significant increases in genes involved in glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, fatty acid oxidation, and glycogen synthesis, in concordance with the lean phenotype. Moreover, expression profiling identified several Z-disc and sarcomeric binding proteins that modulate fiber type phenotype and endurance, eg, α-actinin-3. In addition, we demonstrated that the Tg-Nor-1 mouse line has significantly higher glycogen content in skeletal muscle relative to that in wild-type littermates. Finally, we identified a decreased NAD(+)/NADH ratio with a concordant increase in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α1 protein/mRNA expression. Increased NADH was associated with an induction of the genes involved in the malate-aspartate shuttle and a decrease in the glycerol 3-phosphate shuttle, which maximizes aerobic ATP production. In conclusion, skeletal muscle-specific Nor-1 expression regulates genes and pathways that regulate adiposity, muscle fiber type metabolic capacity, and endurance.
The University of Queensland, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia. g.muscat@uq.edu.au.
Michael A
MA
Pearen
Joel M
JM
Goode
Rebecca L
RL
Fitzsimmons
Natalie A
NA
Eriksson
Gethin P
GP
Thomas
Gary J
GJ
Cowin
S-C Mary
SC
Wang
Zewen K
ZK
Tuong
George E O
GE
Muscat
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000502:physiology; D050154:Adiposity; D000818:Animals; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects; D006003:Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism*; D009243:NAD / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D000071248:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha; D010807:Physical Endurance; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011988:Receptors, Thyroid Hormone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D059467:Transcriptome; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C490411:Nr4a3 protein, mouse; D000071248:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha; C485290:Ppargc1a protein, mouse; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; D011988:Receptors, Thyroid Hormone; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014280:Triglycerides; D009243:NAD; D006003:Glycogen