1. Academic Validation
  2. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) regulates adipocyte differentiation by assembling CRL4B ubiquitin ligase to target PPARγ for proteasomal degradation

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) regulates adipocyte differentiation by assembling CRL4B ubiquitin ligase to target PPARγ for proteasomal degradation

  • J Biol Chem. 2019 Nov 29;294(48):18504-18515. doi: 10.1074/jbc.RA119.009282.
Hao Dou 1 Yuyao Duan 1 Xiaohui Zhang 1 Qian Yu 1 Qian Di 1 Yu Song 1 Peishan Li 1 Yaoqin Gong 2
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 The Key Laboratory of Experimental Teratology, Ministry of Education and Department of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China.
  • 2 The Key Laboratory of Experimental Teratology, Ministry of Education and Department of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China. Electronic address: yxg8@sdu.edu.cn.
Abstract

Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor γ (PPARγ) is the central regulator of adipogenesis, and its dysregulation is linked to obesity and metabolic diseases. Identification of the factors that regulate PPARγ expression and activity is therefore crucial for combating obesity. Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor with a known role in xenobiotic detoxification. Recent studies have suggested that AhR also plays essential roles in energy metabolism. However, the detailed mechanisms remain unclear. We previously reported that experiments with adipocyte-specific Cullin 4b (Cul4b)-knockout mice showed that CUL4B suppresses adipogenesis by targeting PPARγ. Here, using immunoprecipitation, ubiquitination, Real-Time PCR, and GST-pulldown assays, we report that AhR functions as the substrate receptor in CUL4B-RING E3 ubiquitin Ligase (CRL4B) complex and is required for recruiting PPARγ. AhR overexpression reduced PPARγ stability and suppressed adipocyte differentiation, and AhR knockdown stimulated adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells. Furthermore, we found that two lysine sites on residues 268 and 293 in PPARγ are targeted for CRL4B-mediated ubiquitination, indicating cross-talk between acetylation and ubiquitination. Our findings establish a critical role of AhR in regulating PPARγ stability and suggest that the AhR-PPARγ interaction may represent a potential therapeutic target for managing metabolic diseases arising from PPARγ dysfunction.

Keywords

E3 ubiquitin ligase; adipocyte differentiation; aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) (AHR); cullin 4B; peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR); peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ); protein degradation; ubiquitylation (ubiquitination).

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