Phosphatidylcholine transfer protein interacts with thioesterase superfamily member 2 to attenuate insulin signaling.

TitlePhosphatidylcholine transfer protein interacts with thioesterase superfamily member 2 to attenuate insulin signaling.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2013
AuthorsErsoy BA, Tarun A, D'Aquino K, Hancer NJ, Ukomadu C, White MF, Michel T, Manning BD, Cohen DE
JournalSci Signal
Volume6
Issue286
Paginationra64
Date Published2013 Jul 30
ISSN1937-9145
KeywordsAnimals, Glucose, HEK293 Cells, Homeostasis, Humans, Inhibitory Concentration 50, Insulin, Liver, Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1, Mice, Mice, Transgenic, Multiprotein Complexes, Phospholipid Transfer Proteins, Phosphorylation, Signal Transduction, Thiolester Hydrolases, TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 2 Protein, Tumor Suppressor Proteins
Abstract

Phosphatidylcholine transfer protein (PC-TP) is a phospholipid-binding protein that is enriched in liver and that interacts with thioesterase superfamily member 2 (THEM2). Mice lacking either protein exhibit improved hepatic glucose homeostasis and are resistant to diet-induced diabetes. Insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS2) and mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) are key effectors of insulin signaling, which is attenuated in diabetes. We found that PC-TP inhibited IRS2, as evidenced by insulin-independent IRS2 activation after knockdown, genetic ablation, or chemical inhibition of PC-TP. In addition, IRS2 was activated after knockdown of THEM2, providing support for a role for the interaction of PC-TP with THEM2 in suppressing insulin signaling. Additionally, we showed that PC-TP bound to tuberous sclerosis complex 2 (TSC2) and stabilized the components of the TSC1-TSC2 complex, which functions to inhibit mTORC1. Preventing phosphatidylcholine from binding to PC-TP disrupted interactions of PC-TP with THEM2 and TSC2, and disruption of the PC-TP-THEM2 complex was associated with increased activation of both IRS2 and mTORC1. In livers of mice with genetic ablation of PC-TP or that had been treated with a PC-TP inhibitor, steady-state amounts of IRS2 were increased, whereas those of TSC2 were decreased. These findings reveal a phospholipid-dependent mechanism that suppresses insulin signaling downstream of its receptor.

DOI10.1126/scisignal.2004111
Alternate JournalSci Signal
PubMed ID23901139
PubMed Central IDPMC3959124
Grant ListR01 HL046457 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
DK080789 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States
R01 DK098655 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States
P01 HL048743 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R01 DK056626 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States
DK093195 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States
R29 DK048873 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States
DK56626 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States
DK48873 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States
R37 DK048873 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States
P30 DK034854 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States
HL48743 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
P30 DK34854 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States
R01 DK048873 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States
HL46457 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R01 DK080789 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States
R01 CA122617 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
F32 DK093195 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States