Tsugumichi Saito

Gunma University, Maebashi-shi, Gunma-ken, Japan

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Publications (14)58.13 Total impact

  • Article: THRAP3 interacts with HELZ2 and plays a novel role in adipocyte differentiation.
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    ABSTRACT: Using yeast two-hybrid screen, we previously isolated HELZ2 (helicase with zinc finger 2, transcriptional coactivator) that functions as a coregulator of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorγ (PPARγ). To further delineate its molecular function, we here identified thyroid hormone receptor-associated protein3 (THRAP3), a putative component of the Mediator complex, as a protein stably associating with HELZ2 using immunoprecipitation coupled with mass spectrometry analyses. In immunoprecipitation assays, Thrap3 could associate with endogenous Herz2 as well as Pparγ in differentiated 3T3-L1 cells. HELZ2 interacts with the serine/arginine rich domain and Bcl2 associated transcription factor1-homologous region in THRAP3, whereas THRAP3 directly binds two helicase motifs in HELZ2. HELZ2 and THRAP3 synergistically augment transcriptional activation mediated by PPARγ, whereas knockdown of endogenous THRAP3 abolished the enhancement by HELZ2 in reporter assays. Thrap3, similar to Helz2, is evenly expressed in the process of adipogenic differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells. Knockdown of Thrap3 in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes using short-interfering RNA did not influence the expression of Krox20, Klf5, Cebpb, or Cebpd during early stages of adipocyte differentiation, but significantly attenuated the expression of Pparg, Cebpα and Fabp4/aP2 and accumulation of lipid droplets. Pharmacological activation of Pparγ by troglitazone could not fully restore the differentiation of Thrap3-knockdown adipocytes. In chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, endogenous Helz2 and Thrap3 could be ligand-dependently co-recruited to the PPARγ-response elements in Fabp4/aP2 and Adipoq gene enhancers in differentiated 3T3-L1 cells. These findings collectively suggest that Thrap3 could play indispensable roles in terminal differentiation of adipocytes by enhancing PPARγ-mediated gene activation cooperatively with Helz2.
    Molecular Endocrinology 03/2013; · 4.54 Impact Factor
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    Article: NR4A1 (Nur77) mediates thyrotropin-releasing hormone-induced stimulation of transcription of the thyrotropin β gene: analysis of TRH knockout mice.
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    ABSTRACT: Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) is a major stimulator of thyrotropin-stimulating hormone (TSH) synthesis in the anterior pituitary, though precisely how TRH stimulates the TSHβ gene remains unclear. Analysis of TRH-deficient mice differing in thyroid hormone status demonstrated that TRH was critical for the basal activity and responsiveness to thyroid hormone of the TSHβ gene. cDNA microarray and K-means cluster analyses with pituitaries from wild-type mice, TRH-deficient mice and TRH-deficient mice with thyroid hormone replacement revealed that the largest and most consistent decrease in expression in the absence of TRH and on supplementation with thyroid hormone was shown by the TSHβ gene, and the NR4A1 gene belonged to the same cluster as and showed a similar expression profile to the TSHβ gene. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that NR4A1 was expressed not only in ACTH- and FSH- producing cells but also in thyrotrophs and the expression was remarkably reduced in TRH-deficient pituitary. Furthermore, experiments in vitro demonstrated that incubation with TRH in GH4C1 cells increased the endogenous NR4A1 mRNA level by approximately 50-fold within one hour, and this stimulation was inhibited by inhibitors for PKC and ERK1/2. Western blot analysis confirmed that TRH increased NR4A1 expression within 2 h. A series of deletions of the promoter demonstrated that the region between bp -138 and +37 of the TSHβ gene was responsible for the TRH-induced stimulation, and Chip analysis revealed that NR4A1 was recruited to this region. Conversely, knockdown of NR4A1 by siRNA led to a significant reduction in TRH-induced TSHβ promoter activity. Furthermore, TRH stimulated NR4A1 promoter activity through the TRH receptor. These findings demonstrated that 1) TRH is a highly specific regulator of the TSHβ gene, and 2) TRH mediated induction of the TSHβ gene, at least in part by sequential stimulation of the NR4A1-TSHβ genes through a PKC and ERK1/2 pathway.
    PLoS ONE 01/2012; 7(7):e40437. · 4.09 Impact Factor
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    Article: Syntaxin4 interacting protein (Synip) binds phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5) triphosphate.
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    ABSTRACT: The insulin responsive Glut4 transport vesicles contain the v-SNARE protein Vamp2 that associate with the plasma membrane t-SNARE protein Syntaxin 4 to drive insulin-stimulated Glut4 translocation in skeletal muscle and adipocytes. The syntaxin 4 interacting protein (Synip) binds to syntaxin 4 in the basal state and dissociates in the insulin-stimulated state allowing for the subsequent binding of Vamp2 containing Glut4 vesicles and fusion with the plasma membrane. In this study, we have found that Synip binds phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-triphosphate (PIP3), but not phosphatidylinositol 3 phosphate (PIP) or phosphatidylinositol 3,4-biphosphate (PIP2) through the Synip WW domain as deletion of this domain (Synip ΔWW) failed to bind PIP3. Over-expressed Synip ΔWW in 3T3L1 adipocytes reduced the basal levels of Glut4 at the plasma membrane with no effect on the binding to syntaxin 4 in vitro. Subcellular fractionation demonstrated that the amount of Synip ΔWW at the PM was decreased in response to insulin in 3T3L1 adipocytes whereas the amount of Synip WT increased. These data suggest that in the presence of insulin, the dissociated Synip remains anchored to the plasma membrane by binding to PIP3.
    PLoS ONE 01/2012; 7(8):e42782. · 4.09 Impact Factor
  • Article: The role of CHOP messenger RNA expression in the link between oxidative stress and apoptosis.
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    ABSTRACT: Low expression of antioxidant enzymes makes pancreatic beta-cells susceptible to cell damage by oxidative stress. Pancreatic beta-cell loss caused by endoplasmic reticulum stress is associated with the onset of diabetes mellitus. The present studies were undertaken to investigate a possible involvement of proapoptotic gene CHOP in pancreatic beta-cells damage by oxidative stress. The induction of CHOP messenger RNA and apoptosis were investigated in betaHC-9 cells after the oxidative stress by hydrogen peroxide and ribose. Latter was examined after the suppression of CHOP by small interfering RNA. For in vivo study, the pancreatic beta-cells were examined in CHOP-knockout (KO) mice after multiple low-dose streptozotocin (MLDS) administration. In betaHC-9 cells, both hydrogen peroxide and ribose obviously increased apoptotic cells, accompanied with enhanced CHOP messenger RNA expression. However, the number of apoptotic cells by those stimulations was significantly reduced by the addition of small interfering RNA against CHOP. In vivo study also showed that CHOP-KO mice were less susceptible to diabetes after MLDS administration. Although the oxidative stress marker level was similar to that of MLDS-treated wild type, the pancreatic beta-cell area was maintained in CHOP-KO mice. The present studies showed that CHOP should be important in pancreatic beta-cell injury by oxidative stress and indicate that CHOP may play a role in the development of pancreatic beta-cell damage on the onset of diabetes mellitus.
    Metabolism: clinical and experimental 01/2009; 57(12):1625-35. · 2.59 Impact Factor
  • Article: CDK5-dependent phosphorylation of the Rho family GTPase TC10(alpha) regulates insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation.
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    ABSTRACT: Insulin stimulation results in the activation of cyclin-dependent kinase-5 (CDK5) in lipid raft domains via a Fyn-dependent phosphorylation on tyrosine residue 15. In turn, activated CDK5 phosphorylates the Rho family GTP-binding protein TC10alpha on threonine 197 that is sensitive to the CDK5 inhibitor olomoucine and blocked by small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of CDK5. The phosphorylation deficient mutant T197A-TC10alpha was not phosphorylated and excluded from the lipid raft domain, whereas the phosphorylation mimetic mutant (T197D-TC10alpha) was lipid raft localized. Insulin resulted in the GTP loading of T197D-TC10alpha but not T197A-TC10alpha and in parallel, T197D-TC10alpha but not T197A-TC10alpha depolymerized cortical actin and inhibited insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation. These data demonstrate that CDK5-dependent phosphorylation maintains TC10alpha in lipid raft compartments thereby disrupting cortical actin, whereas subsequent dephosphorylation of TC10alpha through inactivation of CDK5 allows for the re-assembly of F-actin. Because cortical actin reorganization is required for insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation, these data are consistent with a CDK5-dependent TC10alpha cycling between lipid raft and non-lipid raft compartments.
    Journal of Biological Chemistry 11/2008; 283(51):35455-63. · 4.77 Impact Factor
  • Article: Tyrosine phosphorylation of Munc18c regulates platelet-derived growth factor-stimulated glucose transporter 4 translocation in 3T3L1 adipocytes.
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    ABSTRACT: Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) stimulation of skeletal muscle, cultured myotubes, and 3T3L1 adipocytes results in glucose transporter 4 (Glut4) translocation, albeit to a reduced level compared with insulin. To address the mechanism of PDGF action, we have determined that the Syntaxin 4 negative regulatory protein, Munc18c, undergoes PDGF-stimulated phosphorylation on tyrosine residue 521. The tyrosine phosphorylation of Munc18c on Y521 occurred concomitant with the dissociation of the Munc18c protein from Syntaxin 4 in a time frame consistent with Glut4 translocation. Moreover, expression of the wild-type Munc18c protein did not inhibit PDGF-induced Glut4 translocation, whereas expression of Y521A-Munc18c mutant was inhibitory and failed to dissociate from Syntaxin 4. In contrast, expression of either wild-type Munc18c or the Y521A-Munc18c mutant both resulted in a marked inhibition of insulin-stimulated Glut4 translocation. Together, these data demonstrate that one mechanism accounting for the PDGF induction of Glut4 translocation is the suppression of the Munc18c negative regulation of Syntaxin 4 function.
    Endocrinology 02/2008; 149(1):40-9. · 4.46 Impact Factor
  • Article: The interaction of Akt with APPL1 is required for insulin-stimulated Glut4 translocation.
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    ABSTRACT: APPL1 (adaptor protein containing PH domain, PTB domain, and leucine zipper motif 1) is an Akt/protein kinase B-binding protein involved in signal transduction and membrane trafficking pathways for various receptors, including receptor tyrosine kinases. Here, we establish a role for APPL1 in insulin signaling in which we demonstrate its interaction with Akt2 by co-immunoprecipitation and pulldown assays. In primary rat adipocytes and skeletal muscle, APPL1 and Akt2 formed a complex that was dissociated upon insulin stimulation in both tissues. To investigate possible APPL1 function in adipocytes, we analyzed Akt phosphorylation, 2-deoxyglucose uptake, and Glut4 translocation by immunofluorescence following APPL1 knockdown by small interfering and short hairpin RNAs. We show that APPL1 knockdown suppressed Akt phosphorylation, glucose uptake, and Glut4 translocation. We also tested the effect in 3T3-L1 adipocytes of expressing full-length APPL1 or an N- or a C-terminal APPL1 construct. Interestingly, expression of full-length APPL1 and its N terminus suppressed insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake and Glut4 translocation to roughly the same extent (40-60%). We confirmed by cellular fractionation that Glut4 translocation was substantially blocked in 3T3-L1 adipocytes transfected with full-length APPL1. By cellular fractionation, APPL1 was localized mainly in the cytosol, and it showed a small degree of re-localization to the light microsomes and nucleus in response to insulin. By immunofluorescence, we also show that APPL1 partially co-localized with Glut4. These data suggest that APPL1 plays an important role in insulin-stimulated Glut4 translocation in muscle and adipose tissues and that its N-terminal portion may be critical for APPL1 function.
    Journal of Biological Chemistry 12/2007; 282(44):32280-7. · 4.77 Impact Factor
  • Article: Nur77 coordinately regulates expression of genes linked to glucose metabolism in skeletal muscle.
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    ABSTRACT: Innervation is important for normal metabolism in skeletal muscle, including insulin-sensitive glucose uptake. However, the transcription factors that transduce signals from the neuromuscular junction to the nucleus and affect changes in metabolic gene expression are not well defined. We demonstrate here that the orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 is a regulator of gene expression linked to glucose utilization in muscle. In vivo, Nur77 is preferentially expressed in glycolytic compared with oxidative muscle and is responsive to beta-adrenergic stimulation. Denervation of rat muscle compromises expression of Nur77 in parallel with that of numerous genes linked to glucose metabolism, including glucose transporter 4 and genes involved in glycolysis, glycogenolysis, and the glycerophosphate shuttle. Ectopic expression of Nur77, either in rat muscle or in C2C12 muscle cells, induces expression of a highly overlapping set of genes, including glucose transporter 4, muscle phosphofructokinase, and glycogen phosphorylase. Furthermore, selective knockdown of Nur77 in rat muscle by small hairpin RNA or genetic deletion of Nur77 in mice reduces the expression of a battery of genes involved in skeletal muscle glucose utilization in vivo. Finally, we show that Nur77 binds the promoter regions of multiple genes involved in glucose metabolism in muscle. These results identify Nur77 as a potential mediator of neuromuscular signaling in the control of metabolic gene expression.
    Molecular Endocrinology 10/2007; 21(9):2152-63. · 4.54 Impact Factor
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    Article: Akt2 phosphorylates Synip to regulate docking and fusion of GLUT4-containing vesicles.
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    ABSTRACT: We have identified an unusual potential dual Akt/protein kinase B consensus phosphorylation motif in the protein Synip (RxKxRS(97)xS(99)). Surprisingly, serine 97 is not appreciably phosphorylated, whereas serine 99 is only a specific substrate for Akt2 but not Akt1 or Akt3. Although wild-type Synip (WT-Synip) undergoes an insulin-stimulated dissociation from Syntaxin4, the Synip serine 99 to phenylalanine mutant (S99F-Synip) is resistant to Akt2 phosphorylation and fails to display insulin-stimulated Syntaxin4 dissociation. Furthermore, overexpression of WT-Synip in 3T3L1 adipocytes had no effect on insulin-stimulated recruitment of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) to the plasma membrane, whereas overexpression of S99F-Synip functioned in a dominant-interfering manner by preventing insulin-stimulated GLUT4 recruitment and plasma membrane fusion. These data demonstrate that insulin activation of Akt2 specifically regulates the docking/fusion step of GLUT4-containing vesicles at the plasma membrane through the regulation of Synip phosphorylation and Synip-Syntaxin4 interaction.
    The Journal of Cell Biology 04/2005; 168(6):921-8. · 10.26 Impact Factor
  • Article: Differential activation of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor downstream signaling pathways by betacellulin and EGF.
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    ABSTRACT: To determine the downstream signaling pathways regulated by betacellulin (BTC) in comparison with epidermal growth factor (EGF), we used Chinese hamster ovary cells overexpressing the human EGF receptor (ErbB1/EGFR). The overall time-dependent activation of EGFR autophosphorylation was identical in cells treated with 1 nm BTC or 1.5 nm EGF. Analysis of site-specific EGFR phosphorylation demonstrated that the BTC and EGF tyrosine phosphorylation of Y1086 was not significantly different. In contrast, the autophosphorylation of Y1173 was markedly reduced in BTC-stimulated cells, compared with EGF stimulation that directly correlated with a reduced BTC stimulation of Shc tyrosine phosphorylation, Ras, and Raf-1 activation. On the other hand, Y1068 phosphorylation was significantly increased after BTC stimulation, compared with EGF in parallel with a greater extent of Erk phosphorylation. Expression of a dominant interfering MEK kinase 1 (MEKK1) and Y1068F EGFR more efficiently blocked the enhanced Erk activation by BTC, compared with EGF. Interestingly BTC had a greater inhibitory effect on apoptosis, compared with EGF, and expression of Y1068F EGFR abolished this enhanced inhibitory effect. Together, these data indicated that although BTC and EGF share overlapping signaling properties, the ability of BTC to enhance Erk activation occurs independent of Ras. The increased BTC activation results from a greater extent of Y1068 EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation and subsequent increased recruitment of the Grb2-MEKK1 complex to the plasma membrane, compared with EGF stimulation. The increased Erk activation by BTC associated with antiapoptotic function.
    Endocrinology 10/2004; 145(9):4232-43. · 4.46 Impact Factor
  • Article: [Hypertension associated with hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism].
    Nippon rinsho. Japanese journal of clinical medicine 04/2004; 62 Suppl 3:512-6.
  • Article: Syntaxin 4 and Synip (syntaxin 4 interacting protein) regulate insulin secretion in the pancreatic beta HC-9 cell.
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    ABSTRACT: Although syntaxin 1 is generally thought to function as the primary target-N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor required for pancreatic beta cell insulin secretion, we have observed that overexpression of a dominant-interfering syntaxin 4 mutant (syntaxin 4/DeltaTM) attenuated glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in betaHC-9 cells. Furthermore, these cells express the selective syntaxin 4-binding protein Synip (syntaxin 4 interacting protein), and Synip was specifically co-immunoprecipitated with syntaxin 4 but not syntaxin 1. Overexpression of the full-length Synip protein (Synip/wild type) inhibited VAMP2 association with syntaxin 4 and decreased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. This did not occur with a Synip mutant (Synip/ DeltaEF) that was incapable of binding syntaxin 4. Consistent with a functional role of syntaxin 4 in this process, expression of syntaxin 4/DeltaTM also inhibited glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Furthermore, analysis of first and second phase insulin secretion demonstrated that syntaxin 4/DeltaTM mainly suppressed the second phase of insulin secretion. In contrast, overexpression of Synip resulted in an inhibition of both the first and second phase of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. These data demonstrate that syntaxin 4 plays a functional role on insulin release and granule fusion in beta cells and that this process is regulated by the syntaxin 4-specific binding protein Synip.
    Journal of Biological Chemistry 10/2003; 278(38):36718-25. · 4.77 Impact Factor
  • Article: Syntaxin 4 and Synip (Syntaxin 4 Interacting Protein) Regulate Insulin Secretion in the Pancreatic β HC-9 Cell
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    ABSTRACT: Although syntaxin 1 is generally thought to function as the primary target-N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor required for pancreatic β cell insulin secretion, we have observed that overexpression of a dominant-interfering syntaxin 4 mutant (syntaxin 4/ΔTM) attenuated glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in βHC-9 cells. Furthermore, these cells express the selective syntaxin 4-binding protein Synip (syntaxin 4 interacting protein), and Synip was specifically co-immunoprecipitated with syntaxin 4 but not syntaxin 1. Overexpression of the full-length Synip protein (Synip/wild type) inhibited VAMP2 association with syntaxin 4 and decreased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. This did not occur with a Synip mutant (Synip/ ΔEF) that was incapable of binding syntaxin 4. Consistent with a functional role of syntaxin 4 in this process, expression of syntaxin 4/ΔTM also inhibited glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Furthermore, analysis of first and second phase insulin secretion demonstrated that syntaxin 4/ΔTM mainly suppressed the second phase of insulin secretion. In contrast, overexpression of Synip resulted in an inhibition of both the first and second phase of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. These data demonstrate that syntaxin 4 plays a functional role on insulin release and granule fusion in β cells and that this process is regulated by the syntaxin 4-specific binding protein Synip.
    Journal of Biological Chemistry 09/2003; 278(38):36718-36725. · 4.77 Impact Factor
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    Article: Tyrosine phosphorylation of Munc18c regulates PDGF-stimulated Glut4 translocation in 3T3L1 adipocytes