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Emerging roles of the myocardin family of proteins in lipid and glucose metabolism

Swärd, Karl LU ; Stenkula, Karin G. LU ; Rippe, Catarina LU ; Alajbegovic, Azra LU ; Gomez, Maria F. LU orcid and Albinsson, Sebastian LU (2016) In Journal of Physiology 594(17). p.4741-4752
Abstract

Members of the myocardin family bind to the transcription factor serum response factor (SRF) and act as coactivators controlling genes of relevance for myogenic differentiation and motile function. Binding of SRF to DNA is mediated by genetic elements called CArG boxes, found often but not exclusively in muscle and growth controlling genes. Studies aimed at defining the full spectrum of these CArG elements in the genome (i.e. the CArGome) have in recent years, unveiled unexpected roles of the myocardin family proteins in lipid and glucose homeostasis. This coactivator family includes the protein myocardin (MYOCD), the myocardin-related transcription factors A and B (MRTF-A/MKL1 and MRTF-B/MKL2) and MASTR (MAMSTR). Here we discuss... (More)

Members of the myocardin family bind to the transcription factor serum response factor (SRF) and act as coactivators controlling genes of relevance for myogenic differentiation and motile function. Binding of SRF to DNA is mediated by genetic elements called CArG boxes, found often but not exclusively in muscle and growth controlling genes. Studies aimed at defining the full spectrum of these CArG elements in the genome (i.e. the CArGome) have in recent years, unveiled unexpected roles of the myocardin family proteins in lipid and glucose homeostasis. This coactivator family includes the protein myocardin (MYOCD), the myocardin-related transcription factors A and B (MRTF-A/MKL1 and MRTF-B/MKL2) and MASTR (MAMSTR). Here we discuss growing evidence that SRF-driven transcription is controlled by extracellular glucose through activation of the Rho-kinase pathway and actin polymerization. We also describe data showing that adipogenesis is influenced by MLK activity through actions upstream of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ with consequences for whole body fat mass and insulin sensitivity. The recently demonstrated involvement of myocardin coactivators in the biogenesis of caveolae, Ω-shaped membrane invaginations of importance for lipid and glucose metabolism, is finally discussed. These novel roles of myocardin proteins may open the way for new unexplored strategies to combat metabolic diseases such as diabetes, which, at the current incidence, is expected to reach 333 million people worldwide by 2025. This review highlights newly discovered roles of myocardin-related transcription factors in lipid and glucose metabolism as well as novel insights into their well-established role as mediators of stretch-dependent effects in smooth muscle. As co-factors for serum response factor (SRF), MKLs regulates transcription of genes involved in the contractile function of smooth muscle cells. In addition to mechanical stimuli, this regulation has now been found to be promoted by extracellular glucose levels in smooth muscle. Recent reports also suggest that MKLs can regulate a subset of genes involved in the formation of lipid-rich invaginations in the cell membrane called caveolae. Finally, a potential role of MKLs in non-muscle cells has been discovered as they negatively influence adipocyte differentiation. (Figure presented.).

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of Physiology
volume
594
issue
17
pages
12 pages
publisher
The Physiological Society
external identifiers
  • pmid:27060572
  • scopus:84986296986
  • pmid:27060572
  • wos:000383571100013
ISSN
1469-7793
DOI
10.1113/JP271913
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
a726759e-de3e-4c08-ba77-e38fea312df5
date added to LUP
2016-04-19 09:53:33
date last changed
2024-06-15 04:15:21
@article{a726759e-de3e-4c08-ba77-e38fea312df5,
  abstract     = {{<p>Members of the myocardin family bind to the transcription factor serum response factor (SRF) and act as coactivators controlling genes of relevance for myogenic differentiation and motile function. Binding of SRF to DNA is mediated by genetic elements called CArG boxes, found often but not exclusively in muscle and growth controlling genes. Studies aimed at defining the full spectrum of these CArG elements in the genome (i.e. the CArGome) have in recent years, unveiled unexpected roles of the myocardin family proteins in lipid and glucose homeostasis. This coactivator family includes the protein myocardin (MYOCD), the myocardin-related transcription factors A and B (MRTF-A/MKL1 and MRTF-B/MKL2) and MASTR (MAMSTR). Here we discuss growing evidence that SRF-driven transcription is controlled by extracellular glucose through activation of the Rho-kinase pathway and actin polymerization. We also describe data showing that adipogenesis is influenced by MLK activity through actions upstream of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ with consequences for whole body fat mass and insulin sensitivity. The recently demonstrated involvement of myocardin coactivators in the biogenesis of caveolae, Ω-shaped membrane invaginations of importance for lipid and glucose metabolism, is finally discussed. These novel roles of myocardin proteins may open the way for new unexplored strategies to combat metabolic diseases such as diabetes, which, at the current incidence, is expected to reach 333 million people worldwide by 2025. This review highlights newly discovered roles of myocardin-related transcription factors in lipid and glucose metabolism as well as novel insights into their well-established role as mediators of stretch-dependent effects in smooth muscle. As co-factors for serum response factor (SRF), MKLs regulates transcription of genes involved in the contractile function of smooth muscle cells. In addition to mechanical stimuli, this regulation has now been found to be promoted by extracellular glucose levels in smooth muscle. Recent reports also suggest that MKLs can regulate a subset of genes involved in the formation of lipid-rich invaginations in the cell membrane called caveolae. Finally, a potential role of MKLs in non-muscle cells has been discovered as they negatively influence adipocyte differentiation. (Figure presented.).</p>}},
  author       = {{Swärd, Karl and Stenkula, Karin G. and Rippe, Catarina and Alajbegovic, Azra and Gomez, Maria F. and Albinsson, Sebastian}},
  issn         = {{1469-7793}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{09}},
  number       = {{17}},
  pages        = {{4741--4752}},
  publisher    = {{The Physiological Society}},
  series       = {{Journal of Physiology}},
  title        = {{Emerging roles of the myocardin family of proteins in lipid and glucose metabolism}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1113/JP271913}},
  doi          = {{10.1113/JP271913}},
  volume       = {{594}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}