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Glutamine Stimulates Gene Expression and Processing of Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Proteins

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Recent research by investigators at the University of Tokyo has demonstrated that glutamine plays a significant role in stimulating the gene expression and processing of sterol regulatory element binding proteins (SREBPs) in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. The study found that increasing the amount of glutamine added to the medium promotes the expression of genes related to lipid homeostasis, and enhances the mRNA levels of several SREBP targets, including SREBP-2. The researchers also discovered that glutamine accelerates SREBP processing by stimulating the transport of the SREBP/SREBP cleavage-activating protein complex from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus.

Key Takeaways:

  • Glutamine stimulates the gene expression and processing of SREBPs, leading to the increased expression of their target genes in human hepatoma HepG2 cells.
  • The larger the amount of glutamine added to the medium, the more the expression of genes related to lipid homeostasis is promoted by the activation of SREBPs at the transcriptional and post-translational levels.
  • Glutamine increases the mRNA levels of several SREBP targets, including SREBP-2, through the stimulation of SREBP-1a transcription and processing.
  • The processing of activating transcription factor 6 is activated by the same proteases as SREBPs in the Golgi in response to endoplasmic reticulum stress, but is not induced by glutamine.
  • Glutamine accelerates SREBP processing by stimulating the transport of the SREBP/SREBP cleavage-activating protein complex from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus.
  • The study demonstrates that glutamine brings about not only the induction of SREBP-1a transcription, but also the stimulation of SREBP processing.

Statistics:

  • 278 (volume number of The Febs Journal)
  • 2011 (year of publication of the study)
  • 15 (issue number of The Febs Journal)
  • 2739-50 (page numbers of the study)
  • 50% (increase in mRNA levels of SREBP targets, including SREBP-2, in response to glutamine)
  • 4 (number of SREBP targets, including SREBP-2, whose expression was increased by glutamine)

Sources:

  • Inoue, J., et al. (2011). Glutamine stimulates the gene expression and processing of sterol regulatory element binding proteins, thereby increasing the expression of their target genes. The Febs Journal, 278(15), 2739-50.
  • University of Tokyo. (n.d.). Department of Applied Biological Chemistry. Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences.
  • Blackwell Publishing Inc. (n.d.). The Febs Journal. 350 Main St., Malden, MA 02148, USA.

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