Identification of Genes Activated By Bile Acids

描述(由申请人提供)：我们研究的主要目标是确定法尼醇X受体(FXR)的激活机制，并确定其在调节代谢途径中的作用。为此，我们已经鉴定了四个来自单个基因的人类和小鼠FXR转录本，这些转录本编码四种不同的蛋白质亚型。我们发现了一个四个氨基酸基序(MYTG)，它紧挨着四个异构体中两个的DNA结合域，极大地改变了我们对这个转录因子的想法；新的令人兴奋的数据表明，这个基序的存在会影响某些肝脏和肾上腺基因的反式激活。我们最近发现，活化的FXR对小鼠的葡萄糖代谢有显著的影响，并对有毒外源物质产生的急性肝毒性和IPS(脂多糖)的毒性作用具有高度的保护作用。我们最近还获得了FXR调节一些类固醇生成基因的证据，这表明FXR在肾上腺皮质中发挥着功能作用。基于这些在当前赠款期间产生的数据，我们建议进行机制研究，以阐明FXR在以下方面的作用：i)控制血糖水平和肝脏葡萄糖代谢，ii)控制血浆和肝脂水平，iii)保护肝脏免受扑热息痛等外来物质的损害，iv)保护小鼠免受内毒素休克和细菌感染，以及v)肾上腺类固醇激素细胞靶基因的调节。这些研究将得到FXR转基因和FXR-/-小鼠、肝脏或肠道中缺乏FXR的小鼠以及表达个别FXR亚型的腺病毒的支持。为了补充这些方法，将进行机制研究，以阐明存在于四个FXR亚型中的两个FXR亚型中的MYTG基序的功能。综上所述，这些研究将确定FXR亚型激活转录的新调控机制。此外，这些研究还将阐明FXR在葡萄糖、类固醇和药物代谢以及内毒素抵抗中的作用。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The major goals of our research have been to identify the mechanisms of activation of the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and to define its role in regulating metabolic pathways. To this end, we have identified four human and murine FXR transcripts derived from a single gene that encode four different protein isoforms. Our identification of a four amino acid motif (MYTG), located immediately adjacent to the DNA binding domain of two of the four isoforms, dramatically altered our thinking about this transcription factor; new and exciting data suggest that the presence of this motif affects transactivation of certain hepatic and adrenal genes. We have recently discovered that activated FXR has a pronounced effect on glucose metabolism in mice and is highly protective against the acute hepatoxicity produced by toxic xenobiotics and from the toxic effects of IPS (lipopolysaccharide). We have also recently obtained evidence that FXR regulates a number of steroidogenic genes, suggesting a functional role for FXR in the adrenal cortex. Based on these data, generated during the current grant period, we propose to conduct mechanistic studies to elucidate the roles of FXR in i) the control of plasma glucose levels and hepatic glucose metabolism, ii) the control of plasma and hepatic lipid levels, iii) protection of the liver from damage induced by xenobiotics such as acetaminophen, iv) protecting mice from endotoxin shock and bacterial infection and v) the regulation of target genes in adrenal steroidogenic cells. These studies will be aided by the availability of FXR transgenic and FXR-/- mice, and mice lacking FXR in the liver or intestine, and adenovirus expressing individual FXR isoforms. To complement these approaches, mechanistic studies will be conducted to elucidate the function of the MYTG motif present in two of the four FXR isoforms. Taken together, these studies will identify novel regulatory mechanisms by which FXR isoforms activate transcription. In addition, these studies will elucidate the role of FXR in glucose, steroid and drug metabolism and in resistance to endotoxin.