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Acute Fasting Induces Expression of Acylglycerophosphate Acyltransferase (AGPAT) Enzymes in Murine Liver, Heart, and Brain

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Lipids

Abstract

During fasting, cells increase uptake of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and esterify excess into phosphatidic acid (PtdOH), the common precursor of both triacylglycerols and phospholipids, using acylglycerophosphate acyltransferases/lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferases (AGPAT/LPAAT). Knowledge of the regulation of AGPAT enzymes is important for understanding fasting adaptations. Total RNA was isolated from liver, heart, and whole brain tissue of C57BL/6J mice fed ad libitum, or fasted for 16 h. Following fasting, induction of Agpat2, 3, 4, and 5 was observed in the liver, Agpat2 and 3 in heart tissue, and Agpat1, 2, and 3 in whole brain tissue. As a result, the relative abundance profile of the individual homologues within specific tissues was found to be significantly altered depending on the nutritive state of the animal. These data demonstrate tissue-specific effects of fasting on the regulation of different Agpat that are implicated in supporting unique downstream glycerolipid synthesis pathways.

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Abbreviations

AGPAT:

Acylglycerophosphate acyltransferase

LPAAT:

Lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase

NEFA:

Non-esterified fatty acid

PtdOH:

Phosphatidic acid

RT-qPCR:

Real-time reverse transcription PCR

Triacylglycerol:

TAG

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Angela Wagler and Jean Flanagan for expert assistance in animal care. This work was supported by grants to RED from the Canada Foundation for Innovation – Leader’s Opportunity Fund and Ontario Research Fund (Project#30259), and a Discovery Grant (#418213-2012) from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada. RMB is the recipient of an NSERC Doctoral Scholarship (PGS-D). EBM was the recipient of an NSERC Master’s Scholarship (PGS-M).

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  1. Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, BMH1110, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada

    Ryan M. Bradley, Emily B. Mardian, Katherine A. Moes & Robin E. Duncan

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  1. Ryan M. Bradley
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  2. Emily B. Mardian
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Correspondence to Robin E. Duncan.

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Bradley, R.M., Mardian, E.B., Moes, K.A. et al. Acute Fasting Induces Expression of Acylglycerophosphate Acyltransferase (AGPAT) Enzymes in Murine Liver, Heart, and Brain. Lipids 52, 457–461 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-017-4251-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-017-4251-4

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