Angiopoietin-like protein 4 converts lipoprotein lipase to inactive monomers and modulates lipase activity in adipose tissue

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006 Nov 14;103(46):17450-5. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0604026103. Epub 2006 Nov 6.

Abstract

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) has a central role in lipoprotein metabolism to maintain normal lipoprotein levels in blood and, through tissue specific regulation of its activity, to determine when and in what tissues triglycerides are unloaded. Recent data indicate that angiopoietin-like protein (Angptl)-4 inhibits LPL and retards lipoprotein catabolism. We demonstrate here that the N-terminal coiled-coil domain of Angptl-4 binds transiently to LPL and that the interaction results in conversion of the enzyme from catalytically active dimers to inactive, but still folded, monomers with decreased affinity for heparin. Inactivation occurred with less than equimolar ratios of Angptl-4 to LPL, was strongly temperature-dependent, and did not consume the Angptl-4. Furthermore, we show that Angptl-4 mRNA in rat adipose tissue turns over rapidly and that changes in the Angptl-4 mRNA abundance are inversely correlated to LPL activity, both during the fed-to-fasted and fasted-to-fed transitions. We conclude that Angptl-4 is a fasting-induced controller of LPL in adipose tissue, acting extracellularly on the native conformation in an unusual fashion, like an unfolding molecular chaperone.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue / enzymology*
  • Angiopoietin-Like Protein 4
  • Angiopoietins / chemistry
  • Angiopoietins / genetics
  • Angiopoietins / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Blood Proteins / chemistry
  • Blood Proteins / genetics
  • Blood Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Blood Proteins / metabolism*
  • Chromatography, Affinity
  • Dimerization
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Gene Expression
  • Heparin / analogs & derivatives
  • Heparin / metabolism
  • Lipoprotein Lipase / chemistry
  • Lipoprotein Lipase / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Models, Molecular
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Folding
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Rats
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance

Substances

  • ANGPTL4 protein, rat
  • Angiopoietin-Like Protein 4
  • Angiopoietins
  • Angptl4 protein, mouse
  • Blood Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Heparin
  • Lipoprotein Lipase