Negative regulation of DsbA-L gene expression by the transcription factor Sp1

Qichen Fang, Wenjing Yang, Huating Li, Wenxiu Hu, Lihui Chen, Shan Jiang, Kun Dong, Qianqian Song, Chen Wang, Shuo Chen, Feng Liu, Weiping Jia

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Disulfide-bond A oxidoreductase-like protein (DsbA-L) possesses beneficial effects such as promoting adiponectin multimerization and stability, increasing insulin sensitivity, and enhancing energy metabolism. The expression level of DsbA-L is negatively correlated with obesity in mice and humans, but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. To address this question, we generated reporter gene constructs containing the promoter sequence of the mouse DsbA-L gene. Deletion analysis showed that the proximal promoter of mouse DsbA-L is located between 2186 and 234 bp relative to the transcription start site. In silico analysis identified a putative Sp1 transcription factor binding site in the first intron of the DsbA-L gene. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis indicated that Sp1 bound to this intron region in vitro and in intact cells. Overexpression of Sp1 or suppressing Sp1 expression by siRNA reduced or increased DsbA-L promoter activity, respectively. The binding activity of Sp1 was gradually decreased during 3T3-L1 cell differentiation and was significantly increased in adipose tissues of obese mice. Our results identify Sp1 as an inhibitor of DsbA-L gene transcription, and the Sp1-mediated inhibition of DsbA-L gene expression may provide a mechanism underlying obesity-induced adiponectin downregulation and insulin resistance.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4165-4171
Number of pages7
JournalDiabetes
Volume63
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2014

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Internal Medicine
  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

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