6 December, 2008
Volume 8, Issue 6
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Volume 8, Issue 6
On the cover: A delicate balance governs the cholesterol content of mammalian cell membranes. Using a new method to quantify cholesterol in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane, Radhakrishnan et al. (pp. 512–521) demonstrate a switch governing activation of the transcription factor SREBP-2 that operates when cholesterol passes a threshold value of 5% of total ER lipids. The cover depicts the system and its components, including cholesterol (yellow), the transcription factor SREBP-2 (magenta), the escort protein Scap (green), the MELADL hexapeptide sequence (red dot), CopII protein (orange), and the ER retention protein Insig (blue).
On the Cover
- A delicate balance governs the cholesterol content of mammalian cell membranes. Using a new method to quantify cholesterol in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane, Radhakrishnan et al. demonstrate a switch governing activation of the transcription factor SREBP-2 that operates when cholesterol passes a threshold value of 5% of total ER lipids.
In The News
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Specific SIRT1 Activation Mimics Low Energy Levels and Protects against Diet-Induced Metabolic Disorders by Enhancing Fat Oxidation
Feige et al.
November 5 issue
Coverage in:
Scientific American | BBC | WebMD | Reuters | National Public Radio
Apelin Stimulates Glucose Utilization in Normal and Obese Insulin-Resistant Mice
Dray et al.
November 5 issue
Coverage in:
National Public Radio
Most Read Papers
- These are the Top 20 Papers by download from the Cell Metabolism web site for the last 30 days.
Cell Press Podcast
In our latest podcast, we hear from Dr. Gokhan Hotamisligil about a new lipid hormone produced by fat that might help to keep you thin. We learn from Dr Ralph Steinman, who discovered dendritic cells 35 years ago, about using these elusive cells to make better vaccines. We also hear from Dr Elizabeth Phelps about regions of the brain that control responses to fearful memories. Finally, stay tuned for our quarterly roundup of exciting research highlights published in the Cell Press family of journals.
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Volume 8, Issue 6: December 3, 2008
Obesity and nutrient homeostasis are linked by mechanisms that are not fully elucidated. Here we describe a secreted protein, adropin, encoded by a gene, Energy Homeostasis Associated (Enho), expressed in liver and brain. Liver Enho expression is regulated by nutrition: lean C57BL/6J mice fed high-fat diet (HFD) exhibited a rapid increase, while fasting reduced expression compared to controls. However, liver Enho expression declines with diet-induced obesity (DIO) associated with 3 months of HFD or with genetically induced obesity, suggesting an association with metabolic disorders in the obese state. In DIO mice, transgenic overexpression or systemic adropin treatment attenuated hepatosteatosis and insulin resistance independently of effects on adiposity or food intake. Adropin regulated expression of hepatic lipogenic genes and adipose tissue peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, a major regulator of lipogenesis. Adropin may therefore be a factor governing glucose and lipid homeostasis, which protects against hepatosteatosis and hyperinsulinemia associated with obesity.
Current Issue
Volume 8, Issue 6: December 3, 2008
Next issue: January 7, 2009
Featured Article
The Featured Article is freely available to all readers.
Kumar et al.
Obesity and nutrient homeostasis are linked by mechanisms that are not fully elucidated. Here we describe a secreted protein, adropin, encoded by a gene, Energy Homeostasis Associated (Enho), expressed in liver and brain. Liver Enho expression is regulated by nutrition: lean C57BL/6J mice fed high-fat diet (HFD) exhibited a rapid increase, while fasting reduced expression compared to controls. However, liver Enho expression declines with diet-induced obesity (DIO) associated with 3 months of HFD or with genetically induced obesity, suggesting an association with metabolic disorders in the obese state. In DIO mice, transgenic overexpression or systemic adropin treatment attenuated hepatosteatosis and insulin resistance independently of effects on adiposity or food intake. Adropin regulated expression of hepatic lipogenic genes and adipose tissue peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, a major regulator of lipogenesis. Adropin may therefore be a factor governing glucose and lipid homeostasis, which protects against hepatosteatosis and hyperinsulinemia associated with obesity.
Featured Previews
Maja S. Engelstoft, Kristoffer L. Egerod, Birgitte Holst, and Thue W. Schwartz
10.1016/j.cmet.2008.11.004
Related paper: Reimann et al.
Randolph Y. Hampton
10.1016/j.cmet.2008.11.006
Related paper: Radhakrishnan et al.
In This Issue
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