Sam68 promotes hepatic gluconeogenesis via CRTC2

Nat Commun. 2021 Jun 7;12(1):3340. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-23624-9.

Abstract

Hepatic gluconeogenesis is essential for glucose homeostasis and also a therapeutic target for type 2 diabetes, but its mechanism is incompletely understood. Here, we report that Sam68, an RNA-binding adaptor protein and Src kinase substrate, is a novel regulator of hepatic gluconeogenesis. Both global and hepatic deletions of Sam68 significantly reduce blood glucose levels and the glucagon-induced expression of gluconeogenic genes. Protein, but not mRNA, levels of CRTC2, a crucial transcriptional regulator of gluconeogenesis, are >50% lower in Sam68-deficient hepatocytes than in wild-type hepatocytes. Sam68 interacts with CRTC2 and reduces CRTC2 ubiquitination. However, truncated mutants of Sam68 that lack the C- (Sam68ΔC) or N-terminal (Sam68ΔN) domains fails to bind CRTC2 or to stabilize CRTC2 protein, respectively, and transgenic Sam68ΔN mice recapitulate the blood-glucose and gluconeogenesis profile of Sam68-deficient mice. Hepatic Sam68 expression is also upregulated in patients with diabetes and in two diabetic mouse models, while hepatocyte-specific Sam68 deficiencies alleviate diabetic hyperglycemia and improves insulin sensitivity in mice. Thus, our results identify a role for Sam68 in hepatic gluconeogenesis, and Sam68 may represent a therapeutic target for diabetes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Glucagon / metabolism
  • Gluconeogenesis / genetics
  • Gluconeogenesis / physiology*
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Hepatocytes / metabolism
  • Homeostasis
  • Humans
  • Hyperglycemia
  • Insulin Resistance
  • Liver / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Blood Glucose
  • CRTC2 protein, human
  • Crtc2 protein, mouse
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • KHDRBS1 protein, human
  • Khdrbs1 protein, mouse
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Glucagon
  • Glucose