Inhibition of lipolysis in the novel transgenic quail model overexpressing G0/G1 switch gene 2 in the adipose tissue during feed restriction

PLoS One. 2014 Jun 25;9(6):e100905. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0100905. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

In addition to the issue of obesity in humans, the production of low-fat meat from domestic animals is important in the agricultural industry to satisfy consumer demand. Understanding the regulation of lipolysis in adipose tissue could advance our knowledge to potentially solve both issues. Although the G0/G1 switch gene 2 (G0S2) was recently identified as an inhibitor of adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) in vitro, its role in vivo has not been fully clarified. This study was conducted to investigate the role of G0S2 gene in vivo by using two independent transgenic quail lines during different energy conditions. Unexpectedly, G0S2 overexpression had a negligible effect on plasma NEFA concentration, fat cell size and fat pad weight under ad libitum feeding condition when adipose lipolytic activity is minimal. A two-week feed restriction in non-transgenic quail expectedly caused increased plasma NEFA concentration and dramatically reduced fat cell size and fat pad weight. Contrary, G0S2 overexpression under a feed restriction resulted in a significantly less elevation of plasma NEFA concentration and smaller reductions in fat pad weights and fat cell size compared to non-transgenic quail, demonstrating inhibition of lipolysis and resistance to loss of fat by G0S2. Excessive G0S2 inhibits lipolysis in vivo during active lipolytic conditions, such as food restriction and fasting, suggesting G0S2 as a potential target for treatment of obesity. In addition, transgenic quail are novel models for studying lipid metabolism and mechanisms of obesity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue / cytology
  • Adipose Tissue / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified / physiology*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Body Weight
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Fasting / physiology*
  • Genes, Switch*
  • Lipase / metabolism
  • Lipolysis / physiology*
  • Obesity / physiopathology
  • Quail / physiology*

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Lipase

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Korea Research Foundation (KRF-2009-220-F00006), Next-Generation BioGreen 21 Program (No. PJ008142012013) funded by Rural Development Administration of Republic of Korea and by Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant no. 2010-65206-20716 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.