T1R3 homomeric sweet taste receptor regulates adipogenesis through Gαs-mediated microtubules disassembly and Rho activation in 3T3-L1 cells

PLoS One. 2017 May 4;12(5):e0176841. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176841. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

We previously reported that 3T3-L1 cells express a functional sweet taste receptor possibly as a T1R3 homomer that is coupled to Gs and negatively regulates adipogenesis by a Gαs-mediated but cAMP-independent mechanism. Here, we show that stimulation of this receptor with sucralose or saccharin induced disassembly of the microtubules in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, which was attenuated by overexpression of the dominant-negative mutant of Gαs (Gαs-G226A). In contrast, overexpression of the constitutively active mutant of Gαs (Gαs-Q227L) as well as treatment with cholera toxin or isoproterenol but not with forskolin caused disassembly of the microtubules. Sweetener-induced microtubule disassembly was accompanied by activation of RhoA and Rho-associated kinase (ROCK). This was attenuated with by knockdown of GEF-H1, a microtubule-localized guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rho GTPase. Furthermore, overexpression of the dominant-negative mutant of RhoA (RhoA-T19N) blocked sweetener-induced dephosphorylation of Akt and repression of PPARγ and C/EBPα in the early phase of adipogenic differentiation. These results suggest that the T1R3 homomeric sweet taste receptor negatively regulates adipogenesis through Gαs-mediated microtubule disassembly and consequent activation of the Rho/ROCK pathway.

MeSH terms

  • 3T3-L1 Cells
  • Adipogenesis / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Chromogranins / physiology*
  • Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Microtubules / physiology*
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / physiology*
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Chromogranins
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • taste receptors, type 1
  • Gnas protein, mouse
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins