Multiple peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor beta subtypes from Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are ligand-activated transcription factors belonging to the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily that functions as critical regulators of lipid and energy homeostasis. Although intensively studied in mammals, their basic biological functions are still poorly understood. The objective of this work was to characterize PPARbeta subtypes in a fish, the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), in order to address PPAR function and the regulation of lipid homeostasis in lower vertebrates. The screening of an Atlantic salmon genomic library revealed the presence of four genes for PPARbeta subtypes. Based on comparisons of exons and exon-flanking regions, these genes were assigned into two families, ssPPARbeta1 and ssPPARbeta2, each family containing two isotypes: ssPPARbeta1A and beta1B and ssPPARbeta2A and beta2B. Two full-length cDNAs for ssPPARbeta1A and ssPPPARbeta2A were isolated. Transcripts for ssPPARbeta1A and ssPPARbeta2A have distinct tissue expression profiles, with ssPPARbeta1A predominating in liver and ssPPARbeta2A predominating in gill. Expression levels of mRNA of either isotypes were up to tenfold lower in kidney, heart, spleen, muscle, and brain. In cellular transfection assays, ssPPARbeta1A is activated by monounsaturated fatty acids, 2-bromopalmitate, and mammalian PPARbeta-specific ligand GW501516. In contrast, PPARbeta2A was not activated by any of the compounds tested. Furthermore, ssPPARbeta2A repressed both the basal reporter gene activity and the GW501516-induced activity of ssPPARbeta1A. The results indicate unexpected levels of variety and complexity in PPAR subtype and mechanism of action in lower vertebrates.