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Cell-surface H+-ATP synthase as a potential molecular target for anti-obesity drugs
Naokatu Arakaki1, Toshiyuki Kita, Hirofumi Shibata
1Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Medicine, Institute of Health Bioscience, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan. arakaki@ph.tokushima-u.ac.jp
Abstract:
Here we show that the cell-surface expression of the alpha subunit of H(+)-ATP synthase is markedly increased during adipocyte differentiation. Treatment of differentiated adipocytes with small molecule inhibitors of H(+)-ATP synthase or antibodies against alpha and beta subunits of H(+)-ATP synthase leads to a decrease in cytosolic lipid droplet accumulation. Apolipoprotein A-I, which has been shown to bind to the ectopic beta-chain of H(+)-ATP synthase and inhibit the activity of cell-surface H(+)-ATP synthase, also was found to inhibit cytosolic lipid accumulation. These results suggest that the cell-surface H(+)-ATP synthase has a previously unsuspected role in lipid metabolism in adipocytes.
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