Modulation of PGC-1 coactivator pathways in brown fat differentiation through LRP130

The PGC-1 coactivators are important regulators of oxidative metabolism. We previously demonstrated that LRP130 is a binding partner of PGC-1alpha, required for hepatic gluconeogenesis. LRP130 is the gene mutated in Leigh syndrome French Canadian variant, a rare neurodegenerative disease. The importance of LRP130 in other, non-hepatocyte biology remains obscure. To better understand PGC-1 coactivator function in brown fat development, we explored the metabolic role of LRP130 in brown adipocyte differentiation. We show that LRP130 is preferentially enriched in brown fat compared with white, and induced in a PGC-1-dependent manner during differentiation. Despite intact PGC-1 coactivator expression, brown fat cells deficient for LRP130 exhibit attenuated expression of several genes characteristic of brown fat, including uncoupling protein 1. Oxygen consumption studies support a specific defect in proton leak due to attenuated uncoupling protein 1 expression. Notably, brown fat cell development common to both PGC-1 coactivators is governed by LRP130. Conversely, the cAMP response controlled by PGC-1alpha is not regulated by LRP130. These data implicate LRP130 in brown fat cell development and differentiation.