Clofibrate treatment promotes branched-chain amino acid catabolism and decreases the phosphorylation state of mTOR, eIF4E-BP1, and S6K1 in rat liver

Hiroki Ishiguro, Yoshiaki Katano, Isao Nakano, Masatoshi Ishigami, Kazuhiko Hayashi, Takashi Honda, Hidemi Goto, Gustavo Bajotto, Ken Maeda, Yoshiharu Shimomura

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Leucine stimulates protein synthesis by modulating the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. We hypothesized that promotion of the branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) catabolism might influence the leucine-induced protein synthesis. Clofibric acid (an active metabolite of clofibrate) is known to promote the BCAA catabolism by activation of branched-chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase complex (BCKDC), the rate-limiting enzyme of the BCAA catabolism. In the present study, we examined the phosphorylation state of mTOR, eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-binding protein-1 (4E-BP1), and ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) in liver of rats with or without activation of the BCKDC by clofibrate treatment. Clofibrate-treated rats were prepared by oral administration of clofibrate 5 h before sacrifice. In order to stimulate phosphorylation of components in the mTOR signaling pathway, rats were orally administered with leucine 1 h before sacrifice. Clofibrate treatment almost fully activated hepatic BCKDC and significantly decreased the plasma leucine concentration in rats without leucine administration, resulting in decreased mTOR and 4E-BP1 phosphorylation. Similarly, in rats administered with leucine, clofibrate treatment attenuated the predicted increase in plasma leucine concentration as well as the phosphorylation of mTOR, 4E-BP1, and S6K1. These results suggest that BCAA catabolism enhanced by clofibrate treatment has significant influences on the leucine-induced activation of translation initiation processes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)737-743
Number of pages7
JournalLife Sciences
Volume79
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 17-07-2006
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics
  • General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology

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