Cited by 49Cancer, Lipids, and MetabolismLipid metabolism and biosynthesisCholesterol and Lipid Metabolism

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 45 of the 45 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 20 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

POST1/C12ORF49 regulates the SREBP pathway by promoting site-1 protease maturation

Open access
Xiao, Jian, Xiong, Yanni, Yang, Liu-Ting, Wang, Ju-Qiong, Zhou, Zi-Mu, Dong, Le-Wei, Shi, Xiong-Jie, Zhao, Xiaolu, Luo, Jie, Song, Bao-Liang·2021·Protein & Cell

Abstract

Sterol-regulatory element binding proteins (SREBPs) are the key transcriptional regulators of lipid metabolism. The activation of SREBP requires translocation of the SREBP precursor from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi, where it is sequentially cleaved by site-1 protease (S1P) and site-2 protease and releases a nuclear form to modulate gene expression. To search for new genes regulating cholesterol metabolism, we perform a genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 knockout screen and find that partner of site-1 protease (POST1), encoded by C12ORF49, is critically involved in the SREBP signaling. Ablation of POST1 decreases the generation of nuclear SREBP and reduces the expression of SREBP target genes. POST1 binds S1P, which is synthesized as an inactive protease (form A) and becomes fully mature via a two-step autocatalytic process involving forms B’/B and C’/C. POST1 promotes the generation of the functional S1P-C’/C from S1P-B’/B (canonical cleavage) and, notably, from S1P-A directly (non-canonical cleavage) as well. This POST1-mediated S1P activation is also essential for the cleavages of other S1P substrates including ATF6, CREB3 family members and the α/β-subunit precursor of N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphotransferase. Together, we demonstrate that POST1 is a cofactor controlling S1P maturation and plays important roles in lipid homeostasis, unfolded protein response, lipoprotein metabolism and lysosome biogenesis.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

A genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screen identifies C12ORF49/POST1 as a regulator of cholesterol homeostasis that binds site-1 protease (S1P) and promotes its maturation. POST1 accelerates S1P-C′/C generation from S1P-B′/B and directly from S1P-A, thereby supporting SREBP processing and other S1P substrate cleavages.

Key findings

  • In a GeCKO v2 screen of 65,383 sgRNAs targeting 19,050 human genes, 115 genes were highly enriched after five rounds of cholesterol depletion–repletion–amphotericin B selection, including NPC1, SCAP, LDLR, and C12ORF49/POST1; POST1 KO cells showed markedly improved resistance to amphotericin B even without U18666A.
  • POST1 co-immunoprecipitated with S1P and promoted S1P-C′/C production at the expense of S1P-B′/B; it also supported S1P-C′/C generation from S1P-A via a non-canonical route, and co-expression of POST1 caused a greater than 5-fold increase in S1P localization to the Golgi.
  • Loss of POST1 reduced cholesterol-depletion-induced nuclear SREBP2 and impaired induction of SREBP target genes including LSS, HMGCR, HMGCS1, SQLE, CYP51A1, FDFT1, SCD1, FASN, ACC1, INSIG1, and LDLR.
  • POST1 deficiency also reduced cleavage of ATF6, CREB3L3, and the α/β-subunit precursor of GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase, lowered M6P-modified proteins, increased α-mannosidase secretion, and caused enlarged lysosomes with cholesterol and LBPA accumulation.

Methods

  • Genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 knockout screen in HeLa/Cas9-Flag cells using the GeCKO v2 library at 0.3 MOI, followed by five rounds of cholesterol depletion–repletion–amphotericin B selection, deep sequencing of sgRNA inserts, and MAGeCK analysis.
  • Mechanistic work used CRISPR/Cas9 POST1 and S1P KO HeLa lines, siRNA knockdown, RNA-seq, quantitative real-time PCR, immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, co-immunoprecipitation coupled to tandem mass spectrometry, membrane fractionation, and lysotracker/filipin staining.
  • Data are presented as means ± SD and analyzed with GraphPad Prism 6; statistical significance was set at P < 0.05, with tests and sample sizes indicated in figure legends.

Limitations

  • The paper states that the mechanism by which POST1 contributes to S1P-C′/C production is unknown, and that the physiological regulator of POST1 is worth investigating; it also notes that whether POST1 affects PCSK9 autoprocessing remains to be examined.
  • Evident from the text: the findings rely heavily on HeLa cell lines, overexpression, knockout, and knockdown experiments, with no in vivo animal or human validation reported.
  • Evident from the text: the initial screen phenotype is based on amphotericin B resistance as a proxy for plasma membrane cholesterol, and the study does not establish whether POST1 loss affects S1P maturation in physiological tissues.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1007/s13238-020-00753-3

Cites

45 of 45 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

0 of 20 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data

    The POST1-S1P interaction was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation.

    “The POST1–S1P interaction was confirmed by the co-immunoprecipitation assay (Fig. 4B).”
    • Also stated in: § Abstract · plain
      “POST1 binds S1P”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    The B'/B cleavage site mutant (BM, R130E/R134E) of S1P fails to yield S1P-B'/B and S1P-C'/C.

    “The B’/B cleavage site mutant (BM, R130E/R134E) of S1P failed to yield S1P-B’/B and S1P-C’/C (lane 5)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    S1P-B'/B is dramatically decreased when POST1 is co-expressed.

    “S1P-B’/B was dramatically decreased when POST1 was co-expressed (compare lanes 5 and 6 of the 2nd blot)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    25-hydroxycholesterol abrogates the upregulation of lipid metabolism-related genes caused by cholesterol depletion.

    “25-HC as a potent inhibitor of the SREBP pathway abrogated the upregulation of lipid metabolism-related genes caused by cholesterol depletion.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Among the 115 enriched genes were the known regulators NPC1, SCAP, and LDLR.

    “among which included NPC1, SCAP and LDLR, the well-established regulators of cholesterol trafficking and metabolism.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • It may state two separate claims as one. 20
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 7
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingown data

    POST1 is predicted to contain a cytosolic segment (1-16 aa), a transmembrane segment (17-36 aa), and a 169-amino-acid lumenal stretch.

    “It is predicted to contain a cytosolic segment (1–16 aa), a transmembrane segment (17–36 aa), and a stretch of 169 amino acids extending into the lumen (Fig. 1D).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingown data

    In HA-1-transfected cells, S1P-A and a 14-kDa prodomain I band are detected; in HA-2-transfected cells, A and B'/B forms are detected.

    “we detected S1P-A and a 14-kDa band corresponding in size to the prodomain I in the cells transfected with the HA-1 plasmid, but A and B’/B forms in the cells transfected with the HA-2 plasmid (lanes 3 and 5 of the 2nd and 3rd blots).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingown data

    The C'/C mutant (CM, R163E/R164E/R183E/R184E) can generate S1P-B'/B but fails to yield S1P-C'/C.

    “whereas the C’/C mutant (CM, R163E/R164E/R183E/R184E) could generate S1P-B’/B but failed to yield S1P-C’/C (lane 7).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingown data

    Loss of POST1 impairs the response of cholesterol biosynthetic genes (LSS, HMGCR, HMGCS1, SQLE, CYP51A1, FDFT1) and fatty acid biosynthetic genes (SCD1, FASN, ACC1), as well as INSIG1 and LDLR, to cholesterol depletion.

    “loss of POST1 impaired the responses of cholesterol biosynthetic genes (lanosterol synthase [LSS], HMGCR, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase 1 [HMGCS1], squalene epoxidase [SQLE], cytochrome P450 family 51 subfamily A member 1 [CYP51A1], farnesyl-diphosphate farnasyltransferase 1 [FDFT1]) and fatty acid biosynthetic genes (stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 [SCD1], fatty acid synthase [FASN],”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingown data

    In HeLa cells, POST1 staining colocalizes robustly with the Golgi marker GM130 and modestly with the ER marker DsRed-KDEL.

    “We detected robust POST1 staining colocalized with GM130 and modest signal colocalized with DsRed-KDEL (Fig. 1E).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

    Findingnone given

    Human POST1 is a small protein of 205 amino acids.

    “Human POST1 is a small protein of 205 amino acids.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingown data

    Transfected POST1 protein is partially sensitive to Endo H and completely shifted to a lower position by PNGase F.

    “The transfected POST1 protein was partially sensitive to endoglycosidase H (Endo H), but completely shifted to a lower position by peptide N-glycosidase F (PNGase F) (Fig. 1F).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingown data

    At the protein level, LDLR and representative cholesterol biosynthetic enzymes are increased by cholesterol depletion and decreased by 25-HC, and to a lesser extent in POST1 knockout cells.

    “At the protein level, the amounts of LDLR and representative cholesterol biosynthetic enzymes were similarly increased by cholesterol depletion and decreased by 25-HC, and in a lesser extent in POST1 KO cells (Fig. 2C).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingown data

    SCAP and INSIG2 are not SREBP target genes and their expression remains unaltered regardless of treatment.

    “SCAP and INSIG2 are not SREBP target genes and their expression remained unaltered regardless of treatments (Fig. 2B).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingown data

    Co-expression of POST1 increases S1P-C'/C production and eliminates S1P-B'/B.

    “Co-expression of POST1 increased S1P-C’/C production and eliminated S1P-B’/B (Fig. 4D).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingown data

    In the absence of POST1, the majority of S1P resides in the ER and only about 12% colocalizes with GM130.

    “In the absence of POST1, the majority of S1P resided in the ER and only about 12% of S1P was found colocalized with GM130 (Fig. 5A and 5B).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Interpretationown data

    POST1 facilitates the generation of S1P-C'/C that is subsequently transported to the Golgi.

    “As these mutants (EM, BM and CM) produced little or no S1P-C’/C (Fig. 4E), it is concluded that POST1 facilitates the generation of S1P-C’/C that is subsequently transported to the Golgi.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation

    All S1P precursors reside in the ER and the mature S1P-C'/C resides in the Golgi.

    “It is reported that all the S1P precursors reside in the ER and the mature S1P-C’/C resides in the Golgi (DeBose-Boyd et al., 1999).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites DeBose-Boyd et al., 1999 source
  • Probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Lysosome enlargement is a sign of dysfunction.

    “Lysosome enlargement is a sign of dysfunction (te Vruchte et al., 2014; Xu et al., 2014).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites te Vruchte et al., 2014 source
    • cites Xu et al., 2014

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Autoprocessing at the C'/C sites occurs in trans involving another S1P protein.

    “autoprocessing at the C’/C sites is reported to occur in trans involving another S1P protein (Espenshade et al., 1999; da Palma et al., 2014)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Espenshade et al., 1999 source
    • cites da Palma et al., 2014 source
  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation

    S1P-B'/B can already cleave the SREBP2 precursor and activate downstream signaling.

    “Another unique aspect of S1P is that it needs not to be completely processed to become enzymatically active, as S1P-B’/B can already cleave the SREBP2 precursor and activate the downstream signaling (Espenshade et al., 1999; da Palma et al., 2014).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Espenshade et al., 1999 source
    • cites da Palma et al., 2014 source
  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation

    ATF6 and CREB3L3 are ER-resident proteins that respond to stimuli by trafficking to the Golgi where they are sequentially cleaved by S1P and S2P.

    “Activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) and cAMP response element–binding protein (CREB) 3 family members including CREB3L3 (also called CREBH) are ER-resident proteins that respond to stimuli by trafficking to the Golgi where they are sequentially cleaved by S1P and S2P (Ye et al., 2000; Zhang et al., 2006).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Ye et al., 2000

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Zhang et al., 2006 source
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Interpretationown data

    POST1 is a key determinant for S1P maturation and lipid metabolism.

    “These results set POST1 as a key determinant for S1P maturation and lipid metabolism.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The sgRNAs used to generate POST1 KO and S1P KO cells specifically and effectively knock out their targets.
    • Rests on an assumption: The observed phenotypes in POST1 KO cells are due to loss of POST1 and not off-target effects.
  • Probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    BFA disassembles and redistributes the Golgi complex into the ER.

    “brefeldin A, an ER-Golgi protein trafficking inhibitor that disassembles and redistributes the Golgi complex into the ER (Sciaky et al., 1997).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Sciaky et al., 1997 source
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Interpretationown data

    POST1 is a S1P cofactor that promotes generation of S1P-C'/C, either from S1P-B'/B (canonical cleavage) or directly from S1P-A (non-canonical cleavage).

    “Here, we demonstrate that POST1 is a S1P cofactor that promotes generation of S1P-C’/C, either from S1P-B’/B (canonical cleavage) or directly from S1P-A (non-canonical cleavage).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The sgRNAs used to generate POST1 KO and S1P KO cells specifically and effectively knock out their targets.
    • Rests on an assumption: The observed phenotypes in POST1 KO cells are due to loss of POST1 and not off-target effects.
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Interpretationcitation

    The phenotypes of decreased SCAP protein level and SCAP relocation to the Golgi in C12ORF49 knockout are attributable to impairments in C12ORF49-mediated S1P maturation and defective SREBP cleavage.

    “We believe that these phenotypes should be attributable to impairments in C12ORF49-mediated S1P maturation, and defective SREBP cleavage by S1P then prevents Golgi-to-ER transport of SCAP and causes SCAP degradation in lysosomes (Shao and Espenshade, 2014).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Shao and Espenshade, 2014 source
    • Rests on an assumption: The sgRNAs used to generate POST1 KO and S1P KO cells specifically and effectively knock out their targets.
    • Rests on an assumption: The observed phenotypes in POST1 KO cells are due to loss of POST1 and not off-target effects.
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Interpretationown data

    POST1 accelerates generation of mature S1P-C'/C from S1P-B'/B via canonical cleavage and from S1P-A directly via non-canonical cleavage.

    “Together, we propose that POST1 accelerates generation of mature S1P-C’/C from S1P-B’/B via a canonical cleavage as well as from S1P-A directly via a non-canonical cleavage (Fig. 6I).”
    • Also stated in: § Abstract · plain
      “POST1 promotes the generation of the functional S1P-C’/C from S1P-B’/B (canonical cleavage) and, notably, from S1P-A directly (non-canonical cleavage) as well.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Interpretationown data

    POST1 facilitates S1P-C'/C production in the ER and then they are transported to Golgi together.

    “These data suggest that POST1 facilitates S1P-C’/C production in the ER and then they are transported to Golgi together.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The sgRNAs used to generate POST1 KO and S1P KO cells specifically and effectively knock out their targets.
    • Rests on an assumption: The antibodies used are specific for their targets.
    • Rests on an assumption: The observed phenotypes in POST1 KO cells are due to loss of POST1 and not off-target effects.
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Interpretationown data

    POST1 is a cofactor controlling S1P maturation and plays important roles in lipid homeostasis, unfolded protein response, lipoprotein metabolism, and lysosome biogenesis.

    “Together, we demonstrate that POST1 is a cofactor controlling S1P maturation and plays important roles in lipid homeostasis, unfolded protein response, lipoprotein metabolism and lysosome biogenesis.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Interpretationown data

    POST1 promotes self-cleavage of S1P in the ER and the generated S1P-C'/C still binds to POST1.

    “These results indicate that POST1 promotes self-cleavage of S1P in the ER and that the generated S1P-C’/C still binds to POST1.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
25 of 25
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    How S1P cleavage at the Golgi is regulated is less clear than how SREBP precursor localization is regulated.

    “Compared with the above mechanisms controlling localization of the SREBP precursor, how its cleavage at the Golgi is regulated is less clear.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Whether and how S1P autoprocessing is regulated is largely unknown.

    “Despite the understanding of S1P autoprocessing, little is known whether and how, if any, this process is regulated.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The D218A/H249A/S414A mutations abolish S1P enzymatic activity.

    “this process is abolished by the D218A/H249A/S414A mutations (Fig. 4E), suggesting an absolute dependency on S1P enzymatic activity.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The AmB selection challenge enriches for genes involved in LDL uptake and cholesterol trafficking to the PM.

    “we performed a genome-scale, unbiased CRISPR/Cas9 KO screen coupled to the “cholesterol depletion-repletion-AmB selection” challenge (Fig. 1A), so that genes involved in LDL uptake and cholesterol trafficking to the PM were highly enriched.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The sgRNAs used to generate POST1 KO and S1P KO cells specifically and effectively knock out their targets.

    “HeLa/POST1 KO cells and HeLa/S1P KO cells were generated using the CRISPR-Cas9 technology (sgRNAs listed in Supplementary Material, Table S4) and isolated by limiting dilution analysis.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The antibodies used are specific for their targets.

    “Primary antibodies were used at the dilution of 1:500 for immunofluorescent staining and 1:1,000 for immunoblotting.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The observed phenotypes in POST1 KO cells are due to loss of POST1 and not off-target effects.

    “HeLa/POST1 KO cells and HeLa/S1P KO cells were generated using the CRISPR-Cas9 technology (sgRNAs listed in Supplementary Material, Table S4) and isolated by limiting dilution analysis.”
7 of 7

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Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Figure 6 quantification identifies different cells from its source panels

    Minor

    The caption says panel H quantifies HeLa and POST1-knockout cells shown in panels F and G, but both source panels are described as HeLa cells transfected with siRNAs, not knockout cells.

1 of 1

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Metadata

Authors
Xiao, J., Xiong, Y., Yang, L.-T., Wang, J.-Q., Zhou, Z.-M., Dong, L.-W., Shi, X.-J., Zhao, X., Luo, J., & Song, B.-L.
Affiliations
Wuhan University (CN)
Corresponding author
  • Luo, Jie
  • Song, Bao-Liang
Venue
Protein & Cell
Published
2020-07-14
Volume
12
Issue
4
Pages
279-296
ISSN
  • 1674-800X (ISSN-L)
  • 1674-8018
OpenAlex
W3043522585
Cited by
49
References
45
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 1
FWCI
2.37
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Protein & Cell (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Tencent
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (111 Project, 91954203, 31690102, 31771568, 91754102, 2016YFA0500100)
  • Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China (B16036, ‘111’ Project)
  • Higher Education Discipline Innovation Project
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cancer Research › Cancer, Lipids, and Metabolism
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biochemistry › Lipid metabolism and biosynthesis
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biochemistry › Cholesterol and Lipid Metabolism
Keywords
site-1 protease, SREBP signaling, cholesterol metabolism, lipid homeostasis, unfolded protein response, lipoprotein metabolism, lysosomal biogenesis, ATF6, CREB3, N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphotransferase, protease maturation, Golgi apparatus
MeSH terms
HeLa Cells, Humans, Lipoproteins, Lysosomes, Membrane Proteins, Signal Transduction, Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Proteins, CRISPR-Cas Systems

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