Role of Disulfide Bonds in Acrp30/Adiponectin Structure and Signaling Specificity

Abstract

Acrp30/adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived serum protein with important roles in regulation of lipid and glucose metabolism, but which of its isoforms are biologically active remains controversial. We addressed this issue by first characterizing the structure of each individual Acrp30 oligomer and the determinants responsible for multimer formation. Freeze etch electron microscopy showed the trimer to exhibit a ball-and- stick-like structure containing a large globular sphere, an extended collagen stalk, and a smaller sphere on the opposite end of the stalk. The hexamer consists of two adjacent trimeric globular domains and a single stalk composed of collagen domains from two trimers. Although not necessary for trimer formation or stability, two of the three monomers in an Acrp30 trimer are covalently linked by a disulfide bond between cysteine residues at position 22. In contrast, assembly of hexameric and higher molecular weight (HMW) forms of Acrp30 depends upon formation of Cys22-mediated disulfide bonds because their reduction with dithiothreitol or substitution of Cys22 with alanine led exclusively to trimers. HMW and hexamer isoforms of Acrp30 activated NF-κB in C2C12 cells, but trimers, either natural, formed by reduction of Acrp30 hexamer, or formed by the C22A mutant, did not. In contrast, incubation of isolated rat extensor digitorum longus with naturally formed Acrp30 trimers or trimeric C22A Acrp30 led to increased phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase-α at Thr172 and its activation. Hexameric and HMW Acrp30 could not activate AMP-activated protein kinase. Thus, trimeric and HMW/hexameric Acrp30 activate different signal transduction pathways, and Acrp30 represents a novel example of the control of ligand signaling via changes in its oligomerization state. Acrp30/adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived serum protein with important roles in regulation of lipid and glucose metabolism, but which of its isoforms are biologically active remains controversial. We addressed this issue by first characterizing the structure of each individual Acrp30 oligomer and the determinants responsible for multimer formation. Freeze etch electron microscopy showed the trimer to exhibit a ball-and- stick-like structure containing a large globular sphere, an extended collagen stalk, and a smaller sphere on the opposite end of the stalk. The hexamer consists of two adjacent trimeric globular domains and a single stalk composed of collagen domains from two trimers. Although not necessary for trimer formation or stability, two of the three monomers in an Acrp30 trimer are covalently linked by a disulfide bond between cysteine residues at position 22. In contrast, assembly of hexameric and higher molecular weight (HMW) forms of Acrp30 depends upon formation of Cys22-mediated disulfide bonds because their reduction with dithiothreitol or substitution of Cys22 with alanine led exclusively to trimers. HMW and hexamer isoforms of Acrp30 activated NF-κB in C2C12 cells, but trimers, either natural, formed by reduction of Acrp30 hexamer, or formed by the C22A mutant, did not. In contrast, incubation of isolated rat extensor digitorum longus with naturally formed Acrp30 trimers or trimeric C22A Acrp30 led to increased phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase-α at Thr172 and its activation. Hexameric and HMW Acrp30 could not activate AMP-activated protein kinase. Thus, trimeric and HMW/hexameric Acrp30 activate different signal transduction pathways, and Acrp30 represents a novel example of the control of ligand signaling via changes in its oligomerization state. Adipocyte complement related protein of 30 kDa (Acrp30), or adiponectin, is an adipocyte-secreted hormone found abundantly in serum (1.Scherer P.E. Williams S. Fogliano M. Baldini G. Lodish H.F. J. Biol. Chem. 1995; 270: 26746-26749Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (2686) Google Scholar). Its expression and serum concentration are decreased in obese or diabetic humans and animals (2.Berg A.H. Combs T.P. Scherer P.E. Trends Endocrinol. Metab. 2002; 13: 84-89Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (1060) Google Scholar, 3.Tsao T.S. Lodish H.F. Fruebis J. Eur. J. Pharmacol. 2002; 440: 213-221Crossref PubMed Scopus (252) Google Scholar). In Pima Indians, occurrence of diabetes later in life is accompanied by decreased Acrp30 levels before onset of diabetes (4.Lindsay R.S. Funahashi T. Hanson R.L. Matsuzawa Y. Tanaka S. Tataranni P.A. Knowler W.C. Krakoff J. Lancet. 2002; 360: 57-58Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (951) Google Scholar). Acrp30 exerts multiple metabolic actions at multiple tissue sites. The isolated globular domain of Acrp30 (gAcrp30) simulates fatty acid oxidation in skeletal muscle, whereas fulllength Acrp30 synergizes with insulin to inhibit hepatic glucose production (5.Berg A.H. Combs T.P. Du X. Brownlee M. Scherer P.E. Nat. Med. 2001; 7: 947-953Crossref PubMed Scopus (2174) Google Scholar, 6.Fruebis J. Tsao