MAPK-interacting kinase 2 (MNK2) regulates adipocyte metabolism independently of its catalytic activity.

MAPK-interacting kinase 2 (MNK2) regulates adipocyte metabolism independently of its catalytic activity. Biochem J. 2020 Jul 10;: Authors: Merrett J, Xie J, Psaltis PJ, Proud CG Abstract The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-interacting kinases (MNKs) are serine/threonine protein kinases that are activated by the ERK1/2 (extracellular-regulated kinase) and p38α/β MAPK pathways. The MNKs have previously been implicated in metabolic disease and shown to mediate diet-induced obesity. In particular, knockout of MNK2 in mice protects from the weight gain induced by a high-fat diet. These and other data suggest that MNK2 regulates expansion of adipose tissue, a stable, long-term energy reserve that plays an important role in regulating whole-body energy homeostasis. Using the well-established mouse 3T3-L1 in vitro model of adipogenesis, the role of the MNKs in adipocyte differentiation and lipid storage was investigated. Inhibition of MNK activity using specific inhibitors failed to impair adipogenesis or lipid accumulation, suggesting that MNK activity is not required for adipocyte differentiation and does not regulate lipid storage. However, small-interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown of MNK2 did reduce lipid accumulation and regulated the levels of two major lipogenic transcriptional regulators, ChREBP (carbohydrate response-element binding protein) and LPIN1 (Lipin-1). These factors are responsible for controlling expression of gen...
Source: The Biochemical Journal - Category: Biochemistry Authors: Tags: Biochem J Source Type: research