Peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor α-b deficiency induces the reprogramming of nutrient metabolism in zebrafish.

Key Points: The pparab subtype in zebrafish is much more highly expressed in tissues with high oxidative activity than pparaa. The pparab deficiency in zebrafish reduces fatty acid β-oxidation both in liver and muscle, illustrating its functional homology as a mammalian peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα). pparab deficiency promotes metabolic reprogramming by increasing glucose utilization and inhibiting amino acid breakdown. The present study brings new insights into the comprehensive regulatory roles of PPARα in the cellular fuel selection and provides a valuable animal model for PPARα studies from a viewpoint of comparative physiology.

Abstract: Dysfunction of lipid metabolism is involved in the pathogenesis of several chronic metabolic diseases. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) is essential for normal metabolic homeostasis and, in particular, for the regulation of fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO). However, little is known about its regulation roles in systemic nutrient metabolism. To explore the underlying modulation role of PPARα in metabolic homeostasis, we generated a pparab-knockout zebrafish (Danio rerio) model. The pparab mutants demonstrated lower expression of key enzymes involved in FAO, as well as lower mitochondrial and peroxisomal FAO in tissues, which was associated with lipid accumulation in liver and visceral mass. Conversely, glucose utilization was higher because they demonstrated lower blood glucose and tissue glycogen concentrations, as well as activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT pathway. In addition, pparab-deficient zebrafish demonstrated activation of AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin signalling and higher protein content, implying greater protein synthesis and/or lower amino acid breakdown. These data clearly revealed that pparab deletion reduces FAO but increases glucose utilization and protein deposition to maintain energy homeostasis. The present study provides new insights into the comprehensive regulatory role of PPARα in systemic energy metabolism in fish, and this pparab-deficient zebrafish also constitutes a valuable model for investigating the functions of PPARα in mammals from comparative physiology aspects.