Cell Reports (May 2024)

HuR promotes triglyceride synthesis and intestinal fat absorption

  • Cihang Liu,
  • Yunping Lin,
  • Ying Wang,
  • Shuyong Lin,
  • Jing Zhou,
  • Hao Tang,
  • Xia Yi,
  • Zhengliang Ma,
  • Tianjiao Xia,
  • Bin Jiang,
  • Feng Tian,
  • Zhenyu Ju,
  • Baohua Liu,
  • Xiaoping Gu,
  • Zhongzhou Yang,
  • Wengong Wang

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 43, no. 5
p. 114238

Abstract

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Summary: Triacylglyceride (TAG) synthesis in the small intestine determines the absorption of dietary fat, but the underlying mechanisms remain to be further studied. Here, we report that the RNA-binding protein HuR (ELAVL1) promotes TAG synthesis in the small intestine. HuR associates with the 3′ UTR of Dgat2 mRNA and intron 1 of Mgat2 pre-mRNA. Association of HuR with Dgat2 3′ UTR stabilizes Dgat2 mRNA, while association of HuR with intron 1 of Mgat2 pre-mRNA promotes the processing of Mgat2 pre-mRNA. Intestinal epithelium-specific HuR knockout reduces the expression of DGAT2 and MGAT2, thereby reducing the dietary fat absorption through TAG synthesis and mitigating high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and obesity. Our findings highlight a critical role of HuR in promoting dietary fat absorption.

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