Molecular regulation of SREBP function: the Insig-SCAP connection and isoform-specific modulation of lipid synthesis

Abstract

Sterol regulatory element binding proteins (SREBPs) are a family of membrane-bound transcription factors that play a unique and fundamental role in both cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism, relevant to human disease. There are three SREBPs that regulate the expression of over 30 genes. SREBPs are subject to regulation at three levels: proteolytic cleavage, rapid degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, and sumoylation. Recently, there have been exciting advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanism of SREBP trafficking and processing with new information on the role of insulin-induced genes and the differential role and regulation of SREBP-1c and -2, which may ultimately lead to novel strategies for the treatment of dyslipidemia and insulin resistance.Key words: SREBP, Insig, SCAP, cholesterol synthesis, lipid metabolism.