The Adipogenic Acetyltransferase Tip60 Targets Activation Function 1 of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ

Abstract

The transcription factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) plays a key role in the regulation of lipid and glucose metabolism in adipocytes, by regulating their differentiation, maintenance, and function. The transcriptional activity of PPARγ is dictated by the set of proteins with which this nuclear receptor interacts under specific conditions. Here we identify the HIV-1 Tat-interacting protein 60 (Tip60) as a novel positive regulator of PPARγ transcriptional activity. Using tandem mass spectrometry, we found that PPARγ and the acetyltransferase Tip60 interact in cells, and through use of chimeric proteins, we established that coactivation by Tip60 critically depends on the N-terminal activation function 1 of PPARγ, a domain involved in isotype-specific gene expression and adipogenesis. Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments showed that the endogenous Tip60 protein is recruited to PPARγ target genes in mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes but not in preadipocytes, indicating that Tip60 requires PPARγ for its recruitment to PPARγ target genes. Importantly, we show that in common with disruption of PPARγ function, small interfering RNA-mediated reduction of Tip60 protein impairs differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Taken together, these findings qualify the acetyltransferase Tip60 as a novel adipogenic factor.