(LDL) carry cholesterol to all cells in your body, including arteries that supply blood to your heart. LDL cholesterol is sometimes called bad cholesterol because it build up in walls of your arteries.

CD36· Class B Scavenger Receptor Protein · Functions as a translocase facilitating the uptake of lipids · Main function in the liver is the uptake of long chain fatty acids

SRB1 is the protein encoded by SCARB1 gene.Facilitates uptake of cholesterol esters from high density lipoproteins into the liver.Helps to drive the clearing of serum.

ABCA1 and ABCG1· Members of the superfamily of ATP-binding cassette transporters · Function: efflux of cholesterol from cells in the form of HDL· Play a role in the current model for reverse cholesterol transport

-Again, the essentiality of the production of bile salts cannot be stressed enough. The only mechanism of cholesterol removal is through its solubilization which is facilitated by bile salts.

-In humans, the most heavily utilized pathway of cholesterol processes involves the metabolism of cholesterol into bile acids. -Predominantly CA and CDCA -Bile acids are conjugated to amino acids to produce bile salts which then assist in the solubilization, transport and removal of cholesterol. -In the context of the python and maintaining cholesterol homeostasis, excess cholesterol is toxic and must be removed, facilitating the essentiality of this pathway.

Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR) is a nuclear receptor produced in the liver and intestines. After being bound by a bile acid ligand, FXR often dimerizes with RXR or SHP where the complex moved to the nucleus to regulate gene expression. A main role of FXR activation is to supress CYP7A1 in it's role of converting cholesterol to bile acids.

Extreme model for physiologic regulation among vertebrates

A snake can consume a meal up to 1.6 times its own sizeComparable to a 145lb person eating a 232lb mealDigestion completes by 6 to 10 days after feeding

Python coordinates feeding and fasting responses across feeding and tissues--a truly integrated response

Liver increases up to 100%Cells dividing, not getting bigger

Serum triglycerides and fatty acids peak at 1dpf and return to normal by 6-10dpfAt 1dpf the serum of the python becomes milky whiteWhen these serum fatty acids administered to mouse cells, cardiac hypertrophy and liver hyperplasia were observed

Metabolism controlBlood detox Production of clotting factorsImmune response Production of bile

Synthesized from lipids through two main pathwaysAids in digestion and absorption of fatsWithout bile, fats cannot be digested 95% of bile acids are recovered from the intestines to be brought back to liver Many genes involved, redundancy (at least in humans), and high levels of regulation

Many genes involved in the process of bile production and excretion. How is the regulation of these genes affected when an influx of fat comes into the system?

Interconnected nature of the bile acid pathwayGenes expression must reflect how the snake isable to deal with the influx of fat in the system.

Excreting excess fats from serum

Designing primers over an intron ~20bp Appropriate GC content, melting temp, etc. Python genome is unannotated

synthesized cDNA from 3 different time points: fasted, 1dpf,3dpf, & 10dpf

Looked for 18s subunit bands (all other RNA too small to seeon gel)

Used both experimental and control (18s or Tubulin) primers

- Belongs to the type II nuclear receptor family, localized in the nucleus- Expression levels are highest in tissues w/ active FA catabolism such as the Liver- PPAR alpha endogenous ligands: FA's and FA derivatives such as TCA cycle precursor Acetyl-CoA - Upon ligand binding PPAR alpha - Enzymes such as FAS FACS are required for ligand generation- Prior to ligand binding PPAR alpha heterodimerizes with NCOR and SMRT corepressors - PPAR alpha requires PBP/MED1 coactivator and RXR alpha for transcription - PPAR alpha influences the expression of hepatic lipogenic genes by regulating SREBP-1c and LXR alpha *PPAR alpha senses lipid influx and promotes the break down into Acetyl-CoA to prevent steatosis FA's bind to PPAR alpha--> Activates lipogenic genes and upregulates all 3 fatty oxidation systems----> Acetyl-CoA---> Precursor of Cholesterol synthesis---> *aditionally Acetyl-CoA is also a ligand of PPAR alpha***. Since PPARα stimulation also reduces bile acid synthesis [11] and [12] and plasma triglycerides [11],[13] and [14] we speculated that PPARα may be involved in the regulation of the expression of hepatic FGF21***PPARalpha also promotes the transcription of Fatty Acid Translocase CD36 to bring FA's into the hepatocyte for break down. Also has been shown to regulate the expression of Cyp7a1 which the rate limiting enzyme in the synthesis of bile acids from cholesterol.

Type 2 nuclear receptor, localized in the nucleus and forms a heterodimer with RXR to activate genes as a transcription factor. Ligands and coactivators include oxidized fatty acids and molecules generated in intermediary metabolic pathways. Activates genes that cause: differentiation of cells into adipocytes, intake of cholesterol and fatty acids, and promotes transcription of glycolytic enzymes in the liver. Essentially functions as a metabolic sensor that regulates gene expression in response to the metabolic needs of the cell.

FGF21 is a signaling molecule that binds to the cellular receptor FGFR1 in hepatocite and adiposite tissue. It is activated by PPARalpha signaling in the starvation response pathway in mice. In mice FGF21 is responsible for autocrine, endocrine, and paracrine signaling that results in the lipolysis of WAT and production of ketone bodies. ***We recently found that the hepatic gene expression of FGF21 is induced 2- to 4-fold following pharmacological or genetic interruption of bile acid circulation, and that feeding a sucrose-rich diet induces hepatic FGF21 expression remarkably by 25-fold*** Has triglyceride lowering effectsTentative PPARα responsive elements (PPREs) were present in the promoter regions of both mouse and human FGF21 genes

-Segment of the cholesterol biosynthesispathway-Acetyl-CoA ->HMG-CoA-regulation is coordinated with HMG-CoA reductase- cholesterol inhibits HMGCR from producing more cholesterol - active when blood glucose is high

· Fatty Acids are converted into Acetyl-CoA by beta oxidation· Acetyl-CoA is converted into 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA). Rate limiting step

SREBP-1c activate expression of 30 genes to synthesis cholesterol,fatty acids, and triglyceridesAcetyl CoA is carboxylated with Acetyl CoA carboxylase. Forming malonyl CoA.-Which synthesize Fatty acids

- Last step in de novo lipogenesis - Produces FAS (Fatty Acid Sythase) which functions to convert acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA into long-chain saturated fatty acids - Transcriptionally regulated by SREBP-1c-Agonistic relationship with PPARalpha

OATP1B3 is a non-Mg dependent membrane transport protein found on the surface of hepatocytes. It functions to bring secondary bile acids back into the liver for recycling. When it is knocked out, a build up of bile acids in the portal vein indicates an inability for the bile acids to re-enter the liver. ***recycled bile acids can serve as ligands for FXR which dimerizes with SHP and RXR to suppress the expression of Cyp7a1 a key step in bile acid synthesis pathway*** So OAT may help inhibit the process by promoting the import of circulating Bile Acids

SCD in general is a rate limiting step in the process of creating Monounsaturated fatty acids, also helps create phospholipids, helps generate Fatty acyl CoA, which will then be eventually turned into Tri-acyl-glyceride, which is the primary unit for storage of fat in animals and humans.

PLTP functions to stabilize the formation of Apolipoprotein B containing lipoprotein within the liver (conjugates to LDL) and stabilizes the export of Apolipoprotein A (conjugates to HDL) from the liver. It has additional functions in the plasma of HDL conversion.

The first gene involved in the beta oxidation pathway of fatty acids. Cataylzes the desaturation of acyl-CoAs to 2-trans-enoyl-CoAs & produces hydrogen peroxide in the process. Also the rate limiting enzyme for beta-oxidation.Is a PPARalpha target gene. Metabolizes ligands for PPARalpha.PPARalpha can induce ACOX1 for peroxisomal fatty acid oxidationHas 2 isoforms that function as a heterodimer.Knockout of ACOX1 doesn't effect bile acid synthesisPlays major role in liver metabolism and the development of a fatty liver. Part of a feedback loop for the expression of peroxisomal beta-oxidative genes.***Inhibits PPAR alpha by degrading ligands such as HETEs Acox1 is also involved in Beta-Oxidation pathway converting Acetyl-CoA into Enoyl-CoA***

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15708356

Rate controlling enzyme of synthesis of cholesterol from Acetyl-CoA (mevalonate pathway)***Prime site for regulation***Negative feedback mechanism--> cholesterol inhibits HMGCR from producing more cholesterol Target for "statin" drugs (cholesterol reducing drugs) active when blood glucose is high (indirectly regulated by pancreatic hormones insulin and glucagon)

Mevalonate pathway produces two five carbon building blocks (IPP and DMAPP);FDPS catalyzes the formation of FPP from these building blocks  Through additional subsequent reactions, over 30,000 biomolecules including cholesterol, heme, vitamin K, coenzyme Q10, and all steroid hormones