Overexpression of PLIN1 Promotes Lipid Metabolism in Bovine Adipocytes

SIMPLE SUMMARY: In bovine preadipocytes, the overexpression of the PLIN1 gene promotes the expression of FASN, PPARγ, ACC, LPL, FABP4, DGAT2, and C/EBPβ at the mRNA level, inhibiting the expression of fat metabolism genes such as PLIN2 and ATGL. Furthermore, after overexpression of PLIN1, the oil red O-staining results showed that the number of lipid droplets (LDs) in fat cells, their volume and triglyceride content were increased. The elevation in triglyceride content indicates that PLIN1 can promote the accumulation of triglyceride in bovine preadipocytes and has an important regulatory role in fat metabolism. After transfection with the adenovirues Ad-PLIN1 and Ad-NC (empty virus), RNA-seq was used to analyze the differentially expressed genes in bovine preadipocytes. A total of 1923 differentially expressed genes were detected, and GO and KEGG signaling pathways were analyzed for differentially expressed genes. ABSTRACT: Perilipin 1 (PLIN1) is a protein encoded by the PLIN1 gene in eukaryotes. PLIN1 is a member of the PAT protein family, a family of proteins related to lipid droplet (LD) surface proteins. PLIN1 phosphorylation plays a vital role during fat metabolism of adipose tissue lipolysis and fat storage in adipocytes. However, to further explore the regulation of the PLIN1 gene on the proliferation, differentiation and lipid metabolism of bovine adipocytes. In this study, the mRNA expression of PLIN1, at day six, was the highest during bovine adipocyte differentiation. Moreover, PLIN1 can promote the proliferation and differentiation of preadipocytes in cattle. On the sixth day, after transfection with, and overexpression of, the PLIN1 gene in bovine preadipocytes via adenovirus, cell samples were collected, and transcriptome sequencing was performed. A total of 1923 differentially expressed genes were detected. Through GO and KEGG pathway analysis, the differentially expressed genes were established to be mainly enriched in the AMPK, Wnt, and PPAR signaling pathways related to fat proliferation and differentiation. In conclusion, at the transcriptional level, PLIN1 plays an important role in regulating fat proliferation and metabolism. Additionally, the sequencing results screened new differentially expressed genes related to fat metabolism, providing theoretical support for molecular breeding of Qinchuan beef cattle.