Physiological concentrations of insulin and T-3 stimulate 3T3-L1 adipocyte acyl-CoA synthetase gene transcription

Acyl-CoA synthetase (ACS) is a key gene for cellular utilization of long-chain fatty acids. We characterized its regulation by physiological concentrations of insulin that acutely regulate metabolism. Our results demonstrate that subnanomolar insulin rapidly and maximally stimulates ACS gene transcription in the absence of protein synthesis; 0.5 nM insulin produced a 2.3 +/- 0.1-fold increase in ACS mRNA levels and induced ACS gene transcription 2.4 +/- 0.3-fold. The insulin sensitivity of ACS was compared with lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD-1), which were both less sensitive to insulin. Physiological triiodothyronine (10 nm) also induced ACS mRNA 2.4 +/- 0.1-fold and gene transcription 2.8 +/- 0.3-fold and coordinately induced LPL and SCD-1 mRNA and gene transcription. Because insulin and adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate often regulate genes involved in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism in a reciprocal manner, we evaluated effects of 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine (MIX). ACS mRNA levels were strongly downregulated by MIX in a dose-dependent manner, and ACS gene transcription inhibited in a coordinate manner with LPL and SCD-1. These data demonstrate a uniquely sensitive pattern of stimulation of ACS gene transcription by insulin with reciprocal regulation by MIX, and they suggest a significant role for ACS as a tightly regulated ''gatekeeper'' gene participating in the control of adipocyte metabolism.