Rev-erbα and Rev-erbβ coordinately protect the circadian clock and normal metabolic function

A Bugge, D Feng, LJ Everett, ER Briggs… - Genes & …, 2012 - genesdev.cshlp.org
A Bugge, D Feng, LJ Everett, ER Briggs, SE Mullican, F Wang, J Jager, MA Lazar
Genes & development, 2012genesdev.cshlp.org
The nuclear receptor Rev-erbα regulates circadian rhythm and metabolism, but its effects
are modest and it has been considered to be a secondary regulator of the cell-autonomous
clock. Here we report that depletion of Rev-erbα together with closely related Rev-erbβ has
dramatic effects on the cell-autonomous clock as well as hepatic lipid metabolism. Mouse
embryonic fibroblasts were rendered arrhythmic by depletion of both Rev-erbs. In mouse
livers, Rev-erbβ mRNA and protein levels oscillate with a diurnal pattern similar to that of …
The nuclear receptor Rev-erbα regulates circadian rhythm and metabolism, but its effects are modest and it has been considered to be a secondary regulator of the cell-autonomous clock. Here we report that depletion of Rev-erbα together with closely related Rev-erbβ has dramatic effects on the cell-autonomous clock as well as hepatic lipid metabolism. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts were rendered arrhythmic by depletion of both Rev-erbs. In mouse livers, Rev-erbβ mRNA and protein levels oscillate with a diurnal pattern similar to that of Rev-erbα, and both Rev-erbs are recruited to a remarkably similar set of binding sites across the genome, enriched near metabolic genes. Depletion of both Rev-erbs in liver synergistically derepresses several metabolic genes as well as genes that control the positive limb of the molecular clock. Moreover, deficiency of both Rev-erbs causes marked hepatic steatosis, in contrast to relatively subtle changes upon loss of either subtype alone. These findings establish the two Rev-erbs as major regulators of both clock function and metabolism, displaying a level of subtype collaboration that is unusual among nuclear receptors but common among core clock proteins, protecting the organism from major perturbations in circadian and metabolic physiology.
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