| First Author | Lee SA | Year | 2020 |
| Journal | Sci Adv | Volume | 6 |
| Issue | 11 | Pages | eaay8937 |
| PubMed ID | 32195347 | Mgi Jnum | J:287572 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:6415861 | Doi | 10.1126/sciadv.aay8937 |
| Citation | Lee SA, et al. (2020) Retinol-binding protein 2 (RBP2) binds monoacylglycerols and modulates gut endocrine signaling and body weight. Sci Adv 6(11):eaay8937 |
| abstractText | Expressed in the small intestine, retinol-binding protein 2 (RBP2) facilitates dietary retinoid absorption. Rbp2-deficient (Rbp2(-/-) ) mice fed a chow diet exhibit by 6-7 months-of-age higher body weights, impaired glucose metabolism, and greater hepatic triglyceride levels compared to controls. These phenotypes are also observed when young Rbp2(-/-) mice are fed a high fat diet. Retinoids do not account for the phenotypes. Rather, RBP2 is a previously unidentified monoacylglycerol (MAG)-binding protein, interacting with the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and other MAGs with affinities comparable to retinol. X-ray crystallographic studies show that MAGs bind in the retinol binding pocket. When challenged with an oil gavage, Rbp2(-/-) mice show elevated mucosal levels of 2-MAGs. This is accompanied by significantly elevated blood levels of the gut hormone GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide). Thus, RBP2, in addition to facilitating dietary retinoid absorption, modulates MAG metabolism and likely signaling, playing a heretofore unknown role in systemic energy balance. |
