In AML-12 cells, ethanol increased total lipin-1 protein levels (Fig. 2A). We assessed the subcellular localization of lipin-1 in response to ethanol treatment in

AML-12 cells. AML-12 cells were cultured in the presence of ethanol, and extracts of these cells were fractionated into cytosol and nuclei, followed by western blotting analysis. The increase in endogenous lipin-1 protein induced by ethanol was observed strictly in the cytosolic fractions (Fig. 2B). Immunofluorescent staining of nuclei (4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole [DAPI] staining) and lipin-1 confirmed that endogenous lipin-1 was present predominantly in the cytoplasm (Fig. 2C). Furthermore, selleck screening library treatment with ethanol dramatically increased the intensity of lipin-1 staining in the cytoplasm, as compared to controls, suggesting an increase of lipin-1 protein expression. Cellular PAP activity was significantly induced by ethanol treatment, compared with the control, in AML-12 cells (Fig. 2D). Collectively, these results suggest that ethanol promotes lipin-1 cytoplasmic accumulation

and induces its PAP activity. The effect of ethanol on the development of steatosis in AML-12 cells was determined by measuring cellular triglyceride Selumetinib (TG) content with enzymatic assays using a triglyceride kit.14 There was a significant, concentration-dependent increase in TG content of cells exposed to ethanol (Supporting Fig. 2). Moreover, treatment with either 4-MP or cyanamide (Cya) essentially blocked the ability of ethanol to increase TG levels, indicating that ethanol metabolism is necessary for ethanol-mediated cellular lipid accumulation (Fig. 3A). To determine whether the increased lipin-1 induced by ethanol would affect cellular TG synthesis, we examined TG accumulation in AML-12 cells transfected with Lpin1 short interfering (siRNA) or control siRNA in response to ethanol exposure. Knocking down lipin-1 with Lpin1 siRNA largely eliminated the capacity of ethanol to induce TG accumulation (Fig. 3B). Note that lipin-1 protein

levels were decreased ∼70% after transfection with Lpin1 siRNA (Supporting Fig. 1B). These results suggest that ethanol metabolism increases lipin-1 enzymatic activity and, subsequently, promotes TG accumulation. SREBP-1 functions Methocarbamol together with nuclear factor Y (NF-Y) to transactivate the LPIN1 promoter through sterol regulatory element (SRE) and NF-Y-binding sites.15 The effect of ethanol on the binding of acetylated histone H3/Lys9 (lysine 9), SREBP-1, or NF-Y to the Lpin1-SRE binding site was determined using chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays. After chromatin had been cross-linked in control and ethanol-treated AML-12 cells, it was sheared by sonication. DNA-protein complexes were immunoprecipitated with antibodies directed against acetylated histone H3/Lys9, SREBP-1, or NF-Y.