Abstract
Adiponectin (APN), an adipose tissue-derived hormone, plays a key role in regulating energy metabolism in mammals. However, its physiological roles in teleosts remain poorly understood. In the present study, the apn gene was cloned from large yellow croaker, which was mainly expressed in the adipose, muscle and liver. Further studies showed that adaptor protein phosphotyrosine interaction PH domain and leucine zipper 1 (APPL1) was localized in the cytoplasm near the cell membrane and was directly bounded to adiponectin receptors (AdipoRs). Meanwhile, APN played a crucial role in lipid metabolism of primary muscle cells by promoting the synthesis, oxidation and transport of fatty acids, and the promoting effects were blocked by knockdown of appl1 and AdipoRs. Furthermore, the activation/inhibition of peroxisome proliferators activated receptor γ (PPARγ) enhanced/suppressed the APN-mediated lipid metabolism. Overall, results showed that APN mediated lipid metabolism through AdipoRs-APPL1 activated PPARγ and further regulated the synthesis, oxidation and transport of FA. This study will facilitate the investigation of APN functions in lipid metabolism and energy homeostasis and reveal the evolution of lipids utilization and energy homeostasis in vertebrates.