LAUSR

Aim: We previously revealed that Ca++-activated calmodulin binds to ABCA1 by the region near the PEST sequence and retards its calpain-mediated degradation to increase HDL biogenesis. Calmodulin activity is reportedly modulated also by other nutritional divalent cations; thus, we attempted to determine whether Zn++ is involved in the regulation of ABCA1 stability through the modulation of calmodulin activity. Methods: The effects of Zn++ on ABCA1 expression was investigated in J774 mouse macrophage cell-line cells and HepG2 human hepatoma cell-line cells. Results: Zn++ increased ABCA1 expression, not by increasing the mRNA but by attenuating its decay rate, more prominently in the presence of cAMP. Accordingly, it enhanced cell cholesterol release with extracellular apolipo-protein A-I. Calmodulin binding to ABCA1 was increased by Zn++ and Ca++. Zn++ suppressed calpain-mediated hydrolysis of the peptide of ABCA1 cytosolic loop, including the PEST sequence and the calmodulin-binding site, in a calmodulin-dependent fashion, in the presence of the minimum amount of Ca++ to activate calpain, but not calmodulin. Calpain activity was not directly inhibited by Zn++ at the concentration for enhancing calmodulin binding to ABCA1. Conclusion: Nutritional divalent cation Zn++ is involved in the regulation of ABCA1 activity and biogenesis of HDL through the modulation of calmodulin activity. The results were consistent with previous clinical findings that Zn++ increased plasma HDL in the conditions of sympathetic activation, such as type 2 diabetes and chronic hemodialysis.