ChREBP

By Jamshed Arslan, Pharm. D., PhD.

By Jamshed Arslan, Pharm. D., PhD.

ChREBP (carbohydrate response element-binding protein) is a glucose responsive basic helix-loop-helix/leucine zipper (bHLH/LZ) transcription factor that binds MLX and then carbohydrate response element /ChoRE for the induction of genes involved in glycolysis, de novo lipogenesis (DNL), and fatty acid desaturation. ChREBP’s target genes includes glucokinase (GCK), fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), pyruvate kinase/liver type pyruvate kinase (PK1/ PKLR), delta-9-desaturase (SCD/SCD1) etc.

Carbohydrate response element binding protein (ChREBP) is a transcription factor involved in activating genes that encode enzymes of fatty acid biosynthesis in liver and adipose. It is believed to be a key controller of hepatic lipogenesis and has a partner MLX. One study used ChREBP antibodies to better understand the mechanisms of ChREBP transcription via promoter binding studies (1).