Phospholipase C-related catalytically inactive protein: A novel signaling molecule for modulating fat metabolism and energy expenditure

Background: Overweight and obesity are defined as excessive or abnormal fat accumulation in adipose tissues, and increase the risk of morbidity in many diseases, including hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, and stroke, through pathophysiological mechanisms. There is strong evidence that weight loss reduces the risk of metabolic syndrome by limiting blood pressure and improving the levels of serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. To date, several attempts have been made to develop effective anti-obesity medication or weight-loss drugs; however, satisfactory drugs for clinical use have not yet been developed. Therefore, elucidation of the molecular mechanisms driving fat metabolism (adipogenesis and lipolysis) represents the first step in developing clinically useful drugs and/or therapeutic treatments to control obesity. Highlight: In our previous study on intracellular signaling of phospholipase C-related catalytically inactive protein (PRIP), we generated and analyzed Prip-double knockout (Prip-DKO) mice. Prip-DKO mice showed tolerance against insulin resistance and a lean phenotype with low fat mass. Here, we therefore reviewed the involvement of PRIP in fat metabolism and energy expenditure. We conclude that PRIP, a protein phosphatase-binding protein, can modulate fat metabolism via phosphoregulation of adipose lipolysis-related molecules, and regulates non-shivering heat generation in brown adipocytes. Conclusion: We propose PRIP as a new therapeutic target for controlling obesity or developing novel anti-obesity drugs.