Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42098142›Full record

ArticleNature communications2026

A conserved ER protein prevents lipotoxicity by stimulating the key enzyme in glycerolipid synthesis.

Yan Li, Siwei Huang, Lam Shing Chan, Xuesong Li, Ning-Sum To, Xue Zhao, Kwangsek Jung, Xingyu Yang, Yu Chung Tse, Ningyi Xu and 4 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Yan Li *Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Siwei Huang *Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7570-9837
Lam Shing ChanDivision of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Xuesong LiBiophotonics Research Laboratory, Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Ning-Sum ToHong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Xue ZhaoMOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
Kwangsek JungDivision of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Xingyu YangDivision of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Yu Chung TseDivision of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Ningyi XuMOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Yu XiaMOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8694-9900
Tom H CheungDivision of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0796-5406
Jianan QuBiophotonics Research Laboratory, Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6809-0087
Ho Yi MakDivision of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, China. hym@ust.hk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1500-5328

Funding

Research Grants Council, University Grants Committee (RGC, UGC) T13-602/21N
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The synthesis of glycerolipid is essential to prevent the toxic effects of excess fatty acids. Glycerolipids are generated by the sequential attachment of acyl-CoA to glycerol by endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-localized acyltransferases, ultimately yielding non-toxic triacylglycerol that can be stored in lipid droplets. The key acyltransferase GPAT4 associates with the CHP1 protein, but the regulation of GPAT4 remains poorly understood. Here, we have used genetic, biochemical, and imaging techniques to identify TMEM120A as GPAT4-activating protein. We show that ER-localized TMEM120A and CHP1 synergistically activate GPAT4 and promote the incorporation of medium and long chain acyl-CoA into glycerolipid. C. elegans mutants of TMEM120A or CHP1 ortholog are susceptible to high-fat diet induced sterility, in part due to their deficiency in lipid droplet expansion. In mammalian cells, fatty acid supplementation and myristoylated CHP1 enhance the association of TMEM120A with GPAT4. Together, our results reveal an unexpected mechanism that alleviates lipotoxicity.

Indexed as

Caenorhabditis elegansCaenorhabditis elegans ProteinsEndoplasmic ReticulumGlycerol-3-Phosphate O-AcyltransferaseMembrane ProteinsAcyl Coenzyme AAcyltransferasesAnimalsFatty AcidsHumansLipid DropletsMutationTriglyceridesAcyl Coenzyme AAcyltransferasesCaenorhabditis elegans ProteinsFatty AcidsGlycerol-3-Phosphate O-AcyltransferaseMembrane ProteinsTriglycerides

Identifiers

PMID42098142
PMCPMC13365615

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.