Cells obtain cholesterol in two ways, de novo biosynthesis and uptake from circulation. While most tissues utilize both sources, eye lens and brain depend extensively on cholesterol biosynthesis due to the limited supply from circulation. Lens cell membrane consists of highest portion of cholesterol. Brain is the most cholesterol-rich organ, which accounts for 23% of total cholesterol. Genetic mutations of cholesterol biosynthesis enzymes in humans and animal models present cataracts and hypomyelinating disorders linked to neurological impairment. Yet, it remains unclear how gene expression of cholesterol biosynthesis is regulated in lens and brain. Therefore, studying cholesterol biosynthesis in both tissues could potentially provide insights into a tissue-specific gene regulation of cholesterol biosynthesis. We found Quaking (Qki) is a novel transcriptional activator of cholesterol biosynthesis. Using transcriptomic profiling, we found cholesterol biosynthesis was the most downregulated pathway in Qki-depleted lens and brain. Indeed, mRNA and protein levels of cholesterol biosynthesis genes were reduced in Qki-depleted lens cells and oligodendrocytes. Consistently, total cholesterol level was also decreased upon Qki depletion in both tissues. Qki-depleted mice displayed progressive accumulation of protein aggregates, eventually leading to cataracts, which was greatly attenuated by supplying sterol to the eye. In addition, Qki depletion in brain significantly impaired myelin formation, leading to motor deficits, namely ataxia. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that Qki enhanced cholesterol biosynthesis by recruiting Srebp2 and Pol II in the promoter regions of cholesterol biosynthesis genes. Supporting its function as a transcription co-activator, we found that Qki directly interacted with single-stranded DNA. Together, we propose that Qki-Srebp2–mediated cholesterol biosynthesis is essential for maintaining high demand for cholesterol in lens cells and oligodendrocytes. Our finding potentially provides tissue-specific mechanisms to modulate cholesterol biosynthesis to prevent cataracts and various neurological diseases.
","abstract_html":"<p>Cells obtain cholesterol in two ways, <em>de novo</em> biosynthesis and uptake from circulation. While most tissues utilize both sources, eye lens and brain depend extensively on cholesterol biosynthesis due to the limited supply from circulation. Lens cell membrane consists of highest portion of cholesterol. Brain is the most cholesterol-rich organ, which accounts for 23% of total cholesterol. Genetic mutations of cholesterol biosynthesis enzymes in humans and animal models present cataracts and hypomyelinating disorders linked to neurological impairment. Yet, it remains unclear how gene expression of cholesterol biosynthesis is regulated in lens and brain. Therefore, studying cholesterol biosynthesis in both tissues could potentially provide insights into a tissue-specific gene regulation of cholesterol biosynthesis. We found Quaking (Qki) is a novel transcriptional activator of cholesterol biosynthesis. Using transcriptomic profiling, we found cholesterol biosynthesis was the most downregulated pathway in Qki-depleted lens and brain. Indeed, mRNA and protein levels of cholesterol biosynthesis genes were reduced in Qki-depleted lens cells and oligodendrocytes. Consistently, total cholesterol level was also decreased upon Qki depletion in both tissues. Qki-depleted mice displayed progressive accumulation of protein aggregates, eventually leading to cataracts, which was greatly attenuated by supplying sterol to the eye. In addition, Qki depletion in brain significantly impaired myelin formation, leading to motor deficits, namely ataxia. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that Qki enhanced cholesterol biosynthesis by recruiting Srebp2 and Pol II in the promoter regions of cholesterol biosynthesis genes. Supporting its function as a transcription co-activator, we found that Qki directly interacted with single-stranded DNA. Together, we propose that Qki-Srebp2–mediated cholesterol biosynthesis is essential for maintaining high demand for cholesterol in lens cells and oligodendrocytes. Our finding potentially provides tissue-specific mechanisms to modulate cholesterol biosynthesis to prevent cataracts and various neurological diseases.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Shin, Seula",""],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)","degree_level":"Dissertation (PhD)","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Jian Hu","Andrew Bean","Jichao Chen"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2020,"date_issued":"2020-12-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2020-12-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:49:16Z","subjects":["Cholesterol","Eye lens","Cataract","Myelin","Oligodendrocyte","Qki","Srebp2","Cholesterol biosynthesis","Protein aggregation","Cell Biology","Developmental Neuroscience","Disease Modeling","Eye Diseases","Life Sciences","Medicine and Health Sciences","Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience","Nervous System Diseases"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/utgsbs_dissertations/1063","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Jian Hu","Andrew Bean","Jichao Chen"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Shin, Seula",""]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2021-12-18T08:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Dissertation (PhD)"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Cholesterol","Eye lens","Cataract","Myelin","Oligodendrocyte","Qki","Srebp2","Cholesterol biosynthesis","Protein aggregation","Cell Biology","Developmental Neuroscience","Disease Modeling","Eye Diseases","Life Sciences","Medicine and Health Sciences","Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience","Nervous System Diseases"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/utgsbs_dissertations/1063"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Cells obtain cholesterol in two ways, de novo biosynthesis and uptake from circulation. While most tissues utilize both sources, eye lens and brain depend extensively on cholesterol biosynthesis due to the limited supply from circulation. Lens cell membrane consists of highest portion of cholesterol. Brain is the most cholesterol-rich organ, which accounts for 23% of total cholesterol. Genetic mutations of cholesterol biosynthesis enzymes in humans and animal models present cataracts and hypomyelinating disorders linked to neurological impairment. Yet, it remains unclear how gene expression of cholesterol biosynthesis is regulated in lens and brain. Therefore, studying cholesterol biosynthesis in both tissues could potentially provide insights into a tissue-specific gene regulation of cholesterol biosynthesis. We found Quaking (Qki) is a novel transcriptional activator of cholesterol biosynthesis. Using transcriptomic profiling, we found cholesterol biosynthesis was the most downregulated pathway in Qki-depleted lens and brain. Indeed, mRNA and protein levels of cholesterol biosynthesis genes were reduced in Qki-depleted lens cells and oligodendrocytes. Consistently, total cholesterol level was also decreased upon Qki depletion in both tissues. Qki-depleted mice displayed progressive accumulation of protein aggregates, eventually leading to cataracts, which was greatly attenuated by supplying sterol to the eye. In addition, Qki depletion in brain significantly impaired myelin formation, leading to motor deficits, namely ataxia. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that Qki enhanced cholesterol biosynthesis by recruiting Srebp2 and Pol II in the promoter regions of cholesterol biosynthesis genes. Supporting its function as a transcription co-activator, we found that Qki directly interacted with single-stranded DNA. Together, we propose that Qki-Srebp2–mediated cholesterol biosynthesis is essential for maintaining high demand for cholesterol in lens cells and oligodendrocytes. Our finding potentially provides tissue-specific mechanisms to modulate cholesterol biosynthesis to prevent cataracts and various neurological diseases.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Qki-Mediated Cholesterol Biosynthesis In Eye Lens and Myelin of The Central Nervous System"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Jian Hu","Andrew Bean","Jichao Chen"],"dc:creator":["Shin, Seula",""],"dc:date.available":["2021-12-18T08:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Cells obtain cholesterol in two ways, de novo biosynthesis and uptake from circulation. While most tissues utilize both sources, eye lens and brain depend extensively on cholesterol biosynthesis due to the limited supply from circulation. Lens cell membrane consists of highest portion of cholesterol. Brain is the most cholesterol-rich organ, which accounts for 23% of total cholesterol. Genetic mutations of cholesterol biosynthesis enzymes in humans and animal models present cataracts and hypomyelinating disorders linked to neurological impairment. Yet, it remains unclear how gene expression of cholesterol biosynthesis is regulated in lens and brain. Therefore, studying cholesterol biosynthesis in both tissues could potentially provide insights into a tissue-specific gene regulation of cholesterol biosynthesis. We found Quaking (Qki) is a novel transcriptional activator of cholesterol biosynthesis. Using transcriptomic profiling, we found cholesterol biosynthesis was the most downregulated pathway in Qki-depleted lens and brain. Indeed, mRNA and protein levels of cholesterol biosynthesis genes were reduced in Qki-depleted lens cells and oligodendrocytes. Consistently, total cholesterol level was also decreased upon Qki depletion in both tissues. Qki-depleted mice displayed progressive accumulation of protein aggregates, eventually leading to cataracts, which was greatly attenuated by supplying sterol to the eye. In addition, Qki depletion in brain significantly impaired myelin formation, leading to motor deficits, namely ataxia. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that Qki enhanced cholesterol biosynthesis by recruiting Srebp2 and Pol II in the promoter regions of cholesterol biosynthesis genes. Supporting its function as a transcription co-activator, we found that Qki directly interacted with single-stranded DNA. Together, we propose that Qki-Srebp2–mediated cholesterol biosynthesis is essential for maintaining high demand for cholesterol in lens cells and oligodendrocytes. Our finding potentially provides tissue-specific mechanisms to modulate cholesterol biosynthesis to prevent cataracts and various neurological diseases.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/utgsbs_dissertations/1063"],"dc:subject":["Cholesterol","Eye lens","Cataract","Myelin","Oligodendrocyte","Qki","Srebp2","Cholesterol biosynthesis","Protein aggregation","Cell Biology","Developmental Neuroscience","Disease Modeling","Eye Diseases","Life Sciences","Medicine and Health Sciences","Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience","Nervous System Diseases"],"dc:title":["Qki-Mediated Cholesterol Biosynthesis In Eye Lens and Myelin of The Central Nervous System"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation (PhD)"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:49:16Z"}