Fig. 3: Activation of lipid transport and metabolism genes in adult mouse colon after MTA2 loss.

Mta2 was deleted from 2-month old Vil^CreER;Mta2^f/f (Mta2^cKO) mice by applying tamoxifen (a), leading to near complete absence of MTA2 in colonic epithelium (b). Three independent experiments were repeated with similar results. Scale bar = 100 μm (b). RNA-seq of control and Mta2^cKO colonic glands identified 200 up-regulated and 68 down-regulated genes ([LFC] > 1, adjusted p [padj] <0.05) (c, volcano plot). P value calculated by Wald test and adjusted by Benjamini-Hochberg method. Although no molecular pathways were significantly enriched among the down-regulated cohort, genes involved in lipid absorption, transport, and metabolism were prominently enriched among the up-regulated cohort, as illustrated by KEGG pathway gene set enrichment analysis (d, e) and in the heatmap representation (f). P value calculated by a phenotype-based permutation test and adjusted by Benjamini-Hochberg method. d Source data are provided as a Source Data file. g, h Histology and immunofluorescence staining showed activation of lipid transport proteins FABP6 and MTTP and small intestine brush border enzyme Alkaline Phosphatase in the surface colonocytes of Mta2^cKO colon. Three independent experiments were repeated with similar results. Scale bar = 100 μm. i BODIPY stain revealed presence of lipid accumulation in villi of ileum and surface glands of Mta2^cKO proximal colon, but not control colon. Two independent experiments were repeated with similar results. Scale bar = 100 μm.