Nitrate-Sialin2 axis couples ER-mitochondrial calcium signaling with fatty acid metabolism to drive white adipose browning

White adipose browning is a promising route to restore energy balance; however, how inorganic anion signals engage intracellular organelle networks to drive this process remains unclear. Here, we identify Sialin2 as a nitrate sensor that converts dietary nitrate into a spatially confined thermogenic program by coupling ER-mitochondria Ca2+ transfer with lipid routing into mitochondrial oxidation. Sialin2 localizes to mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), where it strengthens ER-mitochondria contacts and engages the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type 1 (IP3R1)-voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1)-mitochondrial calcium uniporter 1 (MCU1) conduit to enhance inducible mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake. In parallel, Sialin2 associates with lysosomal acid lipase (LIPA), acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 3 (ACSL3), and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 A (CPT1A) to channel lipid-droplet-derived fatty acids into β-oxidation, thereby fueling the tricarboxylic acid cycle and uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1)-dependent respiration. Loss of Slc17a5 abolishes nitrate-evoked browning and metabolic benefits, whereas nitrate supplementation improves adipose thermogenesis and systemic metabolic indices in male mice with diet-induced obesity without adrenergic stimulation. Together, these findings identify an organelle-specific nitrate-sensing mechanism that couples inorganic anion signalling to substrate routing in adipocytes and establish a non-hormonal pathway for restoring metabolic homeostasis. Dietary nitrate activates Sialin2 in adipocytes, enhancing ER-mitochondria calcium signalling and lipid metabolism to drive beige fat formation, increase energy expenditure, and promote metabolic homeostasis under high-fat diet conditions.

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Journal
Nature Communications
Published
2026-06-12
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-74256-w
Primary Topic
Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
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article
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article

Nitrate-Sialin2 axis couples ER-mitochondrial calcium signaling with fatty acid metabolism to drive white adipose browning

Ou Jiang, Mo Chen, Bo Zhou, Xiaoyu Li et al.
Nature Communications
Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
article

Nitrate-Sialin2 axis couples ER-mitochondrial calcium signaling with fatty acid metabolism to drive white adipose browning

Ou Jiang, Mo Chen, Bo Zhou, Xiaoyu Li, Jinsong Wang, Xinyue Chen, Songlin Wang, Yao Feng, Songyue Wu, Zichen Cao, Sihan Kong, Qibing Wu, Tianyi Zhang
article en

Abstract

White adipose browning is a promising route to restore energy balance; however, how inorganic anion signals engage intracellular organelle networks to drive this process remains unclear. Here, we identify Sialin2 as a nitrate sensor that converts dietary nitrate into a spatially confined thermogenic program by coupling ER-mitochondria Ca2+ transfer with lipid routing into mitochondrial oxidation. Sialin2 localizes to mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), where it strengthens ER-mitochondria contacts and engages the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type 1 (IP3R1)-voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1)-mitochondrial calcium uniporter 1 (MCU1) conduit to enhance inducible mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake. In parallel, Sialin2 associates with lysosomal acid lipase (LIPA), acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 3 (ACSL3), and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 A (CPT1A) to channel lipid-droplet-derived fatty acids into β-oxidation, thereby fueling the tricarboxylic acid cycle and uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1)-dependent respiration. Loss of Slc17a5 abolishes nitrate-evoked browning and metabolic benefits, whereas nitrate supplementation improves adipose thermogenesis and systemic metabolic indices in male mice with diet-induced obesity without adrenergic stimulation. Together, these findings identify an organelle-specific nitrate-sensing mechanism that couples inorganic anion signalling to substrate routing in adipocytes and establish a non-hormonal pathway for restoring metabolic homeostasis. Dietary nitrate activates Sialin2 in adipocytes, enhancing ER-mitochondria calcium signalling and lipid metabolism to drive beige fat formation, increase energy expenditure, and promote metabolic homeostasis under high-fat diet conditions.

Nature Communications
Capital Medical University (CN), Southern University of Science and Technology (CN), Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital (CN)
Affordable and clean energy
Openalex Percentile: Top 6%
Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
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