title: CCAAT-enhancer binding protein: a component of a differentiation switch.
abstract: The CCAAT-enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) has now been found to promote the terminal differentiation of adipocytes. During the normal course of adipogenesis, C/EBP expression is restricted to a terminal phase wherein proliferative growth is arrested, and specialized cell phenotype is first manifested. A conditional form of C/EBP was developed, making it feasible to test its capacity to regulate the differentiation of cultured adipocytes. Premature expression of C/EBP in adipoblasts caused a direct cessation of mitotic growth. Moreover, when abetted by the effects of three adipogenic hormones, C/EBP promoted terminal cell differentiation. Since C/EBP is expressed in a variety of tissues, it may have a fundamental role in regulating the balance between cell growth and differentiation in higher animals.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Research Laboratories, Department of Embryology, Carnegic Institution of Washington, Baltimore, MD 21210.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Umek
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: McKnight
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology*; D000818:Animals; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007739:L Cells; D051379:Mice; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000502:physiology; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011987:Receptors, Steroid