Biphasic expression of lipin suggests dual roles in adipocyte development.
The identification of gene mutations that cause lipodystrophies, conditions characterized by a lack of normal adipose tissue, has revealed new proteins that play a role in adipocyte biology. Lipin is one such protein identified in a lipodystrophic mouse strain and found to be critical for normal adipocyte differentiation. Interestingly, lipin displays a biphasic expression pattern in adipocytes, with peaks of expression at two points during adipogenesis--a transient induction in preadipocytes prior to expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, and a second wave of expression in mature adipocytes. Thus, lipin appears to have critical roles in both adipocyte differentiation and in the function of mature adipocytes.
Phan
Jack
J
Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90073, USA.
Peterfy
Miklos
M
Reue
Karen
K
D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008060:Lipodystrophy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D010711:Phosphatidate Phosphatase
D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C418978:Lpin1 protein, mouse; D010711:Phosphatidate Phosphatase