The transcription factor GATA2 regulates differentiation of brown adipocytes.
Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a specialized mammalian tissue and a site of adaptive thermogenesis. Although the metabolic functions of brown and white adipocytes are distinct, terminal differentiation of both adipocyte lineages is regulated by well-characterized common transcription factors. However, the early stages of adipocyte differentiation and regulation of precursor cells are not well understood. We report here that GATA2 is expressed in brown adipocyte precursors, and its expression is downregulated in a differentiation-dependent manner. Constitutive expression of GATA2 suppressed expression of BAT-specific genes in brown adipocytes, whereas disruption of a GATA2 allele in brown preadipocytes resulted in significantly elevated differentiation and expression of several markers of brown adipogenesis. Collectively, these results show that GATA2 functions to suppress brown adipocyte differentiation, whereas reduction of GATA2 promotes brown adipogenesis.
Tsai
Judy
J
Department of Genetics and Complex Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Tong
Qiang
Q
Tan
Guo
G
Chang
Aaron N
AN
Orkin
Stuart H
SH
Hotamisligil
Gökhan S
GS
D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002001:Adipose Tissue, Brown / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D050989:GATA2 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008156:Luciferases; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D050989:GATA2 Transcription Factor; C494712:Gata2 protein, mouse; D008156:Luciferases