PRDM16: the interconvertible adipo-myocyte switch.
Both brown and white adipocytes were previously considered to be derived from the same precursor cell, despite being histologically and functionally different. However, a recent study shows that overexpression of the transcriptional regulator positive regulatory domain containing 16 (PRDM16) determines the development of brown adipocytes from a progenitor that expresses myoblast markers. Surprisingly, loss of PRDM16 from these precursors does not lead to white adipocyte differentiation. Thus, PRDM16 controls a bidirectional cell fate switch between skeletal myoblasts and brown adipocytes.
Frühbeck
Gema
G
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Research Laboratory, Clínica Universitaria, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain. gfruhbeck@unav.es
Sesma
Pilar
P
Burrell
María A
MA
D052437:Adipocytes, Brown / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D052438:Adipocytes, White / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D054338:Cell Transdifferentiation; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D017570:MyoD Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D032448:Myoblasts, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D018006:Myogenic Regulatory Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D018008:Myogenin / Q000378:metabolism; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D017570:MyoD Protein; D018006:Myogenic Regulatory Factors; D018008:Myogenin; D047495:PPAR gamma; C416371:PRDM16 protein, human; C521133:Prdm16 protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors