title: Role of preadipocyte factor 1 in adipocyte differentiation.
abstract: Preadipocyte factor 1 (Pref-1) is an EGF-repeat-containing transmembrane protein that inhibits adipogenesis. The extracellular domain of Pref-1 is cleaved by TNF-α converting enzyme to generate the biologically active soluble form of Pref-1. The role of Pref-1 in adipogenesis has been firmly established by in vitro and in vivo studies. Pref-1 activates ERK/MAPK and upregulates Sox9 expression to inhibit adipocyte differentiation. Sox9 directly binds to the promoter regions of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-β and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-δ in order to suppress their promoter activities in preventing adipocyte differentiation. Here, we describe the function of Pref-1 in adipocyte differentiation and the recent findings on the mechanisms by which Pref-1 inhibits adipocyte differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Science & Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA, Tel.: +1 510 642 3978, ,  hsul@berkeley.edu.
authors.forename: Yuhui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hudak
authors.forename: Hei Sook
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Sul