title: TAZ is downregulated by dexamethasone during the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes.
abstract: TAZ (transcriptional co-activator with PDZ binding motif) is a transcriptional modulator of mesenchymal stem cell differentiation. We have found that TAZ was expressed in postconfluent 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and downregulated during differentiation. Downregulation of TAZ was specifically mediated by dexamethasone (DEX), one component of induction cocktails routinely used in adipocyte differentiation. DEX repressed the transcription of TAZ by direct binding of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) to the GR binding element in its promoter. More importantly, overexpression of TAZ inhibited adipogenesis and promoted the trans-differentiation of preadipocytes into osteocytes. This establishes a new functional interaction between DEX and TAZ that contributes to the mechanism of adipogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, The Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, PR China.
authors.forename: Qun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Hai-Yan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: You-You
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shu-Wen
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Qi-Qun
authors.initials: QQ
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D041721:3T3-L1 Cells; D000217:Acyltransferases; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D051379:Mice; D008938:Mitosis / Q000187:drug effects; D010011:Osteocytes / Q000166:cytology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D014157:Transcription Factors; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000217:Acyltransferases; C486363:tafazzin protein, mouse