title: Pref-1, a gatekeeper of adipogenesis.
abstract: Preadipocyte factor 1 (Pref-1, also called Dlk1/FA1) is a molecular gatekeeper of adipogenesis which acts by maintaining the preadipocyte state and preventing adipocyte differentiation. Pref-1 is made as an epidermal growth factor-like repeat containing transmembrane protein, and is cleaved by TNFα-converting enzyme (TACE) to generate a soluble form, which acts as an autocrine/paracrine factor. Pref-1 upregulates Sox9 expression by activating the ERK/MAPK pathway and the Pref-1 interaction with fibronectin is required for inhibition of adipogenesis. Pref-1 also prevents brown adipocyte differentiation and its thermogenic function. Here, we highlight the recent evidence for the role of Pref-1 in adipogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California , Berkeley, CA , USA.
authors.forename: Carolyn S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Hudak
authors.forename: Hei Sook
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Sul
keywords: Pref-1; SOX9 transcription factor; adipogenesis; brown fat; fibronectin; progenitors