title: Transcriptional regulation of adipocyte differentiation: a central role for CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) β.
abstract: A detailed understanding of the processes controlling adipogenesis is instrumental in the fight against the obesity epidemic. Adipogenesis is controlled by a transcriptional cascade composed of a large number of transcriptional factors, among which CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) β plays an essential role. During 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation, C/EBPβ is induced early to transactivate the expression of C/EBPα and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), two master transcription factors for terminal adipocyte differentiation. Studies in recent years have revealed many new target genes of C/EBPβ, implicating its participation in many other processes during adipogenesis, such as mitotic clonal expansion, epigenetic regulation, unfolded protein response, and autophagy. Moreover, the function of C/EBPβ is highly regulated by post-translational modifications, which are crucial for the proper activation of the adipogenic program. Advances toward elucidation of the function and roles of the post-translational modification of C/EBPβ during adipogenesis will greatly improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing adipogenesis.
authors.affiliation: From the Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, the Ministry of Education and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: From the Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, the Ministry of Education and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: From the Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, the Ministry of Education and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai 200032, China qqtang@shmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Qi-Qun
authors.initials: QQ
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D001343:Autophagy / Q000235:genetics; D022782:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000235:genetics; D057890:Epigenomics; D006801:Humans; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational / Q000235:genetics; D056811:Unfolded Protein Response / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D022782:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta
keywords: Autophagy; CCAAT-Enhancer-binding Protein (C/EBP); Cell Proliferation; Epigenetics; Post-translational Modification (PTM); Unfolded Protein Response (UPR); adipogenesis