Abstract
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.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adipocytes, Brown / cytology
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Adipocytes, Brown / physiology*
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Adipocytes, White / cytology
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Adipocytes, White / physiology*
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Animals
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CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / metabolism
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Cell Differentiation
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Cell Transdifferentiation*
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DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
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Humans
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Mice
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MyoD Protein / metabolism
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Myoblasts, Skeletal / cytology*
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Myoblasts, Skeletal / physiology
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Myogenic Regulatory Factors / metabolism
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Myogenin / metabolism
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PPAR gamma / metabolism
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Transcription Factors / metabolism*
Substances
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CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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MyoD Protein
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Myogenic Regulatory Factors
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Myogenin
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PPAR gamma
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PRDM16 protein, human
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Prdm16 protein, mouse
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Transcription Factors