Using Thermogenic Beige Cells to Identify Biologically Active Small Molecules and Peptides

Methods Mol Biol. 2017:1566:203-212. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6820-6_19.

Abstract

Incorporating molecular libraries in chemical biology screenings in cultured cells has been successfully used for gene discovery in many cellular processes. It has the unique potential to uncover novel mechanisms of complex cellular biology through the screening of small molecules and protein biologics in relevant cell-based assays. Recent development in the understanding and generation of thermogenic adipocytes provides opportunities for potential anti-obesity therapeutics discovery. In this chapter, we describe screening methods using thermogenic beige cells to identify novel compounds and peptides that activate adipocyte thermogenesis.

Keywords: Beige cell; Quantitative PCR; Small molecule and peptide screening; Thermogenic adipocyte.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adipocytes, Beige / cytology
  • Adipocytes, Beige / drug effects*
  • Adipocytes, Beige / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Biological Assay / methods*
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Cell Line
  • Drug Discovery / methods*
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / methods
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Peptides / pharmacology
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Small Molecule Libraries

Substances

  • Peptides
  • Small Molecule Libraries