The LXCXE Retinoblastoma Protein-Binding Motif of FOG-2 Regulates Adipogenesis

Cell Rep. 2017 Dec 19;21(12):3524-3535. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.11.098.

Abstract

GATA transcription factors and their FOG cofactors play a key role in tissue-specific development and differentiation, from worms to humans. Mammals have six GATA and two FOG factors. We recently demonstrated that interactions between retinoblastoma protein (pRb) and GATA-1 are crucial for erythroid proliferation and differentiation. We show here that the LXCXE pRb-binding site of FOG-2 is involved in adipogenesis. Unlike GATA-1, which inhibits cell division, FOG-2 promotes proliferation. Mice with a knockin of a Fog2 gene bearing a mutated LXCXE pRb-binding site are resistant to obesity and display higher rates of white-to-brown fat conversion. Thus, each component of the GATA/FOG complex (GATA-1 and FOG-2) is involved in pRb/E2F regulation, but these molecules have markedly different roles in the control of tissue homeostasis.

Keywords: BAT; FOG-2; GATA; WAT; adipogenesis; obesity; retinoblastoma.

MeSH terms

  • Adipogenesis*
  • Adipose Tissue, Brown / metabolism
  • Adipose Tissue, White / metabolism
  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Proliferation
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / chemistry
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mutation
  • Obesity / genetics*
  • Obesity / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / chemistry
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Zfpm2 protein, mouse