Cited by 2,347Adipose Tissue and MetabolismPeroxisome Proliferator-Activated ReceptorsMuscle Physiology and Disorders

PRDM16 controls a brown fat/skeletal muscle switch

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Seale, Patrick, Bjork, Bryan, Yang, Wenli, Kajimura, Shingo, Chin, Sherry, Kuang, Shihuan, Scimè, Anthony, Devarakonda, Srikripa +6 more·2008·Nature

Abstract

Brown fat can increase energy expenditure and protect against obesity through a specialized program of uncoupled respiration. Here we show by in vivo fate mapping that brown, but not white, fat cells arise from precursors that express Myf5, a gene previously thought to be expressed only in the myogenic lineage. We also demonstrate that the transcriptional regulator PRDM16 (PRD1-BF1-RIZ1 homologous domain containing 16) controls a bidirectional cell fate switch between skeletal myoblasts and brown fat cells. Loss of PRDM16 from brown fat precursors causes a loss of brown fat characteristics and promotes muscle differentiation. Conversely, ectopic expression of PRDM16 in myoblasts induces their differentiation into brown fat cells. PRDM16 stimulates brown adipogenesis by binding to PPAR-gamma (peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor-gamma) and activating its transcriptional function. Finally, Prdm16-deficient brown fat displays an abnormal morphology, reduced thermogenic gene expression and elevated expression of muscle-specific genes. Taken together, these data indicate that PRDM16 specifies the brown fat lineage from a progenitor that expresses myoblast markers and is not involved in white adipogenesis.

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  • Emerging evidence suggests that brown adipocytes located in different anatomical locations may arise from different developmental origins.

    “Emerging evidence suggests that brown adipocytes located in different anatomical locations may arise from different developmental origins.”

    From Cellular bioenergetics as a target for obesity therapy (2010) · cites this paper as [92]

  • Lineage-tracing studies have indicated that myf5-expressing progenitors can give rise to both skeletal muscle and the preformed BAT, in the interscapular and peri-renal depots.

    “Most recently, lineage-tracing studies have indicated that myf5-expressing progenitors can give rise to both skeletal muscle and the preformed BAT, in the interscapular and peri-renal depots 92 (Figure 3).”

    From Cellular bioenergetics as a target for obesity therapy (2010) · cites this paper as [92]

  • Not all brown fat cells are derived from myf5-expressing progenitors; brown fat cells emerging in white fat in response to β3-adrenergic stimulation are not marked by the myf5-driven fluorescent protein.

    “However, not all brown fat cells are derived from myf5-expressing progenitors. For example, the brown fat cells emerging in white fat in response to β3-adrenergic stimulation are not marked by the myf5-driven fluorescent protein 92.”

    From Cellular bioenergetics as a target for obesity therapy (2010) · cites this paper as [92]

  • In rodents, PRDM16 plays an important role in specifying brown fat cell fate for the interscapular, but not systemic brown adipose depots.

    “Current data suggest that in rodents, PRDM16 plays an important role in specifying brown fat cell fate for the interscapular, but not systemic brown adipose depots 92.”

    From Cellular bioenergetics as a target for obesity therapy (2010) · cites this paper as [92]

  • The genetic program leading to brown adipose tissue development, and potentially to the high abundance of mitochondria, is initiated by the zinc-finger protein PRDM16.

    “The genetic program leading to brown adipose tissue development, and potentially to the high abundance of mitochondria, is initiated by the zinc-finger protein PRDM16 (202)(203)(204).”

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Authors
Seale, P., Bjork, B., Yang, W., Kajimura, S., Chin, S., Kuang, S., Scimè, A., Devarakonda, S., Conroe, H. M., Erdjument-Bromage, H., Tempst, P., Rudnicki, M. A., Beier, D. R., & Spiegelman, B. M.
Affiliations
  • Harvard University (US)
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (US)
Corresponding author
Spiegelman, Bruce M.
Venue
Nature
Published
2008-08
Volume
454
Issue
7207
Pages
961-967
ISSN
  • 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4687
OpenAlex
W2104827888
Cited by
2,347
References
44
Citations by year
2026: 77 · 2025: 71 · 2024: 118 · 2023: 115 · 2022: 129 · 2021: 134 · 2020: 141 · 2019: 134 · 2018: 168 · 2017: 165 · 2016: 139 · 2015: 167 · 2014: 157 · 2013: 181 · 2012: 134
FWCI
71.30
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • American Heart Association
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R37DK031405)
  • National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (R01AR044031)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Muscle Physiology and Disorders
Keywords
PRDM16, brown adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, Myf5, brown adipogenesis, PPARγ, thermogenesis, myogenesis, energy expenditure, obesity
MeSH terms
Animals, Adipose Tissue, Brown, Cell Differentiation, Cell Line, Chlorocebus aethiops, DNA-Binding Proteins, Male, Transcription Factors, Muscle, Skeletal, Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental, COS Cells, Muscle Development, PPAR gamma, Mice, Myogenic Regulatory Factor 5, Adipocytes, Brown, Adipocytes, White

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