Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 28, 2026
11:00
Reprogramming Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts with Transcription Factors to Induce a Hemogenic Program
Published on: December 16, 2016
7.7K
The Transcription Factor ATF7 Controls Adipocyte Differentiation and Thermogenic Gene Programming
Yang Liu1, Toshio Maekawa1, Keisuke Yoshida1
1RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0074, Japan.
Iscience
|March 4, 2019
Summary
Activating transcription factor 7 (ATF7) is crucial for adipocyte differentiation and metabolic homeostasis. Its absence promotes beige fat formation by regulating epigenetic silencing of key genes.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Metabolic Regulation
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Adipocytes are key regulators of metabolic homeostasis.
- Obesity and metabolic disorders necessitate understanding adipocyte function.
- Activating transcription factor 7 (ATF7) is linked to energy metabolism, but its role is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the mechanisms by which ATF7 influences adipocyte differentiation and function.
- To investigate the interaction of ATF7 with epigenetic modifiers in adipose tissue.
- To determine the impact of ATF7 on beige fat biogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Investigated ATF7's role in adipocyte differentiation.
- Analyzed ATF7 interaction with histone dimethyltransferase G9a.
- Assessed the effect of ATF7 ablation on beige fat formation.
- Examined ATF7 binding to regulatory regions and histone H3K9 dimethylation.
Main Results:
- ATF7 is essential for adipocyte differentiation.
- ATF7 interacts with G9a to suppress interferon-stimulated genes, which inhibit adipogenesis.
- ATF7 deficiency enhances beige fat biogenesis in white adipose tissue.
- ATF7 epigenetically silences uncoupling protein 1 via histone H3K9 dimethylation.
Conclusions:
- ATF7 is a multifunctional adipocyte protein.
- ATF7 plays a critical role in the epigenetic control of adipose tissue development and function.
- Targeting ATF7 may offer therapeutic strategies for obesity and metabolic disorders.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:16Transcription Factors
82.7K
Tissue-specific transcription factors contribute to diverse cellular functions in mammals. For example, the gene for beta globin, a major component of hemoglobin, is present in all cells of the body. However, it is only expressed in red blood cells because the transcription factors that can bind to the promoter sequences of the beta globin gene are only expressed in these cells. Tissue-specific transcription factors also ensure that mutations in these factors may impair only the function of...
82.7K
02:33Combinatorial Gene Control
9.6K
Combinatorial gene control is the synergistic action of several transcriptional factors to regulate the expression of a single gene. The absence of one or more of these factors may lead to a significant difference in the level of gene expression or repression.
The expression of more than 30,000 genes is controlled by approximately 2000-3000 transcription factors. This is possible because a single transcription factor can recognize more than one regulatory sequence. The specificity in gene...
The expression of more than 30,000 genes is controlled by approximately 2000-3000 transcription factors. This is possible because a single transcription factor can recognize more than one regulatory sequence. The specificity in gene...
9.6K
02:35Transcription Elongation Factors
13.8K
Transcription elongation is a dynamic process that alters depending upon the sequence heterogeneity of the DNA being transcribed. Hence, it is not surprising that the elongation complex's composition also varies along the way while transcribing a gene.
The transcription elongation is regulated via pausing of RNA polymerase on several occasions during transcription. In bacteria, these halts are necessary because the transcription of DNA into mRNA is coupled to the translation of that mRNA...
The transcription elongation is regulated via pausing of RNA polymerase on several occasions during transcription. In bacteria, these halts are necessary because the transcription of DNA into mRNA is coupled to the translation of that mRNA...
13.8K
02:35Transcription Elongation Factors
4.8K
4.8K
02:23Master Transcription Regulators
7.8K
Master transcription regulators are regulatory proteins that are predominantly responsible for regulating the expression of multiple genes. Often these genes work in concert to drive a complex process. Activation of a master transcription regulator can lead to a cascade of transcriptional activation necessary for that outcome. These regulators can directly bind to the regulatory sequences of the various genes involved, or they can indirectly regulate transcription by binding to regulatory...
7.8K
01:30General Transcription Factors
7.0K
Tissue-specific transcription factors contribute to diverse cellular functions in mammals. For example, the gene for beta globin, a major component of hemoglobin, is present in all cells of the body. However, it is only expressed in red blood cells because the transcription factors that can bind to the promoter sequences of the beta globin gene are only expressed in these cells. Tissue-specific transcription factors also ensure that mutations in these factors may impair only the function of...
7.0K