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Updated: May 12, 2026
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A Microphysiologic Platform for Human Fat: Sandwiched White Adipose Tissue
Published on: August 15, 2018
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A spatiotemporal proteomic map of human adipogenesis
Felix Klingelhuber1,2, Scott Frendo-Cumbo3, Muhmmad Omar-Hmeadi3
1Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany.
Nature Metabolism
|April 2, 2024
Summary
This study maps human fat cell development, revealing how cells reorganize metabolism and protein location to store fat efficiently. It identifies a new protein, C19orf12, crucial for regulating fat storage in adipocytes.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Metabolic Research
- Proteomics
Background:
- White adipocytes are key energy stores, but their specialization during fat cell formation (adipogenesis) is poorly understood.
- Adipocyte dysfunction is linked to metabolic disorders, highlighting the need to study normal adipogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create a detailed map of protein changes during human adipogenesis.
- To understand how cells reorganize their structure and metabolism for lipid storage.
- To identify novel proteins involved in adipocyte differentiation and function.
Main Methods:
- Generated a spatiotemporal proteomic atlas of human adipogenesis.
- Analyzed protein levels and subcellular localization during adipocyte differentiation.
- Investigated the function of newly identified proteins, including C19orf12.
Main Results:
- Elucidated cellular remodeling and spatial reorganization of metabolic pathways during adipogenesis.
- Identified compartment-specific regulation of metabolic enzymes for lipid synthesis.
- Discovered C19orf12 as a novel adipocyte protein regulating lipid droplet interaction and mitochondrial fatty acid metabolism.
Conclusions:
- Provides a comprehensive resource for understanding human adipogenesis.
- Highlights coordinated regulation of protein localization and abundance in adipocyte formation.
- Identifies C19orf12 as a key regulator of adipocyte lipid storage and mitochondrial function.
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