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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #167201
Title: GATA TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS AND FAT CELL FORMATION

Author
item Tong, Qiang
item TSAI, JUDY - HARVARD SCH OF PUB HEALTH
item HOTAMISLIGIL, GOKHAN - HARVARD SCH OF PUB HEALTH

Submitted to: Review Article
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/2003
Publication Date: 11/1/2003
Citation: Tong, Q., Tsai, J., Hotamisligil, G.S. 2003. GATA transcription factors and fat cell formation. Prous Science Drug News & Perspectives. 16(9):585-588.

Interpretive Summary: In this article, we reviewed the recent progress of the study of GATA gene function in fat tissue formation. We also delineated the future research directions to fully uncover the molecular mechanism of GATA action in fat cells.

Technical Abstract: GATA transcription factors play important roles in a variety of developmental processes. Recently, we discovered that GATA factors also play a key role in adipogenesis. Two isoforms, GATA-2 and GATA-3, are specifically expressed in murine preadipocytes but not mature adipocytes. Continuous expression of GATA factors in preadipocyte cell lines inhibits terminal differentiation into mature adipocytes. In contrast, GATA-3-deficient mouse embryonic stem cells possess a higher capacity to convert to adipocytes. The inhibitory effect of GATA on adipogenesis is mediated in part by suppression of promoters of adipogenic factors, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, but additional mechanisms are also likely to be in effect. These findings indicate that GATA factors function as molecular gatekeepers at the onset of terminal adipocyte differentiation. Whether GATA factors are also involved in the commitment of multipotent mesenchymal stem cells to progenitors of the adipogenic lineage is under investigation.