PPARγ in adipocyte differentiation and metabolism - Novel insights from genome-wide studies

Adipocyte differentiation is controlled by a tightly regulated transcriptional cascade in which PPAR gamma and members of the C/EBP family are key players. Here we review the roles of PPAR gamma and C/EBPs in adipocyte differentiation with emphasis on the recently published genome-wide binding profiles for PPAR gamma and C/EBN. Interestingly, these analyses show that PPAR gamma and C/EBP alpha binding sites are associated with most genes that are induced during adipogenesis suggesting direct activation of many more adipocyte genes than previously anticipated. Furthermore, an extensive overlap between the C/EBP alpha and PPAR gamma cistromes indicate a hitherto unrecognized direct crosstalk between these transcription factors. As more genome-wide data emerge in the future, this crosstalk will likely be found to include several other adipogenic transcription factors. (C) 2010 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.