Project description:Objective: A biallelic missense mutation in mitofusin 2 (MFN2) causes multiple symmetric lipomatosis and partial lipodystrophy, implicating disruption of mitochondrial fusion or interaction with other organelles in adipocyte differentiation, growth and/or survival. In this study, we aimed to document the impact of loss of mitofusin 1 (Mfn1) or 2 (Mfn2) on adipogenesis in cultured cells. Methods: We characterised adipocyte differentiation of wildtype (WT), Mfn1-/- and Mfn2-/- mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) and 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in which Mfn1 or 2 levels were reduced using siRNA. Results: Mfn1-/- MEFs displayed striking fragmentation of the mitochondrial network, with surprisingly enhanced propensity to differentiate into adipocytes, as assessed by lipid accumulation, expression of adipocyte markers (Plin1, Fabp4, Glut4, Adipoq), and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. RNA sequencing revealed a corresponding pro-adipogenic transcriptional profile including Pparg upregulation. Mfn2-/- MEFs also had a disrupted mitochondrial morphology, but in contrast to Mfn1-/- MEFs they showed reduced expression of adipocyte markers. Mfn1 and Mfn2 siRNA mediated knockdown studies in 3T3-L1 adipocytes generally replicated these findings. Conclusions: Loss of Mfn1 but not Mfn2 in cultured pre-adipocyte models is pro-adipogenic. This suggests distinct, non-redundant roles for the two mitofusin orthologues in adipocyte differentiation.
Project description:mRNA profiles of beta-actin knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) MEFs induced to adipocyte-like feature to study how global transcriptome changes during differentiation
Project description:To explore the mechanism underlying the negative regulation of adipogenesis by TRAF4, we performed the LC-MS/MS experiments to identify the proteins that interact with TRAF4 during adipogenic differentiation.
Project description:Total gene expression analysis was performed on CRE induced conditional knockout E12.5 MEFs relative to GFP infected control MEFs. Intent was to analyze the role of H3f3b in overall gene expression.
Project description:TICAM1 knockout and wild-type (TICAM1 knockout MEFs with restored TICAM1 expression) MEFs were treated by c-di-GMP or DMSO for 4 hours. Total RNA was analyzed via Illumina Mouse Ref-8 V2. Changes in gene induction, especially of interferon-stimulated genes, between c-di-GMP and DMSO treated cells were examined.
Project description:ING1b and GADD45a are nuclear proteins involved in the regulation of cell growth, apoptosis and DNA repair. We previously found that ING1b is required to target GADD45a-mediated active DNA-demethylation via TET1 to specific loci. In order to study the impact of ING1-GADD45a on MEF-to-adipocyte differentiation, we compared the gene expression profile of wildtype mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) with Ing1- and Gadd45a- single- or double-knockout (DKO) MEFs at day 6 of adipogenic differentiation via RNA-sequencing.
Project description:TICAM1 knockout and wild-type (TICAM1 knockout MEFs with restored TICAM1 expression) MEFs were treated by c-di-GMP or DMSO for 4 hours. Total RNA was analyzed via Illumina Mouse Ref-8 V2. Changes in gene induction, especially of interferon-stimulated genes, between c-di-GMP and DMSO treated cells were examined. Total RNA from c-di-GMP or DMSO treated wild-type MEFs, c-di-GMP or DMSO treated TICAM1 knockout MEFs were analyzed. Gene expression was compared between c-di-GMP treated and DMSO treated samples.
Project description:Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) often harbor loss-of-function mutations in Daxx gene. Daxx interacts with several partners to regulate cellular processes and gene expression. We used microarrays to detail the global gene expression change in Daxx knockout MEFs and identified up-regulated genes during this process.