Transcriptional control of adipogenesis

The major transcriptional factors involved in the adipogenic process includ e proteins belonging to the CCAAT/enhancer binding protein family, peroxiso me proliferator-activated receptor gamma, and adipocyte determination and d ifferentiation dependent factor 1, also known as sterol regulatory element- binding protein 1. This process has been characterized with the aid of cell lines that represent various stages in the path of adipocyte commitment, r anging from pluripotent mesodermal fibroblasts to preadipocytes. Molecular analyses have led to a cascade model for adipogenesis based on timed expres sion of CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins and peroxisome proliferator-activat ed receptor gamma. Gene targeting and transgenic-mouse technologies, which allow the manipulation of endogenous genes for these transcription factors, have also contributed to the understanding of adipogenesis. This review ai ms to integrate this information to gain an understanding of the transcript ional regulation of fat cell formation.