Genetic studies of brown adipocyte induction

We seek to discover an effective method for utilizing thermogenesis to redu ce the caloric load in obese individuals. Experimental evidence indicates t hat nonshivering thermogenesis is the most effective cellular and biochemic al mechanism known for reducing excessive adiposity, In this presentation, we describe our experiments aimed at understanding how nonshivering thermog enesis can be induced. In addition, these experiments have led to a genetic approach for the identification of variant genes that coordinate the expre ssion of pathways of gene transcription that are associated with brown adip ocyte induction.