Lightening up a notch: Notch regulation of energy metabolism

Abstract

Inhibiting Notch signaling induces adipose browning, improves systemic glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, and suppresses weight gain in mice.

Figure 1

Notch signaling inhibition promotes adipose browning and improved energy homeostasis. The study by Bi et al. demonstrates that selective inhibition of Notch signaling in mice induces a BAT-selective gene program most likely acting in preadipocytes that promotes differentiation into beige adipocytes, leading to an increase in energy expenditure, a decrease in body weight gain and an improvement in systemic glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity. Alternatively, Notch signal reception induces expression of the Notch target protein Hes1, which binds directly to the promoter regions of the Prdm16 and Ppargc1a genes, suppressing their transcription and promoting white adipocyte differentiation.