PRDM16
Description
The PRDM16 (PR/SET domain 16) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 1.
PRDM16, also known as PR domain containing 16, is a protein encoded by the PRDM16 gene in humans. It functions as a transcription coregulator that controls the development of brown adipocytes in brown adipose tissue (BAT). While previously thought to be present only in BAT, recent studies have shown that PRDM16 is highly expressed in subcutaneous white adipose tissue (WAT) as well. PRDM16 is a zinc finger transcription factor. It controls the cell fate between muscle and brown fat cells. Loss of PRDM16 from brown fat precursors leads to a loss of brown fat characteristics and promotes muscle differentiation. The reciprocal translocation t(1;3)(p36;q21) occurs in a subset of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This gene is located near the 1p36.3 breakpoint and is specifically expressed in t(1:3)(p36;q21)-positive MDS/AML. The protein encoded by this gene contains an N-terminal PR domain. The translocation results in overexpression of a truncated version of this protein lacking the PR domain, which may be important in the pathogenesis of MDS and AML. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been reported. BAT oxidizes chemical energy to produce heat.
PRDM16 is a transcription regulator that binds DNA and has histone methyltransferase activity. It monomethylates histone H3 at lysine 9 (H3K9me1) in vitro. PRDM16 likely catalyzes monomethylation of free histone H3 in the cytoplasm, which is then transported to the nucleus and incorporated into nucleosomes, where SUV39H methyltransferases use it as a substrate to catalyze histone H3 lysine 9 trimethylation. Along with MECOM/PRDM3, PRDM16 is one of the primary histone methyltransferases that direct cytoplasmic H3K9me1 methylation. PRDM16 functions in the differentiation of brown adipose tissue (BAT), which is specialized in dissipating chemical energy as heat in response to cold or excess feeding, while white adipose tissue (WAT) stores excess energy and controls systemic metabolism. PRDM16, together with CEBPB, regulates the differentiation of myoblastic precursors into brown adipose cells. PRDM16 acts as a repressor of TGF-beta signaling.
PRDM16 is also known as CMD1LL, KMT8F, LVNC8, MEL1, PFM13.
