| First Author | Cao W | Year | 2004 |
| Journal | Mol Cell Biol | Volume | 24 |
| Issue | 7 | Pages | 3057-67 |
| PubMed ID | 15024092 | Mgi Jnum | J:89069 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3038037 | Doi | 10.1128/MCB.24.7.3057-3067.2004 |
| Citation | Cao W, et al. (2004) p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase is the central regulator of cyclic AMP-dependent transcription of the brown fat uncoupling protein 1 gene. Mol Cell Biol 24(7):3057-67 |
| abstractText | It is well established that catecholamine-stimulated thermogenesis in brown fat requires beta-adrenergic elevations in cyclic AMP (cAMP) to increase expression of the uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) gene. However, little is known about the downstream components of the signaling cascade or the relevant transcription factor targets thereof. Here we demonstrate that cAMP- and protein kinase A-dependent activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in brown adipocytes is an indispensable step in the transcription of the UCP1 gene in mice. By phosphorylating activating transcription factor 2 (ATF-2) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) coativator 1alpha (PGC-1alpha), members of two distinct nuclear factor families, p38 MAPK controls the expression of the UCP1 gene through their respective interactions with a cAMP response element and a PPAR response element that both reside within a critical enhancer motif of the UCP1 gene. Activation of ATF-2 by p38 MAPK additionally serves as the cAMP sensor that increases expression of the PGC-1alpha gene itself in brown adipose tissue. In conclusion, our findings illustrate that by orchestrating the activity of multiple transcription factors, p38 MAPK is a central mediator of the cAMP signaling mechanism of brown fat that promotes thermogenesis. |
