PRDM16 Represses the Pig White Lipogenesis through Promoting Lipolysis Activity

The positive regulatory domain containing 16 (PRDM16) gene is a dominant transcriptional regulator that favors the “browning” of white adipocytes in rodents. Since the “browning” of white fat is important in pig in terms of producing heat fighting against cold environment, avoiding obesity, and improving meat quality, understanding the critical role that PRDM16 gene played in pig adipose “browning” and energy metabolism is of great significance. However, the constitution of pig fat differs a lot from rodents and human as they do not have brown adipose tissue (BAT) even in the newborn piglets. In this study, we isolated porcine primary preadipocytes and investigated the function of PRDM16 during preadipocytes differentiation. Our results showed that overexpression of the PR domain of PRDM16 repressed the differentiation of porcine preadipocytes, indicated by oil red O staining and the deposition of the triglyceride. Overexpression of the PR domain significantly increased the level of lipolysis and mitochondrial oxidative capacity detected by Western blotting during differentiation. Furthermore, we purified the protein coded by the PR domain and demonstrated that this protein has the H3K9me1 methyltransferase activity. In conclusion, the PR domain of the porcine PRDM16 gene repressed the mature of the porcine preadipocytes by promoting its oxidative activity.