C-terminal binding protein: A metabolic sensor implicated in regulating adipogenesis

The development of mature adipocytes from preadipocyte precursor cells requires coordinated changes in gene expression. Management of these expression changes relies on the actions of both DNA-binding transcription factors and their coregulators. Recent studies have identified the corepressor C-terminal binding protein (CtBP) as a key transcriptional coregulator in adipose tissue. CtBP proteins work with several different partner proteins to regulate the development of both white and brown adipocytes. CtBP is of particular interest as it binds to NAD(+)/NADH and may respond to the metabolic state of the cell, thereby linking changes in nutrient levels to transcriptional outcomes. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.