This study reveals that thermogenic stimuli activate mitochondrial proteolysis via LONP1 to sustain the succinate levels required for efficient conversion of white adipocytes to beige adipocytes. Our work highlights mitochondrial proteases (mitoproteases) as a link between environmental stimuli, metabolite levels and cell identity switching.
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References
Cohen, P. & Kajimura, S. The cellular and functional complexity of thermogenic fat. Nat. Rev. Mol Cell. Biol. 22, 393–409 (2021). A review article that summarizes the current understanding of white-to-beige adipocyte conversion mechanisms and WAT plasticity.
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This is a summary of: Fu, T. et al. Proteolytic rewiring of mitochondria by LONP1 directs cell identity switching of adipocytes. Nat. Cell Biol. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41556-023-01155-3 (2023).
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Mitoprotease LONP1 controls white-to-beige adipocyte conversion via metabolic enzyme turnover. Nat Cell Biol 25, 810–811 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41556-023-01161-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41556-023-01161-5
