Comprehensive transcriptome analysis of mouse embryonic stem cell adipogenesis unravels new processes of adipocyte development

Here we performed genome-wide analysis of gene expression during adipogenesis of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs). We then pursued comprehensive bioinformatic analyses, including de novo functional annotation and curation of the generated data within the context of biological pathways, to uncover novel biological functions associated with the early steps of adipocyte development. By combining in-depth gene regulation studies and in silico analysis of transcription factor binding site enrichment, we also provide insights into the transcriptional networks that might govern these early steps.This study supports several biological findings: firstly, adipocyte development in mouse ESCs is coupled to blood vessel morphogenesis and neural development, just as it is during mouse development. Secondly, the early steps of adipocyte formation involve major changes in signaling and transcriptional networks. A large proportion of the transcription factors that we uncovered in mouse ESCs are also expressed in the mouse embryonic mesenchyme and in adipose tissues, demonstrating the power of our approach to probe for genes associated with early developmental processes on a genome-wide scale. Finally, we reveal a plethora of novel candidate genes for adipocyte development and present a unique resource that can be further explored in functional assays.Obesity has become a major public health problem for industrialized countries. This pathology is associated with an increased risk of metabolic troubles, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and certain types of cancers. Obesity is the result of an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure and is often characterized by an increase in both adipocyte size (hypertrophia) and number (hyperplasia). Besides the clinical importance of obesity, we still have limited information regarding the origin and the development of fat tissues.Adipogenesis is generally described as a two-step process. The first step consists of the gen