A member of the family of bone morphogenetic proteins, BMP-7, promotes the differentiation of brown, not white, fat cells. BMP-7 switches on regulators of brown fat, among which there is PRDM16, adipogenic transcription factors, and mitochondrial biogenesis. BMP-7 can persuade mesenchymal progenitor cells to become brown adipocytes. Without BMP-7 less brown fat develops.
- Yu-Hua Tseng
- Efi Kokkotou
- C. Ronald Kahn