# Ribosome biogenesis regulates adipocyte function

> **NIH NIH R01** · BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS · 2020 · $412,500

## Abstract

Project Summary
Dysfunctional white adipose tissue (WAT) plays a central role in the etiology of metabolic disorders
including diabetes and metabolic syndromes. However, not all obese adipose tissue is necessarily
associated with pathological changes. Individuals seem to have a functional set limit beyond which WAT
fails to function properly. Identification of such mechanisms or factors that control the set point is of great
interest. Given the importance of a homeostatic protein synthesis as a basic cellular function, it is postulated
that the healthy adipocyte's functional regulation should also incorporate allostatic adaptions of protein
synthesis aiming to maintain larger cellular body and adipokine secretion demands as long as possible,
particularly under metabolically challenging conditions. In this proposal it is hypothesized that the capacity
of adaptational ribosome biogenesis may determine the maximal limit of adipocyte functional homeostasis.
PTRF (Cavin-1) was original cloned as "polymerase I and transcription release factor". The preliminary data
here show PTRF functionally localizing in the nucleus and playing a critical role on the regulation of
ribosomal DNA transcription efficiency. To study the details of molecular mechanisms, 3 aims are proposed:
Aim-1, to define the PTRF, ribosome biogenesis and adipocyte function regulatory pathway; Aim-2, to
understand how this pathway regulates the cellular localization of PTRF; and Aim-3, to explore the
physiological relevance of these observations. By using comprehensive cell culture and mouse models, the
studies from this proposal will not only shed light on the molecular mechanistic details of this regulatory
pathway but also provide potential therapeutic targets for improving adipocyte homeostasis and quality
control in human obesity and diabetes.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9948677
- **Project number:** 5R01DK112945-04
- **Recipient organization:** BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS
- **Principal Investigator:** Libin Liu
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $412,500
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-07-01 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9948677

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9948677, Ribosome biogenesis regulates adipocyte function (5R01DK112945-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9948677. Licensed CC0.

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