The adipose tissue is critically contributing to the regulation of energy homeostasis through energy storing/burning capacities, and via endocrine signaling.

Combining high throughput and unbiased approaches, with functional interrogation via CRISPR-mediated gene editing and manipulation in cells and animals, the focus of the Emanuelli Group is to decipher the molecular mechanisms controlling the functions of white, brown and beige fat cells in health and disease.

“Recognizing the factors optimizing or dysregulating the adipose metabolic and adaptive processes holds promise to open novel strategies to halt obesity and associated metabolic disorders.”

“Afadin is a scaffold protein repressing insulin action via HDAC6 in adipose tissue”
Published in EMBO Reports in 2019 this study shows that the scaffold protein Afadin dampens insulin action in adipocytes and impairs adipose tissue function by a negative feedback mechanism involving Afadin phosphorylation, recruitment of HDAC6 and suppression of the insulin signaling pathway.

“Distinct signalling properties of insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 and IRS-2 in mediating insulin/IGF-1 action”
In this study published in Cellular Signalling in 2018 we used phosphoproteomic analysis to reveal novel elements of the insulin/IGF-1 signalling pathway. The study reveals both common and distinct insulin/IGF-1 signalling events mediated by specific IRS proteins.

“Bidirectional manipulation of gene expression in adipocytes using CRISPRa and siRNA”
Published in Molecular Metabolism in 2017 this study demonstrates that CRISPRa allows multiplex gene induction in pre- and mature adipocytes in vitro and that adipocyte cell fate can be influenced using CRISPRa. It shows how bidirectional control of gene expression is achievable by combining CRISPRa with siRNA mediated knockdown.

Funding sources for our group include the Novo Nordisk Foundation, The Danish Diabetes Academy, the Copenhagen Bioscience PhD Programme and the European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes.