Signaling Pathways in the Functions of Adipocytes in the Emanuelli Group
The Emanuelli Group investigates the complex nature of the signalling involved in the endocrine control of metabolic functions, with a special focus on defining the signals and signalling pathways that orchestrate the functions of adipocytes in metabolic homeostasis and disease.
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.
Brice Emanuelli explains: “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.
Group members
| Name | Title | Job responsibilities | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agueda Oyarzabal, Marina | PhD student | Emanuelli Group, Inter & Intra-Cellular Communications | +45 353-36279 | |
| Bossi, Simone | Postdoc | Emanuelli Group, Signaling Pathways in the Functions of Adipocytes | ||
| Brown, Erin Louise | Postdoc | Emanuelli Group, Signaling Pathways in the Functions of Adipocytes | +45 353-32587 | |
| Emanuelli, Brice | Associate professor | Group leader, Emanuelli Group, Signaling Pathways in the Functions of Adipocytes | +45 353-37016 | |
| Fitzner, Emil | Master student | Emanuelli Group, Inter & Intra-Cellular Communications | ||
| Isidor, Marie Sophie Lykke | Postdoc | Emanuelli Group, Signaling Pathways in the Functions of Adipocytes | +45 353-36550 | |
| Nissen, Katrine Grønbech Ravn | Master student | Emanuelli Group, Signaling Pathways in the Functions of Adipocytes | ||
| Petersen, Patricia S. S. | Academic staff | Emanuelli Group, Signaling Pathways in the Functions of Adipocytes | +45 353-30226 | |
| Plucinska, Kaja | International Researcher | Emanuelli Group, Signaling Pathways in the Functions of Adipocytes | +45 353-34918 | |
| Rabiee, Atefeh | Assistant professor | Emanuelli Group, Signaling Pathways in the Functions of Adipocytes | +16504607360 | |
| Rupar, Kaja | PhD student | Emanuelli Group, Signaling Pathways in the Functions of Adipocytes | +45 353-26255 | |
| Tandio, David | Research assistant | Emanuelli Group, Inter & Intra-Cellular Communications, Gerhart-Hines Group, Adipose Metabolic Control | +45 353-36954 | |
| Tozzi, Marco | Postdoc | Emanuelli Group, Signaling Pathways in the Functions of Adipocytes | +45 353-34725 |
From the left: Morten Dall, Kaja Plucinska, Brice Emanuelli, Erin Louise Brown, Kaja Rupar and Marie Sophie Lykke Isidor.