The negative adipogenesis regulator DLK1 is transcriptionally regulated by TIS7 (IFRD1) and translationally by its orthologue SKMc15 (IFRD2)

Delta-like homolog 1 (DLK1), an inhibitor of adipogenesis, controls the cell fate of adipocyte progenitors. Here we identify two independent regulatory mechanisms, transcriptional and translational, by which TIS7 (IFRD1) and its orthologue SKMc15 (IFRD2) regulate DLK1 levels. Mice deficient in both TIS7 and SKMc15 (dKO) had severely reduced adipose tissue and were resistant to high fat diet-induced obesity. Wnt signaling, a negative regulator of adipocyte differentiation was significantly up regulated in dKO mice. Elevated levels of the Wnt/β-catenin target protein Dlk-1 inhibited the expression of adipogenesis regulators PPARγ and C/EBPα, and fatty acid transporter CD36. Although both, TIS7 and SKMc15, contributed to this phenotype, they utilized two different mechanisms. TIS7 acted by controlling Wnt signaling and thereby transcriptional regulation of Dlk-1. On the other hand, here we provide distinctive experimental evidence that SKMc15 acts as a general translational inhibitor significantly affecting DLK-1 protein levels. Our study provides data describing novel mechanisms of DLK1 regulation in adipocyte differentiation involving TIS7 and SKMc15.