Adipogenin (ADIG)

ADIG/SMAF1 is an adipocyte-specific protein that plays a role in adipocyte differentiation. The deduced 80-amino acid mouse protein contains an N-terminal region rich in leucine residues, a short stretch of basic amino acids suggestive of a nuclear localization signal, and a C-terminal region rich in acidic amino acids. Western blot analysis of COS cells expressing mouse Smaf1 detected a 10-kD protein. Northern blot analysis of mouse tissues detected adipose-specific expression. Cell fractionation studies showed Smaf1 expression in the adipocyte fraction only with no expression in the stromal vascular cells. RT-PCR of mouse tissues detected high Adig expression in white adipose tissue, low expression in heart, stomach, and muscle, and barely detectable expression in kidney and lung.