Nucleolar Complex Associated 3 Homolog (NOC3L)

The NOC3L gene encodes a human homolog of yeast Noc3p that functions as an adipocyte differentiation accelerating factor. The deduced 800-amino acid FAD24 protein has a bZIP-like structure and a NOC domain at the C-terminal end, implying that FAD24 is a mammalian ortholog of yeast Noc3p; FAD24 and yeast Noc3p share 30% sequence similarity. Northern blot analysis revealed a single 4.4-kb FAD24 transcript expressed in most adult tissues, the highest expression seen in skeletal muscle. reduction of FAD24 expression inhibited adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells and decreased expression levels of the adipogenic marker genes PPARG , CEBPA, and LPL . Transfection of an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-tagged FAD24 showed that the protein was localized to the nucleolus and nuclear speckles.