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Using Thermogenic Beige Cells to Identify Biologically Active Small Molecules and Peptides

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Thermogenic Fat

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1566))

Abstract

Incorporating molecular libraries in chemical biology screenings in cultured cells has been successfully used for gene discovery in many cellular processes. It has the unique potential to uncover novel mechanisms of complex cellular biology through the screening of small molecules and protein biologics in relevant cell-based assays. Recent development in the understanding and generation of thermogenic adipocytes provides opportunities for potential anti-obesity therapeutics discovery. In this chapter, we describe screening methods using thermogenic beige cells to identify novel compounds and peptides that activate adipocyte thermogenesis.

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Acknowledgment

We thank Professor Bruce Spiegelman (Harvard Medical School and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute) for generously providing beige cell X9 line. We thank Prof. Jun Wu (University of Michigan Life Sciences Institute) for stimulating discussions. This work is in part supported by Virginia Tech New Faculty Start-up Funds, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture of the USDA (Program No. VA-135992), and grants from Diabetes Action Research and Education Foundation (DAREF), Commonwealth Health Research Board (CHRB) and Virginia Tech Center for Drug Discovery (VTCDD).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Center for Drug Discovery, and Translational Obesity Research Center, Virginia Tech, 340 West Campus Dr., 105 Engel Hall,, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA

    Ling Wu & Bin Xu

Authors
  1. Ling Wu
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  2. Bin Xu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bin Xu .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

    Jun Wu

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Wu, L., Xu, B. (2017). Using Thermogenic Beige Cells to Identify Biologically Active Small Molecules and Peptides. In: Wu, J. (eds) Thermogenic Fat. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1566. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6820-6_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6820-6_19

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-6819-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-6820-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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