F-box only protein 9 is required for adipocyte differentiation

• F-box only protein 9 (FBXO9) is highly expressed in obese mouse models.
• Knockdown of FBXO9 inhibits adipogenesis.
• C/EBPβ levels are significantly reduced by FBXO9 knockdown during adipogenesis.
• Overexpression of C/EBPβ alleviates the effect of FBXO9 knockdown on adipogenesis.

The objective of this study is to investigate whether F-box only protein 9 (FBXO9), an ubiquitination E3 ligase, has a functional role in adipocyte differentiation. Expression of FBXO9 was compared between obese mice and control lean mice using real-time PCR. Also, expression pattern of FBXO9 was monitored during 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation. FBXO9 was highly expressed in obese mice, and increased in the early stages of adipogenesis. To verify a functional role of FBXO9 in adipogenesis, FBXO9 was knocked down using transfection of siRNAs against FBXO9 into 3T3-L1 cells during the induction of adipogenesis. Knockdown of FBXO9 in early stage of adipogenesis almost completely inhibited adipogenesis, and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein β (C/EBPβ) levels were significantly reduced. However, the cells stably expressing C/EBPβ were fairly differentiated into adipocytes in the FBXO9 knockdown condition. These results suggest that FBXO9 is required for adipocyte differentiation, and C/EBPβ plays a role in the effect of FBXO9 on adipogenesis.