PRDM16 Protein, Human

PRDM16 is a DNA-binding protein that functions as a transcriptional regulator. It exhibits histone methyltransferase activity and monomethylates histone H3 at Lys-9 (H3K9me1) in vitro (By similarity). PRDM16 likely catalyzes the monomethylation of free histone H3 in the cytoplasm, which is then transported to the nucleus and incorporated into nucleosomes, serving as a substrate for SUV39H methyltransferases to catalyze H3K9 trimethylation (By similarity). It is probably one of the primary histone methyltransferases, along with MECOM/PRDM3, directing cytoplasmic H3K9me1 methylation (By similarity). PRDM16 plays a key role in the differentiation of brown adipose tissue (BAT), which specializes in dissipating chemical energy as heat in response to cold or excess feeding, while white adipose tissue (WAT) stores excess energy and regulates systemic metabolism (By similarity). Together with CEBPB, it regulates the differentiation of myoblastic precursors into brown adipocytes (By similarity). Additionally, PRDM16 functions as a repressor of TGF-beta signaling.