Purines are important signaling molecules that either activate cell membrane receptors (extracellular purines) or constitute important 2nd messengers (e.g. cAMP) in adipose tissues.

So far, most studies on regulation of energy expenditure by brown and brown-like (so called beige) adipocytes have focused on cAMP. We and others have shown that also cGMP, the other purinergic 2nd messenger, plays an important role in brown and beige adipocytes. Our major goal in the second funding period will be to elucidate the spatio-temporal regulation of the cGMP signaling cascade in thermogenic adipocytes. Importantly, we will study cGMP signaling not only in murine but also in primary human brown adipocytes as well as the crosstalk with other signaling pathways.