Deubiquitinating enzyme USP2 regulates brown adipose tissue thermogenesis via controlling EBF2 stabilization

Objective: The activation of brown adipose tissue (BAT) promotes energy expenditure is recognized as a promising therapeutic strategy for combating obesity. The deubiquitinating enzyme family members are widely involved in the process of energy metabolism. However, the specific deubiquitinating enzy...

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Main Authors: Yuejie Xu, Ying Chen, Ningning Bai, Yingying Su, Yafen Ye, Rong Zhang, Ying Yang, Caizhi Liu, Cheng Hu, Jiemin Pan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Molecular Metabolism
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212877825000468
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author Yuejie Xu
Ying Chen
Ningning Bai
Yingying Su
Yafen Ye
Rong Zhang
Ying Yang
Caizhi Liu
Cheng Hu
Jiemin Pan
author_facet Yuejie Xu
Ying Chen
Ningning Bai
Yingying Su
Yafen Ye
Rong Zhang
Ying Yang
Caizhi Liu
Cheng Hu
Jiemin Pan
author_sort Yuejie Xu
collection DOAJ
description Objective: The activation of brown adipose tissue (BAT) promotes energy expenditure is recognized as a promising therapeutic strategy for combating obesity. The deubiquitinating enzyme family members are widely involved in the process of energy metabolism. However, the specific deubiquitinating enzyme member that affects the BAT thermogenesis remains largely unexplored. Methods: Adeno-associated virus, lentivirus and small molecule inhibitor were applied to generate USP2 gain- or loss-of-function both in vivo and in vitro. OxyMax comprehensive laboratory animal monitoring system, seahorse and transmission electron microscopy were used to determine the energy metabolism. Quantitative proteomics, immunofluorescence staining and co-immunoprecipitation were performed to reveal the potential substrates of USP2. Results: USP2 is upregulated upon thermogenic activation in adipose, and has a close correlation with UCP1 mRNA levels in human adipose tissue. BAT-specific Usp2 knockdown or systemic USP2 inhibition resulted in impaired thermogenic programs both in vivo and in vitro. Conversely, overexpression of Usp2 in BAT conferred protection against high-fat diet-induced obesity and associated metabolic disorders. Proteome-wide analysis identified EBF2 as the substrate of USP2 that mediates the thermogenic function of USP2 in BAT. Conclusions: Our data demonstrated the vital role of USP2 in regulating BAT activation and systemic energy homeostasis. Activation of USP2-EBF2 interaction could be a potential therapeutic strategy against obesity.
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spelling doaj-art-c281d79247e9492c817c730a3b87fe1f2025-08-20T02:15:20ZengElsevierMolecular Metabolism2212-87782025-06-019610213910.1016/j.molmet.2025.102139Deubiquitinating enzyme USP2 regulates brown adipose tissue thermogenesis via controlling EBF2 stabilizationYuejie Xu0Ying Chen1Ningning Bai2Yingying Su3Yafen Ye4Rong Zhang5Ying Yang6Caizhi Liu7Cheng Hu8Jiemin Pan9Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Clinical Center for Diabetes, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Key Clinical Center for Metabolic Disease, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, ChinaJinzhou Medical University Graduate Training Base (Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine), Jinzhou, 121001, ChinaDepartment of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Clinical Center for Diabetes, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Key Clinical Center for Metabolic Disease, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, ChinaDepartment of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Clinical Center for Diabetes, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Key Clinical Center for Metabolic Disease, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, ChinaDepartment of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Clinical Center for Diabetes, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Key Clinical Center for Metabolic Disease, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, ChinaDepartment of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Clinical Center for Diabetes, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Key Clinical Center for Metabolic Disease, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, ChinaDepartment of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Clinical Center for Diabetes, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Key Clinical Center for Metabolic Disease, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, ChinaDepartment of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Clinical Center for Diabetes, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Key Clinical Center for Metabolic Disease, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, China; Corresponding author.Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Clinical Center for Diabetes, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Key Clinical Center for Metabolic Disease, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, China; Corresponding author.Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Clinical Center for Diabetes, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Key Clinical Center for Metabolic Disease, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, China; Corresponding author.Objective: The activation of brown adipose tissue (BAT) promotes energy expenditure is recognized as a promising therapeutic strategy for combating obesity. The deubiquitinating enzyme family members are widely involved in the process of energy metabolism. However, the specific deubiquitinating enzyme member that affects the BAT thermogenesis remains largely unexplored. Methods: Adeno-associated virus, lentivirus and small molecule inhibitor were applied to generate USP2 gain- or loss-of-function both in vivo and in vitro. OxyMax comprehensive laboratory animal monitoring system, seahorse and transmission electron microscopy were used to determine the energy metabolism. Quantitative proteomics, immunofluorescence staining and co-immunoprecipitation were performed to reveal the potential substrates of USP2. Results: USP2 is upregulated upon thermogenic activation in adipose, and has a close correlation with UCP1 mRNA levels in human adipose tissue. BAT-specific Usp2 knockdown or systemic USP2 inhibition resulted in impaired thermogenic programs both in vivo and in vitro. Conversely, overexpression of Usp2 in BAT conferred protection against high-fat diet-induced obesity and associated metabolic disorders. Proteome-wide analysis identified EBF2 as the substrate of USP2 that mediates the thermogenic function of USP2 in BAT. Conclusions: Our data demonstrated the vital role of USP2 in regulating BAT activation and systemic energy homeostasis. Activation of USP2-EBF2 interaction could be a potential therapeutic strategy against obesity.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212877825000468Brown adipose tissueThermogenesisUSP2EBF2Deubiquitylation
spellingShingle Yuejie Xu
Ying Chen
Ningning Bai
Yingying Su
Yafen Ye
Rong Zhang
Ying Yang
Caizhi Liu
Cheng Hu
Jiemin Pan
Deubiquitinating enzyme USP2 regulates brown adipose tissue thermogenesis via controlling EBF2 stabilization
Molecular Metabolism
Brown adipose tissue
Thermogenesis
USP2
EBF2
Deubiquitylation
title Deubiquitinating enzyme USP2 regulates brown adipose tissue thermogenesis via controlling EBF2 stabilization
title_full Deubiquitinating enzyme USP2 regulates brown adipose tissue thermogenesis via controlling EBF2 stabilization
title_fullStr Deubiquitinating enzyme USP2 regulates brown adipose tissue thermogenesis via controlling EBF2 stabilization
title_full_unstemmed Deubiquitinating enzyme USP2 regulates brown adipose tissue thermogenesis via controlling EBF2 stabilization
title_short Deubiquitinating enzyme USP2 regulates brown adipose tissue thermogenesis via controlling EBF2 stabilization
title_sort deubiquitinating enzyme usp2 regulates brown adipose tissue thermogenesis via controlling ebf2 stabilization
topic Brown adipose tissue
Thermogenesis
USP2
EBF2
Deubiquitylation
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212877825000468
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