The Collaborative Research Center (CRC) TRR333 BATenergy

The German Research Foundation (DFG) funds "BATenergy" CRC/TRR333 

The CRC investigates metabolism/diabetes and focuses on brown adipose tissue. Adipose tissues are organized in two functionally distinct types, brown adipose tissue (BAT) and white adipose tissue (WAT). In contrast to white adipocytes, brown fat cells are specialized to dissipate energy in the form of heat (thermogenesis). Importantly, human BAT activity correlates with leanness and a beneficial cardiometabolic profile. This consortium focuses on the regulation of thermogenesis: 1) the organ crosstalk between gut, liver, muscle and thermogenic adipose tissues, 2) the cell-cell communication within brown and beige fat, and 3) the interaction of cell organelles and intracellular signalling pathways in brown/beige adipocytes. For this purpose, advanced omics technologies, cell culture systems of murine and human adipocytes, and novel transgenic mouse models will be used to provide comprehensive molecular mechanistic insight into the regulation of thermogenic energy metabolism. The mid- and long-term goal is to establish new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of metabolic disorders.