PPARγ, the ultimate thrifty gene

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) quickly evolved over the last decade from a new orphan receptor to one of the best characterized nuclear receptors. This fast pace in PPARγ research was triggered by two main discoveries. Firstly, that PPARγ was shown to have a key role in adipogenesis and be a master controller of the “thrifty gene response” leading to efficient energy storage. Secondly, the discovery that its...