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  4. MEDAG functions as an A-kinase-anchoring protein in adipocytes
 
research article

MEDAG functions as an A-kinase-anchoring protein in adipocytes

Long, Fen
•
Ghosh, Adhideb
•
Xu, Tianyu
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2026
Molecular Cell

Induction of catabolic adipocyte activity independent of mitochondrial uncoupling to induce energy expenditure has received increasing attention. In this study, we identified mesenteric estrogen-dependent adipogenesis gene ( MEDAG ), a poorly studied gene, as a promising therapeutic target for enhancing energy expenditure in adipocytes. We demonstrated that adipose MEDAG expression positively correlates with obesity and metabolic dysfunction in humans. Consistently, adipocyte-specific ablation of Medag in mice leads to increased energy expenditure, offering protection from diet-induced obesity. Mechanistically, we show that MEDAG functions as an A-kinase-anchoring protein (AKAP), which can directly regulate protein kinase A (PKA) activity through a negative feedback loop, involving direct interaction with PKA leading to MEDAG phosphorylation and consequent feedback fine-tuning of PKA activity. Specifically, the direct interaction of MEDAG with the PKA-RIIβ subunit regulates the stability of PKA-RIIβ to prevent PKA hyperactivation. These findings position MEDAG as a target for adipose energy expenditure and uncover its AKAP activity.

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Type
research article
DOI
10.1016/j.molcel.2026.02.001
Scopus ID

2-s2.0-105030974142

Author(s)
Long, Fen

ETH Zürich

Ghosh, Adhideb

ETH Zürich

Xu, Tianyu

ETH Zürich

Ding, Lianggong

ETH Zürich

Wu, Chunyan

ETH Zürich

Khandelwal, Radhika

ETH Zürich

Noé, Falko

ETH Zürich

Sun, Wenfei

Department of Bioengineering

Dong, Hua

Stanford University

Wang, Tongtong

ETH Zürich

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Date Issued

2026

Published in
Molecular Cell
Subjects

AKAP

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cAMP-PKA signaling

•

catabolic adipocytes

•

energy expenditure

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glucose uptake and utilization

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lipolysis

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MEDAG

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metabolic diseases

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obesity

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PKA

Editorial or Peer reviewed

REVIEWED

Written at

EPFL

EPFL units
UPDEPLA  
Available on Infoscience
March 3, 2026
Use this identifier to reference this record
https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/261035
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