The Tyrosine Phosphatase LMPTP Is a Key Promoter of Adipogenesis

The low molecular weight protein tyrosine phosphatase (LMPTP), encoded by the ACP1 gene, acts as a regulator of insulin signaling by dephosphorylating the activation motif of the insulin receptor. Multiple human genetics studies suggest that high LMPTP catalytic activity promotes metabolic syndrome and severity of obesity. We recently reported that LMPTP is a critical promoter of insulin resistance in obesity through an action on the liver and that pharmacological inhibition of LMPTP reverses obesity-associated diabetes in mice. Since LMPTP is highly expressed in adipose tissue but little is known about its function in these tissues, we examined the role of LMPTP in adipocyte biology. Intriguingly, we found that LMPTP acts as a critical promoter of adipogenesis. Our data indicate a novel role for LMPTP in promoting adipocyte differentiation and suggest that there may be additional signaling pathways under control of LMPTP in these cells.