Brown and white adipose tissues serve very different functions in the body. White fat cells primarily store energy in the form of lipids, while brown fat cells are responsible for heat production. This process is driven by the protein UCP1 (Uncoupling Protein 1), which enables a unique form of energy conversion known as “non-shivering thermogenesis.”
Interestingly, adipocyte precursor cells (not yet fully matured) in mice begin to express UCP1 after treatment with certain growth factors, even though they have not yet developed into mature brown fat cells. The reason for this effect and how it influences later stages of fat cell development remain unclear.
To investigate this question, the following experimental data are already available:
- scRNA-seq data from brown adipocyte precursor cells, either untreated or treated with three different growth factors (FGF1, FGF2, FGF8).
- bulk RNA-seq data from later differentiation stages:
- Time point 0 (immediately after treatment)
- Time point 3 (cells shortly before maturation)
- Time point 9 (fully matured brown fat cells)
The focus of the thesis will initially be on the analysis of the scRNA-seq data to identify how precursor cells differ under the various treatments. A key aspect will involve deconvolution methods — using the scRNA-seq data to better understand which cell types or states are represented in the later bulk RNA-seq datasets. Subsequently, the work will examine how pretreatment with growth factors affects the long-term development of the cells.
This project combines biological research questions with bioinformatic analysis and is particularly suited for students interested in working with transcriptomic data (scRNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq) to uncover biological mechanisms.
Contact person: katharina.kuellmer(at)tum.de