Ablation of promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML) re-patterns energy balance and protects mice from obesity induced by a Western diet.

The promyelocytic leukemia protein is a well known tumor suppressor, but its role in metabolism is largely unknown. Mice with a deletion in the gene for PML (KO mice) exhibit altered gene expression in liver, adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle, an accelerated rate of fatty acid metabolism, abnormal glucose metabolism, constitutive AMP-activating kinase (AMPK) activation, and insulin resistance in skeletal muscle. Last, an increased rate of energy expenditure protects PML KO mice from the effects of obesity induced by a Western diet. Collectively, our study uncovers a previously unappreciated role of PML in the regulation of metabolism and energy balance in mice.