Figure 2.

Adipocyte lineage tracing using fluorescent labelling [30]. In a transgenic mouse model, Cre recombinase is expressed under an adipocyte-specific promoter, such as Adipoq, leading to its specific expression in differentiated adipocytes, but not adipose progenitor cells nor any other cell types. Another transgene drives constant expression of a fluorescent protein: A Red Fluorescent Protein (RFP) (by default) or Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) after Cre recombinase mediates excision of the genetic element encoding RFP. Therefore, cell fluorescence switches from red to green only in adipocytes and this genetic change is carried over to all cells derived from them, allowing for adipocyte lineage tracing in the studies on adipocyte plasticity.