PPAR-gamma: a thrifty transcription factor.

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) is a prototypical metabolic nuclear receptor that acts as a lipid sensor, integrating the homeostatic control of energy, lipid, and glucose metabolism. This perspective will highlight three lines of evidence which place PPAR-gamma as a key player in a feed-forward pathway favoring differentiation and energy storage by adipocytes.