Ren G, Kim JY, Smas CM. Identification of RIFL, a novel adipocyte-enriched insulin target gene with a role in lipid metabolism. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 303: E334 -E351, 2012. First published May 8, 2012; doi:10.1152/ajpendo.00084.2012.-To identify new genes that are important in fat metabolism, we utilized the Lexicon-Genentech knockout database of genes encoding transmembrane and secreted factors and whole murine genome transcriptional profiling data that we generated for 3T3-L1 in vitro adipogenesis. Cross-referencing null models evidencing metabolic phenotypes with genes induced in adipogenesis led to identification of a new gene, which we named RIFL (refeeding induced fat and liver). RIFL-null mice have serum triglyceride levels approximately one-third of wild type. RIFL transcript is induced Ͼ100-fold during 3T3-L1 adipogenesis and is also increased markedly during adipogenesis of murine and human primary preadipocytes. siRNA-mediated knockdown of RIFL during 3T3-L1 adipogenesis results in an ϳ35% decrease in adipocyte triglyceride content. Murine RIFL transcript is highly enriched in white and brown adipose tissue and liver. Fractionation of WAT reveals that RIFL transcript is exclusive to adipocytes with a lack of expression in stromal-vascular cells. Nutritional and hormonal studies are consistent with a prolipogenic function for RIFL. There is evidence of an approximately eightfold increase in RIFL transcript level in WAT in ob/ob mice compared with wild-type mice. RIFL transcript level in WAT and liver is increased ϳ80-and 12-fold, respectively, following refeeding of fasted mice. Treatment of 3T3-L1 adipocytes with insulin increases RIFL transcript Յ35-fold, whereas agents that stimulate lipolysis downregulate RIFL. Interestingly, the 198-amino acid RIFL protein is predicted to be secreted and shows ϳ30% overall conservation with the NH 2-terminal half of angiopoietin-like 3, a liver-secreted protein that impacts lipid metabolism. In summary, our data suggest that RIFL is an important new regulator of lipid metabolism.triglyceride; adipogenesis; differentiation WHITE ADIPOCYTES OF WHITE ADIPOSE TISSUE (WAT) are of major importance in lipid metabolism because they are involved in storage and release of triacylglycerol (10,30,31,42,58,81). Adipogenesis is the conversion of fibroblast-like preadipocytes to rounded lipid-filled mature adipocytes (5,35,47,48). Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-␥ (PPAR␥), a nuclear hormone receptor family member, functions as a master transcriptional regulator of adipogenesis (29,33,64,72). Multiple additional transcriptional and other signaling mechanisms positively or negatively regulate the process of adipogenesis (15,35,53,69). Because adipocytes are highly specialized for lipid metabolism, genes that are markedly upregulated during adipogenesis are strong candidates as new regulators of lipid metabolism. First established as an in vitro model of adipogenic conversion in the 1970s, the 3T3-L1 cell line has remained the dominant in vitro model of adipogene...