26The skeleton is recognised as a key endocrine regulator of metabolism. Here we show that mice lacking the bone 27 mineralization enzyme PHOSPHO1 (Phospho1 -/-) exhibited improved basal glucose homeostasis and resisted high-fat-28 diet induced weight gain and diabetes. The metabolic protection in Phospho1 -/mice was manifested in the absence of 29 altered levels of osteocalcin. Osteoblasts isolated from Phospho1 -/mice were enriched for genes associated with 30 energy metabolism and diabetes; Phospho1 both directly and indirectly interacted with genes associated with glucose 31 transport and insulin receptor signalling. Canonical thermogenesis via brown adipose tissue did not underlie the 32 metabolic protection observed in adult Phospho1 -/mice. However, the decreased serum choline levels in Phospho1 -/-33 mice were normalized by feeding a 2% choline rich diet resulting in a normalization in insulin sensitivity and fat mass. 34This study identifies PHOSPHO1 as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of obesity and diabetes.In addition to its classical structural functions, the skeleton is a site of significant glucose uptake and is involved in the 66 regulation of whole-body glucose metabolism (1-8). Osteocalcin (OCN) is the most abundant osteoblast-specific non-67 collagenous protein derived from bone and is thought to maintain the mechanical properties of the bone matrix by 68 regulating calcium binding when fully carboxylated (GLA13-OCN) (9). However, when OCN is not γ-carboxylated 69 (uncarboxylated (GLU-OCN) or undercarboxylated (GLU13-OCN)), it is released from bone into the circulation where 70 it is able to regulate whole-body glucose metabolism in an endocrine manner (7,(10)(11)(12)(13). Mice deficient in OCN have 71 increased fat mass and are hyperglycemic, hypoinsulinemic and insulin-resistant in muscle. Furthermore, serum GLU17-72 OCN (human form of GLU13) levels and β-cell function show an inverse correlation with glycated haemoglobin 73 (HbA1c), fat mass and plasma glucose levels (14-18). 74
75Osteoblasts regulate glucose metabolism through OCN-dependent and independent mechanisms (19,20).An 76 alternative candidate is the bone-specific cytosolic phosphatase; Phosphatase, Orphan 1 (PHOSPHO1) (21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30). 77 PHOSPHO1 initiates bone matrix mineralization and PHOSPHO1 deficiency causes significant skeletal pathology, 78 bowed long bones, osteomalacia and scoliosis in early life (31)(32)(33)(34). In addition to the role of PHOSPHO1 in skeletal 79 biomineralization, PHOSPHO1 has been implicated in the regulation of energy metabolism in humans (35)(36)(37)(38). Within 80 the PHOSPHO1 gene, differential methylation sites have been identified as potentially useful biomarkers for clinical 81 application in the early detection of type-2 diabetes (35) and significant associations between methylation at loci within 82 the PHOSPHO1 gene and the future risk of type-2 diabetes exist (36,37). Differential methylation in PHOSPHO1 was 83 associated with three lipid traits (tota...