PR结构域家族的第16个成员PRDM16是近年来发现的调控肌肉脂肪代谢的蛋白。在人类和小鼠器官组织中均能够检测到PRDM16的基因mRNA的表达，在棕色脂肪组织-白色脂肪组织、棕色脂肪组织-骨骼肌肌肉组织转化过程中特异基因表达起着“开关”作用。PRDM16的作用机制主要包括：促进重要的活性蛋白（如过氧化物酶体增生物激活受体γ、转录因子激活蛋白-2等）的基因表达；抑制肌分化因子(MyoD)、肌形成蛋白(MyoG)及相关蛋白的基因表达；通过转录复合物（PRDM16/CtBP和PRDM16-C/EBP-β）调控BAT-WAT和WAT-SMT选择性基因表达程序；调控脂肪和骨骼肌的形成，诱导线粒体的生物合成和解偶联呼吸作用。PRDM16对脂肪和肌肉细胞的分化和发育的调控，为深入探讨肌肉、脂肪形成机理及能量代谢调控途径提供理论基础，为在畜牧学上改善肌肉品质提供新的思路。本文综述了PRDM16基因的表达模式、PRDM16蛋白的结构和生物学作用以及在畜禽肉质调控中的可能作用。

PRDM16, the 16th one of PR domain members, is a type of protein found recently, which regulates the metabolism of muscle and adipose tissue. PRDM16 mRNA can be detected in multiple tissues of mouse and human. It acts as a molecular switch controlling the programs of specific gene expression of brown adipose tissue (BAT)/white adipose tissue (WAT) and WAT/skeletal muscle tissue (SMT). The mechanisms are as follows: elevate the gene expression of some active proteins, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ （PPARγ）, activator protein-2 (AP2); repress the gene expression of myogenic substance, such as myogenic regulatory factor (MyoD) and myogenin (MyoG); control the expression of BAT/WAT and WAT/SWT specific genes by transcription complex (PRDM16/CtBP and PRDM16-C/EBP-β); regulate the formation of adipose tissue and skeletal muscle, and induce the biogenesis of mitochondria and uncoupling respiration. PRDM16 regulates the differentiation and development of adipose tissue and muscle, which provides theoretical basis for investigating the mechanism of adipose tissue and muscle formation and the pathway to regulate energy metabolism. Gene expression of PRDM16, the structure and biological function of PRDM16 protein and its possible role in controlling meat quality are reviewed in this paper.［Chinese Journal of Animal Nutrition, 2010，22（6）:1477-1481］