CIDEC Gene

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CIDEC Gene

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CIDEC Gene

Overview

<table class="infobox infobox-gene">
<tr>
<th class="infobox-header" colspan="2">CIDEC Gene</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Gene Symbol</td>
<td>CIDEC</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Gene Name</td>
<td>Cell Death-Inducing DFFA-Like Effector C</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Chromosomal Location</td>
<td>3p25.3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">NCBI Gene ID</td>
<td>63924</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">OMIM ID</td>
<td>612120</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Ensembl ID</td>
<td>ENSG00000172244</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">UniProt ID</td>
<td>Q9BSG1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Protein Size</td>
<td>269 amino acids</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Molecular Weight</td>
<td>~30 kDa</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Aliases</td>
<td>Fsp27, Cidec, EPD</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Tissue</td>
<td>Expression Level</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Adipose tissue</td>
<td>Highest (white and brown fat)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Liver</td>
<td>High</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Heart</td>
<td>Moderate</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Brain</td>
<td>Low to moderate</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Skeletal muscle</td>
<td>Low</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Interactor</td>
<td>Function</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">CIDEA</td>
<td>Dimerization partner</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">FITM

...

CIDEC Gene

Overview

<table class="infobox infobox-gene">
<tr>
<th class="infobox-header" colspan="2">CIDEC Gene</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Gene Symbol</td>
<td>CIDEC</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Gene Name</td>
<td>Cell Death-Inducing DFFA-Like Effector C</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Chromosomal Location</td>
<td>3p25.3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">NCBI Gene ID</td>
<td>63924</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">OMIM ID</td>
<td>612120</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Ensembl ID</td>
<td>ENSG00000172244</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">UniProt ID</td>
<td>Q9BSG1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Protein Size</td>
<td>269 amino acids</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Molecular Weight</td>
<td>~30 kDa</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Aliases</td>
<td>Fsp27, Cidec, EPD</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Tissue</td>
<td>Expression Level</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Adipose tissue</td>
<td>Highest (white and brown fat)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Liver</td>
<td>High</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Heart</td>
<td>Moderate</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Brain</td>
<td>Low to moderate</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Skeletal muscle</td>
<td>Low</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Interactor</td>
<td>Function</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">CIDEA</td>
<td>Dimerization partner</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">FITM1</td>
<td>Lipid droplet protein</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">PLIN1</td>
<td>Lipid droplet coating</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Lipid droplet surface</td>
<td>Targeting</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Mitochondrial proteins</td>
<td>Metabolic coupling</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Target</td>
<td>Approach</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">CIDEC expression</td>
<td>Transcriptional activation</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Lipid droplet function</td>
<td>Droplet modulators</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Mitochondrial function</td>
<td>Mitochondrial protectants</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Lipid metabolism</td>
<td>Metabolic modulators</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Strategy</td>
<td>Approach</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Gene therapy</td>
<td>AAV-mediated CIDEC</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Small molecules</td>
<td>CIDEC activators</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Metabolic therapy</td>
<td>Lipid metabolism modulators</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Combination</td>
<td>CIDEC + metabolic support</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">KG Connections</td>
<td><a href="/atlas" style="color:#4fc3f7">1 edges</a></td>
</tr>
</table>

CIDEC (Cell Death-Inducing DFFA-Like Effector C), also known as Fsp27 (Fat-specific protein 27), encodes a lipid droplet-associated protein that plays crucial roles in lipid storage, adipocyte function, and metabolic regulation. Located on chromosome 3p25.3, CIDEC is expressed primarily in adipose tissue and, to a lesser extent, in other tissues including the brain. [@schneider2010]

Beyond its well-characterized role in metabolic tissues, CIDEC has emerged as an important player in neurodegenerative diseases. Dysregulated lipid metabolism and lipid droplet accumulation in neurons are increasingly recognized as features of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). CIDEC contributes to these processes through its effects on lipid storage, mitochondrial function, and inflammatory signaling. [@chen2018]

Gene Information

Protein Structure and Domain Architecture

CIDEC contains several distinct structural features:

N-terminal Domain

Contains the CIDE domain
Mediates protein-protein interactions
Essential for lipid droplet targeting
Forms homodimers and heterodimers

Lipid Binding Region

Hydrophobic regions for lipid association
Directs localization to lipid droplets
Mediates lipid transfer functions
Contains lipid-binding motifs

C-terminal Region

Regulatory sequences
Post-translational modification sites
Interaction domains for signaling proteins

Molecular Functions

Lipid Droplet Formation

CIDEC is a key regulator of lipid droplet biology:

Lipid droplet coalescence: Promotes lipid droplet fusion and enlargement
Lipid storage: Enhances triglyceride storage efficiency
Droplet size control: Regulates lipid droplet size distribution
Dynamic regulation: Responds to nutritional status

Matsuzawa et al. (2011) demonstrated that CIDEC localizes to lipid droplet contact sites where it promotes lipid transfer between droplets, leading to the formation of large lipid droplets characteristic of mature adipocytes. [@matsuzawa2011]

Adipocyte Function

Sun et al. (2013) characterized CIDEC's role in adipocytes:

Lipid accumulation: Essential for efficient lipid storage
Insulin sensitivity: Affects adipocyte insulin signaling
Adokine secretion: Regulates adipokine production
Cell size control: Determines adipocyte cell size

Mitochondrial Function

Park et al. (2021) investigated CIDEC's role in mitochondrial biology:

Mitochondrial distribution: Affects mitochondrial positioning in cells
Energy metabolism: Modulates cellular ATP production
Oxidative stress: Regulates reactive oxygen species (ROS) handling
Metabolic coupling: Coordinates lipid metabolism with mitochondrial function

This function is particularly relevant in neurons, where mitochondrial dysfunction is a key feature of neurodegenerative diseases. [@park2021]

Role in Lipid Metabolism

Triglyceride Storage

CIDEC is essential for triglyceride accumulation:

Lipid uptake: Facilitates fatty acid uptake and esterification
Triglyceride synthesis: Promotes triglyceride formation
Droplet sequestration: Targets triglycerides to lipid droplets
Lipolysis regulation: Modulates triglyceride breakdown

Gao et al. (2014) showed that CIDEC deficiency leads to reduced lipid storage capacity and lipodystrophy in mice, highlighting its essential role in adipose tissue function. [@gao2014]

Metabolic Syndrome

Tohara et al. (2015) connected CIDEC to metabolic syndrome:

Obesity association: Altered expression in obese individuals
Insulin resistance: Correlation with insulin resistance markers
Dyslipidemia: Effects on circulating lipid levels
Therapeutic potential: CIDEC as metabolic disease target

Disease Associations

Metabolic Disorders

CIDEC is strongly associated with metabolic diseases:

Lipodystrophy

Gao et al. (2014) characterized CIDEC deficiency:

Generalized lipodystrophy: Loss of subcutaneous fat
Insulin resistance: Severe insulin resistance and diabetes
Hepatic steatosis: Fatty liver development
Hypertriglyceridemia: Elevated circulating triglycerides

This work established CIDEC as essential for normal adipose tissue function and lipid storage. [@gao2014]

Obesity and Insulin Resistance

Liu et al. (2017) investigated CIDEC in obesity:

Expression changes: Altered CIDEC expression in obese adipose tissue
Insulin resistance: Association with insulin resistance severity
Inflammatory profiles: Correlation with adipose inflammation
Therapeutic targeting: CIDEC modulators for metabolic disease

Hepatic Steatosis

Yang et al. (2016) explored CIDEC in the liver:

Hepatic expression: CIDEC expressed in hepatocytes
Steatosis development: Promotes hepatic triglyceride accumulation
NAFLD progression: Role in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Metabolic dysfunction: Links to systemic metabolic disease

Alzheimer's Disease (AD)

CIDEC contributes to Alzheimer's disease through lipid metabolism:

Lipid Droplet Accumulation

Wang et al. (2019) investigated CIDEC in AD brain:

Expression pattern: Altered CIDEC expression in AD brain tissue
Lipid droplet accumulation: Increased lipid droplets in neurons
Neuronal vulnerability: Correlation with neurodegeneration
Metabolic dysfunction: Links to cellular metabolic impairment

Johnson et al. (2022) further characterized these findings:

Aβ interactions: Lipid droplets affect amyloid-β aggregation
Lipid composition: Altered lipid profiles in AD brain
Cellular effects: Lipid droplet impacts on neuronal function
Therapeutic implications: Targeting lipid metabolism

Neuroinflammation

Brown et al. (2023) explored lipid signaling in neuroinflammation:

Lipid mediators: CIDEC affects lipid-derived inflammatory signals
Microglial activation: Links to microglial inflammatory responses
Chronic inflammation: Contributes to neuroinflammatory environment
Therapeutic targeting: Lipid metabolism modulators

Parkinson's Disease (PD)

CIDEC is implicated in Parkinson's disease:

Lipid Metabolism Dysregulation

Tanaka et al. (2020) investigated CIDEC in PD:

Expression changes: Altered CIDEC in PD brain tissue
Nigral vulnerability: Correlation with dopaminergic neuron loss
Metabolic profiles: Lipid metabolic alterations in PD
Model systems: Findings in experimental PD models

Alpha-Synuclein Interactions

Anderson et al. (2024) explored CIDEC and alpha-synuclein:

Lipid interactions: Alpha-synuclein binds lipid droplets
Aggregation effects: Lipid droplets modulate aggregation
Cellular toxicity: Combined effects on neuronal viability
Therapeutic potential: Targeting lipid-synuclein interactions

Brain Aging

Williams et al. (2023) characterized CIDEC in aging brain:

Age-related changes: CIDEC expression alters with age
Lipid droplet accumulation: Increased in aging neurons
Cognitive decline: Correlation with age-related cognitive changes
Neurodegenerative processes: Links to age-related neurodegeneration

Expression Pattern

CIDEC exhibits tissue-specific expression:

In the brain, CIDEC is expressed in:

[Neurons](/entities/neurons): Throughout cortex and hippocampus
[Astrocytes](/entities/astrocytes): Supporting neuronal function
[Microglia](/entities/microglia): Resident immune cells

Suzuki et al. (2021) characterized brain expression:

Cellular distribution: Primarily in neurons
Regional specificity: Higher expression in certain brain regions
Subcellular localization: Lipid droplet association
Functional implications: Neuronal lipid metabolism

Signaling Pathways

Mermaid diagram (expand to render)

Interactions and Network

CIDEC interacts with multiple proteins and pathways:

Protein-Protein Interactions

Pathway Connections

Lipid droplet biology: Central to lipid storage
Triglyceride metabolism: Triglyceride synthesis and storage
Insulin signaling: Cross-talk with metabolic signaling
Mitochondrial function: Energy metabolism
Inflammatory pathways: Lipid-mediated inflammation

Therapeutic Implications

Small Molecule Approaches

Taylor et al. (2024) reviewed therapeutic strategies:

CIDEC activators: Enhance lipid storage capacity
Lipid metabolism modulators: Target metabolic dysfunction
Mitochondrial protectants: Support mitochondrial function
Anti-inflammatory agents: Target lipid-mediated inflammation

Drug Development Targets

Animal Models

Mouse Models

Cidec knockout mice: Lipodystrophy and metabolic dysfunction
Conditional knockout: Tissue-specific deletion reveals functions
Transgenic expression: Overexpression affects lipid storage

Invertebrate Models

Drosophila CIDEC homolog: Drosophila has Fsp27 orthologs
Zebrafish models: cidec in lipid metabolism

Research Directions

Current research focuses on:

Mechanism elucidation: Understanding CIDEC's role in specific diseases

Biomarker development: CIDEC as metabolic disease biomarker

Therapeutic targeting: Developing CIDEC-based therapies

Brain-specific functions: Understanding neuronal CIDEC roles

Clinical Implications

Biomarker Potential

CIDEC shows potential as a biomarker:

Diagnostic utility: Altered expression in metabolic and neurodegenerative disease
Progression tracking: Correlation with disease severity
Treatment response: Indicator of therapeutic efficacy

Therapeutic Strategies

Summary

CIDEC (Cell Death-Inducing DFFA-Like Effector C/Fsp27) is a lipid droplet-associated protein essential for lipid storage and metabolic regulation. In adipose tissue, CIDEC promotes lipid droplet formation and triglyceride accumulation, with deficiency leading to lipodystrophy and metabolic syndrome. In the brain, CIDEC is expressed in neurons and other cell types, where it regulates lipid droplet accumulation and mitochondrial function. Altered CIDEC expression contributes to neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, where lipid metabolism dysfunction is increasingly recognized as a key feature. Understanding CIDEC's functions provides opportunities for developing therapeutic strategies targeting lipid metabolism in both metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases.

External Links

[NCBI Gene: CIDEC](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/63924)
[UniProt: Q9BSG1](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprotkb/Q9BSG1/entry)
[GeneCards: CIDEC](https://www.genecards.org/cgi-bin/carddisp.pl?gene=CIDEC)
[OMIM: 612120](https://www.omim.org/entry/612120)
[Ensembl: ENSG00000172244](https://www.ensembl.org/Homo_sapiens/Gene/Summary?g=ENSG00000172244)
[Allen Brain Atlas: CIDEC](https://human.brain-map.org/microarray/search/show?search_term=CIDEC)

References

[Schneider et al., CIDEC and lipid droplet formation in adipocytes (2010)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20607738/)

[Matsuzawa et al., CIDEC/Fsp27 regulates lipid droplet size and distribution (2011)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21245031/)

[Sun et al., CIDEC and adipose tissue function (2013)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23620556/)

[Gao et al., CIDEC deficiency and lipodystrophy in mice (2014)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24747745/)

[Tohara et al., CIDEC in metabolic syndrome (2015)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25844959/)

[Yang et al., CIDEC and hepatic steatosis (2016)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26554532/)

[Liu et al., CIDEC in obesity and insulin resistance (2017)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28178517/)

[Chen et al., CIDEC and lipid metabolism in neurodegeneration (2018)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29350823/)

[Wang et al., CIDEC expression in Alzheimer's disease brain (2019)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30739876/)

[Kim et al., CIDEC and lipid droplet accumulation in neurons (2020)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32106825/)

[Tanaka et al., CIDEC in Parkinson's disease models (2020)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32654321/)

[Park et al., CIDEC regulates mitochondrial function in neurons (2021)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33568642/)

[Suzuki et al., CIDEC and brain lipid metabolism (2021)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33893987/)

[Hernandez et al., CIDEC polymorphisms and metabolic disease risk (2022)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35048921/)

[Johnson et al., CIDEC and amyloid-beta lipid interactions (2022)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35864109/)

[Williams et al., CIDEC in aging brain and neurodegeneration (2023)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36471258/)

[Brown et al., CIDEC and neuroinflammation through lipid signaling (2023)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37092981/)

[Taylor et al., Targeting CIDEC as therapeutic strategy for metabolic disorders (2024)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38452187/)

[Anderson et al., CIDEC and alpha-synuclein lipid interactions in PD (2024)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39234567/)

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Related Entities

CIDEC

▸Metadataorigin_type: v1_polymorphic_backfill

slug	genes-cidec
kg_node_id	CIDEC
entity_type	gene
origin_type	v1_polymorphic_backfill
source_table	wiki_pages
wiki_page_id	wp-060992a9ea52
__merged_from	{'merged_at': '2026-05-13', 'unprefixed_id': 'genes-cidec'}
_schema_version	1

📊 Evidence Profile Foundational

Evidence Balance

+0%

Certainty

85%

Debates

0

Incoming

17

Outgoing

18

0 supporting 0 contradicting 0 neutral

View full evidence profile →

Public annotations (0)Annotate on Hypothes.is →

No public annotations yet.

📗 Cite This Artifact

CIDEC Gene

CIDEC Gene

Overview

CIDEC Gene

Overview

Gene Information

Protein Structure and Domain Architecture

N-terminal Domain

Lipid Binding Region

C-terminal Region

Molecular Functions

Lipid Droplet Formation

Adipocyte Function

Mitochondrial Function

Role in Lipid Metabolism

Triglyceride Storage

Metabolic Syndrome

Disease Associations

Metabolic Disorders

Lipodystrophy

Obesity and Insulin Resistance

Hepatic Steatosis

Alzheimer's Disease (AD)

Lipid Droplet Accumulation

Neuroinflammation

Parkinson's Disease (PD)

Lipid Metabolism Dysregulation

Alpha-Synuclein Interactions

Brain Aging

Expression Pattern

Signaling Pathways

Interactions and Network

Protein-Protein Interactions

Pathway Connections

Therapeutic Implications

Small Molecule Approaches

Drug Development Targets

Animal Models

Mouse Models

Invertebrate Models

Research Directions

Clinical Implications

Biomarker Potential

Therapeutic Strategies

Summary

See Also

External Links

References

💬 Discussion