EMBO J (2013) 32 1, 45–59 doi:; DOI: 10.1038/emboj.2012.306; published online November 23 2012
Sequence-specific DNA-binding transcription factors (TFs) bind throughout the genome to orchestrate the process of adipocyte differentiation in an exquisitely timed and precise manner. TF binding recruits histone-modifying enzymes, resulting in dynamic epigenomic modifications that correlate with extensive gene expression changes. In this issue of The EMBO Journal, Wang et al (2012) demonstrate a critical role for the SET-containing histone methyltransferase G9a in generating repressive chromatin marks that are lost in the process of adipogenesis.