A　better　understanding　of　the　mechanisms　underlying　obesity　and　its　comorbidities　is　key　to　designing　new　therapies　and　treatments.　PPAR　gamma　is　a　master　regulator　of　adipocyte　biology　but　the　functions　of　its　isoforms　are　poorly　distinguished.　Here　we　demonstrated　that　PPAR　gamma　1　is　preferentially　expressed　in　catabolic　fat　depots　while　PPAR　gamma　2　presents　itself　at　a　higher　level　in　browning　-resistant　depots.　PPAR　gamma　2,　but　not　PPAR　gamma　1,　responds　to　endogenous　ligands　to　induce　adipogenesis,　and　the　isoforms　regulate　distinct　sets　of　white　and　brown　adipocyte　genes.　Moreover,　PPAR　gamma　1　negatively　correlates　while　PPAR　gamma　2　positively　correlates　with　adiposity　in　human　subcutaneous　and　visceral　fat.　These　results　together　indicate　that　PPAR　gamma　1　and　PPAR　gamma　2　have　distinct　functions　in　regulating　adipocyte　plasticity,　and　future　research　should　take　into　account　the　binary　roles　of　both　isoforms　in　order　to　identify　druggable　gene　targets　and　pathways　relevant　for　treatment　of　metabolic　disorders.　(C)　2016　Elsevier　Inc.　All　rights　reserved.