PRDM16, also known as Mel1, is a zinc finger protein that plays a role in the differentiation of brown adipose tissue, which plays a role in dissipating heat in response to cold or excess feeding. PRDM16 works together with CEBPB to regulate the differentiation of myoblastic precursors into brown adipose cells. PRDM16 is also a repressor of TGF beta signalling, interacting with SKI to promote the recruitment of the SMAD3-HDAC1 complex to the promoter of TGF beta target genes.