Synthesis of fatty acid (FA) in adipose tissue requires cooperation of mitochondrial and cytoplasmic enzymes. Mitochondria are required for the production of ATP and they also support the formation of acetyl-CoA and NADPH in cytoplasm. Since cellular levels of all these metabolites depend on the efficiency of mitochondrial energy conversion, mitochondrial proton leak via uncoupling proteins (UCPs) could modulate FA synthesis. In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, 2,4-dinitrophenol depressed the synthesis of FA 4-fold while increasing FA oxidation 1. 5-fold and the production of lactate 14-fold. Inhibition of FA synthesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes was proportional to the decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential. FA synthesis from D-[U-(14)C] glucose was reduced up to fourfold by ectopic UCP1 in the white fat of transgenic aP2-Ucp1 mice, reflecting the magnitude of UCP1 expression in different fat depots and the reduction of adiposity. Transcript levels for lipogenic enzymes were lower in the white fat of the transgenic mice than in the control animals. Our results show that uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation depresses FA synthesis in white fat. Reduction of adiposity via mitochondrial uncoupling in white fat not only reflects increased energy expenditure, but also decreased in situ lipogenesis.

To test if mitochondrial uncoupling in white adipocytes is responsible for obesity resistance of the aP2-Ucp transgenic mice expressing ectopic uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) in white fat, mitochondrial membrane potential (v v8 8 m ) was estimated by flow cytometry in adipocytes isolated from gonadal fat. Ectopic UCP1 (approximately 0.8 mol UCP1/mol respiratory chain) decreased the v v8 8 m and rendered the potential sensitive to GDP and fatty acids. These ligands of UCP1 had no effect on v v8 8 m in white adipocytes from non-transgenic mice, suggesting that the function of endogenous UCP2 in adipocytes was not affected. The results support the hypothesis that mitochondrial uncoupling in white fat may prevent development of obesity.z 1999 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.

In vitro experiments suggest that stimulation of lipolysis by catecholamines in adipocytes depends on the energy status of these cells. We tested whether mitochondrial uncoupling proteins (UCPs) that control the efficiency of ATP production could affect lipolysis and noradrenaline signalling in white fat in vivo. The lipolytic effect of noradrenaline was lowered by ectopic UCP1 in white adipocytes of aP2-Ucp1 transgenic mice, overexpressing the UCP1 gene from the aP2 gene promoter, reflecting the magnitude of UCP1 expression, the impaired stimulation of cAMP levels by noradrenaline and the reduction of the ATP/ADP ratio in different fat depots. Thus only subcutaneous but not epididymal fat was affected. UCP1 also down-regulated the expression of hormone-sensitive lipase and lowered its activity, and altered the expression of trimeric G-proteins in adipocytes. The adipose tissue content of the stimulatory G-protein alpha subunit was increased while that of the inhibitory G-protein alpha subunits decreased in response to UCP1 expression. Our results support the idea that the energy status of cells, and the ATP/ADP ratio in particular, modulates the lipolytic effects of noradrenaline in adipose tissue in vivo. They also demonstrate changes at the G-protein level that tend to overcome the reduction of lipolysis when ATP level in adipocytes is low. Therefore, respiratory uncoupling may exert a broad effect on hormonal signalling in adipocytes.