Triacylglycerol Metabolism In Adipose Tissue

Abstract

Triacylglycerol (TAG) in adipose tissue serves as the major energy storage form in higher eukaryotes. Obesity, resulting from excess white adipose tissue, has increased dramatically in recent years resulting in a serious public health problem. Understanding of adipocyte-specific TAG synthesis and hydrolysis is critical to the development of strategies to treat and prevent obesity and its closely associated diseases, for example, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and atherosclerosis. In this review, we present an overview of the major enzymes in TAG synthesis and lipolysis, including the recent discovery of a novel adipocyte TAG hydrolase. Keywords1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase; desnutrin/adipose triglyceride lipase; diacylglycerol acyltransferase; glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase; hormone-sensitive lipase; lipolysis; phosphatidic acid phosphatase; triacylglycerol White adipose tissue (WAT) is the major energy reserve in higher eukaryotes. The primary purposes of WAT are synthesis and storage of triacylglycerol (TAG) in periods of energy excess, and hydrolysis of TAG to generate fatty acids for use by other organs during periods of energy deprivation [1]. Adipose tissue also secretes adipokines that regulate energy intake and metabolism.The prevalence of obesity resulting from excess WAT has increased dramatically in recent years resulting in a serious public health problem, since obesity is closely associated with a number of disorders including Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and atherosclerosis [2]. While † Author for correspondence, University of California, Department of Nutritional Sciences & Toxicology, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA, adipocyte number has been shown to increase (hyperplasia) in morbid obesity, obesity is primarily attributed to adipocyte hypertrophy that occurs when TAG synthesis (esterification) exceeds TAG breakdown (lipolysis), resulting in elevated TAG storage [1]. Although it has been postulated that large adipocyte size may contribute to insulin resistance, the molecular mechanism is not clear.Paradoxically, the metabolic abnormalities typically found in obesity are also associated with lipodystrophies that are characterized by selective loss of adipose tissue from particular regions of the body [3][4][5][6]. Although the underlying molecular mechanisms are not clear, metabolic complications may result from ectopic storage of TAG in tissues such as the liver and muscle [7][8][9]. A proper capacity for TAG storage in adipocytes is clearly important for normal metabolic regulation. In view of the wide range of health problems associated with improper fat storage and release, it is critical to understand adipocyte-specific regulation of TAG synthesis and hydrolysis. Biosynthesis of triacylglycerolThe synthesis of phosphatidic acid and its subsequent conversion to TAG was described more than 40 years ago by Kennedy and coworkers [10], and is summarized in Figure 1. The initial committal step in this pathway is the formation of lysophosphatidic acid (1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate)...

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Role of amyloid β in the induction of lipolysis and secretion of adipokines from human adipose tissue

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“…2 Various Ab isoforms can be generated from cleavage in the Ab N-terminus such as Ab 3-40/42 , Ab 11-40/42 and Ab 17-40/42 . Alternative peptides can be derived from cleavage at the C-terminus including Ab , Ab , Ab and Ab [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] . Ab [25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] is derived from cleavage at both termini, and is considered the core functional domain of Ab peptides.…”

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