title: Enhanced glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in adipose tissue of obese humans.
abstract: The primary purpose of this investigation was to determine whether adipose tissue glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity is associated with human obesity. The data presented in this paper indicate that the glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in adipose tissue from morbidly obese subjects is approximately 2-fold higher than from lean individuals. Moreover, positive correlation between adipose tissue glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity and body mass index (BMI) (r = 0.5; p < 0.01) was found. In contrast, the adipose tissue fatty acid synthase (FAS) and ATP-citrate lyase (ACL) activities in morbidly obese patients are significantly lower than in lean subjects. Furthermore, negative correlation between adipose tissue FAS activity and BMI (r = -0.3; p < 0.05) as well as between ACL activity and BMI (r = -0.3; p < 0.05) was found. These data indicate that elevated glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase might contribute to the increase of triacylglycerol (TAG) synthesis in obese subjects, however, fatty acids necessary for glycerol 3-phosphate esterification must be derived (because of lower FAS and ACL activities) mainly from TAG in circulating lipoproteins formed in liver (VLDL), and/or from the intake with food (chylomicrons). The conclusion is, that the enhanced activity of glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and hence the generation of more glycerol 3-phosphate in adipose tissue offers a novel explanation for increased TAG production in adipose tissue of obese subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland. juls@amedec.amg.gda.pl
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Swierczynski
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zabrocka
authors.forename: Elzbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Goyke
authors.forename: Sylwia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raczynska
authors.forename: Walenty
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Adamonis
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sledzinski
mesh_terms: D001275:ATP Citrate (pro-S)-Lyase / Q000378:metabolism; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000201:enzymology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D064429:Fatty Acid Synthases / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005993:Glycerolphosphate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000201:enzymology*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D005993:Glycerolphosphate Dehydrogenase; D064429:Fatty Acid Synthases; D001275:ATP Citrate (pro-S)-Lyase