Aquaporin-7 and glycerol permeability as novel obesity drug-target pathways.
Advances in determining the mechanisms that underlie the control of energy balance in mammals have recently been provided by the discovery and characterization of aquaporin-7 (AQP7), a water-glycerol transporter that is present in the plasma membrane of fat-storing cells (adipocytes). Recent studies have shown that the absence of AQP7 expression in fat cells increases glycerol kinase activity, boosting triacylglycerol synthesis and ultimately leading to obesity. Thus, AQP7 operates as a glycerol channel in vivo, whereby adipocyte glycerol permeability has a key role in the regulation of fat accumulation.
Frühbeck
Gema
G
Department of Endocrinology, Clínica Universitaria and Metabolic Research Laboratory, University of Navarra, c/Irunlarrea 1, 31008 Pamplona, Spain. gfruhbeck@unav.es
Catalán
Victoria
V
Gómez-Ambrosi
Javier
J
Rodríguez
Amaia
A
D000818:Animals; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020346:Aquaporins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005990:Glycerol / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout
D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; C491927:Aqp7 protein, mouse; D020346:Aquaporins; D005990:Glycerol