Pyruvate carboxylase in genetic obesity

Immunoblotting and protein microsequencing were used to identify several adipocyte proteins expressed in an obesity-related fashion in the Zucker rat. One of these was a 116-kDa particulate protein (p116). The p116 levels in adipocytes from 5- to 7-wk-old obese Zucker rats were two- to fivefold higher on a per milligram of protein basis than levels in lean animals and decreased after the induction of streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus. This suggests the change may be related to the actions of insulin. Hepatic levels of p116 did not change. The p116 was purified to homogeneity from obese Zucker rat adipocytes, and polyclonal antisera were prepared against the purified protein in rabbits. Microanalysis of electroblotted p116 proteolytic fragments suggested that p116 was pyruvate carboxylase (PC). Other evidence that p116 was PC included the following: 1) p116 contained biotin, 2) p116 in particulate subcellular fractions was soluble after freeze-lysis, 3) antibodies to p116 reacted with purified hepatic PC, 4) p116 and purified hepatic PC had identical pI and relative molecular weight values, and 5) similar changes were detected in adipocyte p116 and PC enzyme activity during obesity and after the induction of streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus. Increased adipose tissue PC probably contributes to the increased lipogenic capacity of young obese Zucker rat adipocytes.