Insulin rapidly increases glycerol-3-phosphate-acyltransferase activity in rat adipocytes

Glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (G3PAT) was activated by insulin in intact rat adipocytes within 1 min: this activation persisted for 10 min, and was due to a decrease in the Km of the enzyme. The addition of insulin to control adipocyte membranes also increased G3PAT activity, and this effect was mimicked by phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C. Cytosol fractions from insulin-treated adipocytes stimulated G3PAT activity of control membranes, suggesting that a soluble mediator is released during insulin action, possibly through activation of a PI-specific PLC.