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Updated: May 30, 2026
11:14
Fatty Acid 13C Isotopologue Profiling Provides Insight into Trophic Carbon Transfer and Lipid Metabolism of Invertebrate Consumers
Published on: April 17, 2018
Isoprenoid is a perfect fit for fat factor.
1School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. aj.brown@unsw.edu.au
The Biochemical Journal
|July 29, 2011
Summary
Farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) may be a natural ligand for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), a key regulator of fat cell differentiation. This discovery impacts understanding of obesity, diabetes, and circadian rhythms.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Nuclear receptors are crucial transcription factors regulating growth, reproduction, and metabolism.
- Nuclear receptors are significant drug targets, but their endogenous ligands are not always fully understood.
- Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is a master regulator of adipocyte differentiation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify potential physiological ligands for PPARγ.
- To investigate the role of isoprenoids as ligands for nuclear receptors.
Main Methods:
- Biochemical assays to test ligand binding to PPARγ.
- Studies on adipocyte differentiation in response to FPP.
Main Results:
- Evidence suggests farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) acts as a bona fide ligand for PPARγ.
- FPP binding influences PPARγ's role in adipocyte differentiation.
Conclusions:
- FPP is identified as a physiological ligand for PPARγ.
- This finding has implications for metabolic diseases like obesity and diabetes, as well as osteoporosis and circadian rhythm regulation.
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