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Updated: Apr 26, 2026

Measurement of Basal and Forskolin-stimulated Lipolysis in Inguinal Adipose Fat Pads
Published on: July 21, 2017
CD36, but not GPR120, is required for efficient fatty acid utilization during endurance exercise
Mina Fujitani1, Shigenobu Matsumura, Daisaku Masuda
1a Laboratory of Nutrition Chemistry, Graduate School of Agriculture , Kyoto University , Sakyou-ku , Japan.
Abstract:
Fatty acids (FA) are an important energy source during exercise. In addition to its role as an energy supply for skeletal muscle, FA may activate signaling pathways that regulate gene expression. FA translocase/cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) and G protein-coupled receptor GPR120 are long-chain FA receptors. In this study, we investigated the impact of CD36 or GPR120 deletion on energy metabolism during exercise. CD36 has been reported to facilitate cellular transport and oxidation of FA during endurance exercise. We show that CD36 deletion decreased exogenous FA oxidation during exercise, using a combination of (13)C-labeled FA oxidation measurement and indirect calorimetry. In contrast, GPR120 deletion had no observable effect on energy metabolism during exercise. Our results further substantiate that CD36-mediated FA transport plays an essential role in efficient FA oxidation during exercise.
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