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Updated: Apr 18, 2026

Measuring the Rate of Lipolysis in Ex Vivo Murine Adipose Tissue and Primary Preadipocytes Differentiated In Vitro
Published on: March 17, 2023
FAT FLUX: enzymes, regulators, and pathophysiology of intracellular lipolysis
1Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Abstract:
The great 19(th) century French physiologist Claude Bernard reasoned "Man can learn nothing except by going from the known to the unknown". This premise is particularly applicable to the progression of discoveries made in the field of fat metabolism since Bernard's time. Beginning with his groundbreaking discovery of fat digestion (later termed "lipolysis") in 1848, research addressing the basic processes of cellular storage and mobilization of fat has steadily advanced. Even after 150 years of research dedicated to lipolysis, exciting new principles have continued to emerge in the last 10 years. This Perspective summarizes these recent landmark discoveries in the field and emphasizes their relevance for the pathogenesis of extremely prevalent diseases such as obesity, heart disease, and cancer.
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