Nutritional regulation of lipogenic enzyme gene expression in rat epididymal adipose tissue

The time courses of gene expression, and the nutritional regulation of gene expression of lipogenic enzymes (acetyl-CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthase, ATP citrate-lyase, malic enzyme, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) in epididymal adipose tissue after refeeding food-deprived rats have been investigated and compared with those in liver (previously reported). The mRNA concentrations of lipogenic enzymes reached maximum levels at 24 h after the refeeding in adipose tissue and at 8-16 h in liver, while the enzyme induction reached maximum at 48-72 h in both tissues. Moreover, the mRNAs were more strongly induced in adipose tissue than in liver, whereas the enzyme induction (except malic enzyme) was lower. In adipose tissue of rats fed a carbohydrate diet without protein, the mRNA concentrations of acetyl-CoA carboxylase, ATP-citrate lyase, malic enzyme, and fatty acid synthase reached comparable levels to those of the carbohydrate/protein diet group. The protein feeding increased the enzyme induction in adipose tissue. As regards reduction of gene expression, lipogenic enzyme mRNA concentrations were not so markedly reduced by starvation or polyunsaturated fatty acids in adipose tissue as in liver. The differences in regulation of lipogenic enzyme gene expression and induction between adipose tissue and liver can be ascribed to tissue specificity.