Fatty acid metabolism lipid storage

D. Metabolism of fatty acids from lipid storage depots releasing heat... 

Uptake of LCFAs across the lipid-bilayer of most mammalian cells occurs through both a passive diffusion of LCFAs and a protein-mediated LCFA uptake mechanism. At physiological LCFA concentrations (7.5 nM) the protein-mediated, saturable, substrate-specific, and hormonally regulated mechanism of fatty acids accounts for the majority (>90%) of fatty acid uptake by tissues with high LCFA metabolism and storage such as skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, liver,... 

Insulin resistance occurs when the normal response to a given amount of insulin is reduced. Resistance of liver to the effects of insulin results in inadequate suppression of hepatic glucose production insulin resistance of skeletal muscle reduces the amount of glucose taken out of the circulation into skeletal muscle for storage and insulin resistance of adipose tissue results in impaired suppression of lipolysis and increased levels of free fatty acids. Therefore, insulin resistance is associated with a cluster of metabolic abnormalities including elevated blood glucose levels, abnormal blood lipid profile (dyslipidemia), hypertension, and increased expression of inflammatory markers (inflammation). Insulin resistance and this cluster of metabolic abnormalities is strongly associated with obesity, predominantly abdominal (visceral) obesity, and physical inactivity and increased risk for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular and renal disease, as well as some forms of cancer. In addition to obesity, other situations in which insulin resistance occurs includes... 

In adipose tissue, insulin stimulation suppresses triglyceride hydrolysis (to free fatty acids and glycerol) by activating cAMP phosphodiesterase (cAMP PDE). Cyclic AMP, (3, 5 cAMP), is required to stimulate hormone sensitive lipase (HSL), the enzyme which hydrolyses triglyceride within adipocytes PDE converts active 3, 5 cAMP to inactive 5 AMP thus preventing the stimulation of HSL. The net effect of insulin on lipid metabolism is to promote storage. 

Cholesterol is present in all animal tissues, and particularly in neural tissue. It is a major constituent of cellular membranes, in which it regulates fluidity (see p. 216). The storage and transport forms of cholesterol are its esters with fatty acids. In lipoproteins, cholesterol and its fatty acid esters are associated with other lipids (see p.278). Cholesterol is a constituent of the bile and is therefore found in many gallstones. Its biosynthesis, metabolism, and transport are discussed elsewhere (see pp. 172, 312). 

Thus far we have been concerned with the metabolism of fatty acids in relationship to storage and release of energy (chapter 18). In this chapter we focus on the metabolism of lipids that serve other roles (fig. 19.1). Most fatty acids that... 

Palmitic acid may be converted to stearic acid (C1K 0) by elongation of the carbon chain. Desaturation of stearic acid produces oleic acid (C18 1 A9). Linoleic acid (Ci8 2A9,12), however, cannot be synthesized in mammalian tissues. Therefore, it is an essential fatty acid for animals and must be obtained from the diet it has two important metabolic roles. One is to maintain the fluid state of membrane lipids, lipoproteins, and storage lipids. The other role is as a precursor of arachidonic acid, which has a specialized role in the formation of prostaglandins (Sec. 13.9). 

Fat Metabolism The liver also plays a central role in synthesis, oxidation, storage, and distribution of lipids. It not only aids in the absorption of fats through the action of the bile salts, but also (1) both synthesizes and oxidizes fatty acids, cholesterol, triacylglycerols, and phospholipids (the major components of cell membranes) (2) synthesizes most of the plasma lipoproteins and (3) converts carbohydrates and proteins into fat. 

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