Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
34
pubmed:dateCreated
2004-8-16
pubmed:abstractText
Transport of free fatty acids (FFA) across the adipocyte plasma membrane is critical for maintaining homeostasis. To determine the membrane's role in regulating transport we describe here the first measurements of the intracellular (unbound) FFA concentration ([FFA(i)]) and their use in monitoring transport of FFA across 3T3F442A adipocytes. [FFA(i)] was measured by microinjecting cells with ADIFAB, a fluorescently labeled fatty acid-binding protein that is used to measure unbound FFA levels. We used ratio fluorescence microscopy of intracellular ADIFAB to image unbound FFA levels and determined the time course of [FFA(i)] in response to changing the extracellular unbound FFA concentration ([FFA(o)]). [FFA(o)] was clamped at defined levels using complexes of FFA and bovine serum albumin. We show that FFA influx is slow, requiring about 300 s to reach steady state (rate constant approximately 0.02 s(-1)) and saturable (K(o) approximately 200 nm). Efflux is twice as fast as influx, for zero [FFA(o)], but decreases with increasing [FFA(o)]. Surprisingly, at steady state [FFA(i)] is 2-5-fold (average 2-fold) greater than [FFA(o)] and this [FFA(i)]/[FFA(o)] gradient is abolished by depleting cellular ATP. Our results indicate that FFA transport across adipocyte membranes is highly regulated, involving an ATP-driven pump and a mechanism for gating efflux that is sensitive to [FFA(o)]. These characteristics are well described by a membrane carrier model but are not consistent with FFA transport across the membrane's lipid phase. We suggest that these characteristics are important in regulating circulating FFA levels by the adipocyte.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Aug
pubmed:issn
0021-9258
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
20
pubmed:volume
279
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
35775-80
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-11-14
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2004
pubmed:articleTitle
Fatty acid transport in adipocytes monitored by imaging intracellular free fatty acid levels.
pubmed:affiliation
Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, San Diego, California 92121, USA.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.