Lipogenesis: Investigating the Synthesis of Fats from Acetyl-CoA

Acetyl-CoA carboxylase converts acetyl-CoA to malonyl-CoA, which is the first committed step in lipogenesis.

Malonyl-CoA is a substrate for fatty acid synthase and is used to elongate the growing fatty acid chain.

Fatty acid synthase catalyzes the condensation of malonyl-CoA with acetyl-CoA to form a four-carbon intermediate.

NADPH is a cofactor for fatty acid synthase and is used to reduce the growing fatty acid chain.

Glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase catalyzes the transfer of a fatty acid from acyl-CoA to glycerol-3-phosphate, forming a phosphatidic acid.

Phosphatidic acid is a substrate for diacylglycerol acyltransferase and is used to form a triacylglycerol.

Phosphatidic acid phosphatase catalyzes the conversion of phosphatidic acid to diacylglycerol by removing the phosphate group.

Diacylglycerol is a substrate for triacylglycerol acyltransferase and is used to form a triacylglycerol.

Triacylglycerol acyltransferase catalyzes the transfer of a fatty acid from acyl-CoA to diacylglycerol, forming a triacylglycerol.

Triacylglycerol is a storage form of fatty acids and is the final product of lipogenesis.

Lipogenesis primarily occurs in adipose tissue, where fatty acids are stored as triacylglycerols.

Insulin stimulates lipogenesis by activating acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthase.

Glucagon inhibits lipogenesis by inactivating acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthase.

Leptin inhibits lipogenesis by reducing the expression of acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthase.

AMPK inhibits lipogenesis by phosphorylating and inactivating acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthase.