The complex cascade of biochemical signals and hormonal interactions that initiate and regulate the breakdown of triglycerides stored within adipocytes (fat cells) into free fatty acids and glycerol. This process, known as lipolysis, is a critical mechanism for mobilizing energy reserves to meet the body’s metabolic demands. Efficient signaling is essential for healthy body composition and metabolic flexibility.
Origin
The concept originates in metabolic biochemistry and endocrinology, focusing on the hormonal control of energy substrate mobilization. Key discoveries involving hormones like epinephrine, norepinephrine, and glucagon established the pathway’s central role in energy homeostasis. The term highlights the regulatory communication that dictates fat release.
Mechanism
The signaling pathway begins with the binding of lipolytic hormones to their receptors on the adipocyte surface, activating adenylyl cyclase and increasing intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP). This rise in cAMP activates Protein Kinase A (PKA), which then phosphorylates and activates Hormone-Sensitive Lipase (HSL) and Perilipin. These activated enzymes catalyze the hydrolysis of triglycerides, releasing fatty acids into the bloodstream for use as fuel by other tissues.
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