Lipolysis

This image illustrates the three separate steps of hydrolysis involved in lipolysis. In the first step, triacylglycerol is hydrolyzed to make diacylglycerol and this is catalyzed by adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL). In the second step, diacylglycerol is hydrolyzed to make monoacylglycerol and this is catalyzed by hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL). In the last step, monoacylglycerol is hydrolyzed to make glycerol and this is catalyzed by monoacylglycerol lipase (MGL).
Example of a triacylglycerol

Lipolysis /lɪˈpɒlɪsɪs/ is the metabolic pathway through which lipid triglycerides are hydrolyzed into a glycerol and free fatty acids. It is used to mobilize stored energy during fasting or exercise, and usually occurs in fat adipocytes. The most important regulatory hormone in lipolysis is insulin; lipolysis can only occur when insulin action falls to low levels, as occurs during fasting. Other hormones that affect lipolysis include leptin,[1] glucagon,[2] epinephrine, norepinephrine, growth hormone, atrial natriuretic peptide, brain natriuretic peptide, and cortisol.[3]

  1. ^ Wang, May-Yun; Lee, Young; Unger, Roger H. (June 1999). "Novel Form of Lipolysis Induced by Leptin". Journal of Biological Chemistry. 274 (25): 17541–17544. doi:10.1074/jbc.274.25.17541. PMID 10364187.
  2. ^ Duncan, Robin E.; Ahmadian, Maryam; Jaworski, Kathy; Sarkadi-Nagy, Eszter; Sul, Hei Sook (August 2007). "Regulation of Lipolysis in Adipocytes". Annual Review of Nutrition. 27 (1): 79–101. doi:10.1146/annurev.nutr.27.061406.093734. PMC 2885771. PMID 17313320.
  3. ^ Nielsen, TS; Jessen, N; Jørgensen, JO; Møller, N; Lund, S (June 2014). "Dissecting adipose tissue lipolysis: molecular regulation and implications for metabolic disease". Journal of Molecular Endocrinology. 52 (3): R199–222. doi:10.1530/JME-13-0277. PMID 24577718.