Research

When nutrient intake exceeds energy expenditure these excess nutrients are stored in adipocytes as triglycerides. Conversely, when energy demand is high, adipocytes mobilize stored triglycerides via lipolysis, releasing free fatty acids and glycerol to be used in the muscle and other tissues. Interestingly, one to two third of fatty acids released by lipolysis are retained in the adipose tissue. While some of these fatty acids are re-esterified, lipolytic adipocytes dramatically increase their rate of oxidative metabolism burning these fatty acids. The resulting lipolysis driven oxidative metabolism is an exergy expending pathway occurring in white adipocytes.

The Reilly lab investigates the signaling pathways regulating fatty acid deposition in lipolytic adipocytes. By elucidating the molecular mechanisms regulating lipolysis driven oxidative metabolism we hope to gain insight into adipocyte metabolism. This pathway could have therapeutic implications for diseases resulting from energy imbalance, such as obesity and cachexia.