Translocation of hormone-sensitive lipase and perilipin upon lipolytic stimulation of rat adipocytes

Abstract

Adipocyte lipolysis was compared with hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL)/perilipin subcellular distribution and perilipin phosphorylation using Western blot analysis. Under basal conditions, HSL resided predominantly in the cytosol and unphosphorylated perilipin upon the lipid droplet. Upon lipolytic stimulation of adipocytes isolated from young rats with the beta-adrenergic agonist, isoproterenol, HSL translocated from the cytosol to the lipid droplet, but there was no movement of perilipin from the droplet to the cytosol; however, perilipin phosphorylation was observed. By contrast, upon lipolytic stimulation and perilipin phosphorylation in cells from more mature rats, there was no HSL translocation but a significant movement of perilipin away from the lipid droplet. Adipocytes from younger rats had markedly greater rates of lipolysis than those from the older rats. Thus high rates of lipolysis require translocation of HSL to the lipid droplet and translocation of HSL and perilipin can occur independently of each other. A loss of the ability to translocate HSL to the lipid droplet probably contributes to the diminished lipolytic response to catecholamines with age.