Abstract: Objective To study the effect of acylation stimulating protein(ASP) on lipid droplets associated protein TIP47 during the differentiation process of adipocytes and the change of this effect after blocking PLC signal pathway. Methods (1) To treat 3T3-L1 adipocytes at indicated time point during differentiation with ASP、U73122、U73122 and ASP respectively, including control group in the same time. (2) To examine the mRNA and protein expression levels of TIP47 by RT-PCR and Western blot technique respectively. Results (1) Exposure to ASP for certain time resulted in the obvious increase of TIP47 gene and protein expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, compared with the control group; (2) Exposure to U73122 which is blocking agent of PLC signal pathway for certain time resulted in the decrease of TIP47 gene and protein expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, compared with the control group; (3) Gene and protein level of TIP47 in adipocytes treated with both U73122 and ASP was significant lower than that in adipocytes only treated with ASP, while was higher than that in adipocytes only treated with U73122. Conclusions PLC signal pathway plays a role in signal transduction of regulation of ASP on expression of TIP47. These results will further deepen the understanding of adipogenesis of ASP on molecular level, and offer some new thinking for etiology, prevention and treatment of obesity.

Key words: acylation stimulating protein, U73122, TIP47, 3T3-L1 adipocytes, obesity