Targeting Glutamine Synthesis Inhibits Stem Cell Adipogenesis in Vitro

Abstract

Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the body and has a metabolic role as a precursor for protein, amino sugar and nucleotide synthesis. After glucose, glutamine is the main source of energy in cells and has recently been shown to be an important carbon source for de novo lipogenesis. Glutamine is synthesized by the enzyme glutamine synthetase, a mitochondrial enzyme that is active during adipocyte differentiation suggesting a regulatory role in this process. The aim of our study was therefore to investigate whether glutamine status impacts on the differentiation of adipocytes and lipid droplet accumulation.