Quantitative Determination of De Novo Fatty Acid Synthesis in Brown Adipose Tissue Using Deuterium Oxide

Summary

Here, we present an inexpensive quantitative method utilizing deuterium oxide and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS) for the analysis of total fatty acid de novo lipogenesis in brown adipose tissue in vivo.

Abstract

Fatty acid synthesis is a complex and highly energy demanding metabolic pathway with important functional roles in the control of whole-body metabolic homeostasis and other physiological and pathological processes. Contrary to other key metabolic pathways, such as glucose disposal, fatty acid synthesis is not routinely functionally assessed, leading to incomplete interpretations of metabolic status. In addition, there is a lack of publicly available detailed protocols suitable for newcomers in the field. Here, we describe an inexpensive quantitative method utilizing deuterium oxide and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS) for the analysis of total fatty acid de novo synthesis in brown adipose tissue in vivo. This method measures the synthesis of the products of fatty acid synthase independently of a carbon source, and it is potentially useful for virtually any tissue, in any mouse model, and under any external perturbation. Details on the sample preparation for GCMS and downstream calculations are provided. We focus on the analysis of brown fat due to its high levels of de novo fatty acid synthesis and critical roles in maintaining metabolic homeostasis.

Introduction

Obesity and associated metabolic diseases are a pandemic that endanger present and future generations^1,2. Commonly simplified as the consequence of the imbalance between energy intake and expenditure, the metabolic dysregulation associated with obesity affects a large number of metabolic pathways controlled by environmental and endogenous factors³. However, only a few pathways are routinely tested in animal models of metabolic dysregulation.

As an example, glucose disposal is routinely measured by glucose and insulin tolerance tests, probably due to the simpl....

Protocol

All experiments were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

1. Preparation of D₂O

NOTE: To avoid experimental variation, prepare sufficient solution/drinking water for all mice for the duration of the experiment.

1. For intraperitoneal injection: generate 0.9% w/v saline D₂O by dissolving 9 g of NaCl per liter of D₂O. Filter through a.......

Discussion

Understanding the balance and interaction between complex metabolic pathways is an indispensable step toward understanding the biological basis of metabolic related diseases. Here, we show a noninvasive and inexpensive methodology to determine changes in de novo fatty acid synthesis. This method is adapted from previously published methods which developed calculations for estimating de novo synthesis flux from fatty acid deuterium enrichment³¹ and for using deuterium-acetone exch.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
4 mL Glass Vials	Fisher Scientific	14-955-334
0.2 µm filter	Olympus Plastic	25-244
26G needeled syringes	BD	309597
Acetone	Merck	34850
Acetonitrile	Merck	900667
Blue GC screw cap with septa	Agilent	5190-1599
Centrifuge	Eppendorf	5424R
Chloroform	Sigma	366927
Deuterium oxide	Sigma	151882
Di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol (BHT) Select FAME Column	Merck	B1378
Di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol (BHT) Select FAME Column	Agilent	CP7419
EDTA tube	Sarstedt	411395105
Ethanol	Merck	51976
Hexadecenoic-d31 Acid	Larodan	71-1631
Hexane	Merck	34859
Methanol	Merck	34860
Microcentrifuge tube	Olympus Plastic	24-282
Mouse environmental chamber	Caron	Caron 7001-33
Potasium Chloride	Fisher Bioreagents	BP366-500
Potasium Phosphate	MP Biomedicals	194727
SafeLock microcentrifuge tubes	Eppendorf	30120086
Screw top amber GC vial	Agilent	5182-0716
Sodium Chloride	Fisher Bioreagents	BP358-212
Sodium Hydroxide	Merck	S5881
Sodium Phosphate, dibasic	Fisher Bioreagents	BP332-500
Sodium Sulfate	Merck	239313
Sulfuric Acid	Merck	258105
Vial insert	Agilent	5183-2088