Quick and sensitive determination of gene expression of fatty acid synthase <i>in vitro</i> by using real-time polymerase chain reaction amplification (PCR)

Abstract

Obesity results from an imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure, which leads to a pathological accumulation of adipose tissue, but the underlying mechanism at gene level, is far from being elucidated. The objective of this study was to investigate the correlation between mRNA express from fatty acid synthase (FAS) with a different glucose level in primary adipocytes by real-time polymerase chain reaction amplification (PCR), which can aid in the understanding of the mechanism of obesity in vitro. By using the following formula, this study was able to quantify the mRNA expression of FAS of unknown samples: Y = -3.156X + 41.21 (Y = threshold cycle, X = log starting quantity). The high concentrations of glucose group significantly improved the mRNA expression of FAS (P < 0.01) rather than 0.25 and 0% concentrations of glucose. These results provide significant data that confirm an association between different glucose level and FAS expression in preadipocytes. The glucose concentration of the high group substantially augmented the mRNA expression of FAS.

Key words: Expression, fatty acid synthase, lipid deposition, real-time polymerase chain reaction amplification (PCR).