Metabolite and protein complex linked to liver triglyceride production

A signaling pathway involving the metabolite G3P and the protein complex mTORC1 activates the production of triglycerides in the liver and may contribute to fatty liver disease, according to new work in cells and mice.

Pathway details The pathway begins with G3P, which interacts with mTORC1 to promote triglyceride synthesis. Experiments conducted in cultured cells and in mice demonstrated that disrupting either component reduced triglyceride output.

Disease context Fatty liver disease involves excess triglyceride accumulation in liver cells. The reported pathway offers one mechanism that could increase this accumulation under certain conditions. Further studies would be required to determine whether the same pathway operates in human liver tissue and whether it contributes to disease progression.