Last edited: 9/5/2021

1. TRIGLYCERIDE SYNTHESIS
Metabolism | Triglyceride Synthesis Medical Editor: Uta Hüning

OUTLINE
(2) Action
I) GENERAL
II) TAG SYNTHESIS (i) 1. step
III) FATE OF TAG Add FA-CoA#1 to 1st carbon of glycerol-3-P
IV) SUMMARY CoA released
By: acyl transferase
V) APPENDIX FA-CoA#1 is saturated (no double bonds)
VI) REVIEW QUESTIONS Product: lysophosphatitic acid (MAG-P)
VII) REFERENCES
I) GENERAL

(1) What are Triglycerides?

Triglyceride (TG) or triacylglyceride (TAG)
Ester derived from glycerol and 3 FA
TAGs are the main part of body fat in humans [Ferrier, D. R.
(2017)]

(2) Where are they produced?

In the smooth endoplasmic reticulum of: [Ferrier, D. R. (2017)]
o Liver (mainly)
o Adipose tissue

II) TAG SYNTHESIS

TAG Synthesis = lipogenesis
(1) Components
3 Fatty Acyl-CoA’s Figure 2: Addition of first FA-CoA to first carbon of glycerol-3-P
o Saturated and unsaturated (usually 16C)
o Source: FA synthesis (ii) 2. step
 Activation of FA by CoA
Add FA-CoA#2 to 2nd carbon of glycerol-3-P
Glycerol-3-Phosphate CoA released
o Phosphate group on 3rd carbon By: acyl transferase
o Source: lipolysis, glycolysis FA-CoA#2 is unsaturated (double bond)
 Lipolysis in adipose tissue: Product: phosphatidic acid (DAG-P)
• Lipolysis breaks TAG into FA + Glycerol
• Glycerol Kinase adds phosphate group (only in
liver) → Glycerol-3-P
 Glycolysis:
• Produces dihydroxyacetone phosphate
(DHAP)
• DHAP reduced by NADPH → Glycerol-3-P

Figure 1: Origin of Glycerol-3-Phosphate

Figure 3: Addition of second FA-CoA to second carbon of

glycerol-3-P

(iii) 3. step:
Before we add FA-CoA#3 to 3rd carbon of glycerol-3-P, we need to remove the phosphate group on 3rd carbon

TRIGLYCERIDE SYNTHESIS METABOLISM: Note #1. 1 of 3

 Phosphate group released by phosphatase
Product: diacylglyceride (DAG)
Add FA-CoA#3 to 3rd carbon of glycerol-3-P
CoA released
By: acyl transferase
Product: triglyceride (TG) / triacylglyceride (TAG)

Figure 4: Removal of phosphate group and addition of third FA-CoA to third carbon of Glycerol-3-P

III) FATE OF TAG

packaged into VLDL
transported to adipose tissue for deposition as fats

IV) SUMMARY

(1) Add 1st FA-CoA to 1st carbon on Glycerol-3-P

By acyl transferase
Product: lysophosphatidic acid
(2) Add 2nd FA-CoA to 2nd carbon on Glycerol-3-P
By acyl transferase
Product: phosphatidic acid
(3) Remove Phosphate group from 3rd carbon on G-3-P
By phosphatase
Product: DAG Figure 5: First FA-CoA will be connected to first, second FA-
CoA to second and third FA-CoA to third carbon of glycerol-3-P
(4) Add 3 FA-CoA to 3 carbon on Glycerol-backbone
rd rd

By acyl transferase
Product: TAG

Figure 6: The final product is a TAG

2 of 3 METABOLISM: Note #1. TRIGLYCERIDE SYNTHESIS

 V) APPENDIX

Figure 7: Overview TAG Synthesis

4) Arrange the products of TAG synthesis in the correct

VI) REVIEW QUESTIONS
order:
1) Where does TAG Synthesis take place? a) Phosphatidic Acid
a) In muscles and skin b) TAG
b) In liver and adipose tissue c) DAG-Phosphate
c) In muscles and liver d) Lysophosphatidic Acid
d) In adipose tissue and skin
5) How are the TAG later transported?
2) Which enzyme phosphorylates Glycerol and where a) LDL
can it be found? b) HDL
a) Glucokinase in the liver c) VLDL
b) Hexokinase in adipocytes d) Chylomicrons
c) Glycerol Kinase in the liver
CHECK YOUR ANSWERS
d) Glycerol Kinase in adipocytes

3) Which reaction needs to happen before the third FA-

VII) REFERENCES
CoA can be added to Glycerol backbone?
a) Phosphorylation ● Ferrier, D. R. (2017). Lippincott illustrated reviews:
Biochemistry (7th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer.
b) Acetylation
c) Hydration
d) Dephosphorylation

TRIGLYCERIDE SYNTHESIS METABOLISM: Note #1. 3 of 3