Biological Localization and Functionality of Allenic Carotenoids

本研究通过诱导腹水中UCP1的表达，阐明了岩藻黄质减肥作用的分子机制。推测岩藻黄质的减肥作用是由于其特殊的结构，即多烯类发色团中含有两个类胡萝卜素末端环，其中含有联苯键、羟基和环氧基。因此，从岩藻黄质中分离出来的其他类胡萝卜素或裂解产物不能表现出岩藻黄质所具有的活性。岩藻黄质还可以通过调节腹水中脂肪细胞因子的分泌来改善胰岛素抵抗和降低血糖水平。岩藻黄质提高葡萄糖利用率的另一个重要分子机制是上调葡萄糖转运蛋白4(GLUT4)并促进其从胞浆转运到细胞膜。

In the present study, molecular mechanisms were made clear for the anti-obesity effect of fucoxanthin by the induction of UCP1 in abdominal WAT. The anti-obesity effect of fucoxanthin was suggested to be due to its specific structure that contains two carotenoid end rings of the polyene chromophore containing allenic bond and OH and epoxy groups. Therefore, other allenic carotenoids or scission products from fucoxanthin could not show such activities as found in fucoxanthin. Fucoxanthin also improves insulin resistance and decreases blood glucose level through the regulation of adipocytokine secretions from the abdominal WAT. Another important molecular mechanism for the improvement of glucose utilization by fucoxanthin will be glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) up-regulation and promotion of its translocation to cell membrane from cytosol.