Stimulation of fatty acid synthesis by 4β‐phorbol‐12‐myristate‐13‐acetate in isolated rat hepatocytes

Abstract
The tumor‐promoting agent 4β‐phorbol‐12‐myristate‐13‐acetate (TPA) is shown to be a potent stimulator of fatty acid synthesis in isolated rat hepatocytes. The maximal effect of TPA is seen at 10−6 M, and the concentration for half‐maximal effect is ca. 10−8 M. Stimulation of fatty acid synthesis by TPA is shown not to require the presence of extracellular Ca++. TPA produces a significant increase in lactate and pyruvate accumulation. The possible involvement of protein kinase C in short‐term regulation of fatty acid synthesis in the liver is discussed.