Weight gain and accumulation of excess fat stores greatly increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Although the mechanisms linking excess triglyceride accumulation to diabetes are still unclear adipose tissue plays an important role since its primary function is the safe storage and handling of lipid. With the onset of obesity adipocytes undergo changes in fatty acid handling and adipokine secretion that are drivers of the insulin resistance phenotype. We are interested in studying the metabolic changes that occur in adipocytes after triglyceride loading. We have found that alterations in the flow of substrates in fuel oxidation pathways can have a substantial impact on adipocyte physiologic function. Our focus is on identifying the metabolic signals that link fuel oxidation pathways with adipocyte processes such as lipolysis, adipokine secretion and insulin action.

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