PPAR-gamma Activation in the Fat Cell

This animation shows how the PPAR-gamma receptor can activate fat storage and changes in hormone levels.

PPAR-gamma (PPAR-γ or PPARG) belongs to a family of nuclear receptors that regulate the burning or storing of fat. The animation illustrates what happens when the PPAR-gamma receptor, located inside a nucleus, is activated by a drug used to treat diabetes. The receptor triggers the expression of genes that cause a fat cell to store fat instead of releasing it into the body. This increase in stored fat also changes the levels of certain hormones released by the fat cell.

This animation is a clip from a 2004 Holiday Lecture Series, The Science of Fat. Depending on students’ background, it may be helpful to pause the animation at various points to discuss different molecules or steps in the process.