Cell based screening assays for the triglyceride synthesis pathway

1. A high-throughput method for identifying a compound which inhibits the in vivo activity of acyl-coA: diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) in cells, comprising the steps of:

a. contacting a stable isotope labeled fatty acid with said cells in the presence and the absence of said compound under conditions suitable for incorporation into lipids;

b. extracting lipids from said cells in a one-step extraction with isopropyl alcohol;

c. determining the level of a stable isotope labeled triglyceride in the extract obtained from said cells contacted in the presence of said compound;

d. determining the level of a stable isotope labeled triglyceride in the extract obtained from said cells contacted in the absence of said compound;

e. comparing the level of the stable isotope labeled triglyceride in the presence of said compound to the level of the stable isotope labeled triglyceride in the absence of said compound; and

f. selecting a compound for which the level of the stable isotope labeled triglyceride in the presence of said compound is significantly lower than the level of the stable isotope labeled triglyceride in the absence of said compound thereby identifying the compound which inhibits the in vivo activity of DGAT in said cells;

wherein said stable isotope labeled triglyceride is detected by a liquid chromatographic-mass spectrophotometric system; and

wherein said cells are differentiated adipocytes or human hepatoma HUH7 cells and the method identifies an inhibitor of DGAT1 activity, or

wherein said cells are human breast cancer MCF7 cells and the method identifies an inhibitor of DGAT2 activity.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said stable isotope is 13 C.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said stable isotope labeled fatty acid is 13 C 18 -oleic acid.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises the step of depleting endogenous fatty acids prior to contacting the cells with the isotope labeled fatty acid.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the step of depleting comprises culturing the cells with charcoal-treated serum or serum-free medium for an appropriate period of time.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the contacting step comprises incubating the stable isotope labeled fatty acid with the cells in the presence and the absence of said compound for a period of approximately 30 to 120 minutes.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the steps of determining the level of the stable isotope labeled triglyceride is carried out in the presence of isopropyl alcohol.

8. A high-throughput method for identifying a compound which inhibits the in vivo activity of acyl-coA: diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) in cells, consisting essentially of the steps of:

a. depleting endogenous fatty acids present in said cells;

b. contacting said cells with a stable isotope labeled fatty acid in the presence and the absence of said compound under conditions suitable for incorporation into lipids;

c. washing said cells;

d. extracting lipid molecules from said cells in a one-step extraction with isopropyl alcohol;

e. determining the level of a stable isotope labeled triglyceride in the isopropyl alcohol containing extract obtained from said cells contacted in the presence of said compound, in the presence of isopropyl alcohol;

f. determining the level of a stable isotope labeled triglyceride in the isopropyl alcohol containing extract obtained from said cells contacted in the absence of said compound, in the presence of isopropyl alcohol;

g. comparing the level of the stable isotope labeled triglyceride in the presence of said compound to the level of the stable isotope labeled triglyceride in the absence of said compound; and

h. selecting a compound for which the level of the stable isotope labeled triglyceride in the presence of said compound is significantly lower than the level of the stable isotope labeled triglyceride in the absence of said compound thereby identifying the compound which inhibits the in vivo activity of DGAT in said cells;

wherein said stable isotope labeled triglyceride is detected by a liquid chromatographic-mass spectrophotometric system; and

wherein said cells are differentiated adipocytes or human hepatoma HUH7 cells and the method identifies an inhibitor of DGAT1 activity, or wherein said cells are human breast cancer MCF7 cells and the method identifies an inhibitor of DGAT2 activity.

9. A high-throughput method for identifying a compound which inhibits the in vivo activity of acyl-coA: diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) in cells, consisting essentially of the steps of:

a. contacting a stable isotope labeled fatty acid with said cells in the presence and the absence of said compound under conditions suitable for incorporation into lipids;

b. extracting said cells in a one-step extraction with isopropyl alcohol;

c. determining the level of a stable isotope labeled triglyceride in the isopropyl alcohol containing extract obtained from said cells contacted in the presence of said compound;

d. determining the level of a stable isotope labeled triglyceride in the isopropyl alcohol containing extract obtained from said cells contacted in the absence of said compound;

e. comparing the level of the stable isotope labeled triglyceride in the presence of said compound to the level of the stable isotope labeled triglyceride in the absence of said compound; and

f. selecting a compound for which the level of the stable isotope labeled triglyceride in the presence of said compound is significantly lower than the level of the stable isotope labeled triglyceride in the absence of said compound thereby identifying the compound which inhibits the in vivo activity of DGAT in said cells;

wherein said stable isotope labeled triglyceride is detected by a liquid chromatographic-mass spectrophotometric system; and

wherein said cells are differentiated adipocytes or human hepatoma HUH7 cells and the method identifies an inhibitor of DGAT1 activity, or

wherein said cells are human breast cancer MCF7 cells and the method identifies an inhibitor of DGAT2 activity.