Whereas the role of adipose tissue in glucose and lipid homeostasis is widely recognized,
its role in systemic protein and amino acid metabolism is less well-appreciated. In vitro and
ex vivo experiments suggest that adipose tissue can metabolize substantial amounts of
branched chain amino acids (BCAAs). However, the role of adipose tissue in regulating
BCAA metabolism in vivo is controversial. Interest in the contribution of adipose tissue to
BCAA metabolism has been renewed with recent observations demonstrating down …