The paper shows a second fat-mobilizing system in adipocytes.
Early fasting and adrenergic stress rely on the canonical neutral lipases, with ATGL as the rate-limiting enzyme.
Prolonged fasting shifts control to a lysosomal pathway that uses lysosomal acid lipase (LAL/LIPA) and is driven by MiT/TFE transcription factors (TFEB, TFE3, MITF).
Blocking lysosomes pharmacologically or genetically reduces fasting-induced release of free fatty acids and glycerol in mice.
Human support: nutrient restriction in human adipocytes and human fat explants also shows LIPA-dependent lipolysis.
Simple physiology model (sequence during a fast):
0–6 h: post-absorptive. Glycogen supplies glucose. Lipolysis is low.