Immunofluorescent localization of acetyl CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthetase and pyruvate carboxylase during the adipocyte conversion of 3T3 fibroblasts.

Three enzymes involved in the conversion of 3T3-L2 fibroblasts into fat cells, acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC), fatty acid synthetase (FAS) and pyruvate carboxylase (PC) have been localized by immunofluorescence techniques. The method enables the identification of cells undergoing the conversion while they are still fibroblastic in appearance, often before the obvious appearance of fat droplets. Specific fluorescence for each enzyme can be seen in "clones" of cells derived from single cells, which may undergo an event during logarithmic growth, which programs the cells to differentiate subsequent to confluence of and addition of induction medium.