Adiponectin (Acrp30)

Adiponectin is an adipose-derived secreted protein containing 226 amino acid residues. It is relatively abundant in humans and rodents, accounting for about 0.01% of total plasma protein. The circulating levels of adiponectin are decreased under conditions of obesity, insulin resistance, and type II diabetes. Disruption of adiponectin in mice causes insulin resistance and neointimal formation. Conversely, administration of recombinant adiponectin suppresses hepatic glucose production, and reverses insulin resistance associated with both lipoatrophy and obesity. The protective role of adiponectin is attributed to its anti-inflammatory properties (e.g. ability to suppress expression of TNF-α and class A scavenger receptor in macrophages). Recombinant adiponectin is a multimeric glycoprotein containing amino acids Glu-19 to Asn-244 of the adiponectin precursor protein fused to an N-terminal histidine tag. Monomeric glycosylated adiponectin migrates at an apparent molecular weight of approximately 35.0 kDa by SDS PAGE analysis under reducing conditions.