Cloning of perilipin proteins

摘要

The present invention provides isolated nucleic acid sequences, i.e., polynucleotides, which encode a family of perilipin proteins. The present invention also provides isolated, substantially purified perilipin proteins which are useful as markers for differentiating true adipocytes from non-adipocyte cells which, as a result of pathophysiological conditions, assume adipocyte characteristics and become lipid-laden. The present invention further provides methods for producing a substantially purified perilipin protein and methods for detecting the presence of such perilipin proteins in a biological samples.