Adipose differentiation related protein: expression, purification of recombinant protein in Escherichia coli and characterization of its fatty acid binding properties.

Adipose differentiation related protein (ADRP) is a 53 kDa protein encoded by a cDNA originally cloned by differential hybridization from murine adipocytes. ADRP is induced during the early onset of the adipose differentiation program and is expressed at high level in mature adipocytes. We have demonstrated that ADRP stimulated the uptake of fatty acids thereby providing evidence for a functional role of ADRP in lipid metabolism.