Introduction to Biochemistry - End of session 2.5 assessment - Part 2

A lipid droplet.

It is a mutation in a gene - therefore it is not acquired not HIV related, it is familial partial lipodystrophy.

I thought for a healthy cycle we need it to live and then die, so I chose the first one, but no, the answer is development, differentiation and survival.

If we have a genetic mutation leading to constitutive inactivation of ATGL, the lipid droplet will never be able to go through lipolysis, so lipid droplet stays.

If we have a mismatch between caloric intake and energy expenditure, lipid droplet will not be consumed fast enough and stays.

That's the two reasons why we have ectopic fat deposition.

All options involves genetic mutation in the X gene is wrong because it is mutating one gene only. Antiretroviral treatment is not a genetic mutation, so it is wrong as well. The option "Obesity due to mutations in a group of non-allelic genes" is the only correct choice.

Caloric imbalance and insulin resistance is obvious. Not sure about the chronic inflammation part at first, but it is also a correct choice. The gene mutation choices are wrong.

The guy is obviously accumulating fat. It is not a problem in triglyceride synthesis, nor it is lipodystrophy. While I guess junk food is a possible reason, you don't usually have muscle weakness.

It is likely to be an acquired metabolic syndrome, at least that's what I thought.

The correct answer is:

You suspect the patient carries a mutation in a gene regulating lipolysis and recommends a genetic test to confirm.

I would wonder, why a genetic mutation related problem shows up when the man is already 42 years old, not sure why ... there must be some environmental trigger.