Triglyceride-Glo™ Assay

Rapid and Sensitive Triglyceride Detection in Biological Samples

The Triglyceride-Glo™ Assay is a bioluminescent assay for rapid and sensitive measurement of triglycerides in cultured cell lysates and other biological samples, such as cell culture medium, serum and tissue homogenates. The assay is ideal for measuring triglyceride accumulation and clearance in normal and pathological conditions. Examples include adipocytes, liver samples or cell culture liver models where excess triglyceride accumulation causes steatosis, an early hallmark of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

How the Assay Works

The Triglyceride-Glo™ Assay detects triglyceride levels by measuring glycerol that is released from an enzymatic reaction with a lipase: one mole of glycerol per mole of triglyceride. Glycerol is measured in a coupled reaction scheme that links the production of NADH to the activation of a proluciferin that produces light with luciferase. The amount of triglyceride is determined from the difference of glycerol measured in the absence (free glycerol) and presence (total glycerol) of lipase. Lipase converts triglyceride (TAG) to glycerol. Glycerol kinase and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase are used to generate NADH. In the presence of NADH, Reductase enzymatically reduces a proluciferin Reductase Substrate to luciferin. Luciferin is detected in a luciferase reaction using Ultra-Glo™ Luciferase and ATP, and the amount of light produced is proportional to the amount of glycerol in the sample.

The triglyceride assay measures glycerol released from an enzymatic reaction with a lipase.

Simple Protocol is Compatible with Diverse Sample Types

Organic Extraction is Not Required

Adipocytes differentiated from 3T3L1-MBX fibroblasts were measured with or without an organic extraction method and the Triglyceride-Glo™ Assay. One set of wells was extracted with methanol, transferred to a glass vial and allowed to evaporate to dryness overnight.

No organic extraction was performed on the other set of wells. Both samples were then extracted with the Lysis Solution and triglyceride levels were measured. The triglyceride recovery without organic extraction was higher and less variable over six replicates.

Organic extraction is not required for triglyceride measurement.

Triglyceride Levels in Human Liver Microtissues

Quantifying triglyceride levels in liver cells is used in liver disorder research for disorders such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Here, human liver microtissues are used to model steatosis of liver cells and quantitating triglyceride levels.

3D InSight™ human Liver Microtissues (MT, InSphero, ~1150 cells/well) were incubated for 3 and 10 days in serum-free medium containing either physiological (LG/LI) or supraphysiological (LG/HI) levels of glucose and insulin and supplementation with either free fatty acids bound to BSA (FFA) or low density lipoprotein plasma fraction (LDL). The microtissues were washed twice in PBS and assayed for total glycerol content according to the standard protocol, as intracellular glycerol content does not contribute significantly to the total glycerol content. Values were plotted as concentration of triglyceride per MT. The data was provided by InSphero, AG, Zurich, Switzerland.

Quantitate Triglyceride Levels in Differentiated Adipocytes

The lipid accumulation in differentiating adipocytes was monitored with Oil Red O staining and the Triglyceride-Glo™ Assay. Parallel plates of 3T3L1-MBX fibroblasts were differentiated following standard protocol.

At days 5, 12, 14 and 21 (Panels A–D, respectively) the parallel plates were either stained with Oil Red O or assayed with the Triglyceride-Glo™ Assay for total glycerol content. The Triglyceride-Glo™ Assay quantitatively measures triglycerides levels in differentiated adipocytes.

The simple sample preparation protocol includes only a detergent lysis step and sample dilution prior to triglyceride quantification. No organic extraction or extreme heating steps are required.

Lipid accumulation in differentiating adipocytes monitored with Oil Red O staining and the Triglyceride-Glo Assay

Protocols

Complete Protocol

Triglyceride-Glo™ Assay Technical ManualPDF (2554 KB) – English

Quick Protocols

Triglyceride-Glo FB229PDF (133 KB) – English

What's in the box?

Item	Part #	Size	Concentration
Reductase Substrate	G885A	1 × 55μl
Glycerol Lysis Solution	J315A	1 × 10ml
Kinetic Enhancer	J316A	1 × 50μl
Glycerol Detection Solution	J317A	1 × 5ml
Lipoprotein Lipase	J318A	1 × 400μl
Glycerol Standard	J324A	1 × 500μl	20mM

SDS

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Certificate of Analysis

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Use Restrictions

For Research Use Only. Not for Use in Diagnostic Procedures.

Storage Conditions

Patents and Disclaimers

U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,273,343 and 9,951,372, European Pat. No. 2751089, Japanese Pat. No. 6067019 and other patents pending.