Effects of adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) in function and phenotype of adipose tissue, lipid homeostasis and function of other tissues

• Grant number: 12/05179-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): August 01, 2012
• Effective date (End): December 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - General Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Fabio Bessa Lima
• Grantee: Andressa Bolsoni Lopes
• Supervisor: Hei Sook Sul
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Research place: University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), United States

Abstract

White adipose tissue is the major reservoir of energy in the body storing the excess of energy from diet as triacylglycerol. The amount of triacylgycerol stored in the adipose tissue depends on the balance between triacylglycerol synthesis and degradation denominated as lipogenesis and lipolysis, respectively. Lipolysis refers to sequential hydrolysis of triacylglycerol to diacylglycerol, monoacylglycerol and consequently glycerol and fatty acids, such processes being catalyzed by the actions of the enzymes adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) and monoacylglcyerol lipase (MGL), respectively. Among these enzymes, ATGL plays an important role in the determination of lipolytic rates due its important role catalyzing the first step in triacyglycerol hydrolysis. Because several body tissue use fatty acids released from adipose tissue as a energy suplly in periods of energetic demand, ATGL and adipose tissue lipolysis plays an important role in the regulation of lipid homeostasis. Dysregulation of such fined regulate lipid homeostasis, however, may result in cronically elevated circulating levels of fatty acids and ectopic deposition of lipids that are associated with the development of metabolic diseases such as diabetes, hepatic steatosis and cardiovascular disease. During my training at Dr Hei Sook Sul laboratory, we will investigate the effects of adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) in function and phenotype of adipose tissue, lipid homeostasis and function of other tissues. To accomplish this, experiments will be performed with genetically modified mice harbouring a tissue specific deletion of ATGL (Cre-lox technology), primary cells obtained from the mice and immortalized cell lineages where lipid and glucose homeostasis will be evaluated. (AU)