The role of prion protein in the regulation of insulin signaling

• Grant number: 12/19003-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: December 01, 2012
• End date: June 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biology
• Principal Investigator: Glaucia Noeli Maroso Hajj
• Grantee: Giovanna de Brito
• Host Institution: A C Camargo Cancer Center. Fundação Antonio Prudente (FAP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The cellular prion protein or PrPc, is a cell surface molecule responsible for triggering several signal transduction cascades and mediate many physiological processes such as protection against apoptosis, induction of proliferation, cell adhesion, among others. Due to its wide range of effects, it is now believed that PrPc is an organizer of lipid rafts in cell membranes. The insulin receptor is a transmembrane protein also present in rafts and interestingly, the absence of components of such platforms, as caveolins, lead to a deficiency in insulin response. We then hypothesize that in the absence of PrPc a disregulation in lipid raft structure could lead to a deficiency in the insulin signaling. Interestingly, preliminary results from our group indicate that cells and animals deficient for PrPc have disabilities in cell signaling in response to insulin. Thus, this project aims to determine the systemic response to insulin in wild-type animals, knockouts and overexpressing PrPc. (AU)