Role of hypothalamic S6Ks in metabolic regulation

• Grant number: 18/07018-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: August 01, 2018
• End date: December 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nutrition - Nutrition Biochemistry
• Principal Investigator: Fernando Moreira Simabuco
• Grantee: Mariana Rosolen Tavares
• Supervisor: Carol Fuzeti Elias
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Aplicadas (FCA). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Limeira , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Michigan, United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 15/24475-3 - Modulation of expression of S6Ks in the central nervous system and its effects in obesity, BP.DD

Abstract

Obesity has been considered a worldwide epidemic. WHO data are categorical in assert that obesity is responsible for a number of pathologies development, including type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, dyslipidemia, osteoarthritis and some cancers. Therefore, there is a great demand for a better understanding of biochemical and metabolic processes related to obesity. The mTOR protein pathway has been associated to the control of energy balance acting as a sensor of available nutrients and as a signal for the energy expenditure or energy storage. The present research project aims to study the different S6Ks proteins, known as effectors of the mTOR directed response, in the central nervous system (CNS) and their consequences for the energetic homeostasis. The project's proposal is to use a Cre-dependent adeno-associated viral (AAV) system to overexpress the S6Ks isoforms (p70-S6K1 and p54-S6K2) in adult male POMC-Cre mice, available at the University of Michigan, under the supervision Dr. Carol Elias. The S6Ks overexpression will be directed to specific neurons that express POMC neuropeptides in the hypothalamus, allowing the specific analysis of their effects. Regarding problems involving obesity, its associated diseases and the mTOR/S6Ks pathway's role in metabolism control, it is expected that the development of the present research project may bring forward greater understanding of the biochemical and metabolic processes behind these conditions, in addition to the possibility of developing of more effective and safer treatments. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

TAVARES, MARIANA ROSOLEN; LEMES, SIMONE FERREIRA; DE FANTE, THAIS; DE MIERA, CRISTINA SAENZ; BETIM PAVAN, ISADORA CAROLINA; NEVES BEZERRA, ROSANGELA MARIA; PRADA, PATRICIA OLIVEIRA; TORSONI, MARCIO ALBERTO; ELIAS, CAROL FUZETI; SIMABUCO, FERNANDO MOREIRA. Modulation of hypothalamic S6K1 and S6K2 alters feeding behavior and systemic glucose metabolism. Journal of Endocrinology, v. 244, n. 1, p. 71-82, JAN 2020. (12/13558-7, 13/22696-7, 18/14818-9, 18/07018-6, 15/24475-3, 16/06457-0)