Effect of the Enzyme PM20D1 on Metabolism and Thermogenesis in Mice and Humans

• Grant number: 22/00956-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: March 01, 2022
• End date: February 28, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - General Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Licio Augusto Velloso
• Grantee: Marcela Reymond Simoes
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07607-8 - OCRC - Obesity and Comorbidities Research Center, AP.CEPID

Abstract

The increase in obesity prevalence, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, has significantly impacted public health due to its association with many comorbidities. This disease, initially expressed mainly in adults, has now also been observed in children and adolescents. Therefore, there is great concern surrounding the metabolic and cardiovascular health of future generations. Conventional behavior strategies for weight loss focus on decreasing food intake and increasing physical activity. However, there is low adhesion to these strategies. There has been an increase in studies that focus on alternative strategies to treat obesity, such as bariatric surgery and medications. These techniques have already been approved by regulatory bodies, but they result in only a slight decrease in body mass and consequently cause a decrease in energy expenditure. A new and promising strategy to increase energy expenditure, which might be used in combination with other weight loss strategies, is via brown adipose tissue thermogenesis due to the uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) located in its mitochondria. It is well accepted that BAT is activated by nutritional surplus and cold exposure, and it is believed that different nutritional and drug therapies can also lead to its activation. Recently, it has been demonstrated that UCP1-independent mechanisms can also have a role in BAT thermogenesis. One of these mechanisms is via the enzyme Pm20d1 and the biomolecule N-acyl amino acid. Therefore, the goal of this project is to investigate the effect of the enzyme Pm20d1 on metabolism and thermogenesis in mice and humans.

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)

SIMOES, MARCELA R.; BOMBASSARO, BRUNA; GALLO-FERRAZ, ANA LUISA; NOGUEIRA, PEDRO A. S.; MONFORT-PIRES, MILENA; ZANESCO, ARIANE M.; VALDIVIESO-RIVERA, FERNANDO; NOGUEIRA, GUILHERME A. S.; SPONTON, CARLOS H.; CASTILHO, ROGER F.; et al. Balb/c mice are protected from glucose and acute cold intolerance. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR BASIS OF DISEASE, v. 1871, n. 5, p. 14-pg., 2025-03-03. (22/00956-6, 20/14725-0, 17/17728-8, 13/07607-8)