Project Number: 6250-51000-055-40
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Apr 01, 2009
End Date: Mar 31, 2014

Objective:
Objective 1. Investigate changes of SIRT3 gene expression in the liver by various physiological and pathophysiological stimuli, and study the effects of SIRT3 expression on hepatic metabolism, oxidative stress, and fat deposition. Sub-objective 1.A. Investigate whether SIRT3 expression in the liver is regulated by various physiological and pathophysiological stimuli. Sub-objective 1.B. Study SIRT3 action in hepatocytes by over-expression or RNAi knockdown of SIRT3. Sub-objective 1.C. Investigate the effect of SIRT3 on liver oxidative stress and steatosis during obesity and diabetes. Objective 2. Determine the role of protein kinase C interacting cousin of thioredoxin (PICOT) in insulin-mediated growth, macronutrient metabolism, and insulin resistance in the liver. Characterize PICOT and link it to redox signaling in the liver. Sub-objective 2.A. Define the regulatory mechanism underlying how a novel redox-regulatory gene, PICOT, responds to nutrient homeostasis. Sub-objective 2.B. Investigate the function of PICOT in liver and dissect the cross talk between PICOT-mediated redox regulation and insulin action and signaling that contributes to insulin resistance. Objective 3. Define the central action of glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) receptor on food intake and inter-organ macronutrient flux. Characterize the peripheral role of GLP-2 receptor in energy expenditure and glucose homeostasis. Sub-objective 3.A. Define the central action and signaling network of GLP-2 receptor (GLP-2R) on food intake and glucose homeostasis. Sub-objective 3.B. Characterize the peripheral, physiological role of GLP-2 receptor in energy expenditure and glucose homeostasis. Objective 4. Study ghrelin peptide expression profile under different diet regimes. Objective 5. Charactize metabolic profile. Sub-Objective 5.A. Whole body analysis. Sub-Objective 5.B. Functional analysis. Objective 6. Conduct mechanistic analyses of differences in metabolic profile between WT and null mice. Objective 7. Confirm the predicted lipotropic effects of lecithin, choline and betaine in our high fat fed mouse models of the metabolic syndrome. Objective 8. Test impact of liver specific LRH-1 knockout on the lipotropic effects of lecithin, choline and betaine in high fat fed mouse models of the metabolic syndrome. Objective 9: Unravel the complex brain circuits that are physiologically relevant in the control of energy and glucose balance.

Approach:
To elucidate the physiological roles of SIRT3 and PICOT (monothiol glutaredoxin 3, GRX3) genes in liver, the expression of these two genes in cultured hepatocytes and in mice responding to physiological and nutritional stimuli will be investigated by Children's Nutrition Research Center scientists. In addition, SIRT3 or PICOT will be over-expressed or suppressed by RNA interference using adenoviral delivery into cultured hepatocytes or mice liver to study their functions. Knockout mice of SIRT3 or picot genes will also be investigated under nutritional interventions. Furthermore, mice with GLP-2 receptor deficiency specifically in the POMC neurons will be generated, and intracerebroventricular (icv) infusion of GLP-2 in mice will be performed to study the physiological function of GLP-2 receptor and the role in regulation of glucose and energy homeostasis. A primary culture model of hippocampal neurons and an ex vivo model of hypothalamic slices will also be established to explore GLP-2-mediated intracellular action and neuronal signaling using the whole-cell patch clamp technique. Researchers will characterize the role of ghrelin and its receptor in nutritional regulation of energy and glucose homeostasis. Additionally, we will explore the impact of the dietary supplementation on additional pathways thought to link obesity and insulin resistance. The study will further our understanding of nutritional interventions, which may provide new information for dietary guidelines, and lead to novel therapeutic and nutritional approaches for managing obesity and diabetes. Manipulate specific receptors to alter the susceptibility of animal models to binge eat for understanding homeostasis.