The Role of the EGF Receptor LET-23 on Lipid Biosynthesis in Caenorhabditis elegans
N. R. Contos
Thesis Abstract
The Caenorhabditis elegans LET-23, which is an Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) receptor, controls multiple developmental pathways. In humans, EGF receptor mutations are implicated in a large number of cancers due to excess signaling promoting cell growth and cell division. Recent work has shown that in C. elegans LET-23 may also affect lipid production, specifically that of the phospholipid phosphatidylcholine. To investigate the role of the LET-23 receptor on lipid production, I have examined the cellular location of a fluorescent-tagged SBP-1 marker under different conditions within the worm and from these inferred levels of lipid production. I will discuss my results and their impact on our understanding of EGF signaling and lipid biosynthesis.
Thesis Intro: As a whole the world is becoming more aware of how fats affect the body. Not only are lipids a key element in cell membranes, they also lead to many issues regarding health. Obesity is an ever-increasing risk factor for many diseases including type II diabetes, cardiac disease, and some forms of cancer (Kopelman 2000). As obesity transitions from little known problem into a full-blown global epidemic, it is important to understand how lipids are synthesized and regulated within the body. Lipid synthesis pathways involve a complex interaction between the endocrine system, tissues, nutrient storage and
Towards the end of his medical training in the early 1980s, Gokhan Hotamisligil was working on a unique tumor case on a patient and found they were comprised primarily of fat cells. The fatty tumors were due to a rare condition, Proteus Syndrome. Working in the field of metabolic regulation Hotamisligil began to explore the underlying pathways for insulin resistance. In his dissertation he discovered that the fat tissue of obese animals and humans were capable of producing inflammatory mediators. His research helped shape the current view of fat tissue as a “discrete, active organ in its own right, continuously exchanging messages with the rest of the body by way of the bloodstream.” By early 2002 Hotamisligil and his laboratory made
It is estimated that males have approximately 3% essential body fat while females have about 12% (Kenny et al., 2015). On the other hand, non-essential fats are the body’s storage of excess fats in the diets. The non-essential fats are stored in the muscles, abdomen and beneath the skin (Kenny et al., 2015). Males are estimated to store approximately 12% non-essential body fat compared to females who store approximately 15% (Kenny et al., 2015). A higher percentage of non-essential body fat indicates that an individual is at higher risk for cardiovascular disease, obesity, and
glycogen 5. differentiation 6. phenylalanine 7. glycogen 8. steroid 9. fatty acid 10.
Within the last half century, the obesity rate in America has increased by twenty one percent from thirteen percent to thirty four percent of adults; while the percent of the population considered overweight has remained stagnate at thirty-four percent. Unfortunately, the increase in the obese population poses a large threat to the health and well-being of United States citizens. Obesity is not only an accumulation of fat mass, but has been linked to many diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. The strain that each of these respective diseases contributes onto the United States healthcare system is great, but how exactly does obesity contribute to the occurrence of these three diseases? What health factors are affected by obesity and lead to the development of chronic illness?
Cholesterol functions in the body as an energy source, and furnishes molecular components for the synthesis of various sex hormones.
Although the mechanism of obesity development is not fully understood, it is confirmed that obesity occurs when energy intake exceeds energy expenditure. There are multiple etiologies for this imbalance, hence, and the rising prevalence of obesity cannot be addressed by a single etiology (Dehghan et al., 2005, p.
On a molecular level, fat tissue is normally the largest organ in humans and is involved in mechanisms and pathways that deal with longevity. Fat tissue is not only involved in energy storage but is also important in immune and endocrine function, thermoregulation, mechanical protection, and tissue regeneration (Tchkonia et al., 2010). Adipose tissue is able to protect against infection and trauma. It is also able to produce and activate hormones, including IL-6, IGF-1, and glucocorticoids, as well as prevent heat loss (Tchkonia et al., 2010). Throughout life, changes in fat distribution and function is constantly occurring and in older individuals, these changes correspond to a number of health disorders like hypertension, cancers, cognitive dysfunction, and diseases like diabetes, heart attacks, and strokes, as previously noted (Tchkonia et al., 2010). As people age, their body composition increases in fat mass and decreases in muscle mass, regardless of their body weight or BMI (Dorner and Rieder, 2011).
There is an established connection with obesity and high lipids. This can result in increased risk of coronary heart disease. In 1995, it was
“ 1. Adipokines are hormones produced by adipose tissue. /…/ Adipokines have effects not only on tissues but [also] on the hypothalamic and pancreatic function. /…/ 2. Elevated serum free fatty acids and high intracellular deposits of triglycerides and cholesterol. These lead to metabolic overload with interfere of insulin signaling and a decrease in tissue response to insulin. 3. Obesity causes release of inflammatory cytokines. /…/ These play an important role in the genesis of a fatty liver [which impairs the function]. 4.
Although many individuals are uncertain about the increasing statistics associated with obesity, more than seventy percent of men and virtually sixty-two percent of women within the United States adult population are overweight or obese (Wilmore, Costill, & Kenney). Obesity refers to the condition of having an excessive amount of body fat. If an individual’s amount of body fat becomes too excessive, he/she is at a much greater risk of developing life-altering diseases such as heart failure, hypertension, type II diabetes, cancer, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, etc. (Wilmore, et al., 2008).
Obesity is defined as the excessive build-up of body fat that has major detrimental effects on an individual’s health (Caballero, 2007). The major cause of this excess accumulation of body fat is due to a positive energy balance i.e. when the input of energy into the body system exceeds the output of energy which in turn facilitates in weight gain (Caballero, 2007). Obesity is a major health issue in modern day society, firstly because it affects approximately 300 million people worldwide (Weight Management Centre and secondly, drastic alteration in the body’s fat intake also leads to the increasing prevalence of other major health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, non-insulin dependent diabetes and hypertension (WMC, 2010).
It was merely a decade ago that the obesity epidemic was thought to only be a minor problem and had only alarmed a small number of endocrinologists interested by the size of the situation (James, 2008). However today, the problem of obesity is vast with more awareness of its presence by doctors and individuals alike. In fact, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention states, “More than one-third (34.9% or 78.6 million) of U.S. adults are obese (CDC, 2014)”. These numbers are outrageous and eye opening, leaving millions looking for a solution to this troubling epidemic. Obesity is not simply a cosmetic flaw as some might think, but is actually a very dangerous state of being for any individual to sustain long-term. Mentioned further in
MacroH2A1.1-overexpressing cells display ameliorated glucose metabolism, 214 reduced expression of lipogenic genes and fatty acid content (40). These associative 215 studies indicate a possible conserved involvement of macroH2A1 isoforms, in lipid 216 metabolism. A number of mechanistic studies using animal have explored this 217 possibility, yielding conflicting outcomes (Table II). Two mouse models with a 218 macroH2A1 knockout have been reported under a standard diet feeding. In the first 219 model, generated in the pure C57Bl/6J background, developmental changes in 220 macroH2A1-mediated gene regulation were observed (42): up-regulation of 221 lipogenic genes was detected in the liver of the knockout mice (42), which displayed 222
Application of EGF was insufficient and inhibition of EGFR signaling prevented MG activation as well as cell cycle re-entry upon retinal explant culture. This data is in agreement with previous studies in mice and rats in and ex vivo (Close et al. 2006; Karl et al. 2008; Löffler et al. 2015; Todd et al. 2015; Ueki and Reh 2013). In contrast, stimulation of EGFR signaling has been shown to be sufficient and necessary to induce MG proliferation in undamaged zebrafish retina (Wan et al. 2012). Thus, differential regulation of MG quiescence and cell cycle states might exist. Cellular quiescence is generally incompletely understood, but recent data demonstrated the role of multiple activation states upon tissue injury (Cheung and Rando 2013;
Cardiovascular diseases are the number one factor that can erupt from obesity due to the main causes that it brings, like high blood pressure, and LDL cholesterol to a high count while lowering HDL. LDL is the “bad cholesterol”, and HDL is the “good cholesterol”. We need fats in our body for energy or ATP, in our body. If we get more LDL, it can really be a dangerous case, and