Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects
Date of Award
Spring 2023
Document Type
Honors Paper
Department
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Advisor
Dr. John Tansey
First Committee Member
Dr. John Tansey
Second Committee Member
Dr. Brandon Sinn
Third Committee Member
Dr. Cynthia Laurie-Rose
Keywords
Perilipin 5, Lipid Droplet, Actin, Microtubules, Lipid, Immunofluorescence
Subject Categories
Biochemistry
Abstract
Lipid metabolism is the basis of many metabolic diseases that are effecting the US. A rise in the body’s free fatty acids can occur in diseases like diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome, which results in oxidative stress in the mitochondria. In the cell, there are lipid storage droplets that store triacylglycerol and cholesterol esters. On the surface of these droplets the PAT family of proteins can be found, which are involved in the regulation of lipolysis in multiple different ways. Perilipin 5 is a part of this family and is expressed in tissues that have a higher capacity for fatty acid oxidation. While on the lipid droplet, perilipin 5 interacts with ATGL or HSL to regulate lipolysis. Perilipin 5 is phosphorylated by PKA and is found to form a transcriptional complex in the nucleus with PGC-1α and SIRT1 to mediate mitochondrial biogenesis and oxidative function. When in a fasting state, this complex changes the oxidative capacity of the mitochondria so that the increased flux of fatty acids does not damage the cell. This important protective pathway helps protect the cell from damage, yet how this protein initially gets to the nucleus is unknown. There are two common routes for intracellular trafficking, either through actin filaments or microtubules. Cytochalasin B and colchicine were the drugs used to inhibit the dynamics of actin filaments and microtubules, respectively. After one of the cytoskeletal elements was inhibited, the cells were stimulated and the effects of the inhibition on perilipin 5’s movement was examined through immunofluorescent immunochemistry, cell fractioning studies, and immunoprecipitations. The data from the immunofluorescence pointed to a negative result for the use of actin in the translocation to the nucleus and was inconclusive for the use of microtubules. The cell fractioning study and the immunoprecipitation indicated inconclusive results and need further optimization. This study is able to provide information to further the study of intracellular trafficking of perilipin.
Licensing Permission
Copyright, all rights reserved. Fair Use
Recommended Citation
Shields, Mara, "Intracellular Transportation of Perilipin 5" (2023). Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects. 149.
https://digitalcommons.otterbein.edu/stu_honor/149
Acknowledgement 2
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