Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects
Date of Award
4-23-2026
Document Type
Honors Paper
Degree Name
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology-BS
Department
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Advisor
Dr. John Tansey
First Committee Member
Dr. John Tansey
Second Committee Member
Dr. Jeffrey Lehman
Third Committee Member
Dr. Sarah Beal
Keywords
Perilipin 5, Splicing, Gene, Obesity, MASLD
Subject Categories
Disease Modeling | Higher Education
Abstract
Perilipins are a family of lipid droplet-associated proteins that play critical roles in regulating lipid storage, mobilization, and cellular energy homeostasis. Among these, perilipin 5 (PLIN5) is highly expressed in oxidative tissues and has been strongly implicated in lipid metabolism and metabolic disease, including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although PLIN5 function has been increasingly studied, the role of alternative splicing in regulating its activity remains poorly understood. This study investigates the presence of splice variants within the PLIN5 gene in Mus musculus, with a focus on regions surrounding exons 7 and 8. Total RNA was extracted from multiple tissues, followed by cDNA synthesis, PCR amplification using exon-specific primers, and agarose gel electrophoresis to analyze transcript length variation. Distinct DNA bands of approximately 100 bp and 300 bp were consistently observed, particularly in samples amplified using exon 8 primers, suggesting the presence of multiple PLIN5 transcript isoforms. These findings support the hypothesis that alternative splicing contributes to PLIN5 transcript diversity in mouse tissues. Given the established role of PLIN5 in lipid droplet regulation, mitochondrial function, and metabolic stress responses, these splice variants may have functional consequences for lipid metabolism and disease progression. Further studies, including sequencing and functional characterization in model systems such as CHO cells, are necessary to determine the biological significance of these variants and their potential as biomarkers or therapeutic targets.
Licensing Permission
Copyright, all rights reserved. Fair Use
Recommended Citation
Andrews, Dylan and Tansey, John, "Effects of Splice Variants in Perilipin 5" (2026). Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects. 207.
https://digitalcommons.otterbein.edu/stu_honor/207
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