Role of NAD+ consumers in Lipid Homeostasis
Open Access
- Author:
- Munoz, Isabella
- Area of Honors:
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Melanie Mc Reynolds, Thesis Supervisor
Timothy Charles Meredith, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- Caenorhabditis elegans
NAD+
PNC-1
metabolism
lipid accumulation
NA
NAD+ consumers - Abstract:
- This thesis delves into the intricate relationship between consumer activity, NAD+ biosynthesis, and lipid metabolism using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism. By examining the function of the PNC-1 enzyme and its mutations, the study aims to comprehend how reducing consumer activity affects fat formation. The mechanisms involved in NAD+ biosynthesis, which are crucial for energy metabolism and cellular redox functions, are thoroughly examined. This helps to clarify how different pathways related to NAD+ production and recycling are interconnected. The research demonstrates the critical role of NAD+ in maintaining cellular homeostasis and highlights how dysregulation of NAD+ metabolism can lead to conditions such as obesity and age-related illnesses. In particular, the impact of gene alterations on lipid accumulation and NAD+ levels are investigated for tir-1, parp-1, and parp-2. Experiments utilizing Oil Red O staining and NA supplementation provide important new understandings of how these mutations affect lipid accumulation and how NA supplementation may be used therapeutically to reduce lipid accumulation in some mutant strains. The research also sheds light on the possibility that NAM inhibits NAD+ consumers, which adds to our understanding of the complex regulatory processes regulating lipid metabolism. These findings not only deepen our understanding of the role of NAD+ in lipid homeostasis but also offer potential avenues for therapeutic interventions targeting NAD+ metabolism in the context of obesity, metabolic diseases, aging, and neurodegenerative disorders. Future directions include exploring the specific mechanisms underlying the observed effects and investigating additional therapeutic targets within the NAD+ metabolic pathway.