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FWF Stand-alone project P-30800

AGMO: Impact on Adipocyte Differentiation

Project leader:
Assoc.Prof. Priv.-Doz. Mag. Katrin Watschinger, PhD
Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biocenter
Medical University of Innsbruck

Approved: 02.10.2017
Grants awarded: 342,426.00 €
Project start: 01.12.2017
Project end: 30.11.2021
Science discipline: Medical-Theoretical Sciences, Pharmacy (100%)

Abstract:

Tetrahydrobiopterin is a vitamin-like cofactor with well-defined roles in the reactions catalysed by the aromatic amino acid hydroxylases and nitric oxide synthases. We recently identified the fifth enzyme dependent of this cofactor, alkylglycerol monooxygenase, and discovered a new and unanticipated impact of both tetrahydrobiopterin and alkylglycerol monooxygenase on lipid metabolism and cellular lipid signalling.

This proposal will explore, for the first time, entirely novel roles for alkylglycerol monooxygenase in signalling and cell differentiation, where recent findings in fat cell maturation indicate that alkylglycerol monooxygenase is expected to play a central role. We will tackle this central aim by spanning a bridge from cell lines to primary cells and by combining established methods with ground-breaking high resolution lipidomics and novel, unique mouse models for alkylglycerol monooxygenase.

Pivotal roles for alkylglycerol monooxygenase in lipid metabolism would identify an entirely new therapeutic target with great future potential for treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes, two of the world’s most threatening health issues.