Date on Senior Honors Thesis
5-2018
Document Type
Senior Honors Thesis
Degree Name
B.A.
Department
Biology
Author's Keywords
obesity; DsbA-L; adiponectin; diabetes
Abstract
Adiponectin is an adipose tissue-secreted protein found in three isoforms. Disulfide bond A oxidoreductase-like protein (DsbA-L) is thought to assist with protomeric disulfide bonding to generate the HMW (high molecular weight) isoform, which regulates insulin sensitivity. Both adiponectin and DsbA-L were previously found to negatively correlate with obesity.
Immunoblots were conducted on adipose tissue samples from male mice fed a high or low-fat diet for 6, 10, or 16 weeks. Immunoblots from high-fat diet-fed mice revealed double bands for DsbA-L. High and low molecular weight bands were analyzed together, revealing significantly higher relative band densities with 10 and 16-week high-fat diet feedings compared to 6-week high-fat diet feedings, as well as with 10-week low-fat diet feedings compared to 6-week low-fat diet feedings. 6-week high-fat diet feedings showed higher relative band density than 6-week low-fat diet feedings. Results indicate significant DsbA-L expression upregulation with increased exposure time to a high-fat diet.
Recommended Citation
Kerley, Madison E., "DsbA-L protein levels in white adipose tissue in an obesity model." (2018). College of Arts & Sciences Senior Honors Theses. Paper 172.
Retrieved from https://ir.library.louisville.edu/honors/172
Lay Summary
Adiponectin is a protein found in fat tissue. It exists in 3 different forms, with disulfide bonding linking up to 18-36 individual adiponectin molecules together in the high molecular weight (HMW) form. Disulfide bond A oxidoreductase-like protein (DsbA-L) is thought to assist with this disulfide bonding to generate the HMW (high molecular weight) form, which regulates the ability of the body to respond to insulin. Adiponectin and DsbA-L both have been have lower levels of expression in individuals with obesity.
Male mice were fed a high or low-fat diet for 6, 10, or 16 weeks. Immunoblots were carried out on these samples to specifically test for the expression of DsbA-L using an anitbody. Instead of the expected single bands, double bands appeared in the immunoblots from high-fat diet-fed mice. The double bands were analyzed together and described in terms of how dark and thick bands were in comparison to one another. There seemed to be significantly higher DsbA-L expression with 10 and 16-week high-fat diet feedings compared to 6-week high-fat diet feedings, as well as with 10-week low-fat diet feedings compared to 6-week low-fat diet feedings. 6-week high-fat diet feedings showed higher expression than 6-week low-fat diet feedings. Results indicate significantly higher DsbA-L expression with increased exposure time to a high-fat diet.
