Identification and functional analysis of novel bioactive peptides associated with appetite and energy metabolism

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Molecular Basis and Disorders of Control of Apetite and Fat Accumulation
• Project/Area Number: 22126002
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Biological Sciences
• Research Institution: National Cardiovascular Center Research Institute
• Principal Investigator: KANGAWA Kenji 独立行政法人国立循環器病研究センター, 研究所, 所長 (00112417)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): MIYAZATO Mikiya 独立行政法人国立循環器病研究センター, 研究所, 部長 (50291183) ; KISHIMOTO Ichiro 独立行政法人国立循環器病研究センター, 病院, 医長 (80312221)
• Project Period (FY): 2010-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 生理活性ペプチド / 食欲 / エネルギー代謝 / ナトリウム利尿ペプチド / グレリン / BMP-3b

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To search for novel bioactive peptides associated with the control of appetite and fat accumulation, we used the orphan receptor strategy and newly established method to detect cellular impedance change in response to an agonist stimulation, and found some candidates as novel bioactive substances.
By using gene deficient mice of GC-A (natriuretic peptide receptor-A), we demonstrated that natriuretic peptide signal is associated with fat accumulation. Furthermore, we examined the biological and clinical roles of brain natriuretic peptide and ghrelin in the regulation of energy metabolism in human, and found the close association between blood levels of these hormones and indices of obesity. In addition, we showed that BMP-3b is secreted from adipocytes and is involved in adipocyte differentiation and fat accumulation.

Free Research Field

内分泌学