The research for the origin of medium-chain fatty acid modifying ghrelin in mice

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K14557
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Morphology/Structure
• Research Institution: Saitama University
• Principal Investigator: SAKATA Ichiro 埼玉大学, 理工学研究科, 准教授 (80610831)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: グレリン / 側鎖修飾 / 長鎖脂肪酸 / 中鎖脂肪酸 / β酸化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Ghrelin is 28-amino acids peptide hormone and Ser3 of ghrelin is modified by medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA). This modification is essential for ghrelin activities. We examined three possibilities of the MCFA origin; diet, intestinal bacteria and de novo synthesis using mice and ghrelinoma cell lines (PG-1 cell). We found that a fat-free diet and the removal of intestinal microbiota did not decrease acyl-ghrelin production in the stomach or plasma acyl-ghrelin levels in mice. Blockage of β-oxidation in PG-1 cells strongly decreased acylated ghrelin levels. These results suggest the medium-chain fatty acid used for the acyl-modification of ghrelin is produced in ghrelin-producing cells themselves by β-oxidation of long-chain fatty acids.

Free Research Field

内分泌学