Running head: SUMMARY OF SURF SYMPOSIUM PROJECTS 1

Summary of SURF Symposium Projects (2 Summary Papers)

Shaun Williams

BIO UN2402

March 28, 2017

Dr. Mowshowitz
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Shaun Williams

Injectable Brown Adipose Tissue in Mice for the Prevention of Obesity and Diabetes

In their project, Ranjodh Singh and fellow researchers aimed to combat the

widespread obesity and diabetes epidemic by replacing white adipose tissue with beige adipose

tissue. The project stems from prior research data linking the increase of mice obesity to the

decrease of Brown adipose tissue throughout development. The difference between white and

brown adipose tissue is the ration of lipids to uncoupling protein (UCP1). The researchers

transplanted beige adipose tissue into mice to measure the effects and record and beneficial

observations specific to reduction in diabetes or obesity of the mice.

The research concepts are present in many areas of the Introduction to Biology course.

Two specific areas are the context of bio-signaling and activation of other proteins, and the

cellular respiration. In protein activation, the function of G-protein coupling receptor (GCPR)

were described. Especially, in the attainment of homeostasis. The UPC-1 protein, also called

thermogenin, conducts thermogenesis -the production of heat through uncoupled respiration. It

reduces the proton gradient created through oxidative phosphorylation by increasing the

permeability of the inner membrane of the mitochondria.

UPC-1 is activated by free floating fatty acids. The fatty acids are generated through the

general G-protein coupling mechanism via the activation of lipase by cyclic adenosine mono-

phosphate (cAMP). This results in the release of heat from the body, and less fat storage that

contributes to obesity and diabetes.

The researchers wanted to know if transplanting brown adipose tissue into mice will help

counter obesity and diabetes in mice. According to their results, the UCP1 staining of the

cultured adipose tissue showed an increase of UCP1. The amount of white adipose tissue was
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Shaun Williams

expected to be reduced, and the amount of body heat was expected to increase. However, there

wasn’t a significant change of the amount of white adipose tissues or the amount of body heat

produced. The researcher determined that there was no significant difference between the mice

after transplanting the brown adipose tissue. He also wanted to try transplanting native brown

adipose tissue, as opposed to cultured, to determine effectiveness. If health benefits are

discovered, he would like to examine the benefits that this research will have on humans.

References

Singh, R., Chung, J., Blumenfeld, N., & Harimoto, T. (2017). Injectable Brown Adipose Tissue

in Mice for the Prevention of Obesity and Diabetes. Department of Biomedical

Engineering, Columbia University.

Nicholls DG, Bernson VS, Heaton GM (1978). "The identification of the component in the inner

membrane of brown adipose tissue mitochondria responsible for regulating energy

dissipation". Experientia. Supplementum. 32: 89–93.

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Shaun Williams

Characterizing Hippocampal Cell Populations Implicated in Neurogenesis-Mediated Stress

Resilience

In this project, Daniel Vacarro and fellow researchers wanted to determine if there was a

direct link to Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis (AHN), and resilience to stress. This project

stems from research data that mice with increased AHN are more resistant to the behavioral

effects of social defeat (SD) stress. They recently discovered that AHN promotes SD stress by

inhibiting the mature neurons in the ventral dentate gyrus.

The project relates to future electrical communication and nervous system topic discussed

in the Introductory to Biology course. The dentate gyrus is a part of the hippocampus (in the

brain) that helps form new memories, investigation of novel things, and is thought to have the

stress-activating neurons. This experiment looked at the inhibitory mechanisms these neurons,

and sought to decrease the stress response in mice. The researchers administered tamoxifen

(TMX), which increases AHN, and measured the growth and activity of the stress-activated

neurons. The mice were also kept in group of five per cage, with free access to food and water.

The mice were then placed in a cage with a lager mouse with a transparent divider between them

for ten days. This was done to place the smaller mouse in continuous stress, and behavioral tests

were performed on the eleventh day.

During behavioral tests, the mouse was placed in a cage with a new larger mouse. The

cage did not have a divider. The researchers measured the amount to time the mouse spent

interacting with the larger mouse in comparison to the control mice. The expected the control

mouse to be more susceptible to SD stress, and therefore interact less with the larger mouse.
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Shaun Williams

The results of this research determined that stress-activity is caused by the ventral

dentate gyrus in mature granule cells, and not in new adult-born cells. It also means that if you

inhibit the growth of these cells, you increase the amount of AHN, and therefore increase the

amount of stress resilience in the mouse. In humans who suffer from anxiety, or stress related

psychological conditions, the results of this study can help develop long-term treatments to

overcome their ailments. I would like to see this research applied in exam and military settings.

References

Vacarro, D., Millette, A., Anacker, C., & Hen, R. (2016). How Adult Hippocampal

Neurogenesis Promotes Stress Resilience. Amgen Scholars Program, Columbia University.

Drew, L., Kheirbek, M., Luna, M., Denny, C., Cloidt, M., Wu, M., Jain, S., Scharfman,

H., and Hen, R. (2013). Activation of Local Inhibitory Circuits in the Dentate Gyrus by Adult-

Born Neurons. (2013, May). The Journal of Neuroscience, 33(18), 7770-7777.