Effects of Retinoic Acid on Leptin in Brown Adipose Tissue Template

Understanding metabolic regulation has become increasingly important as the global obesity rate rises. One important aspect of energy expenditure is thermogenesis, a process whereby brown adipose tissue (BAT) produces heat to help maintain body temperature. This process increases the activity of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), a regulated protein channel which is found selectively in the inner mitochondrial membrane of BAT and allows BAT to make heat. Leptin is a hormone generated by fat cells in our body. When you eat, your body fat increases, and the numerous fat cells produce leptin. Its main target is the hypothalamus, a region of the brain that regulates energy balance by reducing food intake and increasing energy expenditure, including thermogenesis. Thermogenesis in BAT is also regulated by atRAwhich is synthesized from vitamin A, and functions to help cells differentiate and develop, acting as an activator of differentiated adipose tissue. One of the transcriptional targets of atRA is UCP1. Our work looks at the role of two key signals that affect thermogenesis: leptin, and all-trans-retinoic acid (atRA). While it is clear leptin and atRA all regulate thermogenesis in BAT, the interrelationship between these signals is not well understood. To gain a better understanding, we will carry out an experiment to determine the effects of atRA on leptin synthesis and secretion