Effect Of Folate Deficiency On Expression Of Proteins On The Mtor Signaling Pathway In The Brain Of C57/bl6 Mice

ABSTRACT EFFECT OF FOLATE DEFICIENCY ON EXPRESSION OF PROTEINS ON THE mTOR SIGNALING PATHWAY IN THE BRAIN OF C57/BL6 MICE by NIKITA PATEL December 2014 Advisor: Dr. Ahmad Heydari Major: Nutrition and Food Science Degree: Master of Science Nutrient-gene interactions can significantly impact several cellular processes in the human body by altering important molecular pathways. Nutrition can affect brain structure, function and development throughout the life cycle; it can have a profound effect on cognition ad mental health leading to neurodegenerative diseases. It is important to elucidate the mechanisms by which diet can effect signaling pathways in the brain. The alteration of the mTOR pathway has been implicated to be involved in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases. Due to the established role of folate playing a role in modulating the mTOR pathway, we decided to investigate how folate deficiency alters mTOR signaling in the brain. We hypothesized that dietary folate restriction alters the mTOR signaling network in the brain to provide protection against the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. In response to the FD diet we observed higher autophagy occurrence however increased expression of p-S6K and p-AKT contrary to decreased REDD-I and increased IPMK expression suggested mTOR activation. Higher autophagy occurrence was indicated by increased expression of Beclin and LC3. Interestingly enough, even though IPMK levels suggested mTOR inhibition, another upstream effector p-AMPK suggested mTOR activation