Exploring obesity with respect to the mTOR pathway and its regulating micro-RNAs and to epigenetic changes in the methylation pattern of obesity associated genes

• Applicants: Dr. Sebastian Holländer; Privatdozentin Claudia Rubie, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Endocrinology, Diabetology, Metabolism ; Gastroenterology ; Human Genetics
• Term: from 2020 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 441645438

Obesity is currently considered a chronic disease attended by increased morbidity and mortality risk. As obesity is frequently associated with diabetes mellitus type 2 and metabolic syndrome, we plan to explore the role of the mTOR pathway and its regulating micro-RNA miR-496 with respect to the obesity disease in this application. According to the current state of knowledge, innate and also acquired changes of DNA impact widely variance of body weight. Since an aberrant methylation pattern was already demonstrated in obese patients compared to volunteers with normal weight we also plan to study epigenetic changes associated with the development of obesity. In conclusion, we aim to investigate the cause and development of the obesity disease with respect to the mTOR pathway and its regulating micro-RNA miR-496 and to investigate epigenetic changes in the methylation pattern of obesity associated genes.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants