Grant: Operating Grant - PA: Regional Partnership Program - Newfoundland and Labrador

The alarming rate of increase in obesity in Western society has led to a significant increase in obesity-related disorders including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer. Society's approach to dealing with obesity requires multifaceted efforts at many levels, from public health and education to a complete understanding of fat metabolism at the cellular and molecular level. The fat cells in our body, the adipocytes, are the pivotal players in fat storage and metabolism. A molecule called PPAR gamma in these cells is a "master" regulator that controls adipocyte number, size and function. We have discovered a critical modulator of PPAR gamma called mesoderm induction early response 1 alpha (MIER1 alpha) and our preliminary work provides evidence that knocking out MIER1 alpha significantly reduces the number of fat cells that form. Our hypothesis is that MIER1 alpha is crucial for adipocyte formation and function. This proposal outlines key experiments that will determine the role of MIER1 alpha in developing and mature human adipose tissue. We believe that MIER1 alpha has the potential to provide a novel target for the design of therapeutic drugs for the treatment of obesity.