Hooke, Catherine

English

University of New Hampshire

University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository
Inquiry Journal 2005 Inquiry Journal
Spring 2005
A Synthetic Activation of Human Fat Cell Energy
Release
Catherine Hooke
University of New Hampshire
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/inquiry_2005
Part of the Animal Sciences Commons
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Inquiry Journal at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It has been
accepted for inclusion in Inquiry Journal 2005 by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For more
information, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.
Recommended Citation
Hooke, Catherine, "A Synthetic Activation of Human Fat Cell Energy Release" (2005). Inquiry Journal. 5.
https://scholars.unh.edu/inquiry_2005/5
  
UNH UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH JOURNAL                         SPRING 2005 
research brief 
A Synthetic Activation of Human Fat Cell Energy 
Release 
 
—Catherine Hooke  
All living cells require energy.  Adipose tissue, or fat, is an efficient storehouse of energy, which can be used as 
fuel for cells when other energy sources run low.  This energy is released from the adipose tissue through 
lipolysis, a process in which fat cells release their stored fat. 
When the body needs energy, such as during exercise, adipose tissue lipolysis is stimulated.   Likewise, when 
individual cells of the body need energy, an enzyme known as AMPK (AMP- activated protein kinase) is 
activated.  Researchers seeking to better understand how cells get their energy during times of need use a 
synthetic stimulator of AMPK, called AICAR (5'-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside), a chemical 
not normally found in the body.  If a reliable synthetic stimulator of AMPK, and thereby lipolysis, could be 
found, this could help in the treatment of diabetes, especially type 2 (adult diabetes).  Such a drug could have 
the same effects as exercise does in stimulating lipolysis.  Previous studies using fat cells in rats showed 
conflicting results regarding the effects of AMPK activation on lipolysis.  This study was the first to examine 
synthetic stimulation of AMPK  and its effects on lipolysis in human fat cells. 
 Adipose tissue was obtained from three liposuction patients, two of normal weight and one overweight.  Fat 
cells, isolated from this tissue, were incubated with isoproterenol (a synthetic hormone that mimics the effects 
of exercise and stimulates lipolysis) in the presence and absence of AICAR. Results showed that overall there 
was no statistically significant effect of AICAR on lipolysis.  However, results differed between subjects: inner 
and outer thigh fat cells from the two normal weight subjects showed no change in lipolysis with the addition of 
AICAR compared to no addition, while bilateral hip fat cells from the overweight subject showed a decrease in 
lipolysis with the addition of AICAR compared to no addition. 
The findings suggest that AMPK's role in lipolysis may be a function of the adipose tissue region, the weight of 
the subject, and/or of individual variations in metabolism.  Because this is the first study to examine the effects 
of AMPK activation on lipolysis in freshly isolated human fat cells, further study is warranted. 
The author would like to thank Dr. Gale Carey for all of her help with this project.   
 
Copyright 2005 Catherine Hooke 
 
 
Author Bio 
Catherine "Katy" Hooke is a 2004 graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a B.S. in animal science. 
Her research on adipose tissue metabolism was her honors thesis, completed with mentor and advisor, 
Professor Gale Carey, professor in the Animal and Nutritional Sciences Department.   
Katy says while conducting her research she learned a lot about adipose tissue metabolism, as well as 
designing and completing a research project and troubleshooting in the lab. She decided that writing about her 
project for Inquiry would be a good opportunity to learn about the process of submitting to a journal and to 
share her research with a larger audience. Currently, Katy is working at the National Institute of Health in 
Washington, D.C., where she has a post-baccalaureate fellowship with the National Cancer Institute.  
Mentor Bio 
Katy says Professor Carey is responsible for sparking her research interest. Carey is a 16-year veteran of 
UNH, specializing in metabolic biochemistry and nutrition.  Over the years she has mentored between 30 and 
35 undergraduates in their work.  
"What a joy it is to be a mentor, and see students discover how wonderfully capable they are!" Carey 
commented, adding that obtaining specimens for Katy's project was a challenge, and she was impressed with 
Katy's diligence, flexibility, and willingness to work, even on her Inquiry article, well after graduation.  "I just 
provided feedback and suggestions" for Katy's writing, she said. "I know the process well... write, revise, 
rewrite, revise, rewrite...  It can seem never-ending!"   
Nonetheless, Carey says she is pleased that students now have the opportunity to finalize the research process 
just as a professional scientist would-by archiving their work with the scientific community, in writing. 
  


A Synthetic Activation of Human Fat Cell Energy Release

UNH Scholars' Repository

University of New HampshireUniversity of New Hampshire Scholars' RepositoryInquiry Journal 2005 Inquiry JournalSpring 2005A Synthetic Activation of Human Fat Cell EnergyReleaseCatherine HookeUniversity of New HampshireFollow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/inquiry_2005Part of the Animal Sciences CommonsThis Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Inquiry Journal at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It has beenaccepted for inclusion in Inquiry Journal 2005 by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For moreinformation, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.Recommended CitationHooke, Catherine, "A Synthetic Activation of Human Fat Cell Energy Release" (2005). Inquiry Journal. 5.https://scholars.unh.edu/inquiry_2005/5  UNH UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH JOURNAL                         SPRING 2005 research brief A Synthetic Activation of Human Fat Cell Energy Release  —Catherine Hooke  All living cells require energy.  Adipose tissue, or fat, is an efficient storehouse of energy, which can be used as fuel for cells when other energy sources run low.  This energy is released from the adipose tissue through lipolysis, a process in which fat cells release their stored fat. When the body needs energy, such as during exercise, adipose tissue lipolysis is stimulated.   Likewise, when individual cells of the body need energy, an enzyme known as AMPK (AMP- activated protein kinase) is activated.  Researchers seeking to better understand how cells get their energy during times of need use a synthetic stimulator of AMPK, called AICAR (5'-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside), a chemical not normally found in the body.  If a reliable synthetic stimulator of AMPK, and thereby lipolysis, could be found, this could help in the treatment of diabetes, especially type 2 (adult diabetes).  Such a drug could have the same effects as exercise does in stimulating lipolysis.  Previous studies using fat cells in rats showed conflicting results regarding the effects of AMPK activation on lipolysis.  This study was the first to examine synthetic stimulation of AMPK  and its effects on lipolysis in human fat cells.  Adipose tissue was obtained from three liposuction patients, two of normal weight and one overweight.  Fat cells, isolated from this tissue, were incubated with isoproterenol (a synthetic hormone that mimics the effects of exercise and stimulates lipolysis) in the presence and absence of AICAR. Results showed that overall there was no statistically significant effect of AICAR on lipolysis.  However, results differed between subjects: inner and outer thigh fat cells from the two normal weight subjects showed no change in lipolysis with the addition of AICAR compared to no addition, while bilateral hip fat cells from the overweight subject showed a decrease in lipolysis with the addition of AICAR compared to no addition. The findings suggest that AMPK's role in lipolysis may be a function of the adipose tissue region, the weight of the subject, and/or of individual variations in metabolism.  Because this is the first study to examine the effects of AMPK activation on lipolysis in freshly isolated human fat cells, further study is warranted. The author would like to thank Dr. Gale Carey for all of her help with this project.    Copyright 2005 Catherine Hooke   Author Bio Catherine "Katy" Hooke is a 2004 graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a B.S. in animal science. Her research on adipose tissue metabolism was her honors thesis, completed with mentor and advisor, Professor Gale Carey, professor in the Animal and Nutritional Sciences Department.   Katy says while conducting her research she learned a lot about adipose tissue metabolism, as well as designing and completing a research project and troubleshooting in the lab. She decided that writing about her project for Inquiry would be a good opportunity to learn about the process of submitting to a journal and to share her research with a larger audience. Currently, Katy is working at the National Institute of Health in Washington, D.C., where she has a post-baccalaureate fellowship with the National Cancer Institute.  Mentor Bio Katy says Professor Carey is responsible for sparking her research interest. Carey is a 16-year veteran of UNH, specializing in metabolic biochemistry and nutrition.  Over the years she has mentored between 30 and 35 undergraduates in their work.  "What a joy it is to be a mentor, and see students discover how wonderfully capable they are!" Carey commented, adding that obtaining specimens for Katy's project was a challenge, and she was impressed with Katy's diligence, flexibility, and willingness to work, even on her Inquiry article, well after graduation.  "I just provided feedback and suggestions" for Katy's writing, she said. "I know the process well... write, revise, rewrite, revise, rewrite...  It can seem never-ending!"   Nonetheless, Carey says she is pleased that students now have the opportunity to finalize the research process just as a professional scientist would-by archiving their work with the scientific community, in writing.   

https://scholars.unh.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1004&amp;context=inquiry_2005

A Synthetic Activation of Human Fat Cell Energy Release

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