Date of Award

6-2018

Document Type

Open Access

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Department

Biology

First Advisor

Brian Cohen

Language

English

Keywords

bariatrics, cortisol, Cushing’s Syndrome, DNA isolation, gel electrophoresis, glucocorticoid receptor (GR), hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis, Metabolic Syndrome (MetS), obesity, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)

Abstract

The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is part of a family of nuclear receptors that control gene expression. In the presence of the steroid hormone cortisol, certain genes are expressed; the products of which control certain features of the body, including but not limited to, blood pressure, serum triglycerides, and blood sugar. There is evidence that these features are major contributors to obesity. Specific polymorphisms of the GR and other regulators of either GR or the closely related mineralocorticoid receptor such as heat shock protein 90 and 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 have been found in our labs and others to be present at a higher frequency in obese populations. Our current research is investigating polymorphisms in these genes as well as the gene encoding the FK506 binding protein (FKBP) which works in conjunction with HSP90 to negatively regulate GR activity. This finding in combination with previous results will lead to a better understanding of the genetic underpinnings of obesity and may reveal novel therapeutic approaches.

In this research, participants from Ellis Bariatrics Hospital allowed us to collect DNA from their cheek cells, that were then isolated t run through PCRs to analyze whether or not mutations were present in these subjects. With the polymorphisms tested, there was an increase in mutant allele frequency in our bariatric sample for FKBP51, decreased frequency for BclI, and no mutations present for TthIII.

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