The role of the teneurin C-terminal associated peptide (TCAP) family in energy metabolism and skeletal muscle physiology in protochordates and chordates
Year: 2018
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Stress can be defined as any event that threatens homeostasis. Organisms have a finite source of energy to allocate towards stress-coping mechanisms, while maintaining enough energy for other key life aspects such as growth and reproduction. Thus, when stress demands a higher portion of the energy budget to overcome the stressor, it impacts the overall fitness of the organism. As stress and energy are intrinsically linked, mechanisms of enhancing energy production would provide the organism with a better capacity to deal with stress. Recently, a highly conserved stress-modulating peptide, teneurin C-terminal associated peptide (TCAP), has been described. As TCAP has roles in stress regulation, it led to question if the TCAP family could have roles in energy metabolism. Therefore, the primary objective of this work was to determine if the TCAP family plays a role in skeletal muscle metabolism and stress, in relation to muscle function, as skeletal muscle is a key metabolic regulator and is involved in the organismal stress response. Due to its early evolutionary history, three model organisms were chosen across evolution to study TCAP actions. Using the protochordate, Ciona intestinalis, the cyprinid, Danio rerio, and the rodent, Rattus norvegicus, this research established that the TCAP peptides enhanced contractile function in skeletal muscle via increased metabolic activity, and that these effects are highly conserved. Importantly, the resulting enhanced ATP production provides an increased threshold for stress, as demonstrated by a decrease in stress-related responses with TCAP treatment under stressful conditions. In addition, this work is the first to demonstrate the expression and function of the teneurin/TCAP-ADGRL system in the skeletal muscle of all three organisms, revealing a novel mechanism of action for the TCAP family. Thus, this research provides critical insight into the dynamic regulation of skeletal muscle function and metabolism by the TCAP family.
Source: TSpace (University of Toronto)
Author: Andrea L. D’Aquila
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2911337304