Carnitine acetyltransferase (Crat) in hunger-sensing AgRP neurons permits adaptation to calorie restriction.

ABSTRACT: Hunger-sensing agouti-related peptide (AgRP) neurons ensure survival by adapting metabolism and behavior to low caloric environments. This adaption is accomplished by consolidating food intake, suppressing energy expenditure, and maximizing fat storage (nutrient partitioning) for energy preservation. The intracellular mechanisms responsible are unknown. Here we report that AgRP carnitine acetyltransferase (Crat) knockout (KO) mice exhibited increased fatty acid utilization and greater fat loss after 9 d of calorie restriction (CR). No differences were seen in mice with ad libitum food intake. Eleven days ad libitum feeding after CR resulted in greater food intake, rebound weight gain, and adiposity in AgRP Crat KO mice compared with wild-type controls, as KO mice act to restore pre-CR fat

SUBMITTER: Reichenbach A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6219829 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature