Changes in gene expression associated with FTO overexpression in mice

Journal article

Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the first intron of the fat-mass-and-obesity-related gene FTO are associated with increased body weight and adiposity. Increased expression of FTO is likely underlying this obesity phenotype, as mice with two additional copies of Fto (FTO-4 mice) exhibit increased adiposity and are hyperphagic. FTO is a demethylase of single stranded DNA and RNA, and one of its targets is the m6A modification in RNA, which might play a role in the regulation of gene expression. In this study, we aimed to examine the changes in gene expression that occur in FTO-4 mice in order to gain more insight into the underlying mechanisms by which FTO influences body weight and adiposity. Our results indicate an upregulation of anabolic pathways and a downregulation of catabolic pathways in FTO-4 mice. Interestingly, although genes involved in methylation were differentially regulated in skeletal muscle of FTO-4 mice, no effect of FTO overexpression on m6A methylation of total mRNA was detected.

Authors: Merkestein, M; McTaggart, J; Lee, S; Kramer, H; McMurray, F

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Public Library of Science
• Journal: PLoS ONE
• Volume: 9
• Issue: 5
• Pages: ARTN e97162
• Publication date: 2014-05-19
• Acceptance date: 2014-04-14
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0097162
• EISSN: 1932-6203
• ISSN: 1932-6203
• Language: English
• Keywords: SBTMR