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Title: CHARACTERIZATON AND EXPRESSION OF AMPK AND LKB1 GENE HOMOLOGUES IN THE CHICKEN

Author
item Proszkowiec-Weglarz, Monika
item Richards, Mark

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/17/2005
Publication Date: 6/12/2005
Citation: Proszkowiec-Weglarz, M., Richards, M.P. 2005. Characterization and expression of AMPK and LKB1 gene homologues in the chicken [abstract]. Proceedings of the 2nd Annual Cell Signaling Symposium. Paper No. 14.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: In mammals, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is involved in the regulation of cellular energy homeostasis and, on the whole animal level, in regulating energy balance and food intake. Because the chicken is a valuable experimental animal model and considering that a first draft of the chicken genome sequence has recently been completed, we were interested in verifying the existence of the AMPK pathway in chickens. We have identified seven distinct gene homologues for AMPK alpha, beta and gamma subunits and distinct gene homologues for LKB1, MO25 and STRAD. Analysis of gene expression by RT-PCR showed that liver, brain, kidney, spleen, pancreas, duodenum, abdominal fat and hypothalamus expressed alpha-1, beta-2 and gamma-2 preferentially. Heart expressed alpha-2, beta-2 and gamma-2, whereas skeletal muscle alpha-2, beta-2 and gamma-3. Gene homologues of LKB1, MO25 alpha, beta, and STRAD beta were expressed in all examined tissues, whereas STRAD alpha was expressed exclusively in brain, hypothalamus, heart and skeletal muscle. During changes in energy balance we did not observe any major changes in AMPK subunit and LKB1 gene transcripts. Taken together, the results suggest the existence of the AMPK pathway in chickens similar to that in mammals.