Date of Graduation
12-2015
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Degree Level
Undergraduate
Department
Health, Human Performance and Recreation
Advisor/Mentor
Washington, Tyrone
Committee Member/Reader
Greene, Nicholas
Committee Member/Second Reader
Fort, Inza
Abstract
This study aims to illuminate interaction between leucine supplementation and mitochondrial proteins concerned with synthesis and biogenesis. We hypothesized that supplementation with leucine will attenuate the weight gain of the high fat diet in comparison with the normal chow group, by enhancing mitochondrial biogenesis and content. We conducted a laboratory experiment using Western Blotting techniques to determine protein expression. Proteins of interest in this study include PGC-1α, COX-IV, TUFM, TFAM, and mtIF2. The findings from the research show a main effect of an increase in the expression of PGC-1 α in high fat diets. There was no difference in the expression of COX-IV with regard to either leucine supplementation or diet. There was a main effect of an increase in the expression of TUFM in high fat diets. A main effect of an increase in mtIF2 was seen in NC groups when compared with HF diet groups. The findings of this study support the current model that high fat diets cause dysregulation of mitochondria in that PGC-1 α protein content was upregulated and yet COX-IV protein content was unchanged.
Citation
Skinner, D. M. (2015). The Effect of Leucine Supplementation on Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Mitochondrial Protein Synthesis in Rats Fed a High-Fat Diet. Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/hhpruht/27