Genetic Deletion of Rheb1 in the Brain Reduces Food Intake and Causes Hypoglycemia with Altered Peripheral Metabolism

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Wanchun Yang³  Wanxiang Jiang³  Liping Luo³  Jicheng Bu³  Dejiang Pang¹  Jing Wei³  Chongyangzi Du³  Xiaoqiang Xia³  Yiyuan Cui³  Shuang Liu²  Qing Mao² 

[1] West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; E-Mail:;Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; E-Mail:;Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy/West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; E-Mails:

关键词: Rheb1;    genetic deletion;    food intake;    hypoglycemia;    ketogenesis;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms15011499

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Excessive food/energy intake is linked to obesity and metabolic disorders, such as diabetes. The hypothalamus in the brain plays a critical role in the control of food intake and peripheral metabolism. The signaling pathways in hypothalamic neurons that regulate food intake and peripheral metabolism need to be better understood for developing pharmacological interventions to manage eating behavior and obesity. Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a serine/threonine kinase, is a master regulator of cellular metabolism in different cell types. Pharmacological manipulations of mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) activity in hypothalamic neurons alter food intake and body weight. Our previous study identified Rheb1 (Ras homolog enriched in brain 1) as an essential activator of mTORC1 activity in the brain. Here we examine whether central Rheb1 regulates food intake and peripheral metabolism through mTORC1 signaling. We find that genetic deletion of Rheb1 in the brain causes a reduction in mTORC1 activity and impairs normal food intake. As a result, Rheb1 knockout mice exhibit hypoglycemia and increased lipid mobilization in adipose tissue and ketogenesis in the liver. Our work highlights the importance of central Rheb1 signaling in euglycemia and energy homeostasis in animals.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland