The Revolutionary Search for Alarin Paulina Phomvongsa Dr. Fraley’s Lab Paulina Phomvongsa Dr. Fraley’s Lab How Alarin and its Relation to GALP May Impact Society

Framework  Overview  What is GALP?  What are the effects?  How is alarin related to GALP?  Why is this significant?  The Research Aspect  Hypothesis  Methods & Techniques  Observations  Overview  What is GALP?  What are the effects?  How is alarin related to GALP?  Why is this significant?  The Research Aspect  Hypothesis  Methods & Techniques  Observations es/Application/low%20res%20fl asks%204.jpg

What is GALP?  Stands for Galanin-Like Peptide  Neuropeptide composed of 60 amino acids  Member of the galantide family  2 members: galanin & GALP  Aren’t found on same chromosomes  Have different effects in the brain  Found in neurons located in Arcuate nucleus of hypothalamus  Regulated by leptin and insulin  Stands for Galanin-Like Peptide  Neuropeptide composed of 60 amino acids  Member of the galantide family  2 members: galanin & GALP  Aren’t found on same chromosomes  Have different effects in the brain  Found in neurons located in Arcuate nucleus of hypothalamus  Regulated by leptin and insulin

What are the Effects?  Stimulates the hypothlamic-pituitary- gondal axis  Effects the release of reproductive hormones  Body weight and feeding behavior   GALP production   stimulates reproduction  Diseases affiliated with GALP: anorexia nervosa/exercise-induced anorexia & Type I diabetes  Stimulates the hypothlamic-pituitary- gondal axis  Effects the release of reproductive hormones  Body weight and feeding behavior   GALP production   stimulates reproduction  Diseases affiliated with GALP: anorexia nervosa/exercise-induced anorexia & Type I diabetes

AnorexiaDiabetes /fotos/anorexia.jpg _07_img0705.jpg

How is Alarin Related to GALP?  GALP discovered in 1998  Is an alternate transcript of GALP gene  Found in brain tumor cells: neuroblastomas  Both found on the same gene  GALP has 5 exons, alarin is missing exon 3 and therefore has 4 exons  GALP discovered in 1998  Is an alternate transcript of GALP gene  Found in brain tumor cells: neuroblastomas  Both found on the same gene  GALP has 5 exons, alarin is missing exon 3 and therefore has 4 exons

What We’re Looking For  Can the alarin protein be isolated in the normal brain?  What does it control?  What are the effects?  Can the alarin protein be isolated in the normal brain?  What does it control?  What are the effects?

Hypotheses  Alarin has functions similar to GALP’s  Regulates body weight, food intake and reproductive behaviors  Alarin has functions similar to GALP’s  Regulates body weight, food intake and reproductive behaviors

Methods & Techniques  Lateral Ventricle Cannulations  In Vivo injections  PCR  Look for alarin cDNA  ICC  Look for cell bodies where alarin is produced and where their axons project  Lateral Ventricle Cannulations  In Vivo injections  PCR  Look for alarin cDNA  ICC  Look for cell bodies where alarin is produced and where their axons project

Observations  Alarin increases hunger  Opposite effect of GALP  Rats injected with alarin display tranquil behavior  Rats injected with alarin were found laying down more often than normal  Alarin increases hunger  Opposite effect of GALP  Rats injected with alarin display tranquil behavior  Rats injected with alarin were found laying down more often than normal

Summary  Alarin exists naturally in mammalian brain  Although alarin increases food intake, its action appears to be very different from GALP  Alarin exists naturally in mammalian brain  Although alarin increases food intake, its action appears to be very different from GALP

Acknowledgements  Dr. Gregory. S. Fraley  Co-Workers  Hope College Biology Department  Hope College REACH Program  NIH  Dr. Gregory. S. Fraley  Co-Workers  Hope College Biology Department  Hope College REACH Program  NIH