Final Report Summary - FUNGENCEL (Functional Genomics of Fatty Acid Desaturases in Caenorhabditis elegans)
The aim of this proposal was to characterize the metabolic impact of the deletion of key genes involved in fatty acid metabolism by using the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. In particular, the main focus of the project has been on the systemic manipulation of the expression of genes for the fatty acid desaturases to understand their key role as regulatory control points in metabolism. To achieve this aim we have made use of state of the art metabolomic approaches to provide a global, non-targeted description of systemic metabolism. The major objectives for the funding period were focused on setting a range of techniques to cover a wide range of metabolites and understanding the differences between C. elegans and mammalian metabolism, to be able to translate the results from one organism to the other in the proper manner. For this reason, the focus of the first half of the funding period was to determine the conditions for culturing, obtaining and treating C. elegans. Subsequently, the newly developed methods were used for the study of the role of desaturases in regulating the whole animal lipidome.
The report is attached - we produced a short two page report and a longer one spelling out the results in more detail. Both are attached.
The report is attached - we produced a short two page report and a longer one spelling out the results in more detail. Both are attached.