How certain fat-breakdown molecules damage muscle and metabolism
Determining the Biological Effects of Mitochondrial Acyl Toxicity
Researchers are looking at whether buildup of fat-breakdown molecules called long-chain acylcarnitines harms muscle strength and metabolic health in people with obesity or diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11377811 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work looks at whether accumulation of long-chain acylcarnitines (LCACs) from fatty-acid breakdown directly harms muscle and metabolic function. The team uses specially engineered mouse models that accumulate LCACs in skeletal muscle by removing the CPT2 enzyme and compares them with other muscle fatty-acid oxidation models to separate LCAC toxicity from simple energy loss. They measure muscle force, mitochondrial performance, calcium handling, and LCAC levels to link molecular changes to weakness. The goal is to identify pathways that could be targeted to protect muscle and metabolism in people with metabolic disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with obesity, insulin resistance, or type 2 diabetes who experience muscle weakness, fatigue, or exercise intolerance would be the most relevant group.
Not a fit: Patients whose muscle problems come from unrelated causes such as traumatic injury, autoimmune myositis, or non-metabolic genetic disorders are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new ways to protect muscle and improve metabolism in people with obesity or diabetes by targeting LCACs or the pathways they disrupt.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have suggested LCACs are linked to metabolic problems, but direct causal evidence is limited and this project uses novel mouse models to test the idea more directly.
Where this research is happening
Winston-Salem, United States
- Wake Forest University Health Sciences — Winston-Salem, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ellis, Jessica M — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Ellis, Jessica M
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.