Energy Metabolism Screen

Coordinator:		Prof. Dr. Martin Klingenspor
Institution:		Molekulare Ernährungsmedizin, Technische Universität München             Else Kröner-Fresenius Institut und Zentralinstitut für Ernährungs- und Lebensmittelforschung
Homepage:		www.molekulare-ernaehrungsmedizin.de/

Major health problems are caused by disturbances in energy balance related to dysfunctional regulation of either energy intake or energy expenditure. Long term maintenance of a positive energy balance results in the development of obesity, which is frequently associated with the metabolic syndrome (including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and other sequela). Increasing prevalence of obesity is a prime public health risk factor. Another serious health problem is linked to diseases associated with a negative energy balance such as certain types of cancers driving patients into cachexia (wasting syndrome). Understanding the physiological mechanisms and the underlying genetic predisposition that regulate mammalian energy balance is therefore of high clinical and societal importance and requires a coordinated multidisciplinary effort. Our goal is to identify previously unknown genes related to the regulation of energy balance in the phenotyping screen of the German Mouse Clinic (GMC). This effort provides promising perspectives to successfully contribute to elucidation of the molecular mechanisms involved in obesity.



Additional relevant Internet links:
The German Mouse Clinic
Center for Diet and Disease