Anna Roy

Victoria University, VIC
Rotary Club of Ballarat South
Diabetes 2011

Anna is 24 years of age and has been a student at Victoria University since 2002, during this time she has completed a Certificate II Hospitality (2002-2003), Certificate IV in Science (2005), Certificate in Foundation Studies (2006), Bachelor of Science majoring in Nutritional Therapy (2007-2009) and Honours in Biomedical Sciences (2010).
Anna received a scholarship opportunity over the summer of 2009/10 which was funded by the Faculty of Health, Science and Engineering at Victoria University.  This scholarship was to investigate a possible obesity and type two diabetes mellitus (T2DM) pharmacotherapy and also assist in research which focused on molecular signalling that regulates protein handling by the kidney.
 
For her honours project, Anna’s research has looked at whether GPR55 is expressed in rodent skeletal muscle. It has also looked at the effect of blocking putative cannabinoid receptors GPR55/ GPR18 using the synthetic compound O-1918 and the effect on skeletal muscle metabolism. This experiment has been completed in lean, obese and diabetic skeletal muscle.
 
The findings from this research indirectly indicate that GPR55 and/or GPR18 may be expressed in skeletal muscle and may play a role in the regulation of skeletal muscle metabolism. Indicating that targeting these receptors may be beneficial in treating obesity and T2DM. During her PhD Anna plans to continue to investigate the roles that these receptors play in health conditions, particularly obesity and T2DM.
 
PUBLICATION:
Slattery C, Jenkin K, Lee A, Simcocks AC, Poronnik P, Hryciw D.H. 2010, Na+ and H+ exchanger regulatory factor 1 (NHERF1) PDZ scaffolds bind an internal binding site in the scavenger receptor Megalin, Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry, vol.27, pp.171-178.
 
POSTER AND ABSTRACT:
Anna has presented abstracts and posters to the Australian New Zealand Society Obesity Conference and the postgraduate research conference for the Faculty of Health Engineering and Science at Victoria University:

 Roy AC, Jabboury LE, Grinfeld E, Hryciw DH, McAinch AJ. 2010, ‘Blocking GPR55 up-regulates mRNA expression of transcription factors and enzymes involved in enhancing oxidative capacity in skeletal muscle’, Obesity, Research and Clinical Practice, vol.4, supplement 1, p.S8-S9.
 
Jabboury L, Roy AC, Grinfeld E, McAinch AJ. 2010, ‘Cannabinoid receptor 2 regulates adiponectin and fatty acid oxidative pathways in skeletal muscle’, Obesity, Research and Clinical Practice, vol.4, supplement 1, p.S8.

SUMMARY OF PROJECT:
The effect of different dietary fatty acids and weight loss on endocannabinoid and adiponectin signalling in the skeletal muscle. 

Obesity and its related pathophysiological conditions are rapidly increasing in epidemic proportions world-wide, with one chronically associated condition being T2DM. Obesity and T2DM consequently occur as a result of metabolic disturbances, resulting from an increase in energy consumption, reduced energy expenditure and an increase in energy storage. Due to the rise in mortality and morbidity rates associated with these conditions there is a need for an effective and practical treatment which is essential to help reduced these health burdens.
 
The endocannabinoid system presents as a pharmaceutical target for obesity and T2DM as it has been demonstrated to regulate energy balance, both through reducing appetite and increasing energy expenditure. An important regulator of whole body energy metabolism is the skeletal muscle. The endocannabinoid system has two known receptors, cannabinoid receptor one (CB1) and cannabinoid receptor two (CB2), along with a number of other possible cannabinoid receptors, including G-protein coupled receptor 55 (GPR55) and G-protein coupled receptor 18 (GPR18). GPR55 and GPR18 may account for some of the physiological effects of the endocannabinoid system that cannot be attributed to CB1 and CB2.
 
Endocannbinoids are synthesised on demand from arachidonic acid which is derived from omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Australians consume a diet high in omega-6 PUFA, as vegetable oils are high in these fats. The consumption of vegetable oils has increased over past years in Australia as a substitute to oils/ fats high in saturated fats. This increase in consumption is linked to evidence that replacing foods high in saturated fatty acids with PUFA reduces the incidence of cardiovascular disease. However, omega-6 PUFA, arachidonic acid is a precursor for endocannabinoids such as anandamide and 2-arachidonyl glycerol. Activation of CB1 by these ligands has been shown to negatively impact energy metabolism by increasing appetite and reducing energy expenditure.
 
The overall objectives of this research is:
•   To determine whether pharmacologically activating or blocking GPR55 and GPR18 enhances metabolic signalling in the skeletal muscle that would be beneficial for weight-loss in obese and T2DM individuals. 
•   To determine how the consumption of different dietary fats, obesity and weight-loss affects endocannabinoid synthesis and signalling and how this may benefit obese and T2DM individuals.