Hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) is thought to be the major enzyme responsible for the release of free fatty acids from adipose tissues. HSL hydrolyses triacylglycerides to diacylglyceride, releasing free fatty acids from fats (lipolysis). Using RNAi to silence the gene would be advantageous in the study of obesity, so three highly effective 19-nucleotide short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs 1-3) were designed against the HSL gene. Their ability to reduce HSL protein levels was verified in human 293 cells using immunoblots. shRNA-2 sequence was inserted into an adenovirus genome, and a high titer viral solution was created which could be used in the future to silence the HSL gene in vivo.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Blanchard, Aine Denise

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-010307-234722

Advisor

• Adams, David S.

Year

• 2007

Date created

• 2007-01-03

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biology & Biotechnology

Rights statement

• In Copyright