Dr. Petra C. Kienesberger

PhD (University of Graz, Austria) Associate Professor
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University

Department member since 2013

Postdoctoral fellowship – University of Alberta, AB, Canada, 2009-2013
PhD – University of Graz, Austria, 2009

MSc – University of Graz, Austria, 2004

Research

My research aims to uncover the interplay among bioactive lipid signaling and cellular and organismal energy metabolism.

Research Areas

Nutritional regulation of lysophospholipases & their role in cellular energy metabolism

Lysophospholipid signaling has recently been implicated in the regulation of organismal energy homeostasis. However, the mechanisms underlying this effect remain poorly understood. By employing molecular biology, cell biology, and enzymological approaches, we aim to uncover how lysophospholipases such as, autotaxin, are regulated by changes in the nutritional status. Moreover, we aim to elucidate how the autotaxin-lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) axis impacts cellular nutrient sensing, insulin signaling, and energy metabolism.

LPA synthesis and catabolism. ATX generates the majority of extracellular LPA. Published in Nutrients 2018, 10(4), 399; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10040399.

ATX mRNA and protein levels are differentially regulated by glucose and insulin in adipocytes.

Differentiating 3T3-L1 adipocytes infected with GFP-expressing adenovirus for ATX knockdown.

The role of lysophospholipid signaling in obesity, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular disease

My laboratory examines the role of the autotaxin-LPA signaling axis in the dysregulation of energy metabolism, impaired insulin function, and structural and functional remodeling of the cardiac and skeletal muscle during metabolic diseases including obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes. Using cultured cells and in vivo models of lipotoxicity and obesity, the overall goal is to determine whether modulation of the autotaxin-LPA signaling pathway could be exploited therapeutically to prevent or ameliorate obesity-related tissue insulin resistance and cardiomyopathy.

Proposed role of ATX in obesity-insulin resistance. Published in Nutrients 2018, 10(4), 399; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10040399.

Phospho-S6 (Red) and vimentin (green) immunostaining in adult rat cardiac fibroblasts.

Assessment of calcium transients and contractile properties in adult mouse cardiomyocytes.

Keywords

Energy metabolism, adipocytes, isolated cardiomyocytes, histology, live cell imaging, molecular imaging, molecular cloning, enzyme overexpression and knockdown, lipid analysis