Fatty acids identified in the Burmese python promote beneficial cardiac growth.
Burmese pythons display a marked increase in heart mass after a large meal. We investigated the molecular mechanisms of this physiological heart growth with the goal of applying this knowledge to the mammalian heart. We found that heart growth in pythons is characterized by myocyte hypertrophy in the absence of cell proliferation and by activation of physiological signal transduction pathways. Despite high levels of circulating lipids, the postprandial python heart does not accumulate triglycerides or fatty acids. Instead, there is robust activation of pathways of fatty acid transport and oxidation combined with increased expression and activity of superoxide dismutase, a cardioprotective enzyme. We also identified a combination of fatty acids in python plasma that promotes physiological heart growth when injected into either pythons or mice.
Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
Cecilia A
CA
Riquelme
Jason A
JA
Magida
Brooke C
BC
Harrison
Christopher E
CE
Wall
Thomas G
TG
Marr
Stephen M
SM
Secor
Leslie A
LA
Leinwand
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001692:Biological Transport; D017821:Boidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006332:Cardiomegaly; D048429:Cell Size; D005215:Fasting; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology; D009227:Myristic Acids / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D019308:Palmitic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D019518:Postprandial Period; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D000099156:Superoxide Dismutase 2
D005227:Fatty Acids; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D009227:Myristic Acids; D019308:Palmitic Acid; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D014280:Triglycerides; D000099156:Superoxide Dismutase 2; C008757:palmitoleic acid