Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 24, 2026

Quantification of Macronutrients Intake in a Thermogenetic Neuronal Screen using Drosophila Larvae
Published on: June 11, 2020
The nutrient sensor OGT in PVN neurons regulates feeding
Olof Lagerlöf1, Julia E Slocomb2, Ingie Hong3
1Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
Scientists found that removing O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) from specific brain cells in adult mice led to obesity due to overeating. This suggests O-GlcNAcylation in the hypothalamus is key for controlling feeding behavior and satiety.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Metabolism
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Energy homeostasis is vital for organism survival and health.
- The brain controls feeding behavior by integrating dietary and metabolic signals.
- The precise neural mechanisms interpreting these signals remain largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) in regulating feeding behavior.
- To determine how O-GlcNAcylation in specific neurons impacts energy homeostasis.
Main Methods:
- Acute deletion of OGT in αCaMKII-positive neurons in adult mice.
- Analysis of feeding behavior, including hyperphagia.
- Investigation of satiety signaling within the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus.
Main Results:
- Deletion of OGT in αCaMKII neurons caused obesity due to overeating (hyperphagia).
- Loss of OGT in the PVN was linked to impaired satiety signals.
- O-GlcNAcylation was identified as a critical regulator of feeding behavior.
Conclusions:
- O-GlcNAc transferase activity in αCaMKII neurons of the PVN is essential for regulating feeding behavior.
- O-GlcNAcylation plays a significant role in maintaining energy homeostasis by modulating satiety.
- This study identifies a novel molecular mechanism linking nutrient sensing to feeding control in the brain.
More Related Videos
07:29Real-time Analysis of Gut-brain Neural Communication: Cortex wide Calcium Dynamics in Response to Intestinal Glucose Stimulation
Published on: December 29, 2023
09:12Assessing Cellular Stress and Inflammation in Discrete Oxytocin-secreting Brain Nuclei in the Neonatal Rat Before and After First Colostrum Feeding
Published on: November 14, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Regulation of Food Intake
Key Elements for Plant Nutrition
Neural Regulation
Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition
PN can be administered through two primary routes:
1. Central Parenteral Nutrition (CPN):
CPN involves delivering a high concentration of nutrients through a large vein. This is typically achieved using a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) or,...
Neural Regulation of Blood Pressure
Baroreceptor Reflex
Baroreceptors, located in the carotid sinuses and aortic arch, detect changes in blood pressure. When blood pressure rises, these stretch-sensitive receptors...
Enteric Nervous System: Regulation of GI Motor Activity
During periods of fasting, the ENS initiates the migrating myoelectric complex, a...