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ADAR editing changes in brain of high and low aerobic capacity rats in response to inflammation

Drs. Helen Piontkivska and Colleen Novak (Biological Sciences, Â鶹ÊÓƵ)

Aerobic fitness is a key predictor of long-term health; however, mechanisms underlying relationships between high aerobic fitness and better metabolic health are complex and are not well understood, particularly in the context of brain health. We will use rat models of aerobic exercise fitness, high- and low-capacity runners (HCR, LCR), to understand relationships between differential aerobic capacity and brain’s plasticity, focusing on a mechanism of neuroinflammatory response. We will examine differences in ADAR editing, the most abundant type of RNA editing catalyzed by Adenosine Deaminases Acting on RNA (ADAR) enzymes. We will test whether differences in editing patterns are linked with differential aerobic capacity and the associated underlying plasticity. This project will offer important insights into mechanisms linking neurologic and fitness phenotypes, offer clues for development of future interventions and will lead to better understanding of brain health.