# High-Speed Assays for Measuring the Effect of Sweeteners on Adipocyte Signaling

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · 2020 · $355,388

## Abstract

Summary
Technical Innovation: We have identified a series of specific, well-characterized biomarkers that
adipocytes use to regulate energy balance (BCAA’s), appetite (leptin) and inflammation (adipokines).
Assays for each of these analytes will be developed with temporal resolutions <1 min, allowing fast
changes in uptake or secretion to be measured in response to acute environmental stimuli for the first
time. Technologies that will be developed include: online microdialysis-capillary electrophoresis (MD-
CE), online aptamer-micro free flow electrophoresis (µFFE) affinity assays and online µFFE-MALDI.
Biological Hypothesis: The assays developed in this proposal will be used to test the hypothesis that
artificial sweeteners affect adipocyte metabolism and signaling. The safety of artificial sweeteners is
based on the presumption that they are metabolically inert. Any observed changes in BCAA, leptin or
adipokine uptake/release would indicate that artificial sweeteners have a direct effect on adipocyte
metabolism, appetite control and/or immune response.
Long Term Biomedical Significance: The assays developed in this proposal will allow the acute
effect of food additives or other stimuli on adipocyte regulation of energy balance, appetite and
inflammation to be measured for the first time. These assays will provide valuable information for both
assessing the safety of the food supply as well as achieving a better understanding of how adipose
tissue regulates these important functions. Together these data may provide key insights into the
origins of metabolic disorders and suggest strategies for breaking the cycle of rising obesity levels that
is quickly becoming a worldwide epidemic.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9983674
- **Project number:** 5R01DK113091-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- **Principal Investigator:** MICHAEL T BOWSER
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $355,388
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-18 → 2021-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9983674

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9983674, High-Speed Assays for Measuring the Effect of Sweeteners on Adipocyte Signaling (5R01DK113091-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9983674. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*