Prof Matthew Watt - Researcher Profile

Matthew Watt

Address

Department of Physiology
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences, Clayton

Biography

Running harder to get smarter

Associate Professor Matthew Watt is focusing on weight-gain and insulin resistance by looking at the basic mechanisms in our body. He, and the team he leads, is trying to understand where there might be defects in tissues in diabetes and obesity, and how that might contribute to those diseased states. His research is helping tackle the increasing prevalence of obesity and diabetes as well as providing some fascinating insights into how exercise can physically change the brain. 

At the Biology of Lipid Metabolism Laboratory, which Matt heads, one of his PhD candidates is working on understanding how exercise can actually help create new neurons within our brains.

“There is a drug called ciliary neurotrophic factor, or CNTF, which creates new neurons in the hypothalamus, the region of the brain that controls energy expenditure and feeding behaviour. What we’ve found is that when you exercise, you actually create new neurons in your hypothalamus. What we’re trying to unravel now is how important is the creation of these new neurons in effecting energy balance in the individuals.”

While no cell lives forever, about 80 per cent of the cells generated from exercise are surviving for at least 12 weeks. However, regular exercise is necessary to maintain these long-term neurological benefits. 

Much of the focus of Matt’s own work is on fatty acid metabolism.

“We know that it is almost always a bad thing if fats build up in any tissue: it prevents our bodies from responding normally to other signals, and often leads to cell death, so too much fat is clearly a bad thing. We need to understand how that fat is being stored, where it’s being stored, and essentially, [whether] there [are] ways in which we can reduce it being stored in bad places.”

Does he have any practical advice to help people reduce their fat levels outside of the lab?

“I think we all know what we need to do to improve our metabolism: we simply need to eat less – particularly saturated fats – and we need to exercise on a regular basis. I think the message is pretty clear – it’s whether or not we choose to listen to it which is the issue.”

Qualifications

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY - HUMAN MOVEMENT
Institution: Deakin University
Year awarded: 2002
BACHELOR OF APPLIED SCIENCE - HUMAN MOVEMENT
Institution: Deakin University
Year awarded: 1997

Publications

Journal Articles

Boon, J.Y.C., Hoy, A.J., Stark, R., Brown, R.D., Meex, R.C., Henstridge, D.C., Schenk, S., Meikle, P.J., Horowitz, J.F., Kingwell, B.A., Bruce, C., Watt, M.J., 2013, Ceramides Contained in LDL Are Elevated in Type 2 Diabetes and Promote Inflammation and Skeletal Muscle Insulin Resistance, Diabetes [P], vol 62, issue 2, American Diabetes Association, USA, pp. 401-410.

Borg, M.L., Omran, S.F., Weir, J.M., Meikle, P.J., Watt, M.J., 2012, Consumption of a high-fat diet, but not regular endurance exercise training, regulates hypothalamic lipid accumulation in mice, Journal Of Physiology-London [P], vol 590, issue 17, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd, UK, pp. 4377-4389.

Watt, M.J., Hoy, A.J., Muoio, D.M., Coleman, R.A., 2012, Distinct roles of specific fatty acids in cellular processes: implications for interpreting and reporting experiments, American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism [E], vol 302, issue 1, American Physiological Society, USA, pp. E1-E3.

Stefanidis, A., Watt, M.J., 2012, Does too much sugar make for lost memories?, Journal Of Physiology-London [P], vol 590, issue 16, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd, UK, pp. 3633-3634.

Pagnon, J., Matzaris, M., Stark, R., Meex, R.C., Macaulay, S.L., O'Brien, P.E., Tiganis, T., Watt, M.J., Brown, W.A., 2012, Identification and functional characterization of protein kinase A phosphorylation sites in the major lipolytic protein, adipose triglyceride lipase, Endocrinology [P], vol 153, issue 9, The Endocrine Society, USA, pp. 4278-4289.

Watt, M.J., Hoy, A.J., 2012, Lipid metabolism in skeletal muscle: generation of adaptive and maladaptive intracellular signals for cellular function, American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism [E], vol 302, issue 11, American Physiological Society, USA, pp. E1315-E1328.

Mason, R.R., Meex, R.C., Lee-Young, R.S., Canny, B.J., Watt, M.J., 2012, Phosphorylation of adipose triglyceride lipase Ser(404) is not related to 5'-AMPK activation during moderate-intensity exercise in humans, American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism [E], vol 303, issue 4, American Physiological Society, USA, pp. E534-E541.

Joham, A.E., Teede, H.J., Hutchison, S.K., Stepto, N.K., Harrison, C.L., Strauss, B.J.G., Paul, E., Watt, M.J., 2012, Pigment epithelium-derived factor, insulin sensitivity, and adiposity in polycystic ovary syndrome: impact of exercise training, Obesity [P], vol 20, issue 12, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc., USA, pp. 2390-2396.

Watt, M.J., Barnett, A.C., Bruce, C.R., Schenk, S., Horowitz, J.F., Hoy, A.J., 2012, Regulation of plasma ceramide levels with fatty acid oversupply: evidence that the liver detects and secretes de novo synthesised ceramide, Diabetologia [P], vol 55, issue 10, Springer, Germany, pp. 2741-2746.

Loh, K., Merry, T., Galic, S., Wu, B., Watt, M.J., Zhang, S., Zhang, Z., Neel, B., Tiganis, T., 2012, T cell protein tyrosine phosphatase (TCPTP) deficiency in muscle does not alter insulin signalling and glucose homeostasis in mice, Diabetologia [P], vol 55, issue 2, Springer, Germany, pp. 468-478.

Turpin, S.M., Hoy, A.J., Brown, R.D., Garcia-Rudaz, M.C., Honeyman, J., Matzaris, M., Watt, M.J., 2011, Adipose triacylglycerol lipase is a major regulator of hepatic lipid metabolism but not insulin sensitivity in mice, Diabetologia [P], vol 54, issue 1, Springer, Germany, pp. 146-156.

Hoy, A.J., Bruce, C.R., Turpin, S.M., Morris, A.J., Febbraio, M.A., Watt, M.J., 2011, Adipose triglyceride lipase-null mice are resistant to high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance despite reduced energy expenditure and ectopic lipid accumulation, Endocrinology [P], vol 152, issue 1, The Endocrine Society, USA, pp. 48-58.

Nicholls, H.T., Kowalski, G., Kennedy, D.J., Risis, S., Zaffino, L.A., Watson, N., Kanellakis, P., Watt, M., Bobik, A., Bonen, A., Febbraio, M., Lancaster, G.I., Febbraio, M.A., 2011, Hematopoietic cell-restricted deletion of CD36 reduces high-fat diet-induced macrophage infiltration and improves insulin signaling in adipose tissue, Diabetes [P], vol 60, issue 4, American Diabetes Association, USA, pp. 1100-1110.

Lau, P., Fitzsimmons, R.L., Pearen, M.A., Watt, M.J., Muscat, G.E., 2011, Homozygous staggerer (sg/sg) mice display improved insulin sensitivity and enhanced glucose uptake in skeletal muscle, Diabetologia [P], vol 54, issue 5, Springer, Germany, pp. 1169-1180.

Borg, M., Andrews, Z., Duh, E., Zechner, R., Meikle, P., Watt, M., 2011, Pigment epithelium-derived factor regulates lipid metabolism via adipose triglyceride lipase, Diabetes [P], vol 60, issue 5, American Diabetes Association, USA, pp. 1458-1466.

Dzamko, N., van Denderen, B.J.W., Hevener, A.L., Jorgensen, S.B., Honeyman, J., Galic, S., Chen, Z.-., Watt, M.J., Campbell, D.J., Steinberg, G.R., Kemp, B.E., 2010, AMPK beta1 deletion reduces appetite, preventing obesity and hepatic insulin resistance, Journal Of Biological Chemistry [P], vol 285, issue 1, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc., USA, pp. 115-122.

Ribas, V., Nguyen, M.A., Henstridge, D.C., Nguyen, A.-., Beaven, S.W., Watt, M.J., Hevener, A.L., 2010, Impaired oxidative metabolism and inflammation are associated with insulin resistance in ERalpha-deficient mice, American Journal Of Physiology-Endocrinology And ..., vol 298, issue 2, American Physiological Society, USA, pp. E304-E319.

Matthews, V.B., Allen, T.L., Risis, S., Chan, M.H.S., Henstridge, D.C., Watson, N., Zaffino, L.A., Babb, J.R., Boon, J.Y.C., Meikle, P.J., Jowett, J.B., Watt, M.J., Jansson, J.-., Bruce, C.R., Febbraio, M.A., 2010, Interleukin-6-deficient mice develop hepatic inflammation and systemic insulin resistance, Diabetologia [P], vol 53, issue 11, Springer, Germany, pp. 2431-2441.

Sachithanandan, N., Fam, B.C., Fynch, S., Dzamko, N., Watt, M.J., Wormald, S., Honeyman, J., Galic, S., Proietto, J., Andrikopoulos, S., Hevener, A.L., Kay, T.W., Steinberg, G.R., 2010, Liver-specific suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 deletion in mice enhances hepatic insulin sensitivity and lipogenesis resulting in fatty liver and obesity, Hepatology [P], vol 52, issue 5, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., USA, pp. 1632-1642.

Fukushima, A., Loh, K., Galic, S., Fam, B., Shields, B., Wiede, F., Tremblay, M.L., Watt, M.J., Andrikopoulos, S., Tiganis, T., 2010, T-cell protein tyrosine phosphatase attenuates STAT3 and insulin signaling in the liver to regulate gluconeogenesis, Diabetes [P], vol 59, issue 8, American Diabetes Association, USA, pp. 1906-1914.

Watt, M.J., Spriet, L., 2010, Triacylglycerol lipases and metabolic control: Implications for health and disease, American Journal Of Physiology-Endocrinology And Metabolism [P], vol 299, issue 2, American Physiological Society, USA, pp. E162-E168.

Steinberg, G.R., O'Neill, H.M., Dzamko, N.L., Galic, S., Naim, T., Koopman, R., Jorgensen, S.B., Honeyman, J.E., Hewitt, K., Chen, Z.-., Schertzer, J.D., Scott, J., Koentgen, F., Lynch, G.S., Watt, M.J., van Denderen, B.J.W., Campbell, D.J., Kemp, B.E., 2010, Whole body deletion of AMP-activated protein kinase beta2 reduces muscle AMPK activity and exercise capacity, Journal Of Biological Chemistry [P], vol 285, issue 48, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc., USA, pp. 37198-37209.

Watt, M.J., 2009, Adipose tissue-skeletal muscle crosstalk: Are endocannabinoids an unwanted caller?, Diabetologia [P], vol 52, issue 4, Springer, Germany, pp. 571-573.

Huijsman, E., van de Par, C., Economou, C., van der Poel, C., Lynch, G.S., Schoiswohl, G., Haemmerle, G., Zechner, R., Watt, M.J., 2009, Adipose triacylglycerol lipase deletion alters whole body energy metabolism and impairs exercise performance in mice, American Journal Of Physiology-Endocrinology And ..., vol 297, issue 2, American Physiological Society, USA, pp. E505-E513.

Matthews, V.B., Astrom, M., Chan, M.H.S., Bruce, C.R., Krabbe, K.S., Prelovsek, O., Akerstrom, T., Yfanti, C., Broholm, C., Mortensen, O.H., Penkowa, M., Hojman, P., Zankari, A., Watt, M.J., Bruunsgaard, H., Pedersen, B.K., Febbraio, M.A., 2009, Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is produced by skeletal muscle cells in response to contraction and enhances fat oxidation via activation of AMP-activated protein kinase, Diabetologia [P], vol 52, issue 7, Springer, Germany, pp. 1409-1418.

Steinberg, G.R., Watt, M.J., Ernst, M.R., Birnbaum, M.J., Kemp, B.E., Jorgensen, S.B., 2009, Ciliary neurotrophic factor stimulates muscle glucose uptake by a PI3-kinase-dependent pathway that is impaired with obesity, Diabetes, vol 58, issue 4, American Diabetes Association, USA, pp. 829-839.

Turpin, S.M., Ryall, J.G., Southgate, R., Darby, I., Hevener, A.L., Febbraio, M.A., Kemp, B.E., Lynch, G.S., Watt, M.J., 2009, Examination of 'lipotoxicity' in skeletal muscle of high-fat fed and ob/ ob mice, The Journal of Physiology, vol 587, issue 7, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd, UK, pp. 1593-1605.

Watt, M.J., Kraegen, E.W., 2009, Fat partitioning and insulin sensitivity: robbing Peter to pay Paul?, Diabetes [P], vol 58, issue 1, American Diabetes Association, USA, pp. 16-17.

Lessard, S.J., Rivas, D.A., Chen, Z.-., van Denderen, B.J., Watt, M.J., Koch, L.G., Britton, S.L., Kemp, B.E., Hawley, J.A., 2009, Impaired skeletal muscle beta-adrenergic activation and lipolysis are associated with whole-body insulin resistance in rats bred for low intrinsic exercise capacity, Endocrinology [P], vol 150, issue 11, The Endocrine Society, USA, pp. 4883-4891.

Chao, L.C., Wroblewski, K., Zhang, Z., Pei, L., Verges, L., Ilkayeva, O.R., Ding, S., Reue, K., Watt, M.J., Newgard, C.B., Pilch, P.F., Hevener, A.L., Tontonoz, P., 2009, Insulin resistance and altered systemic glucose metabolism in mice lacking Nur77, Diabetes [P], vol 58, issue 12, American Diabetes Association, USA, pp. 2788-2796.

Hoy, A.J., Brandon, A.E., Turner, N., Watt, M.J., Bruce, C.R., Cooney, G.J., Kraegen, E.W., 2009, Lipid and insulin infusion-induced skeletal muscle insulin resistance is likely due to metabolic feedback and not changes in IRS-1, Akt, or AS160 phosphorylation, American Journal Of Physiology-Endocrinology And ..., vol 297, issue 1, American Physiological Society, USA, pp. E67-E75.

Hoy, A.J., Watt, M.J., 2009, Lipid partitioning and insulin sensitivity: Lessons learnt from genetic models, The Asia-Pacific Journal of Endocrinology (APJOE) [P], vol 1, issue 1, San Lucas Medical Limited, USA, pp. 35-47.

Watt, M.J., Bruce, C.R., 2009, No need to sweat: Is dieting enough to alleviate insulin resistance in obesity?, Journal Of Physiology-London [P], vol 587, issue 21, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd., UK, pp. 5001-5002.

Bruce, C.R., Hoy, A.J., Turner, N., Watt, M.J., Allen, T.L., Carpenter, K., Cooney, G.J., Febbraio, M.A., Kraegen, E.W., 2009, Overexpression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 in skeletal muscle is sufficient to enhance fatty acid oxidation and improve high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance, Diabetes, vol 58, issue 3, American Diabetes Association, USA, pp. 550-558.

Crowe, S., Wu, L.E., Economou, C., Turpin, S.M., Matzaris, M., Hoehn, K.L., Hevener, A.L., James, D.E., Duh, E.J., Watt, M.J., 2009, Pigment epithelium-derived factor contributes to insulin resistance in obesity, Cell Metabolism [P], vol 10, issue 1, Cell Press, USA, pp. 40-47.

Loh, K.Y., Deng, H., Fukushima, A., Cai, X., Boivin, B., Galic, S., Bruce, C., Shields, B.J., Skiba, B., Ooms, L.M., Stepto, N.K., Wu, B.J., Mitchell, C.A., Tonks, N., Watt, M.J., Febbraio, M.A., Crack, P.J., Andrikopoulos, S., Tiganis, T., 2009, Reactive oxygen species enhance insulin sensitivity, Cell Metabolism [P], vol 10, issue 4, Cell Press, USA, pp. 260-272.

Watt, M.J., 2009, Storing up trouble: Does accumulation of intramyocellular triglyceride protect skeletal muscle from insulin resistance?, Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, vol 36, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia, Australia, pp. 5-11.

Watt, M.J., 2009, Triglyceride lipases alter fuel metabolism and mitochondrial gene expression, Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism [P], vol 34, issue 3, NRC Research Press, Canada, pp. 340-347.

Dzamko, N.L., Schertzer, J.D., Ryall, J., Steel, R., Macaulay, S.L., Wee, S., Chen, Z., Michell, B., Oakhill, J.S., Watt, M.J., Jorgensen, S.B., Lynch, G.S., Kemp, B.E., Steinberg, G.R., 2008, AMPK-independent pathways regulate skeletal muscle fatty acid oxidation, The Journal of Physiology, vol 586, issue 23, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd., United Kingdom, pp. 5819-5831.

Watt, M.J., van Denderen, B.J., Castelli, L.A., Bruce, C., Hoy, A.J., Kraegen, E., Macaulay, S.L., Kemp, B.E., 2008, Adipose triglyceride lipase regulation of skeletal muscle lipid metabolism and insulin responsiveness, Molecular Endocrinology, vol 22, issue 5, The Endocrine Society, USA, pp. 1200-1212.

Chung, J., Nguyen, A., Henstridge, D.C., Holmes, A., Chan, M., Mesa, J., Lancaster, G.I., Southgate, R.J., Bruce, C., Duffy, S.J., Horvath, I., Mestril, R., Watt, M.J., Hooper, P., Kingwell, B.A., Vigh, L., Hevener, A., Febbraio, M.A., 2008, HSP72 protects against obesity-induced insulin resistance, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, vol 105, issue 5, National Academy of Sciences, USA, pp. 1739-1744.

Pedersen, D., Lessard, S., Coffey, V.G., Churchley, E., Wootton, A., Ng, T., Watt, M.J., Hawley, J.A., 2008, High rates of muscle glycogen resynthesis after exhaustive exercise when carbohydrate is coingested with caffeine, Journal of Applied Physiology, vol 105, American Physiological Society, USA, pp. 7-13.

Visinoni, S., Fam, B.C., Blair, A., Rantzau, C., Lamont, B.J., Bouwman, R., Watt, M.J., Proietto, J., Favaloro, J.M., Andrikopoulos, S., 2008, Increased glucose production in mice overexpressing human fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase in the liver, American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism, vol 295, issue 5, American Physiological Society, United States, pp. E1132-E1141.

Crowe, S., Turpin, S.M., Ke, F., Kemp, B.E., Watt, M.J., 2008, Metabolic remodeling in adipocytes promotes ciliary neurotrophic factor-mediated fat loss in obesity, Endocrinology, vol 149, issue 5, The Endocrine Society, USA, pp. 2546-2556.

Watt, M.J., Hevener, A., 2008, PREVIEW: Fluxing the mitochondria to insulin resistance, Cell Metabolism, vol 7, issue 1, Cell Press, USA, pp. 5-6.

Holmes, A.G., Mesa, J.L., Neill, B.A., Chung, J., Carey, A., Steinberg, G.R., Kemp, B.E., Southgate, R.J., Lancaster, G.I., Bruce, C.R., Watt, M.J., Febbraio, M.A., 2008, Prolonged interleukin-6 administration enhances glucose tolerance and increases skeletal muscle PPARalpha and UCP2 expression in rats, Journal of Endocrinology, vol 198, issue 2, Society for Endocrinology, United Kingdom, pp. 367-374.

Watt, M.J., Steinberg, G.R., 2008, Regulation and function of triacylglycerol lipases in cellular metabolism, Biochemical Journal, vol 414, issue 3, Portland Press Ltd., United Kingdom, pp. 313-325.

Steinberg, G.R., Kemp, B.E., Watt, M.J., 2007, Adipocyte triglyceride lipase expression in human obesity, American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism, vol 293, issue 4, American Physiological Society, USA, pp. E958-964.

Monetti, M., Levin, M., Watt, M.J., Sajan, M., Marmor, S., Hubbard, B., Newgard, C., Farese Snr., R., Hevener, A., Farese Jnr., R., 2007, Dissociation of hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance in mice overexpressing DGAT in the liver, Cell Metabolism, vol 6, issue 1, Cell Press, USA, pp. 69-78.

Spargo, F., McGee, S., Dzamko, N., Watt, M.J., Kemp, B.E., Britton, S., Koch, L., Hargreaves, M., Hawley, J.A., 2007, Dysregulation of muscle lipid metabolism in rats selectively bred for low aerobic running capacity, American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism, vol 292, issue 6, American Physiological Society, USA, pp. E1631-1636.

Levin, M., Monetti, M., Watt, M.J., Sajan, M., Stevens, R., Bain, J., Newgard, C., Farese Snr., R., Farese Jnr., R., 2007, Increased lipid accumulation and insulin resistance in transgenic mice expressing DGAT2 in glycolytic (type II) muscle, Amercian Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism, vol 293, issue 6, American Physiological Society, USA, pp. 1772-1781.

Hevener, A., Olefsky, J., Reichart, D., Nguyen, M., Bandyopadyhay, G., Leung, H., Watt, M.J., Benner, C., Febbraio, M.A., Nguyen, A., Folian, B., Subramaniam, S., Gonzalez, F., Glass, C., Mercedes, R., 2007, Macrophage PPARgamma is required for normal skeletal muscle and hepatic insulin sensitivity and full antidiabetic effects of thiazolidinediones, Journal of Clinical Investigation, vol 117, issue 6, American Society for Clinical Investigation, USA, pp. 1658-1669.

Watt, M.J., Steinberg, G.R., 2007, Pathways involved in lipid-induced insulin resistance in obesity, Future Lipidology, vol 2, issue 6, Future Medicine Ltd, UK, pp. 659-667.

Todd, M., Watt, M.J., Le, J., Hevener, A., Turcotte, L., 2007, Thiazolidinediones enhance skeletal muscle triacylglycerol synthesis while protecting against fatty acid-induced inflammation and insulin resistance, American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism, vol 292, issue 2, Americal Physiological Society, USA, pp. E485-493.

Talanian, J., Tunstall, R., Watt, M.J., Duong, M., Perry, C., Steinberg, G.R., Kemp, B.E., Heigenhauser, G., Spriet, L., 2006, Adrenergic regulation of HSL serine phosphorylation and activity in human skeletal muscle during the onset of exercise, American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, vol 291, issue 4, American Physiological Society, USA, pp. E1094-1099.

Turpin, S.M., Lancaster, G.I., Darby, I.A., Febbraio, M.A., Watt, M.J., 2006, Apoptosis in skeletal muscle myotubes is induced by ceramides and is positively related to insulin resistance, American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism, vol 291, issue 6, American Physiological Society, USA, pp. E1341-1345.

Watt, M.J., Dzamko, N., Thomas, W., Rose-John, S., Ernst, M.R., Carling, D., Kemp, B.E., Febbraio, M.A., Steinberg, G.R., 2006, CNTF reverses obesity-induced insulin resistance by activating skeletal muscle AMPK, Nature Medicine, vol 12, issue 5, Nature Publishing Group, USA, pp. 541-548.

Lessard, S., Chen, Z., Watt, M.J., Hashem, M., Reid, J., Febbraio, M.A., Kemp, B.E., Hawley, J.A., 2006, Chronic rosiglitazone treatment restores AMPKalpha2 activity in insulin-resistant rat skeletal muscle, American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism, vol 290, issue 2, Americal Physiological Society, USA, pp. E251-257.

Watt, M.J., Hevener, A., Lancaster, G.I., Febbraio, M.A., 2006, Ciliary neurotrophic factor prevents acute lipid-induced insulin resistance by attenuating ceramide accumulation and phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase in peripheral tissues, Endocrinology, vol 147, issue 5, The Endocrine Society, USA, pp. 2077-2085.

Steinberg, G.R., Watt, M.J., Fam, B., Proietto, J., Andrikopoulos, S., Allen, A., Febbraio, M.A., Kemp, B.E., 2006, Ciliary neurotrophic factor suppresses hypothalamic AMP-kinase signaling in leptin-resistant obese mice, Endocrinology, vol 147, issue 8, The Endocrine Society, USA, pp. 3906-3914.

Stellingwerff, T., Spriet, L., Watt, M.J., Kimber, N., Hargreaves, M., Hawley, J.A., Burke, L., 2006, Decreased PDH activation and glycogenolysis during exercise following fat adaptation with carbohydrate restoration, American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism, vol 290, issue 2, Americal Physiological Society, USA, pp. E380-388.

Watt, M.J., Steinberg, G.R., Chen, Z., Kemp, B.E., Febbraio, M.A., 2006, Fatty acids stimulate AMP-activated protein kinase and enhance fatty acid oxidation in L6 myotubes, The Journal of Physiology, vol 574, issue Pt. 1, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd, UK, pp. 139-147.

Carey, A.L., Steinberg, G.R., Macaulay, S.L., Thomas, W., Holmes, A., Ramm, G., Prelovsek, O., Hohnens-Behrens, C., Watt, M.J., James, D., Kemp, B.E., Pedersen, B., Febbraio, M.A., 2006, Interleukin-6 increases insulin-stimulated glucose disposal in humans and glucose uptake and fatty acid oxidation in vitro via AMP-activated protein kinase, Diabetes, vol 55, issue 10, American Diabetes Association, USA, pp. 2688-2697.

Steinberg, G.R., Watt, M.J., McGee, S., Chan, S., Hargreaves, M., Febbraio, M.A., Stapleton, D., Kemp, B.E., 2006, Reduced glycogen availability is associated with increased AMPKalpha2 activity, nuclear AMPKalpha2 protein abundance, and GLUT4 mRNA expression in contracting human skeletal muscle, Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism, vol 31, issue 3, National Research Council Canada (NRC), Canada, pp. 302-312.

Watt, M.J., Holmes, A., Pinnamaneni, S., Garnham, A., Steinberg, G.R., Kemp, B.E., Febbraio, M.A., 2006, Regulation of HSL serine phosphorylation in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue, American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism, vol 290, issue 3, American Physiological Society, USA, pp. E500-508.

Lee, J., Pinnamaneni, S., Eo, S., Cho, I., Pyo, J., Kim, C., Sinclair, A.J., Febbraio, M.A., Watt, M.J., 2006, Saturated, but not n-6 polyunsaturated, fatty acids induce insulin resistance: Role of intramuscular accumulation of lipid metabolites, Journal of Applied Physiology, vol 100, issue 5, American Physiological Society, USA, pp. 1467-1474.

Pinnamaneni, S., Southgate, R.J., Febbraio, M.A., Watt, M.J., 2006, Stearoyl CoA desaturase 1 is elevated in obesity but protects against fatty acid-induced skeletal muscle insulin resistance in vitro, Diabetologia, vol 49, issue 12, Springer, Germany, pp. 3027-3037.

Steinberg, G., Michell, B., van Denderen, B.J., Watt, M.J., Carey, A., Fam, B., Andrikopoulos, S., Proietto, J., Gorgun, C., Carling, D., Hotamisligil, G., Febbraio, M.A., Kay, T., Kemp, B.E., 2006, Tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced skeletal muscle insulin resistance involves suppression of AMP-kinase signaling, Cell Metabolism, vol 4, issue 6, Cell Press, USA, pp. 465-474.

Stellingwerff, T., Glazier, L., Watt, M.J., LeBlanc, P., Heigenhauser, G., Spriet, L., 2005, Effects of hyperoxia on skeletal muscle carbohydrate metabolism during transient and steady-state exercise, Journal of Applied Physiology, vol 98, issue 1, American Physiological Society, USA, pp. 250-256.

Watt, M.J., Carey, A., Wolsk-Petersen, E., Kraemer, F., Pedersen, B., Febbraio, M.A., 2005, Hormone-sensitive lipase is reduced in the adipose tissue of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Influence of IL-6 infusion, Diabetologia, vol 48, issue 1, Springer, Germany, pp. 105-112.

Southgate, R.J., Bruce, C., Carey, A., Steinberg, G.R., Walder, K., Monks, R., Watt, M.J., Hawley, J.A., Birnbaum, M., Febbraio, M.A., 2005, PGC-1alpha gene expression is down-regulated by Akt-mediated phosphorylation and nuclear exclusion of FoxO1 in insulin-stimulated skeletal muscle, The FASEB Journal, vol 19, issue 14, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, USA, pp. 2072-2074.

Chan, M., McGee, S., Watt, M.J., Hargreaves, M., Febbraio, M.A., 2004, Altering dietary nutrient intake that reduces glycogen content leads to phosphorylation of nuclear p38 MAP kinase in human skeletal muscle: Association with IL-6 gene transcription during contraction, The FASEB Journal, vol 18, issue 14, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, USA, pp. 1785-1787.

Watt, M.J., Steinberg, G.R., Chan, S., Garnham, A., Kemp, B.E., Febbraio, M.A., 2004, Beta-adrenergic stimulation of skeletal muscle HSL can be overridden by AMPK signaling, The FASEB Journal, vol 18, issue 12, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, USA, pp. 1445-1446.

Chan, M., Carey, A., Watt, M.J., Febbraio, M.A., 2004, Cytokine gene expression in human skeletal muscle during concentric contraction: Evidence that IL-8, like IL-6, is influenced by glycogen availability, American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, vol 287, issue 2, American Physiological Society, USA, pp. E322-327.

O'Neill, M., Watt, M., Heigenhauser, G., Spriet, L., 2004, Effects of reduced free fatty acid availability on hormone-sensitive lipase activity in human skeletal muscle during aerobic exercise, Journal of Applied Physiology, vol 97, issue 5, American Physiological Society, USA, pp. 1938-1945.

Watt, M.J., Krustrup, P., Secher, N., Saltin, B., Pedersen, B., Febbraio, M.A., 2004, Glucose ingestion blunts hormone-sensitive lipase activity in contracting human skeletal muscle, American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism, vol 286, issue 1, American Physiological Society, USA, pp. E144-150.

Holmes, A., Watt, M.J., Carey, A., Febbraio, M.A., 2004, Ionomycin, but not physiologic doses of epinephrine, stimulates skeletal muscle Interleukin-6 mRNA expression and protein release, Metabolism, vol 53, issue 11, WB Saunders Co, USA, pp. 1492-1495.

Watt, M.J., Heigenhauser, G., Spriet, L., 2004, LETTER TO EDITOR: Muscle fat utilization during exercise: Controversial only methodologically [1] (multiple letters), Journal of Applied Physiology, vol 96, issue 4, American Physiological Society, USA, pp. 1569-1570.

Spriet, L., Tunstall, R., Watt, M.J., Mehan, K., Hargreaves, M., Cameron-Smith, D., 2004, Pyruvate dehydrogenase activation and kinase expression in human skeletal muscle during fasting, Journal of Applied Physiology, vol 96, issue 6, American Physiological Society, USA, pp. 2082-2087.

Watt, M.J., Heigenhauser, G., LeBlanc, P., Inglis, J., Spriet, L., Peters, S., 2004, Rapid upregulation of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase activity in human skeletal muscle during prolonged exercise, Journal of Applied Physiology, vol 97, issue 4, American Physiological Society, USA, pp. 1261-1267.

Watt, M.J., Holmes, A., Steinberg, G.R., Mesa, J., Kemp, B.E., Febbraio, M.A., 2004, Reduced plasma FFA availability increases net triacylglycerol degradation, but not GPAT or HSL activity, in human skeletal muscle, American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism, vol 287, issue 1, American Physiological Society, USA, pp. E120-127.

Watt, M., Spriet, L., 2004, Regulation and role of hormone-sensitive lipase activity in human skeletal muscle, Proceedings of Nutrition Society, vol 63, issue 2, Cambridge University Press, UK, pp. 315-322.

Lessard, S., Lo Guidice, S., Lau, W., Reid, J., Turner, N., Febbraio, M.A., Hawley, J.A., Watt, M.J., 2004, Rosiglitazone enhances glucose tolerance by mechanisms other than reduction of fatty acid accumulation within skeletal muscle, Endocrinology, vol 145, issue 12, Endocrinology, The Endocrine Society, pp. 5665-5670.

Holmes, A., Watt, M.J., Febbraio, M.A., 2004, Suppressing lipolysis increases interleukin-6 at rest and during prolonged moderate-intensity exercise in humans, Journal of Applied Physiology, vol 97, issue 2, American Physiological Society, USA, pp. 689-696.

Watt, M.J., Southgate, R.J., Holmes, A., Febbraio, M.A., 2004, Suppression of plasma free fatty acids upregulates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) alpha and delta and PPAR coactivator 1alpha in human skeletal muscle, but not lipid regulatory genes, Journal of Molecular Endocrinology, vol 33, issue 2, Society for Endocrinology, UK, pp. 533-544.

Watt, M.J., Heigenhauser, G., Spriet, L., 2003, Effects of dynamic exercise intensity on the activation of hormone-sensitive lipase in human skeletal muscle, The Journal of Physiology, vol 547, issue Pt. 1, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd, UK, pp. 301-308.

Watt, M.J., Stellingwerff, T., Heigenhauser, G., Spriet, L., 2003, Effects of plasma adrenaline on hormone-sensitive lipase at rest and during moderate exercise in human skeletal muscle, The Journal of Physiology, vol 550, issue Pt. 1, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd, UK, pp. 325-332.

Stellingwerff, T., Watt, M.J., Heigenhauser, G., Spriet, L., 2003, Effects of reduced free fatty acid availability on skeletal muscle PDH activation during aerobic exercise. Pyruvate dehydrogenase, American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism, vol 284, issue 3, American Physiological Society, USA, pp. E589-596.

Watt, M.J., Heigenhauser, G., O'Neill, M., Spriet, L., 2003, Hormone-sensitive lipase activity and fatty acyl-CoA content in human skeletal muscle during prolonged exercise, Journal of Applied Physiology, vol 95, issue 1, American Physiological Society, USA, pp. 314-321.

Watt, M.J., Steinberg, G.R., Heigenhauser, G., Spriet, L., Dyck, D., 2003, Hormone-sensitive lipase activity and triacylglycerol hydrolysis are decreased in rat soleus muscle by cyclopiazonic acid, American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism, vol 285, issue 2, American Physiological Society, USA, pp. E412-419.

Howlett, K., Watt, M.J., Hargreaves, M., Febbraio, M.A., 2003, Regulation of glucose kinetics during intense exercise in humans: effects of alpha- and beta-adrenergic blockade, Metabolism: Clinical and Experimental [P], vol 52, issue 12, WB Saunders Co, USA, pp. 1615-1620.

Spriet, L., Watt, M., 2003, Regulatory mechanisms in the interaction between carbohydrate and lipid oxidation during exercise, ACTA Physiologica, vol 178, issue 4, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd, UK, pp. 443-452.

Watt, M.J., Heigenhauser, G., Stellingwerff, T., Hargreaves, M., Spriet, L., 2002, Carbohydrate ingestion reduces skeletal muscle acetylcarnitine availability but has no effect on substrate phosphorylation at the onset of exercise in man, The Journal of Physiology, vol 544, issue Pt. 3, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd, UK, pp. 949-956.

Watt, M.J., Hargreaves, M., 2002, Effect of epinephrine on glucose disposal during exercise in humans: role of muscle glycogen, American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism, vol 283, issue 3, Americal Physiological Society, USA, pp. E578-583.

Watt, M.J., Heigenhauser, G., Spriet, L., 2002, Intramuscular triacylglycerol utilization in human skeletal muscle during exercise: is there a controversy?, Journal of Applied Physiology, vol 93, issue 4, American Physiological Society, USA, pp. 1185-1195.

Watt, M.J., Heigenhauser, G., Dyck, D., Spriet, L., 2002, Intramuscular triacylglycerol, glycogen and acetyl group metabolism during 4 h of moderate exercise in man, The Journal of Physiology, vol 541, issue Pt. 3, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd, UK, pp. 969-978.

Watt, M.J., Howlett, K., Febbraio, M.A., Spriet, L., Hargreaves, M., 2001, Adrenaline increases skeletal muscle glycogenolysis, pyruvate dehydrogenase activation and carbohydrate oxidation during moderate exercise in humans, The Journal of Physiology, vol 534, issue Pt. 1, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd, UK, pp. 269-278.

Saunders, P., Watt, M.J., Garnham, A., Spriet, L., Hargreaves, M., Febbraio, M.A., 2001, No effect of mild heat stress on the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism at the onset of exercise, Journal of Applied Physiology, vol 91, issue 5, American Physiological Society, USA, pp. 2282-2288.

Watt, M.J., Garnham, A., Febbraio, M.A., Hargreaves, M., 2000, Effect of acute plasma volume expansion on thermoregulation and exercise performance in the heat, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, vol 32, issue 5, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, USA, pp. 958-962.

Postgraduate Research Supervisions

Current Supervision

Program of Study:
(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).
Thesis Title:
Failure to progress in human labour.
Supervisors:
Parkington, H (Main), Watt, M (Associate).
Program of Study:
(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).
Thesis Title:
Important role of protein perilipin 5 (PLIN5) in lipid metabolism.
Supervisors:
Watt, M (Main), Bruce, C (Associate).
Program of Study:
(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).
Thesis Title:
Lipid Metabolism in the CNS: implications for peripheral metabolism.
Supervisors:
Watt, M (Main), Andrews, Z (Associate), Oldfield, B (Associate).
Program of Study:
(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).
Thesis Title:
Role of perilipin 5 (OXPAT) in lipid metabolism..
Supervisors:
Watt, M (Main), Canny, B (Associate).

Completed Supervision

Student:
Boon, J.
Program of Study:
The role of circulating ceramide in insulin resistance & inflammation. (PHD) 2012.
Supervisors:
Watt, M (Main).