Associate Professor Andrew Hoy
Charles Perkins Centre
Dr Hoy is Head of the Lipid Metabolism Laboratory in the School of Medical Sciences. His lab is a member of the Charles Perkins Centre.
Research conducted by my laboratory is focused on the regulation of lipid metabolism, predominantly fatty acid storage and utilisation, and how this may be perturbed in chronic disease states such as cancer, obesity and insulin resistance. We welcome interest in undergraduate and postgraduate research training in our lab from highly motivated students.
The lab is a team member of a Movember Foundation and Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia-funded program focused on Lipids & Prostate Cancer .
Current Laboratory Members:
- Sarah Dakak - BSc Hons Student, co-supervised by Dr Helen McGuire
- William Carraro - BSc Hons Student, co-supervised by Dr Amanda Brandon,A/Prof Thomas Grewal and Prof Liz New
PHSI2X08 - Exercise Physiology. Metabolic Physiology, Cardiovascular and Respiratory Physiology, fatigue, training and environmental influences
PHSI3X12 - Metabolic Diseases. Includes obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, altered cancer behaviour
The Lipid Metabolism Laboratory has two major research themes:
CancerMetabolism
This these has two sub-themes:
1) Cell metabolism is highly complex and there is extensive interactions between pathways that use different nutrients such as glucose, lipids and amino acids. This theme is focused on understanding these interactions and how they support a) membrane lipid synthesis, and b) mitochondrial metabolism. This project uses a genetically diverse panel of cancer cells and other models to gain new insights into cancer cell metabolism.
2) Metabolic diseases such as obesity and insulin resistance are risk factors for some cancers and have been shown to influence cancer behaviour. Tumours are characterised by a dramatic shift in their metabolic phenotype, primarily towards non-oxidative metabolism and increased lipid synthesis. That said, the role of fatty acid metabolism in the sustained growth of cancer cells has yet to be fully elucidated. This theme focuses on cancer metabolism; specifically, how intermediary metabolism and cancer behaviour is altered in an obese microenvironment and identifying novel metabolic therapeutic targets.
Lipid Metabolism and Insulin Resistance
The accumulation of lipid in tissues responsible for regulating blood glucose levels, including skeletal muscle and liver, results in development of insulin resistance. The vast majority of fatty acids are stored in the lipid droplet as triacylglycerols. Hence, the lipid droplet is at the centre of intracellular lipid homeostasis. However, triacylglycerols are not mechanistically linked to the development of insulin resistance. Other lipid species that can arise from lipid processes that occur at the lipid droplet have been proposed to instigate insulin resistance. This theme aims to understand the role of the metabolic processes that occur at the lipid droplet that are altered with insulin resistance.
(KU Leuven) Professor Johan Swinnen | |
(University of California - Berkeley) Asst Professor James Olzmann | |
(University of Rochester, NY) Professor Michael Welte |
Publications
Book Chapters
- Dehairs, J., Quek, L., Hoy, A., Swinnen, J., et al (2023). Tracer Lipidomics. Mass Spectrometry for Lipidomics: Methods and Applications, (pp. 641-655). Weinheim, Germany: Wiley-V C H Verlag Gmbh. [More Information]
Journals
- Shrestha, R., Pickering, M., Ghesquière, B., Watt, M., Quek, L., Hoy, A., Tilley, W., Swinnen, J., Butler, L., Selth, L., et al (2024). ACSM1 and ACSM3 Regulate Fatty Acid Metabolism to Support Prostate Cancer Growth and Constrain Ferroptosis. Cancer Research, 84(14), 2313-2332. [More Information]
- Lin, H., Yang, X., Centenera, M., Huynh, K., Giles, C., Dehairs, J., Swinnen, J., Hoy, A., Meikle, P., Butler, L., Horvath, L., et al (2024). Circulating Lipid Profiles Associated with Resistance to Androgen Deprivation Therapy in Localized Prostate Cancer. JCO Precision Oncology, 8. [More Information]
- Scott, J., Quek, L., Hoy, A., Swinnen, J., Nassar, Z., Butler, L. (2024). Fatty acid elongation regulates mitochondrial β-oxidation and cell viability in prostate cancer by controlling malonyl-CoA levels. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 691, 149273-1-149273-7. [More Information]
2024
- Shrestha, R., Pickering, M., Ghesquière, B., Watt, M., Quek, L., Hoy, A., Tilley, W., Swinnen, J., Butler, L., Selth, L., et al (2024). ACSM1 and ACSM3 Regulate Fatty Acid Metabolism to Support Prostate Cancer Growth and Constrain Ferroptosis. Cancer Research, 84(14), 2313-2332. [More Information]
- Lin, H., Yang, X., Centenera, M., Huynh, K., Giles, C., Dehairs, J., Swinnen, J., Hoy, A., Meikle, P., Butler, L., Horvath, L., et al (2024). Circulating Lipid Profiles Associated with Resistance to Androgen Deprivation Therapy in Localized Prostate Cancer. JCO Precision Oncology, 8. [More Information]
- Scott, J., Quek, L., Hoy, A., Swinnen, J., Nassar, Z., Butler, L. (2024). Fatty acid elongation regulates mitochondrial β-oxidation and cell viability in prostate cancer by controlling malonyl-CoA levels. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 691, 149273-1-149273-7. [More Information]
2023
- Solon-Biet, S., Clark, X., Bell-Anderson, K., Rusu, P., Perks, R., Freire, T., Pulpitel, T., Senior, A., Hoy, A., Aung, O., Le Couteur, D., Raubenheimer, D., Conigrave, A., Simpson, S., et al (2023). Toward reconciling the roles of FGF21 in protein appetite, sweet preference, and energy expenditure. Cell Reports, 42(12). [More Information]
- Dehairs, J., Quek, L., Hoy, A., Swinnen, J., et al (2023). Tracer Lipidomics. Mass Spectrometry for Lipidomics: Methods and Applications, (pp. 641-655). Weinheim, Germany: Wiley-V C H Verlag Gmbh. [More Information]
2022
- Jose, J., Hoque, M., Engel, J., Beevi, S., Wahba, M., Georgieva, M., Murphy, K., Hughes, W., Cochran, B., Lu, A., Hoy, A., Grewal, T., et al (2022). Annexin A6 and NPC1 regulate LDL-inducible cell migration and distribution of focal adhesions. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 596. [More Information]
- Zipinotti dos Santos, D., Santos Guimaraes, I., Hakeem-Sanni, M., Cochran, B., Rye, K., Grewal, T., Hoy, A., Rangel, L. (2022). Atorvastatin improves cisplatin sensitivity through modulation of cholesteryl ester homeostasis in breast cancer cells. Discover Oncology, 13(1). [More Information]
- Mak, B., Lin, H., Kwan, E., Fettke, H., Tran, B., Davis, I., Mahon, K., Stockler, M., Briscoe, K., Marx, G., Hoy, A., Horvath, L., et al (2022). Combined impact of lipidomic and genetic aberrations on clinical outcomes in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. BMC Medicine, 20(1), 112-1-112-14. [More Information]
2021
- Gillis, J., Hinneh, J., Ryan, N., Irani, S., Moldovan, M., Quek, L., Shrestha, R., Hanson, A., Xie, J., Hoy, A., et al (2021). A feedback loop between the 1 androgen receptor and 6-phosphogluoconate dehydrogenase (6PGD) drives prostate cancer growth: Cooperativity between 6PGD and AR drives prostate cancer growth. eLife, 10, e62592 - 1-e62592 - 27. [More Information]
- Kwan, K., Burvenich, I., Centenera, M., Goh, Y., Rigopoulos, A., Dehairs, J., Swinnen, J., Raj, G., Hoy, A., Butler, L., et al (2021). Synthesis and fluorine-18 radiolabeling of a phospholipid as a PET imaging agent for prostate cancer. Nuclear Medicine and Biology, 93, 37-45. [More Information]
- Nagarajan, S., Butler, L., Hoy, A. (2021). The diversity and breadth of cancer cell fatty acid metabolism. Cancer and Metabolism, 9(1), 2. [More Information]
2020
- Miladinovic, D., Cusick, T., Mahon, K., Haynes, A., Cortie, C., Meyer, B., Stricker, P., Wittert, G., Butler, L., Horvath, L., Hoy, A. (2020). Assessment of periprostatic and subcutaneous adipose tissue lipolysis and adipocyte size from men with localized prostate cancer. Cancers, 12(6), 1385. [More Information]
- Nassar, Z., Mah, C., Centenera, M., Irani, S., Sadowski, M., Scott, J., Nguyen, E., Nagarajan, S., Moldovan, M., Lynn, D., Hoy, A., et al (2020). Fatty Acid Oxidation Is an Adaptive Survival Pathway Induced in Prostate Tumors by HSP90 Inhibition. Molecular Cancer Research, 18(10), 1500-1511. [More Information]
- Nassar, Z., Mah, C., Dehairs, J., Burvenich, I., Irani, S., Centenera, M., Helm, M., Shrestha, R., Moldovan, M., Don, A., Horvath, L., Hoy, A., et al (2020). Human decr1 is an androgen-repressed survival factor that regulates pufa oxidation to protect prostate tumor cells from ferroptosis. eLife, 9, 1-34. [More Information]
2019
- Balaban, S., Nassar, Z., Zhang, A., Hosseini Beheshti, E., Centenera, M., Schreuder, M., Lin, H., Aishah, A., Varney, B., Liu-Fu, F., Lee, L., Nagarajan, S., Hardie, R., Raftopulos, N., Kakani, M., Holst, J., Horvath, L., Hoy, A., et al (2019). Extracellular Fatty Acids Are the Major Contributor to Lipid Synthesis in Prostate Cancer. Molecular Cancer Research, 17(4), 949-962. [More Information]
- Nagarajan, S., Paul-Heng, M., Krycer, J., Fazakerley, D., Sharland, A., Hoy, A. (2019). Lipid and Glucose Metabolism in Hepatocyte Cell Lines and Primary Mouse Hepatocytes: A comprehensive resource for in vitro studies of hepatic metabolism. American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism, 316(4), E578-E589. [More Information]
2018
- Cairns, R., Fischer, A., Blanco-Munoz, P., Alvarez-Guaita, A., Meneses-Salas, E., Egert, A., Buechler, C., Hoy, A., Heeren, J., Enrich, C., Grewal, T., et al (2018). Altered hepatic glucose homeostasis in AnxA6-KO mice fed a high-fat diet. PloS One, 13(8), 1-26. [More Information]
- Balaban, S., Lee, L., Varney, B., Aishah, A., Gao, Q., Shearer, R., Saunders, D., Grewal, T., Hoy, A. (2018). Heterogeneity of fatty acid metabolism in breast cancer cells underlies differential sensitivity to palmitate-induced apoptosis. Molecular Oncology, 12(9), 1623-1638. [More Information]
- Attane, C., Milhas, D., Hoy, A., Muller, C. (2018). Metabolic remodeling induced by adipocytes: a new Achille heels in invasive breast cancer? Current Medicinal Chemistry, 25, 1-15. [More Information]
2017
- Lin, H., Mahon, K., Weir, J., Mundra, P., Spielman, C., Briscoe, K., Gurney, H., Mallesara, G., Marx, G., Stockler, M., Hoy, A., Horvath, L., et al (2017). A distinct plasma lipid signature associated with poor prognosis in castration-resistant prostate cancer. International Journal of Cancer, 141(10), 2112-2120. [More Information]
- Balaban, S., Shearer, R., Lee, L., van Geldermalsen, M., Schreuder, M., Shtein, H., Cairns, R., Cooke, K., Fazakerley, D., Grewal, T., Holst, J., Hoy, A., et al (2017). Adipocyte lipolysis links obesity to breast cancer growth: adipocyte-derived fatty acids drive breast cancer cell proliferation and migration. Cancer and Metabolism, 5(1). [More Information]
- Hoy, A., Balaban, S., Saunders, D. (2017). Adipocyte-Tumor Cell Metabolic Crosstalk in Breast Cancer. Trends in Molecular Medicine, 23(5), 381-392. [More Information]
2016
- Meier, E., Rein-Fischboeck, L., Pohl, R., Wanninger, J., Hoy, A., Grewal, T., Eisinger, K., Krautbauer, S., Liebisch, G., Weiss, T., et al (2016). Annexin A6 protein is downregulated in human hepatocellular carcinoma. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, 418(1-2), 81-90. [More Information]
2015
- Meex, R., Hoy, A., Mason, R., Martin, S., McGee, S., Bruce, C., Watt, M. (2015). ATGL-mediated triglyceride turnover and the regulation of mitochondrial capacity in skeletal muscle. American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism, 308(11), E960-E970. [More Information]
- Meex, R., Hoy, A., Morris, A., Brown, R., Lo, J., Burke, M., Goode, R., Kingwell, B., Kraakman, M., Febbraio, M., et al (2015). Fetuin B Is a Secreted Hepatocyte Factor Linking Steatosis to Impaired Glucose Metabolism. Cell Metabolism, 22(6), 1078-1089. [More Information]
- Gao, Q., Hanh, J., Varadi, L., Cairns, R., Sjoestroem, H., Liao, V., Wood, P., Balaban, S., Ong, J., Lin, H., Lai, F., Hoy, A., Grewal, T., Groundwater, P., Hibbs, D. (2015). Identification of dual PPARα/γ agonists and their effects on lipid metabolism. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry, 23(24), 7676-7684. [More Information]
2014
- Briggs, D., Lockie, S., Benzler, J., Wu, Q., Stark, R., Reichenbach, A., Hoy, A., Lemus, M., Coleman, H., Parkington, H., et al (2014). Evidence That Diet-Induced Hyperleptinemia, but Not Hypothalamic Gliosis, Causes Ghrelin Resistance in NPY/AgRP Neurons of Male Mice. Endocrinology, 155(7), 2411-2422. [More Information]
- Abboud, M., Gordon-Thomson, C., Hoy, A., Balaban, S., Rybchyn, M., Cole, L., Su, Y., Brennan-Speranza, T., Fraser, D., Mason, R. (2014). Uptake of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D by muscle and fat cells. Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 144(Part A), 232-236. [More Information]
2013
- Peoples, G., Hoy, A., Henry, R., McLennan, P. (2013). Autologous pump-perfused rat hind limb preparation for investigating muscle function and metabolism in vivo. Microcirculation, 20(6), 511-523. [More Information]
- Boon, J., Hoy, A., Stark, R., Brown, R., Meex, R., Henstridge, D., Schenk, S., Meikle, P., Horowitz, J., Kingwell, B., et al (2013). Ceramides contained in LDL are elevated in type 2 diabetes and promote inflammation and skeletal muscle insulin resistance. Diabetes, 62(2), 401-410. [More Information]
- Kim, M., Lee, K., Iseli, T., Hoy, A., George, J., Grewal, T., Roufogalis, B. (2013). Compound K modulates fatty acid-induced lipid droplet formation and expression of proteins involved in lipid metabolism in hepatocytes. Liver International, 33(10), 1583-1593. [More Information]
2012
- Watt, M., Hoy, A., Muoio, D., Coleman, R. (2012). Distinct roles of specific fatty acids in cellular processes: implications for interpreting and reporting experiments. American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism, 302(1), E1-E3. [More Information]
- Watt, M., Hoy, A. (2012). Lipid metabolism in skeletal muscle: generation of adaptive and maladaptive intracellular signals for cellular function. American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism, 302(11), e1315-e1328. [More Information]
- Watt, M., Barnett, A., Bruce, C., Schenk, S., Horowitz, J., Hoy, A. (2012). Regulation of plasma ceramide levels with fatty acid oversupply: evidence that the liver detects and secretes de novo synthesised ceramide. Diabetologia, 55(10), 2741-2746. [More Information]
2011
- Turpin, S., Hoy, A., Brown, R., Rudaz, C., Honeyman, J., Matzaris, M., Watt, M. (2011). Adipose triacylglycerol lipase is a major regulator of hepatic lipid metabolism but not insulin sensitivity in mice. Diabetologia, 54(1), 146-156. [More Information]
- Hoy, A., Bruce, C., Turpin, S., Morris, A., Febbraio, M., Watt, M. (2011). Adipose triglyceride lipase-null mice are resistant to high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance despite reduced energy expenditure and ectopic lipid accumulation. Endocrinology, 152(1), 48-58. [More Information]
- Wright, L., Brandon, A., Hoy, A., Forsberg, G., Lelliott, C., Reznick, J., Löfgren, L., Oscarsson, J., Strömstedt, M., Cooney, G., et al (2011). Amelioration of lipid-induced insulin resistance in rat skeletal muscle by overexpression of Pgc-1(beta) involves reductions in long-chain acyl-CoA levels and oxidative stress. Diabetologia, 54(6), 1417-1426. [More Information]
2010
- Hoehn, K., Turner, N., Swarbrick, M., Wilks, D., Preston, E., Phua, Y., Hoy, A., James, D., Cooney, G., et al (2010). Acute or chronic upregulation of mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation has no net effect on whole-body energy expenditure or adiposity. Cell Metabolism, 11(1), 70-76. [More Information]
2009
- Hoehn, K., Salmon, A., Hohnen-Behrens, C., Turner, N., Hoy, A., Maghzal, G., Stocker, R., Van Remmen, H., Kraegen, E., Cooney, G., et al (2009). Insulin resistance is a cellular antioxidant defense mechanism. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 106(42), 17787-17792. [More Information]
- Hoy, A., Brandon, A., Turner, N., Watt, M., Bruce, C., Cooney, G., Kraegen, E. (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 Metabolism, 297(1), E67-E75. [More Information]
- Hoy, A., Watt, M. (2009). Lipid Partitioning and Insulin Sensitivity: Lessons learntfrom Genetic Models. Asia-Pacific Journal of Endocrinology (APJOE), 1(1), 35-47.
2008
- Hoy, A., Turner, N. (2008). New insight into the mechanism by which acute physical exercise ameliorates insulin resistance. Journal of Physiology, 586(9), 2251-2252. [More Information]
2007
- Hoy, A., Bruce, C., Cederberg, A., Turner, N., James, D., Cooney, G., Kraegen, E. (2007). Glucose infusion causes insulin resistance in skeletal muscle of rats without changes in Akt and AS160 phosphorylation. American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism, 293(5), e1358-e1364. [More Information]
2006
- Kraegen, E., Saha, A., Preston, E., Wilks, D., Hoy, A., Cooney, G., Ruderman, N. (2006). Increased malonyl-CoA and diacylglycerol content and reduced AMPK activity accompany insulin resistance induced by glucose infusion in muscle and liver of rats. American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism, 290, e471-e479. [More Information]
- Ye, J., Dzamko, N., Hoy, A., Iglesias, M., Kemp, B., Kraegen, E. (2006). Rosiglitazone treatment enhances acute AMP-activated protein kinase-mediated muscle and adipose tissue glucose uptake in high-fat-fed rats. Diabetes, 55(10), 2797-2804. [More Information]
Selected Grants
2025
- Dynamic Presentation of Physical Cues to Engineer Aging Models, Lim K, Yeo G, Hoy A, Australian Research Council (ARC)/Discovery Projects (DP)
2023
- Androgen receptor: A master regulator of lipid metabolism, Hoy A, Australian Research Council (ARC)/Discovery Projects (DP)
- Exploiting Prostate Cancer Metabolic Dependencies to Develop New Therapeutics and Circulating Prognostic and Predictive Biomarkers, Hoy A, Horvath L, US Department of Defence (USA)/Research Grants