GARROW, Timothy A.

Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, and Division of Nutritional Sciences
Ph.D. (1992) University of California, Berkeley

Our laboratory is interested in the control of one carbon metabolism. Our primary focus has been on an enzyme called betaine-homocysteine S-methyltransferase (BHMT). We are interested in all aspects of the biochemistry and molecular biology of the BHMT protein and gene, respectively. Ongoing studies include the nutritional, hormonal, tissue specific and developmental controls on BHMT gene transcription, and structure-function studies on the enzyme. We are currently working on obtaining the crystal structure of recombinant human BHMT by X-ray chrystallography, characterizing the Zn binding properties of the enzyme, and creating transgenic and conditional knockout mice to study the physiology of this gene product.

Key Words Recombinant DNA, Introduction of DNA into Animal Cells, Gene Expression Systems, DNA-Protein Interaction, Protein-Protein Interaction, Monoclonal Antibodies, Fermentation, Protein Biotechnology, Site-Directed Mutagenesis, Protein Purification and Characterization, Active Sites and Receptors, Molecular Modeling, X-Ray Crystallography, Disease Models, Hormones, Animal Cell and/or Tissue Culture, Transgenic Animals