NAKAMURA, Manabu T. 

Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition 

Ph.D. (1992) University of California (Davis)

   Research Topics

• Transcriptional regulation of essential fatty acid metabolism
• Functions of essential fatty acids
• Gene regulaiton by dietary fructose and its metabolites
• Interaction of macronutrients in development of obesity
  

   Research Interests 

  Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and their metabolic products are essential for a variety of physiological functions in the body, such as regulation of inflammation, blood pressure, hemostasis and lipid metabolism. My laboratory investigates regulatory mechanism of PUFA metabolism with particular focus on two transcription factors PPAR a and SREBP-1. We also use gene knockout techniques to investigate biochemical and molecular basis of function of PUFAs.

The increasing incidence of obesity worldwide is a significant public health concern. My group also investigates the molecular mechanisms by which our body adjusts its metabolism to diets that widely differ in macronutrient compositions . Knowledge of the fundamental mechanisms underlying metabolic adaptation, or failure of adaptation, will significantly contribute to the prevention of chronic metabolic diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

  Key Words   Targeted Gene Disruption, Ligand Binding Kinetics, PPAR, SREBP, Delta-6 Desaturase, Arachidonic Acid, Pospholipids

Current Funding
American Heart Association

 Laboratory website https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/mtnakamu/www/