Abstract
The speaker’s research goal is to identify novel genes that underlie metabolic dysregulation in obesity, lipodystrophy, and atherosclerosis. Her approach is to use naturally occurring mutations and positional cloning to isolate genes that promote metabolic disease, and to characterize the function of these genes with genetically engineered mouse strains, cell culture, and molecular approaches. Using this strategy, the speaker and her research group identified the lipin gene family consisting Lpin1, Lpin2, Lpin3, which have roles in lipid synthesis, energy metabolism, and autophagy in adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, bone and brain. They also identified the Diet1 gene, which is a determinant of plasma cholesterol levels and susceptibility to atherosclerosis. In their studies of obesity and lipodystrophy, they have developed expertise in the analysis of metabolism and energy balance in the mouse using in vivo and in vitro systems, including cellular bioenergetics determinations in living cells and tissues.
About the speaker
Prof Karen Reue received her BS in Microbiology from the University of Arizona in 1981 and PhD in Microbiology from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1985. She then started her postdoctoral research at the Rockefeller University. In 1988, she returned to UCLA as an Assistant Research Cardiologist and then became an Assistant Professor of Medicine. She is currently the Professor of Medicine and Human Genetics at UCLA. She is also a member of the UCLA Molecular Biology Institute.
Prof Reue is one of the world leaders who use mice to model metabolic diseases. Her research focuses on characterizing novel genes of lipid and glucose metabolism, especially in the context of aberrant metabolic regulation. Besides, she serves as the editorial board of Journal of Lipid Research. She is also the editor of Lipase and Phospholipase Protocols.
Prof Reue received numerous honors and awards, including the Avanti Award in Lipids by American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2015) and the Established Investigator Award by American Heart Association (1992). She was also featured in “Woman in Metabolism” series for Cell Metabolism’s 10th Anniversary (2015).
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