Project description:AIMS To identify the underlying mechanism by which Vitamin D reduces colorectal cancer risk.
OBJECTIVES To demonstrate the effects of vitamin D supplementation on serum vitamin D levels.
To demonstrate dynamic changes in gene expression in response to vitamin D. To demonstrate the mechanism underlying the gene-environment interaction of vitamin D, susceptibility genetic variants (risk genes) and colorectal cancer.
Project description:My lab studies the function of the molecular clocks in skeletal muscle. We have an inducible genetic mouse model (C57Bl6 background) in which we knock out the core clock gene, Bmal1, only in adult skeletal muscle after treatment with tamoxifen. We have found that the mice maintain body mass but lose fat mass at 10 weeks after loss of Bmal1. We have done expression profiling on the skeletal muscles and gene expression changes (insulin signaling, CHO metabolism, fat metabolism) suggest significant changes in substrate metabolism. To analyze TCA, CHO metabolites we have collected gastrocnemius muscles from these mice following instructions from Dr. Burant. Mice were anaesthetized with isoflurane, the gastrocnemius muscle dissected and flash frozen with tongs cooled with liquid N2. They have been stored in cryovials in our -80 freezer for 2 months.