Basic areas of research: Lipid metabolism, lipoproteins, intestinal physiology
The long-term goal of the laboratory is to understand the molecular details by which lipoproteins, and the apolipoproteins that reside on them, regulate cellular function and metabolism. Our lab is currently investigating the mechanisms by which apolipoprotein C-III (apoC-III) acts in both the intestine and other tissues. We have discovered that overexpression of apoC-III inhibits dietary fat absorption, in addition to its previously known role as an inhibitor of plasma lipid clearance. These findings place apoC-III as a central modulator of cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes, and suggest that intestinal apoC-III may be a therapeutic target for the treatment of metabolic disease.
