Robert Lewis, Eppley Institute for Cancer Research, University of Nebraska Medical Center, to presen

17 Nov 2012    

Robert Lewis’ talk entitled, “Molecular Mechanisms of Metabolic Programming,” will be given at noon on November 28, as the next speaker in the Nebraska Gateway to Nutrigenomics Seminar Series.  This seminar will take place in the Columbine/Goldenrod Room of the Nebraska East Union. Aa brown bag lunch with beverages and dessert will be provided. 
 
Lewis has stated that the "longstanding goal of this laboratory is to define intracellular mechanisms regulating cell fate.  Our attention has been focused on the function of molecular scaffolds Kinase Suppressor of Ras (KSR) 1 and 2.  Among our observations is the finding that KSR1-/- mice and cell derived from those mice, appear normal but resistant to tumorigenesis induced by oncogenic Ras.  Subsequent effort has revealed molecular determinants on KSR1 that underlie its action and identified intracellular pathways it regulates. We subsequently generated and characterized mice lacking KSR2, showing that they are energy efficient and become obese and insulin resistant. Our analysis of tissue from KSR2-/- mice identified a defect in AMPK signaling affecting lipid metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation.  Further analysis of cells with and without KSR1 revealed that it, too, played a role in regulating pathways affecting cell metabolism.  As a result, my lab has dedicated itself to understanding the role these scaffolds play in regulating cell fate through the sensing of cellular energy levels and the regulation of both anabolic and catabolic metabolism.”
 
Additional information about Robert Lewis can  be found at the Eppley Center Web site. 
 
All interested faculty, postdoctorates, students, and staff are invited to attend this NGN seminar.