Professor
Canada Research Chair Tier 1 in
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Nutrition
Tel.: 514-398-7862
Fax: 514-398-7739
luis [dot] agellon [at] mcgill [dot] ca (E-mail)
Degrees
- BSc, Biology, McMaster University, 1982
- PhD, Biology, McMaster University, 1986
Current Research
The major goal of the research in my laboratory is to gain insight into how nutrients and hormonal factors control gene expression, and gene function. Currently, our work deals with the metabolism of cholesterol, bile acids and fats. Aberrant metabolism of these compounds impacts on hepatic, intestinal and cardiovascular function and lead to an array of disorders such as atherosclerosis, obesity, diabetes as well as liver and bowel diseases
Our projects focus on two distinct but related themes:
- Regulation of bile acid homeostasis
- Function of intestinal intracellular lipid binding proteins
Under Theme 1, we study how nutrient and hormonal factors regulate the expression and function of genes involved in the synthesis and transport of bile acids in the liver These compounds are required for the absorption of lipids and lipid soluble nutrients in the intestine.
Under Theme 2, we are evaluating the importance of intestinal intracellular lipid binding proteins in the metabolism and transport of lipids and bile acids in the enterohepatic circulation. Intracellular lipid binding proteins are small and abundant cytosolic proteins that bind an assortment of small hydrophobic molecules and are thought to be involved in a variety of cellular processes. Studies in these two areas will provide us with further understanding of the importance of nutrition in regulating gene expression and function, and in coordinating nutrient metabolism in the whole organism.
Publications
To view a list of Dr. Agellon's publications, click here.