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Research Interests
According to the American Diabetes Association there are over 14.6 Million people with diabetes. Of these, nearly 95% have been diagnosed with diabetes type 2. With no cure for this multifaceted metabolic disease and the rapid increase in the number of cases, diabetes has been characterized as an epidemic.
Potential targets for the treatment of diabetes and its associated disorders lie in the intricate cell signaling cascades that control glucose metabolism. One of the hormones secreted by adipose (fat) tissue responsible for the control of blood glucose levels and metabolism is adiponectin. This hormone is secreted in high levels in healthy individuals while decreased levels are associated with diabetes, obesity and arthrosclerosis. Recently, two receptors have been identified that bind adiponectin; Adiponectin Membrane Receptor 1 and 2 (AdipoR1 and AdipoR2). AdipoR1 is expressed mostly in skeletal muscle while AdipoR2 is found mostly in the liver. Both receptors have been shown to regulate Fatty Acid Oxidation, Gluconeogenesis, and the activation of the AMP Kinase pathway. According to hydrophobicity studies, AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 both contain seven transmembrane spanning domains and have an internal N-terminus and external C-terminus and are part of the PAQR family of proteins. The PAQR family is distinct from G-coupled protein receptors in structure, sequence similarity and function. Structural analysis of AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 receptors and determination of the specific binding sites for adiponectin and other ligands may lead to novel therapeutic targets for diabetes and other associated diseases.
My research interests lie in the structural analysis of these receptors and how the binding of adiponectin and other ligands affects downstream cell signaling events. In collaboration with Tom Lyons at the University of Florida, studies on the structural nature of these receptors will determine the specific binding interactions between the receptors and their ligand(s) thereby allowing for the development of new pharmaceutical targets for the receptors.
Research Students – Past and
Present
Student |
Major |
Year
First Involved in Research |
Where
are they now? Or
Where did they go after |
Bork |
Chem/Biol |
2002 |
Med
School – MUSC |
Kelly
Murphy |
Biology |
2002 |
|
Heather
Wright |
Chemistry |
2002 |
Atotech
Industries |
Elizabeth
Dimond |
Chem/Biol |
2003 |
|
Nisheeth
Rai |
Chemistry |
2003 |
Med
School – Midwestern |
Meagan
Dowdy |
Chem/Biol |
2003 |
Anesthesiology
Assistant Program – |
Justin
Daniel |
Chemistry |
2003 |
|
Anna
Vagstad |
Chemistry |
2004 |
Graduate
School – John’s Hopkins University |
Vennece
Fowlkes |
Chemistry |
2004 |
|
Lavonda
Walker |
Chemistry |
2004 |
Method
Development/Validation Chemist – Pharmaceuticals |
Zainab
Ghadiyali* |
Chemistry |
2005 |
DAAD
Scholarship – Current
Student |
Shannon
Kissinger |
Chem/Biol |
2006 |
|
Rachel
Glazener |
Chem/Phil |
2006 |
|
Inesha
Baker |
Chemistry |
2006 |
Lab
Technician at MUSC |
Alena James |
Biology |
2007 |
|
Katie
Faile |
Chemistry |
2007 |
Pharmacy
School –South Carolina College of Pharmacy |
Rachel*
|
Chemistry |
2008 |
Current
Student |
Shaylin
Duncan* |
Biology |
2008 |
Current
Student |
*
Most Recent Students
Student Presentations at
State, Regional and National/International Meetings Since 2003
Bork, D., Murphy, K., Chiswell, B., Sodetz, J.M., and Parker, C.L. (2003) “Production of a
Recombinant C8a Protein
Fragment for Structural Analysis.” Bull.
S.C. Acad. Sci. 76, 61. South Carolina Academy of Science meeting
at
Rai, N., Bork, D., Murphy, K., Dimond, E., Chiswell, B., Sodetz, J.M., and Parker, C.L. (2003)
“Production of a Recombinant C8a Protein Fragment for Structural Analysis.” Poster presentation at
Dimond, E., Bork, D., Murphy, K, Rai, N., Chiswell, B., Sodetz, J.M., and Parker, C.L.
(2003) “Production of a Recombinant C8a
Protein Fragment for Structural Analysis.”
55th Southeast Regional
Meeting of the American Chemical Society. presented as a poster.
Walker, L, and Parker, C. (2005)
“Expression and Purification of Recombinant AdipoR1 in Sf9 cells” Poster
Presentation. 19th National Conference on Undergraduate Research.
Fowlkes, V., and Parker, C. (2005) “Reproduction of
Recombinant MACPF C8alpha in Sf9 Insect Cells” Oral Presentation. 19th National Conference on Undergraduate
Research.
Walker, L., and Parker, C. (2005) “Expression and Purification of
AdipoR1 in Sf9 cells.” FASEB J. 19(5), A234.1. Presented as a Poster at American Society for Biochemistry and
Molecular Biology meeting in
Fowlkes, V. and Parker, C. (2005) “Cloning and
Expression of C8α in Sf9 insect cells.” FASEB J. 19(5), A234.5.
Presented as a poster at American
Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology meeting in
Walker, L., and Parker, C. (2005)
“Expression and Purification of Recombinant AdipoR1 in Sf9 cells.” Bull. S.C. Acad. Sci. Volume LXVII. South Carolina Academy of Science meeting
at
Ghadiyali, Z and Parker, C. (2006)
“Production of the MACPF Region of Complement C8alpha in Sf9 Insect
Cells.” FASEB J. 20(4), A462 – A463. Presented as a poster at American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular
Biology meeting in
Ghadiyali, Z and Parker, C. (2006)
“Production of Recombinant MACPF Complement C8α in Sf9 Insect Cells for
Protein Production and Purification.” Presented as a poster at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research in
Ghadiyali, Z and Parker, C. (2006) “Expression and
purification of Human Adiponectin receptor, AdipoR2
in Sf-9 Insect for Structural Analysis and Biochemical Assays.” Presented as a
talk at the Southeast Regional Meeting of the National Organization of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers,
Augusta, GA. November 10 -11.
Baker, I and Parker, C. (2006) “Cloning,
Expression and Purification of Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase 2” Presented as a poster at the Southeast
Regional Meeting of the National
Organization of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers,
Parker,
C., Ghadiyali, Z., Kissinger,
S.,
Glazener, R, Baker, I,
Hurlbert, J, and Parker, C. (2007) “Kinetic characterization of Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase 2
using the substrates sulfamethazine and
5-aminosalicylic acid” Submitted: National Meeting of the American Chemical Society,
Baker, I, and Parker, C. (2007)
“Expression and Purification of Human Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase 2” Submitted: National Meeting of the American Chemical Society,
Ghadiyali, Z. and Parker, C. (2007)
“Cloning, Expression and Purification of Human Adiponectin
Receptor, AdipoR2” (2007) National Meeting of the American Chemical Society,
Kissinger, S., Walker, L., and
Parker, C. (2007) “Expression of Adiponectin Membrane
Receptor 1 in Sf9 cells” National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Chicago,IL,
March 25-29.
Glazener, R, Baker, I,
Hurlbert, J, and Parker, C. (2007) “Kinetic characterization of Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase 2”
Submitted: National Conference on
Undergraduate Research, CA, April 12 – 14.
Kissinger, S., Walker, L.,
Hurlbert, J. and Parker, C. (2007) “Expression of Human Adiponectin
Membrane Receptor 1 in Sf9 cells” National
Conference on Undergraduate Research, CA, April 12 – 14.
Ghadiyali, Z., and Parker, C. (2007)
“Cloning, Expression, and Purification of Human Adiponectin
Receptor, AdipoR2 for Structural Analysis and Biochemical Assays” National Organization of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers, Fl,
April 1-7.
Faile, K., James, A., and
Parker, C. (2007) “Expression of Adiponectin Protein
Receptors: AdipoR1 and AdipoR2” USC 2nd Annual Chemistry Coloquium,
James, A., Faile,
K.L., and Parker, C. (2008) "Adiponectin
Membrane Receptors: ADIPOR1 and ADIPOR2" Oral presentation at the South Carolina Academy of Sciences,
Faile, K., James, A., and
Parker, C. (2008) “Adiponectin Membrane Receptors 1
and 2" Poster presented at Experimental
Biology - American Association of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, San
Diego, CA, April 4 - 8th.
James, A., Faile,
K.L., and Parker, C. (2008) "Adiponectin Membrane Receptors: ADIPOR1 and ADIPOR2" Oral
presentation at the National Conference on
Undergraduate Research,
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