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 BIOGRAPHY |
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Professor Michael S. Kilberg earned his Ph.D. degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of South Dakota for his work on the effect of ionizing radiation and diabetes on hepatic amino acid transport and metabolism. In 1977, he joined Hal Christensen's laboratory in the Department of Biological Chemistry at the University of Michigan where he studied the regulation of amino acid transport. Dr. Kilberg joined the faculty at the University of Florida in 1980. He has organized several international symposia and has written chapters for both the Annual Review of Nutrition and the Annual Review of Biochemistry. Dr. Kilberg has served three terms on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Biological Chemistry. He was awarded the College of Medicine Faculty Research Award in 1992, the University of Florida Research Foundation Professorship in 1997 and the Professorial Excellence Program (PEP) Award in 1998. |
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RESEARCH DESCRIPTION |
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We are investigating the transcriptional regulation of the human asparagine synthetase (ASNS) gene in response to amino acid deprivation. Several cis-acting sequences that are responsible for both basal and amino acid-dependent transcriptional control (Amino Acid Response, AAR) are being characterized. These same elements also mediate induction of the ASNS gene following activation of the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) pathway by glucose starvation of cells. A second area of investigation centers on the use of Asparaginase (ASNase) in treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). ASNase-resistance is associated with increased AS expression. Using human MOLT-4 leukemia cells, we are testing the hypothesis that this increased ASNS activity is the result of altered transcriptional mechanisms. |
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