Tony Kim L&S Biological Sciences
Developing a new cell line model for studying ketogenesis
Fatty liver disease is a global burden for public health, and is commonly associated with obesity and type-2 diabetes. Fatty liver mainly results from an impaired lipid metabolism in livers, showing reduced fatty acid oxidation and ketogenesis. However, the exact mechanism behind this phenomenon is not well understood. Our body begins producing ketone bodies by breaking down fatty acids during extended fasting, which are used as a substitute for glucose. However, one problem with studying ketogenesis is that ketogenesis is not well observed in hepatocytes isolated from an organism. A hepatocyte cell line that could mimic a ketogenic environment is crucial since it is difficult to observe a detailed mechanism of ketogenesis in fatty livers that are not isolated from an organism. Developing a ketogenic hepatocyte cellular model will be a cornerstone for a better mechanistic understanding of the ketogenic pathway, its regulators, and how it gets dysfunctional in fatty livers.
Message To Sponsor
Thank you, Leadership Fund, for your gracious support for my project. This project strengthened my belief that metabolism is a crucial part in our health, and more attention is needed on this area. After this Summer, I have only come to find out that I am still a novice in this area, and I still need to, and want to, know more. As a result, I have become interested in pursuing MD/PhD programs, bringing my knowledge from research to bedside. After seeing what researchers are doing to keep up with the forefront of biology, I also see myself being one of them in the future. Thank you again, Leadership Fund, for allowing myself to envision my future as a biological researcher.