Neurosignaling Lab
Faculty
Christopher Morrison, PhD
Sangho Yu, PhD
Laboratory Members
Diana Albarado
Sun Ok Fernandez-Kim, MS
Redin Spann, PhD
Research Focus
The Neurosignaling Laboratory focuses on the cellular mechanisms underlying the neural regulation of body weight homeostasis, with particular interest in the signaling molecules and neuronal circuits involved in the brain’s “perception” of nutritional state and subsequent regulation of feeding behavior.
About this Lab
Dietary protein restriction significantly alters body composition, metabolism and food intake, but the mechanisms through which protein intake is detected and regulated are largely unknown. Recent work in the Neurosignaling Laboratory has discovered novel pathways contributing to the detection of protein restriction, and in particular has identified the circulating hormone FGF21 as the first known endocrine signal of protein restriction. Ongoing work is focusing on both the mechanism through which dietary protein regulates FGF21 and the mechanisms through which FGF21 coordinates adaptive changes in food intake and metabolism in response to protein restriction. In addition, separate experiments seek to identify novel pathways connecting dietary protein intake to metabolism, feeding behavior and longevity.
