Award details

Role of enterocyte transporters in bioavailability

Reference	BBS/E/F/00041776
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Paul Kroon
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Quadram Institute Bioscience
Department	Quadram Institute Bioscience Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	2,799
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/10/2003
End date	30/09/2006
Duration	36 months

Abstract

The epithelial cells lining the intestine are specialised cells whose functions include absorption of nutrients and metabolism of xenobiotics (e.g. drugs, phytochemicals). The processes that control the transfer of dietary phytochemicals across the intestinal barrier are not fully understood, but it is clear that several enzymes and transporters are involved. There are several families of transporters that are known to be important in drug absorption, and their individual specificities determine the rate of transfer and metabolism, and ultimately bioavailability, of drugs. In this project, molecular approaches (including use of a `tuneable¿ double-stable transfection technique and gene silencing with interfering RNAs) will be applied to alter the levels of some key transporters implicated in controlling the passage of phytochemicals across the gut, using cultured human gut epithelial cells. Measurements will be made to determine overall transfer rates and estimates made of transporter apparent affinities using a range of dietary phytochemicals. Dose-response effects and rate limiting steps will be determined. The project will serve to (1) produce improved models for the study of active transport processes by gut epithelial cells, (2) define the role of specific transporters in phytochemical absorption, and (3) determine the structural features of phytochemicals that facilitate or impede absorption. This information will be useful in the design of nutraceuticals based on bioactive components of plant foods.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Agri-food (AF)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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