Award details

Copper metabolism in humans: development of novel biomarkers of exposure

Reference	BBS/E/F/04101384
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Susan Jane Fairweather-Tait
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Quadram Institute Bioscience
Department	Quadram Institute Bioscience Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	44,199
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/2001
End date	30/04/2002
Duration	13 months

Abstract

Establishing lower and upper safe limits for dietary copper in humans are severely hampered by difficulties in assessing bioavailability and the lack of reliable biomarkers of copper status. The aims of this project are to employ DNA microarray technology to establish sensitive biomarkers of copper status and to establish a compartmental model for copper metabolism. Identification of copper-regulated genes will provide direction for future research on the role of copper in promoting health and preventing chronic diseases. This project will include undertaking a human study with six male volunteers, utilising Cu stable isotope methodology and compartmental modelling to characterise copper metabolism in terms of copper absorption and endogenous losses. Patterns of expression of copper-regulated genes (i.e. whether transcription is induced or suppressed) will be monitored in blood lymphocytes. The data will be interpreted in the context of results obtained from the metabolic study in order to identify genes that are responsive to changes in copper intake. These can then be used as markers of copper status in future research on copper metabolism

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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