Experiences
& Education:
1998-2001
Research Associate
Neurogenetics
Research Center, Kennedy Krieger Institute,
Johns
Hopkins Medical Institutions
Neurology
Department, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University
1998
Ph. D. Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University
1995
M.S.
Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University
1990
B.S.
Agriculture Chemistry, National Taiwan University
Awards:
2001-2003
USA NIH grant awarded
National
Institute of Child Health & Human Development
National
Health Institute, USA
Projected
Research Plans:
Lipids study in the field of endocrinology & neural physiology
Topic I:
Endocrinology
Specific
Topics: The role and function of eicosanoids
Subtopics:
The role and function of Prostaglandins during pregnancy
Background: Eicosanoids,
including prostaglandins, thromboxancs, leukotricaes, & related compounds,
are potent bioactive compounds that play important roles in the regulation of
physiological functions. The secretion of Prostaglandins induces the
parturition, the process of giving birth. Prostaglandin is synthesized from
arachidonic acid by prostaglandin H synthase, where arachidonic acid is
released from phospholipids via phospholipases. Moreover, arachidonic acid is
derived from linoleic acid via desaturases and elongases, while linolenic acid
is essential fatty acid that can't be endogenous,
and have to be obtained from diets.
Specific
Alms:
To understand the
mechanism of prostaglandin synthesis during pregnancy, and to provide a
potential therapy for immature, premature, difficult, and delayed parturition,
l
To measure and
compare the enzyme activities involved in the prostaglandin synthesis before,
in, and after parturition.
l
To conduct a
kinetics study for the prostaglandin synthesis during pregnancy.
l
To study effects
of dietary linoleic acid or arachidonic acid treatment on induction of
parturition during pregnancy
Topics
II: Lipids study in the field of neural physiology
Subtopics;
The role and function of
polyunsaturated fatty acids in developing and aging brain
Background:
The polyunsaturated
fatty acids, arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are
associated with proper growth and neural development.
Most brain AA and DHA are accumulated during brain development.
A positive correlation is found to exist between DHA accumulation and
neurological functions. In
contrast, it is reported, but not universal accepted that an association
between brain DHA degradation and Alzheimer disease.
Publications:
1.
Su H-M
(correspondent), Moser AB, Moser HW, Watkins PA. (2001) Peroxisomal
straight-chain acyl-coA oxidase and D-bifunctional protein are essential for
the retroconversion step in docosahexaenoic acid synthesis. Journal of
Biological Chemistry. 276:38115-20.
2.
Faust
PL, Su
H-M,
Moser A, Moser HW. (2001) The peroxisome deficient PEX2 Zellweger
mouse: pathologic and biochemical correlates of lipid dysfunction.
Journal of Molecular Neuroscience. 16:289-97.
3. Su H-M, Huang MC, Saad NM, Nathanielsz PW, Brenna JT. (2001) Fetal baboons
convert 18:3n-3 to 22:6n-3 in vivo. A stable isotope tracer study. Journal
of Lipid Research. 42:581-6.
4. Su H-M, Corso TN, Nathanielsz PW, Brenna JT. (1999)
Linoleic acid kinetics and conversion to arachidonic acid in the pregnant and
fetal baboon. Journal of Lipid Research. 40:1304-12
5. Su
H-M,
Bernardo L, Mirmiran M, Ma XH, Corso TN, Nathanielsz PW, Brenna JT. (1999)
Bioequivalence of dietary alpha-linolenic and docosahexaenoic acids as sources
of docosahexaenoate accretion in brain and associated organs of neonatal
baboons. Pediatric Research. 45:87-93.
6. Su
H-M, Bernardo L, Mirmiran M, Ma XH, Nathanielsz PW,
Brenna JT. (1999) Dietary 18:3n-3 and 22:6n-3 as sources
of 22:6n-3 accretion in neonatal baboon brain and associated organs. Lipids.
34:S347-50
7. Su
H-M,
Brenna JT. (1998) Simultaneous measurement of desaturase activities
using stable isotope tracers or a nontracer method. Analytical
Biochemistry. 261:43-50.
8. Su H-M, Keswick LA, Brenna JT. (1996) Increasing dietary linoleic acid in young
rats increases and then decreases docosahexaenoic acid in retina but not in
brain.
Lipids. 31:1289-98.
9. Sheaff
RC, Su
H-M,
Keswick LA, Brenna JT. (1995) Conversion of alpha-linolenate to
docosahexaenoate is not depressed by high dietary levels of linoleate in young
rats: tracer evidence using high precision mass spectrometry. Journal of
Lipid Research. 36:998-1008.
10.
Su
H-M,
(correspondent),
Faust, PL, Moser AB, Moser HW, Watkins PA. (2003)Docosahexaenoic acid
synthesis and transport in peroxisomal disorders studied in vivo & in
vitro. in Lipids (in press).
hmsu@ha.mc.ntu.edu.tw