Lindsay McDermott

Lipids such as fatty acids are involved in energy storage and production, membrane biogenesis, signal transduction, and the regulation of gene expression. The molecular mechanisms underlying lipid transport and metabolism within the body are unknown.  Abnormal lipid transport and metabolism are associated with obesity and cachexia. The overall focus of research in this laboratory is on long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid transport and metabolism. We use a combination of biochemical, biophysical, cell and molecular biological techniques. Current projects include:

1. Hypoxic regulation of fatty acid transporting proteins in the placenta. 
2. The role of zinc α2 glycoprotein in lipolysis.

1. Placental transport and metabolism of fatty acids

2. Structure and function of zinc α2 glycoprotein (ZAG)

When at the University of Glasgow, I investigated the structure and function of a novel fatty acid binding protein from the nematode Ascaris using circular dichroism and fluorescence. At Rutgers University I explored the kinetic mechanisms by which this protein and other parasitic proteins transferred their lipid ligands to model membranes. Back at the University of Glasgow I identified the location of the hydrophobic ligand binding site in zinc α2 glycoprotein (ZAG), a human plasma protein with hormonal (adipokine) function in triggering the breakdown of fat cells (lipolysis). Now at King’s College London, I am focussing on further molecular aspects of ZAG and have initiated molecular and cell biology based studies exploring the regulation of fatty acid transporting proteins in the placenta.