Breast Cancer Subtype Important in Deciding Impact of Folate
It is generally known that folate (vitamin B9) is important in early pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects in babies, because folate is needed by rapidly dividing cells (e.g., those of a developing embryo) for DNA synthesis and cellular energy production. As a consequence, many processed foods in the United States are fortified with folate. Aggressive cancers are also defined in part by their rapidly dividing cells, and antifolate drugs such as methotrexate that block activation of folates are first-line chemotherapeutics. Whether the fortified folate levels in our foods could contribute to cancer progression is unclear, as existing studies of the effects of low-folate diets on cancer have produced conflicting results. In a recent article in Molecular Cancer Research, NRI scientists report results of folate restriction on several breast cancer subtypes.
In “Metabolic reprogramming by folate restriction leads to a less aggressive cancer phenotype,” NRI faculty Sergey Krupenko, Ph.D., and Stephen Hursting, Ph.D., M.P.H, sought to clarify the folate-cancer connection through a detailed analysis of the effects of folate restriction on the metabolic properties of three breast cancer cell lines. The three cancer subtypes included one that was non-invasive, one that was invasive but minimally metastatic, and one that was highly metastatic.
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Appetite For Life
Craving Tasty Treats – Appetite and Food Reward in the Modern Environment
Join postdoctoral fellow, Robyn Amos-Kroohs, Ph.D. for an interactive conversation about why chocolate tastes good, why more chocolate tastes better, and how cravings for “bad” foods ruin diets everywhere, especially in the context of modern living. This timely, important talk aims to teach several theories surrounding appetite and food choice, including discussions on food availability and energy balance in light of our current obesity epidemic. These theories will then be applied to current research in Dr. Susan Smith’s lab at the NRI about appetite regulation and food choice in children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.
Join us Thursday, February 16 at Restuarant 46 in Kannapolis for this free Appetite for Life public science talk.
Meet Your Microbes
Are you curious about the ” The Secret World Inside You?”
The North Carolina Museum of Sciences in Raleigh is hosting a special traveling exhibition about microbes and metabolites that play a role in your health and wellness. The exhibition, developed by the American Museum of Natural History in New York, focuses on the connection between our microbes and our health. The show will be in Raleigh through March 12, 2017.
Dr. Susan Sumner, a Professor at the Nutrition Research Institute on the North Carolina Research Campus and her research team (funded by the NIH Common Fund Metabolomics Program) worked with museum staff to expand the exhibition and develop educational tools for understanding how metabolites are related to your microbes and your health. The interactive show is fun for all ages.
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Pave the Way to a Healthier Future
Patron’s Plaza is the brick-paved entrance to the Nutrition Research Institute building on the North Carolina Research Campus.
You can become a permanent part of our scientists’ commitment to revolutionize the way the world approaches nutrition by purchasing a commemorative brick in Patron’s Plaza to support the NRI’s Excellence Fund.
It’s a tangible way to recognize or remember family, friends, your organization or a special occasion while furthering ground-breaking research to alleviate chronic diseases worldwide.
Your generosity will make an idelible impression on nutrition discoveries.
Thank you!
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