Alan Attie
Professor of Biochemistry
Ph.D., University of California-San Diego, 1980
Postdoctoral Research: University of California-San Deigo, Department of Medicine
Address: 534A Biochemistry Addn
Telephone: 262-1372
E-mail: attie@biochem.wisc.edu
Research Interests:
Molecular genetics of diabetes & insulin resistance; cell biology of lipoprotein assembly, cholesterol trafficking
Research Fields:
Genomics
Gene Expression
Human and Mammalian
Mouse Genetics
Research Description:
Genetics of diabetes. Our laboratory uses mouse genetics to identify genes and pathways
involved in obesity-induced type 2 diabetes. We have reproduced the
obesity/diabetes dichotomy in mice by studying two strains that when made
obese, differ in diabetes susceptibility. Using this model system, we have
mapped several diabetes gene loci. We recently identified two genes underlying
these loci. One of the genes affects insulin action and the other affects
insulin secretion.
Gene causal networks and diabetes. Using microarray technology, we have identified genes whose
expression changes before, during, and after the onset of diabetes. Many of
these patterns are highly correlated, indicating coordinate regulation of
networks of gene expression. These networks have control points, e.g. signaling
molecules or transcription factors. We are identifying these points and testing
their function in biological systems.
Molecular biology of ß-cell
proliferation. We have identified several factors
involved in stimulating ß-cell proliferation. We wish to discover the receptors
and the signaling pathways involved in this critically important process.
The genetics of gene expression. Traditional genetics correlates genotype with phenotype in a complex
outbred population or in an experimental cross. This identifies areas of the
genome controlling the phenotype of interest. We expand our definition of
phenotype to include mRNA abundance on the large scale available through
microarray technology. By mapping mRNA abundance, we map gene loci controlling
the expression of many thousands of mRNA transcripts. These loci are termed
expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL). With this approach, we are
uncovering gene regulatory networks that are dysregulated in obesity and
diabetes.
Micro-RNA regulation of insulin
secretion. We have identified two miRNAs that
stimulate insulin secretion. We are working to identify the targets of these
miRNAs the mechanisms underlying their effect on insulin secretion.
Genetics of hepatic steatosis. Hepatic steatosis (fatty liver) is the pathological accumulation of
excess lipid (usually triglyceride) in hepatocytes. We have mapped a locus that
affects this trait and identified two novel candidate genes.
Representative Publications:
Wang, C.Y., Stapleton, D.S., Schueler, K.L.,
Rabaglia, M.E., Oler, A.T., Keller, M.P., Kendziorski, C.M., Broman, K.W.,
Yandell, B.S., Schadt, E.E., et al. 2012. Tsc2, a positional candidate gene
underlying a quantitative trait locus for hepatic steatosis. J Lipid
Res.
Raines, S.M., Richards, O.C., Schneider, L.R.,
Schueler, K.L., Rabaglia, M.E., Oler, A.T., Stapleton, D.S., Genove, G.,
Dawson, J.A., Betsholtz, C., et al. 2011. Loss of PDGF-B activityincreases
hepatic vascular permeability and enhances insulin sensitivity. Am J
Physiol Endocrinol Metab 301:E517-526.
Bhatnagar, S., Oler, A.T., Rabaglia, M.E.,
Stapleton, D.S., Schueler, K.L., Truchan, N.A., Worzella, S.L., Stoehr, J.P.,
Clee, S.M., Yandell, B.S., et al. 2011. Positional cloning of a type 2 diabetes
quantitative trait locus; tomosyn-2, a negative regulator of insulin
secretion. PLoS Genet 7:e1002323.
Newgard, C.B. and Attie, A.D. (2010)
Getting biologic about the genetics of diabetes. Nature Med.
16,388-391.
Keller, M.P. and Attie, A.D. (2010)
Physiological insights gained from gene expression analysis in obesity and
diabetes. Ann. Rev. Nutr. 30,341-364.
Ferrara, C.T., Wang, P., Stevens, R.D.,
Neto, E.C., Bain, J.R., Keller, M.P., Wenner, B.R., Ilkayeva, O.R.,
Kendziorski, C.M., Yandell, B.S., Newgard, C.B., and Attie, A.D. (2008) Genetic
networks of liver metabolism revealed by integration of metabolic and
transcriptome profiling. PLoS Genetics 4,e1000034 .
Keller, M.P., Choi, Y., Wang, P., Rabaglia,
M.E., Oler, A.T., Stapleton, D.S., Argmann, C., Schuler, K.L., Davis, D.B.,
Edwards, S., Steinberg, H.A., Neto, E.C., Klienhanz, R., Sutner, S., Hellerstein,
M., Schadt, E.E., Yandell, B.S., Kendziorksi, C.M., Attie, A.D. (2008) A gene
expression network model of type 2 diabetes links cell cycle regulation in
islets with diabetes susceptibility. Genome Res.18,706-716 .
Zhong H, Beaulaurier J, Lum PY, Molony
C, Yang X, Macneil DJ, Weingarth DT, Zhang B, Greenawalt D, Dobrin R, Hao K,
Woo S, Fabre-Suver C, Qian S, Tota MR, Keller MP, Kendziorski CM, Yandell BS,
Castro V, Attie AD, Kaplan LM, Schadt EE. Liver and adipose expression
associated SNPs are enriched for association to type 2 diabetes. PLoS Genet.
(2010) 6:e1000932.
Professor of Biochemistry
Ph.D., University of California-San Diego, 1980
Postdoctoral Research: University of California-San Deigo, Department of Medicine
Address: 534A Biochemistry Addn
Telephone: 262-1372
E-mail: attie@biochem.wisc.edu
Research Interests:
Molecular genetics of diabetes & insulin resistance; cell biology of lipoprotein assembly, cholesterol trafficking
Research Fields:
Genomics
Gene Expression
Human and Mammalian
Mouse Genetics
Genetics of diabetes. Our laboratory uses mouse genetics to identify genes and pathways
involved in obesity-induced type 2 diabetes. We have reproduced the
obesity/diabetes dichotomy in mice by studying two strains that when made
obese, differ in diabetes susceptibility. Using this model system, we have
mapped several diabetes gene loci. We recently identified two genes underlying
these loci. One of the genes affects insulin action and the other affects
insulin secretion.
Gene causal networks and diabetes. Using microarray technology, we have identified genes whose expression changes before, during, and after the onset of diabetes. Many of these patterns are highly correlated, indicating coordinate regulation of networks of gene expression. These networks have control points, e.g. signaling molecules or transcription factors. We are identifying these points and testing their function in biological systems.
Molecular biology of ß-cell
proliferation. We have identified several factors
involved in stimulating ß-cell proliferation. We wish to discover the receptors
and the signaling pathways involved in this critically important process.
The genetics of gene expression. Traditional genetics correlates genotype with phenotype in a complex outbred population or in an experimental cross. This identifies areas of the genome controlling the phenotype of interest. We expand our definition of phenotype to include mRNA abundance on the large scale available through microarray technology. By mapping mRNA abundance, we map gene loci controlling the expression of many thousands of mRNA transcripts. These loci are termed expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL). With this approach, we are uncovering gene regulatory networks that are dysregulated in obesity and diabetes.
Micro-RNA regulation of insulin
secretion. We have identified two miRNAs that
stimulate insulin secretion. We are working to identify the targets of these
miRNAs the mechanisms underlying their effect on insulin secretion.
Genetics of hepatic steatosis. Hepatic steatosis (fatty liver) is the pathological accumulation of excess lipid (usually triglyceride) in hepatocytes. We have mapped a locus that affects this trait and identified two novel candidate genes.
Wang, C.Y., Stapleton, D.S., Schueler, K.L., Rabaglia, M.E., Oler, A.T., Keller, M.P., Kendziorski, C.M., Broman, K.W., Yandell, B.S., Schadt, E.E., et al. 2012. Tsc2, a positional candidate gene underlying a quantitative trait locus for hepatic steatosis. J Lipid Res.
Raines, S.M., Richards, O.C., Schneider, L.R., Schueler, K.L., Rabaglia, M.E., Oler, A.T., Stapleton, D.S., Genove, G., Dawson, J.A., Betsholtz, C., et al. 2011. Loss of PDGF-B activityincreases hepatic vascular permeability and enhances insulin sensitivity. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 301:E517-526.
Bhatnagar, S., Oler, A.T., Rabaglia, M.E., Stapleton, D.S., Schueler, K.L., Truchan, N.A., Worzella, S.L., Stoehr, J.P., Clee, S.M., Yandell, B.S., et al. 2011. Positional cloning of a type 2 diabetes quantitative trait locus; tomosyn-2, a negative regulator of insulin secretion. PLoS Genet 7:e1002323.
Newgard, C.B. and Attie, A.D. (2010)
Getting biologic about the genetics of diabetes. Nature Med.
16,388-391.
Keller, M.P. and Attie, A.D. (2010)
Physiological insights gained from gene expression analysis in obesity and
diabetes. Ann. Rev. Nutr. 30,341-364.
Ferrara, C.T., Wang, P., Stevens, R.D.,
Neto, E.C., Bain, J.R., Keller, M.P., Wenner, B.R., Ilkayeva, O.R.,
Kendziorski, C.M., Yandell, B.S., Newgard, C.B., and Attie, A.D. (2008) Genetic
networks of liver metabolism revealed by integration of metabolic and
transcriptome profiling. PLoS Genetics 4,e1000034 .
Keller, M.P., Choi, Y., Wang, P., Rabaglia,
M.E., Oler, A.T., Stapleton, D.S., Argmann, C., Schuler, K.L., Davis, D.B.,
Edwards, S., Steinberg, H.A., Neto, E.C., Klienhanz, R., Sutner, S., Hellerstein,
M., Schadt, E.E., Yandell, B.S., Kendziorksi, C.M., Attie, A.D. (2008) A gene
expression network model of type 2 diabetes links cell cycle regulation in
islets with diabetes susceptibility. Genome Res.18,706-716 .
Zhong H, Beaulaurier J, Lum PY, Molony
C, Yang X, Macneil DJ, Weingarth DT, Zhang B, Greenawalt D, Dobrin R, Hao K,
Woo S, Fabre-Suver C, Qian S, Tota MR, Keller MP, Kendziorski CM, Yandell BS,
Castro V, Attie AD, Kaplan LM, Schadt EE. Liver and adipose expression
associated SNPs are enriched for association to type 2 diabetes. PLoS Genet.
(2010) 6:e1000932.
