Food and Nutritional Sciences

    College of Agricultural & Life Sciences

    UNIVERSITY of WISCONSIN-MADISON UW-MADISON

    James Ntambi

    Steenbock Professor of Nutritional Sciences

    Nutritional Sciences, Biochemistry

    Mechanisms of fat cell differentiation; regulation of gene expression by dietary and hormonal factors.

    jmntambi@wisc.edu

    (608) 265-3700

    Website

    415B HF DeLuca Biochemistry Laboratories

    Type:

    Steenbock Professor of Nutritional Sciences
    Professor of Biochemistry
    B.S. 1975, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda
    Msc. 1978, Makerere University Kampala Uganda
    Ph.D. 1985, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

    The general theme of my research is to understand the genetic regulation of metabolism, adipocyte biology and differentiation.  I am specifically interested in the genetic basis of obesity, cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance and diabetes and how dietary factors, hormones and environmental factors influence these disease states.  In particular, I study the regulation of the mammalian stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) genes that encode an enzyme involved in biosynthesis of monounsaturated fatty acids.  WE are using these genes as a model to understand nutrient gene interactions.  We have recently genetically engineered mice that are born without the stearoyl-CoA desaturase gene-1 and found that these mice resist obesity, diabetes, fatty liver disease, and other aspects of the metabolic syndrome.

    I am also interested in conducting research on obesity and diabetes and other non-communicable metabolic diseases in developing countries.  I provide advice on how to prevent or delay the progression of metabolic diseases through nutritional interventions.

    Login Request Help Help Docs