Richard O’Brien, Ph.D.
Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics
Director of Graduate Studies, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics
- : richard.obrien@Vanderbilt.Edu
- : (615) 936-1503
- :
8415 MRBIV
- : More Information/Publications
Areas of Interest: Cell Signaling; Protein Structure & Function; Synthetic & Medicinal Chemistry; High-Throughput Technology
The O’Brien Lab is interested in the metabolic function and transcriptional regulation of the glucose-6-phosphatase gene family and especially how these genes contribute to various diseases including diabetes. There are 3 members of this family designated G6PC, G6PC2 and G6PC3. These genes all play a role determining fasting blood glucose levels, a parameter that is correlated with the risk of cardiovascular-associated mortality and type 2 diabetes. But they are also associated with specific diseases namely glycogen storage disease type 1a (G6PC), type 1 diabetes (G6PC2) and neutropenia (G6PC3).