Faculty & Staff Directory

Principal Academic Responsibilities:

• NFSC 440: Advanced Human Nutrition
• NFSC 660: Research Methods
• NFSC 888: Doctoral Seminar

Research Activities:

Current research is focused on the area of nutrient control of gene expression. Major efforts are being devoted to the elucidation of the mechanisms responsible for the altered gene expression modulated by cellular zinc status. Studies are being conducted to examine the influence of zinc status on the expression of tumor suppressor p53 gene and its target genes (p21, Gadd45 and Mdm2), as well as on cell cycle regulation and apoptosis. Studies will be performed in human hepatoblastoma cell lines (HepG2 and Hep3B); in normal human bronchial epithelial, prostate epithelial and aortic endothelial cells; and in other human tumor cell lines. A new program was initiated in 2006 to examine the influence of food and medicinal plant materials with bioactivities on cell cycle modulation and on tumor suppressor genes in normal human prostate epithelial cells and prostate tumor cell lines.

Representative Publications:

(Books)

• Lei K.Y. 1991. "Dietary copper: Cholesterol and lipoprotein metabolism," in Annual Review of Nutrition, edited by R.E. Olson, D.M. Bier, and D.B. McCormick, Annual Reviews, Inc., Palo Alto, CA, Vol. 11, pp. 265 283.

• Lei, K.Y. (Editor/Author). 1990. Role of Copper in Lipid Metabolism. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida (287 pages).

• Wong SHK, Zhao YQ, Schoene NW, Han CT, Shih RSM, and Lei KY. 2007. Zinc deficiency depresses p21 gene expression: Inhibition of cell cycle progression is independent of the decrease in p21 protein level in HepG2 cells. Am. J. Physiol. Cell Physiol. 292: C2175- C2184.

• Alshatwi A, Han CT, Schoene NW, and Lei KY. 2006. Nuclear accumulations of p53 and Mdm2 are accompanied by reductions in c-Abl and p300 in zinc depleted human hepatoblastoma cells. Exp. Biol. Med. 231: 611-618.

• Fanzo JC, Reaves SK, Cui L, Zhu L, Wu JYJ, Lei KY. 2002. p53 protein and p21 mRNA levels and caspase-3 activity are altered by zinc status in aortic endothelial cells. Am. J. Physiol. Cell Physiol. 283: C631-C638.

• Cui LB, Schoene NW, Zhu L, Fanzo JC, Alshatwi A, Lei KY. 2002. Zinc depletion reduced Egr-1 and HNF-3 expression and apolipoprotein A-I promoter activity in Hep G2 cells. Am. J. Physiol. Cell Physiol. 283: C623-C630.

• Fanzo JC, Reaves SK, Cui L, Zhu L, Wu JYJ, Wang YR, Lei KY. 2001. Zinc status affects p53, gadd45, and c-fos, expression and caspase-3 activity in human bronchial epithelial cells. Am. J. Physiol. Cell Physiol. 281:C751-757.

• Reaves SK, Wu JYJ, Wu Y, Fanzo JC, Wang YR, Lei PP, Lei KY. 2000. Regulation of intestinal apolipoprotein B mRNA editing level by a zinc deficient diet and cDNA cloning of editing protein in hamsters. J. Nutr. 130: 2166-2173.

• Reaves SK, Fanzo JC, Arima K, Wu JYJ, Wang YR, Lei PP, Lei KY. 2000. Expression of the p53 tumor suppressor gene expression is upregulated by depletion of intracellular zinc in Hep G2 cells. J. Nutr. 130: 1688-1694.

• Wu JYJ, Wu Y, Reaves SK, Wang YR, Lei PP, Lei KY. 1999. Apolipoprotein A-I gene expression is regulated by cellular zinc status in Hep G2 cells. Am. J. Physiol. 277 (Cell Physiol.46): C537-544.

• Wu JYJ, Zhang JJ, Wang Y, Reaves SK, Wang YR, Lei PP, Lei KY. 1997. Regulation of apolipoprotein A-I gene expression in Hep G2 cells depleted of copper by cupruretic tetramine. Am. J. Physiol. 273 (Cell Physiol. 42): C1362-C1370.

• Wang YR, Wu JYJ, Reaves SK, Lei KY 1996. Enhanced expression of hepatic genes in copper-deficient rats detected by messenger RNA differential display. J. Nutr. 126:1772-1781.

Current Support:

• USDA, CSREES; Lei, PI; Risk Analysis-based Food Defense Certification Program for Professional and Academic Audiences. $540,000 for 9/2006 to 9/2009.

• USDA, NRI; Lei, PI; Modulation of p53 Human Tumor Suppressor Gene Expression by Zinc Status. $256,000 for 9/2002 to 9/2007.

• American Society of Nutritional Sciences
• American Society for Cell Biology
• Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine
• American Heart Association, Council on Arteriosclerosis
• American Dietetic Association
• Sigma Xi

• American Men and Women of Science
• Who's Who in the Frontier of Science and Technology
• Who's Who in the West

Outreach Activities:

Participates in research programs and professional projects related to nutrition and food sciences at NIH, USDA, ASNS, FDA, and ADA.

International Activities:

Actively pursuing networking and collaborations on programs in international food safety and nutrition. Established networking with King Saud University, Saudi Arabia.

Awards and Honors:

• Outstanding Faculty Award, Asian American Faculty and Staff Association, University of Arizona. 1999.
• Pew Faculty Scholar in Nutrition Fellowship. Pew National Nutrition Program. 1990-1991.
• Outstanding Alumni Award, Dept. of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University. 1989.