Research

BCAA, Insulin Resistance, and Metabolism

My undergraduate research has focused on the effect of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) on insulin signaling and skeletal muscle metabolism. Population data has shown that patients with Type II Diabetes have elevated levels of BCAAs, which correlates with the severity of insulin resistance. However, whether these elevated levels mean that BCAAs cause insulin resistance or that there is an underlying mechanism of Type II Diabetes that affects their catabolism/transport is unknown. The image above displays potential mechanisms through which BCAA may negatively affect insulin signaling. However, our lab has shown that BCAAs can only independently cause insulin resistance at a supraphysiological concentration. Therefore, our current work has focused on looking for other mechanisms that may connect BCAA content to insulin resistance.

PUBLICATIONS

6. Rivera C.N., Kamer M, Rivera M.R., Watne R.M., Macgowan T.C., Wommack A.J., Vaughan R.A.. “Insulin Resistance promotes extracellular BCAA accumulation without altering LAT1 content, independent of prior BCAA treatment in a myotube model of skeletal muscle” Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology (IF: 4.102), 2022.

5. Hinkle, J.S., Rivera, C.N., Vaughan, R.A. “Branched-chain amino acids and mitochondrial biogenesis: an overview and mechanistic summary” Molecular Nutrition and Food Research (IF: 6.575), 2022. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.202200109

4. Krone, M.J., Rivera, C.N., Rivera, M.E., Vaughan, R.A. “Excess glutamine does not alter myotube metabolism or insulin sensitivity” Amino Acids (IF: 3.52), 2022. doi: 10.1007/s00726-022-03131-x

3. Hinkle, J.S., Rivera, C.N., Vaughan, R.A. “AICAR suppresses myotube metabolism and stimulates mitochondrial biogenic and BCAA catabolic enzyme expression” Biochimie, 2021. doi: 10.1016/j.biochi.2021.11.004

2. Rivera, M.E., Rivera, C.N., Vaughan, R.A. “Effect of branched-chain amino acid mixture on myotube metabolism with and without insulin resistance” Endocrine (IF: 3.878), 2021; doi: 10.1007/s12020-021-02939-z

1. Rivera M.E., Rivera, C.N., Vaughan, R.A. “Branched-chain amino acids at supraphysiological but not physiological levels reduce myotube insulin sensitivity” Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews (IF: 8.128), 2021; doi: 10.1002/dmrr.3490

WHAT NOW?

Human Microbiome

Medical Botany

Environmental Toxicology

Moving forward, my interests lie in human pathophysiology as it relates to our microbiome and the environment, as well as how compounds isolated from medicinal plants may contribute toward innovative treatment options. With new research coming in every day, the human microbiome is being implicated in a lot of different diseases including Type II Diabetes, obesity, and cancer. Since the composition of the microbes in our gut can be easily influenced through diet, research into the microbiome presents a low cost, low risk strategy for disease intervention. I am particularly interested in the mechanisms through which the microbes in our body affect disease, and as key players are identified, targets for drug and/or lifestyle intervention will be more apparent. With the rise of diseases in the industrial world, it is also becoming increasingly urgent that we investigate the ways in which our environment influences health.

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