Principal investigator
Co-investigator
Research
Research has focused on the role of metabolism in toxicology and the development
in in vitro and in vivo models to assess toxicity. In particular, the balance between
protective and detrimental pathways has been studied. Several methods to alter this
balance have been investigated: chemical modification, biochemical inhibition and
altered expression of the enzymes involved in the bioactivation or detoxification
of foreign compounds. Expertise includes the use of cell cultures in vitro and experimental
animals, techniques to separate xenobiotics and their metabolites (hplc and tlc),
chemical analysis of those metabolites (Mass spectrometry) and methods to determine
enzyme activity and expression (Western blotting).
Selected references
Helsby N., Zhu S., Pearson A., Tingle M., Ferguson L. (2000) Studies on the mechanism
of cancer protection by wheat bran: ability to modulate xenobiotic metabolising
enzymes. Mutation
Research in press.
McPerson R., Tingle M., Ferguson. (2001) Effect of chronic dietary exposure
to 2-Amino-3-Methyl-Imidazo[4,5-f]Quinoline on xenobiotic metabolising enzymes in
the male Fischer 344 rat. The characterisation of a model for chemoprevention studies.
Eur. J. Nutr. (submitted).
