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Gene-Environment Interactions: My Unique Journey.
1Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences and Center for Environmental Genetics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology
|October 3, 2023
Summary
This scientific autobiography details a career focused on gene-environment interactions. Key research includes the AHR/CYP1 axis, pharmacogenomics, gene nomenclature, and the ZIP8 transporter.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
- Pharmacology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Physician-scientist with expertise in pediatrics, molecular biology, and genetics.
- Authored over 600 publications across diverse scientific disciplines.
- Career spans clinical medicine, biochemistry, biophysics, and evolutionary genomics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize a career dedicated to understanding gene-environment interactions.
- To present four distinct areas of research chronologically.
- To highlight contributions to molecular biology, genetics, and toxicology.
Main Methods:
- Discovery and characterization of the Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR)/Cytochrome P450 1 (CYP1) axis.
- Pharmacogenomic studies predicting responses to drugs and environmental toxicants.
- Development of standardized gene nomenclature for drug-metabolizing enzymes based on evolutionary divergence.
- Identification and characterization of the solute carrier family 39 member 8 (SLC39A8) gene encoding the ZIP8 metal cation influx transporter.
Main Results:
- Elucidation of the AHR/CYP1 signaling pathway.
- Established principles of pharmacogenomics for personalized medicine.
- Created a standardized nomenclature system for drug-metabolizing genes.
- Discovered the role of ZIP8 in metal ion transport.
Conclusions:
- The research consistently emphasizes the critical role of gene-environment interactions in health and disease.
- Contributions span fundamental biological discoveries to clinical applications.
- The work provides a foundation for understanding individual susceptibility to environmental factors and drug responses.
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