Biography
Research Interests
Focus
Explore new metabolic signaling pathways to help identify and develop translational treatment strategies for aging and age-related or neuromuscular diseases.
Approaches
By integrating systems biology approaches with animal phenotyping and molecular biology techniques, our lab explores signaling networks that control mitochondrial function in muscle and other important organs affecting whole body metabolism.
Research Program
Our lab takes on an integrated systems physiology approach to examine organ or stem cell metabolism in aging and age-related or neuromuscular diseases. We are particularly interested in mechanisms that control the balance of NAD+ levels, an energy-signaling metabolite, in the maintenance of energy homeostasis. Our lab’s most recent work has emphasized the role of NAD+ metabolism in stem cell health and longevity, along with the decline in muscle health in muscular dystrophy. Please visit our lab webpage for more information.
We are continually looking for students that can push the boundaries of science using creativity and passion to expand various ideas in the lab. Those that are interested in bioinformatics, biochemistry, molecular biology or systems physiology are welcome to contact Prof. Keir Menzies.
Selected publications:
- D. Ryu*, H. Zhang*, E. R. Ropelle*, V. Sorrentino, D. A. G. Mazala, L. Mouchiroud, P. L. Marshall, M. D. Campbell, A. S. Ali, G. M. Knowels, S. Bellemin, S. R. Iyer, X. Wang, K. Gariani, A. A. Sauve, C. Canto, K. E. Conley, L. Walter, R. M. Lovering, E. R. Chin, B. J. Jasmin, D. J. Marcinek, K. J. Menzies#, J. Auwerx#: NAD+ repletion improves muscle function in muscular dystrophy and counters global PARylation. Science translational medicine 10/2016; 8(361). DOI:10.1126/scitranslmed.aaf5504
- H. Zhang, D. Ryu, Y. Wu, K. Gariani, X. Wang, P. Luan, D. D’Amico, E. R. Ropelle, M. P. Lutolf, R. Aebersold, K. Schoonjans, K. J. Menzies#, J. Auwerx#. NAD+ repletion improves mitochondrial and stem cell function and enhances life span in mice. Science 05/2016; DOI: 10.1126/science.aaf2693