Robin Clugston

Area of Study / Keywords

vitamin A physiology biochemistry nutrition liver lipids alcohol developmental biology diaphragm

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About

Member, Women's and Children's Health Research Institute

Academic Editor, PLOS One

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Research

Vitamin A (retinoid) homeostasis in health and disease

Vitamin A is an essential dietary micronutrient that has important functions in maintaining a healthy body. One of the active metabolites of dietary vitamin A is retinoic acid, which signals through nuclear receptors to control the expression level of more than 500 genes. The large number of retinoic acid-target genes confers on it important roles in many cellular processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. The overall goal of the Clugston laboratory is to better understand the importance of altered retinoic acid signaling in human health and disease. 

                The Clugston lab currently has three major research tracks, all centered around understanding different aspects of vitamin A’s metabolism and action. These tracks are: 1) basic vitamin A metabolism, 2) the role of altered vitamin A homeostasis in liver disease, and 3) the role of altered vitamin A signaling in the development of the mammalian diaphragm and its importance in the birth defect, congenital diaphragmatic hernia. 

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Teaching

My teaching responsibilities include contributions to the following team-taught courses:

PHYSL 210: Human Physiology

PHYSL214: Human Physiology II

PHYSL 407: Molecular and Cellular Physiology

BIOCH 455: Biochemistry of Lipids and Lipoproteins

NUTR 302: Fundamentals of Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism II

PHYSL 407 - Molecular and Cellular Physiology

The molecular and cellular aspects of physiological processes. Main areas include the structure and functions of plasma membranes (emphasizing transport processes, their regulation and methods of study) and the mechanism of action of hormones (hormonereceptor interactions, receptor regulation and interactions of intracellular mediators). The physiological significance of these processes will be stressed throughout. Prerequisites: PHYSL 212 and 214, or 210 and consent of Department.

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PHYSL 455 - Physiology of Lipids and Lipoproteins

Advanced course focusing on specific aspects of the physiological regulation of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism. Topics include the transcriptional and post-translational mechanisms governing the synthesis and degradation of important enzymes, lipids, and lipid transport molecules; the role of lipid mediators in signaling pathways and protein modification; the assembly and dynamics of lipoproteins and biological membranes; genetic disruptions of lipid regulatory proteins such as cell surface receptors leading to human disease. Prerequisites: A minimum grade of B- in PHYSL 210 or 212/214 or consent of Department. This course is intended for students in Honors in Physiology. Students in other programs may be admitted subject to availability and with the consent of the Department. Graduate students may not register for credit (see PHYSL 555).

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PHYSL 507 - Molecular and Cellular Physiology

The molecular and cellular aspects of physiological processes. Main areas include the structure and functions of plasma membranes (emphasizing transport processes, their regulation and methods of study) and the mechanism of action of hormones (hormonereceptor interactions, receptor regulation and interactions of intracellular mediators). The physiological significance of these processes will be stressed throughout. Prerequisites: consent of the Department. Priority given to students registered in a graduate program. Note: this course is not open to students with credit in the corresponding PHYSL 400 level course.

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PHYSL 555 - Physiology of Lipids and Lipoproteins

Advanced course focusing on specific aspects of the physiological regulation of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism. Topics include the transcriptional and post-translational mechanisms governing the synthesis and degradation of important enzymes, lipids, and lipid transport molecules; the role of lipid mediators in signaling pathways and protein modification; the assembly and dynamics of lipoproteins and biological membranes; genetic disruptions of lipid regulatory proteins such as cell surface receptors leading to human disease. Prerequisites: A minimum grade of B- in PHYSL 210 or 212/214 or consent of Department. Lectures are the same as for PHYSL 455, but with additional assignments and evaluation appropriate to graduate studies. This course may not be taken for credit if credit has already been obtained in PHYSL 455.

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Browse more courses taught by Robin Clugston

Ferdouse A., Clugston R.D.

Frontiers in Physiology. 2022 June; 13 10.3389/fphys.2022.940974

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Ferdouse A., Agrawal R.R., Gao M.A., Jiang H., Blaner W.S., Clugston R.D.

PLoS One. 2022 January; 17 (1) 10.1371/journal.pone.0261675

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Rocke A.W., Clarke T.G., Dalmer T.R.A., McCluskey S.A., Rivas J.F.G., Clugston R.D.

PEDIATRIC RESEARCH. 2021 March; 10.1038/s41390-021-01409-6

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Trites M.J., Febbraio M., Clugston R.D.

Scientific Reports. 2020 November; 10 (1) 10.1038/s41598-020-77411-5