Friday  March 11, 3:40-- 4:30, PSA 307

Speaker: Michael C. Reed, Department of Mathematics, Duke University

 Title: Mathematics, Folate Metabolism, and Public Health
 

Abstract
Folate and methionine metabolism, a small part of cell biochemistry,  is
crucial for cell replication and DNA methylation. There is mounting
evidence that the mechanisms by which some gene polymorphisms or dietary
deficiencies are statistically linked to heart disease and certain cancers
 involve disruptions of folate and methionine metabolism. Folate  is also
the target of several chemotherapeutic agents and some antibiotics target
folate metabolism in bacteria. A collaborative mathematical modeling
project (with Cornelia Ulrich of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research
Institute and Fred Nijhout of the Duke Department of Biology) has the
goal of understanding the quantitative and qualitative emergent
properties of the whole biochemical network. Published and current work
will be described as well as the difficulties involved. Several public
health issues will also be discussed.