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School of Biosciences, Division of
Animal Sciences
   
   
  
 

Kevin Sinclair

Professor of Developmental Biology, Faculty of Science

Contact

  • workRoom 216 South Laboratory
    Sutton Bonington Campus
    Sutton Bonington
    Leicestershire
    LE12 5RD
    UK
  • work0115 951 6053
  • fax0115 951 6060

Biography

 

Current research is addressing the hypothesis that maternal nutritional effects in developing oocytes and procedures used in assisted reproduction can program fetal development and adult health via heritable epigenetic changes in DNA methylation at specific gene loci in the oocyte and pre-implantation embryo.  Work supported by the National Institutes of Health (USA) is currently assessing the effects of diets deficient in specific amino acids (e.g. methionine) and members of the B group of vitamins (e.g. folic acid and vitamin B12) on epigenetic modifications to DNA methylation, and pre- and post-natal development in both the sheep and rat, with specific reference to cardiovascular function and the onset of type II diabetes.  These studies are being conducted in collaboration with reearchers at the Rowett Research Institute in Aberdeen, and elsewhere at the University of Nottingham; and are complemented by a BBSRC funded program of work  that utilises several human embryonic stem cell lines to assess the effects of perturbed methyl cycle activity on DNA methylation and gene expression in undifferentiated cells and cells that have been differentiated into cardiomyocytes.  Additional studies in sheep and human granulosa cell lines, are investigating the effects of omega-3 and -6 fatty acids on somatic and germ cell development and gene expression making use of an ovine specific cDNA macroarray.  

Research Summary

 Current research is addressing thehypothesis that maternal nutritionaleffects in developing oocytes and procedures used in assisted reproduction canprogram fetal development and adult health… read more

Selected Publications

Current Research

 Current research is addressing thehypothesis that maternal nutritionaleffects in developing oocytes and procedures used in assisted reproduction canprogram fetal development and adult health via heritable epigenetic changes inDNA methylation at specific gene loci in the oocyte and pre-implantation embryo.  Work supported by the NationalInstitutes of Health (USA) is currentlyassessing the effects of diets deficient in specific amino acids (e.g.methionine) and members of the B group of vitamins (e.g. folic acid and vitaminB12) on epigenetic modifications to DNA methylation, and pre- andpost-natal development in both the sheep and rat, with specific reference tocardiovascular function and the onset of type II diabetes.  These studies are being conducted incollaboration with reearchers at the Rowett Research Institute in Aberdeen, and elsewhere at the University of Nottingham; and arecomplemented by a BBSRC funded program of work  that utilises several human embryonic stem cell lines to assess theeffects of perturbed methyl cycle activity on DNA methylation and geneexpression in undifferentiated cells and cells that have been differentiatedinto cardiomyocytes.  Additional studies in sheep and human granulosa cell lines, are investigating the effects of omega-3 and -6 fatty acids on somatic and germ cell development and gene expression makinguse of an ovine specific cDNAmacroarray.  

Division of Animal Sciences

University of Nottingham
Sutton Bonington Campus
Loughborough, Leicestershire LE12 5RD

telephone: +44 (0) 115 951 6100
email: sheila.northover@nottingham.ac.uk