DR. JANE SHEARER

 

PhD (University of Guelph) Certificate in Food Science (University of Guelph) BSc (Queen's University); BPHE (Queen's University) Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Core Director, Clara Christie Centre for Mouse Genomics

Research Interests:

Deciphering the genome has led to greater understanding of the genetic basis of human health and disease.  While there is continued discovery of unique sequences and proteins, the translation of this knowledge into physiological function has lagged behind. This is especially evident in the study of metabolic disease states such as diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease. In these situations, polygenetic predispositions are exacerbated by environmental factors. Given this, my research interests target the contribution of genes to the disease process under varied conditions (diet, exercise, stress, hypoxia) and their influence on both tissue specific and whole body metabolic regulation. Current research themes include: 

Metabolic Regulation of Glucose and Fatty Acid Utilization.  Over the past decade, the prevalence of metabolic diseases has increased to epidemic proportions in the North American population. These diseases are, in part, due to sedentary lifestyles and poor dietary choices and result in perturbations in both glucose and fatty acid utilization. Within this area, specific areas of interest include: i) the role of adenosine, adenosine receptors and adenosine agonists/antagonists (coffee + caffeine) in mediating insulin-stimulated glucose and fatty acid utilization; and ii) the regulation of substrate tissue delivery, flux and utilization by AMP-dependent kinase, nitric oxide, and cytosolic fatty acid binding proteins.  

Development of Novel Methodologies to Effectively Characterize Transgenic Mice.  As the number of mutant murine models continues to grow, so does the demand for sophisticated methods for their characterization. In conjunction with the Centre for Mouse Genomics, this area of research strives to develop techniques to study physiological processes in the unstressed animal in vivo. At present, specific projects include the development and validation of isotopic analogues for diagnostic cardiac imaging and assessing metabolic substrate flux. 

 View Pub Med for Recent publications & abstracts

Recent Publications:

• 1. Shearer, J., Fueger, P.T., Bracy, D.P., Rottman, J.N., Wasserman, D.H. Reduced Muscle-Type Fatty Acid Binding Protein (FABP) Protects Against Diet-Induced Insulin Resistance. Diabetes.  Submitted April 18, 2005
• 2. Shearer, J., Wilson, R. Battram, D., Richter, E.A., Robinson, Bakovic, M., Graham, T.E. Increases in Glycogenin mRNA and Activity Accompany Glycogen Resynthesis in Human Skeletal Muscle. American Journal of Physiology. Endocrinology and Metabolism. In Press. April, 2005.
• 3. Shearer, J., Graham, T.E., Battram, D., Robinson, D., Richter, E.A., Bakovic, M.  Glycogenin Activity and mRNA Expression in Response to Exhaustive Exercise in Human Skeletal Muscle. Journal of Applied Physiology. In In Press. April, 2005.
• 4. Pencek. R.R., Shearer, J., Camacho, R.C., James, F.D., Lacy, D.B., Fueger, P.T., Donahue, E.P., Snead, W., Wasserman, D.H. 5-Aminoimidazole-4-Carboxamide-1-B-D-Ribofuranoside Causes Acute Hepatic Insulin Resistance In Vivo.  Diabetes. 54(2): 355-60, 2005.
• 5. Fueger, P.T, Shearer, J., Bracy, D.P., Posey, K.A., Pencek, R.R., McGuinness, O.P., Wasserman, D.H. Control of Muscle Glucose Uptake: Test of the Rate-Limiting Step Paradigm in Conscious, Unrestrained Mice.  Journal of Physiology (London). Feb 1; 562(Pt 3):925-35, 2005.
• 6. Shearer, J., Fueger, P.T., Rottman, J.N, Bracy, D.P., Binas, B., Wasserman, D.H. Concentration-Dependent and Reciprocal Effects of Heart-Type Fatty Acid Binding Protein on Fatty Acid and Glucose Utilization during Exercise. American Journal of Physiology. Endocrinology and Metabolism. 288(2):E292-7, 2005.
• 7. Pencek. R.R., Battram, D., Shearer, J., James, F., Lacy, B.D., Jabbour, K., Williams, P.E., Graham, T.E., Wasserman, D.H. Portal Caffeine Infusion Enhances Insulin-Stimulated Net Hepatic Glucose Uptake during a Glucose Load. Journal of Nutrition. 134(11): 3042-6, 2004.
• 8. Shearer, J., Fueger, P.T., Rottman, J.N., Bracy, D.P., Martin, P.H., Wasserman, D.H. AMPK Stimulation Increases LCFA but not Glucose Clearance in Cardiac Muscle In Vivo.  American Journal of Physiology. Endocrinology and Metabolism. 287(5):E871-7, 2004.
• 9. Shearer, J. Graham, T.E. Invited Review: Novel Aspects of Skeletal Muscle Glycogen Regulation. Exercise and Sport Science Reviews. 32:2:120-6, 2004.
• 10. Shearer, J., Fueger, P.T., Bracy, D.P. Rottman, J.N., Clanton, J.A., Wasserman, D.H.  AMPK Induced Skeletal Muscle Glucose but not LCFA Uptake is Dependent on Nitric Oxide. Diabetes. 53: 1429-1435, 2004.
• 11. Battram, D.S., Shearer, J., Robinson, D., Graham, T.E. Caffeine Ingestion does not Impede the Resynthesis of Proglycogen and Macroglycogen following Prolonged Exercise and Carbohydrate Supplementation in Humans. Journal of Applied Physiology. 96(3):943-50, 2003.
• 12. Shearer, J., Farah, A., de Paulis, T., Bracy, D.P., A., Pencek, R.R., Graham, T.E., Wasserman, D.H. Quinides of Roasted Coffee Enhance Insulin Action in the Conscious Rat. Journal of Nutrition. 133: 3536-3539, 2003.
• 13. Marchand, I. Chorneyko, K., Tarnopolsky, M., Hamilton, S., Shearer, J., Potvin, J., Graham, T.E. Quantification of Subcellular Glycogen in Resting Muscle: Granule Size, Number, and Location. Journal of Applied Physiology. 93: 1598-1603, 2002.
• 14. Shearer, J., and Graham, T. New Perspectives on Muscle Glycogen Storage and Utilization during Exercise. Canadian Journal of Applied Physiology. 27(2):179-203, 2002.
• 15. Graham, T.,  Adamo, K. , Shearer, J., Marchand, I. and  Saltin, B. Exercise and Pro- and Macroglycogenolysis:  Intensity, Duration & Repeated exercise. Journal of Applied Physiology. 90 (3): 873-880, 2001.
• 16. Shearer, J., Marchand, I., Dyck, D., Tarnopolsky, M., and Graham, T. Pro- and Macroglycogenolysis during Intense Exercise: Roles of Glycogen Content and Phosphorylase Activation.  Journal of Applied Physiology, 90 (3): 880-889, 2001.
• 17. Tarnopolsky, M.A., Zawada, C., Richmond, L.B., Carter, S., Shearer, J. Graham, T.E., Phillips, S.M. Gender Differences in Carbohydrate Loading are Related to Energy Intake. Journal of Applied Physiology. 91 (1) : 225-231, 2001.
• 18. Shearer, J., Marchand, I., Sathasivam, P., Tarnopolsky, M., and Graham T. Glycogenin Activity in  Human Skeletal Muscle is Proportional to Muscle Glycogen Concentration. American Journal of Physiology. Endocrinology and Metabolism. 278 : E177-180, 2000.

Contact Information:

The University of Calgary,
Room 2502 (Office) Room 2857 (Laboratory)
Health Sciences Centre,
3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta
Canada T2N 4N1
Phone: (403) 210-3992
Fax: (403) 270-0737
E-mail: jshearer@ucalgary [dot] cajshearer [at] ucalgary [dot] ca