Joseph R. Prohaska, Ph.D.

The focus of my research program is to understand the biochemical functions of copper and consequences of imbalances of this essential metal due to environmental or genetic factors. The laboratory's primary research approach involves nutritional biochemistry and molecular biology. My current research interests include:

1. Investigation of the impact of dietary copper deficiency during early development on the central nervous system is under study. Characterization of the impact of low intracellular copper on the expression of proteins that function as known cuproenzymes and copper transporters is being investigated to test hypotheses relating biochemistry to behavior.

2. Evaluation of the cuproenzymes peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase (PAM) and cytochrome c oxidase (CCO), and the copper chaperone for superoxide dismutase (CCS) as potential molecular markers to assess nutritional copper status in humans is currently under investigation.

My lab is currently funded by National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the USDA National Research Initiative Bioactive Food Components for Optimal Health Programs.

Education

Laboratory Personnel

Margaret Broderius, Assistant Scientist
Katie Lassi, Graduate Student
Elise Mostad, Graduate Student

Publications

Bousquet-Moore , D., Prohaska, J.R., Nillni, E.A., Czyzyk , T., Wetsel, W.C., Mains, R.E., and Eipper, B.A. (2010) Synergistic and compensatory interactions between dietary copper and the Peptidylglycine a-Amidating Monooxygenase (PAM) gene. Neurobiol. Dis. 37, 130-140.

Broderius, M.A. and Prohaska, J.R. (2009) Differential impact of copper deficiency in rats on blood cuproproteins. Nutr. Res. 29, 519-24.

Nelson, K.T. and Prohaska, J.R. (2009) Copper deficiency in rodents alters dopamine β-monooxygenase activity, mRNA, and protein level. Brit. J. Nutr. 102, 18-28.

Gybina, A.A. and Prohaska, J.R. (2009) Augmented cerebellar lactate in copper deficient rat pups originates from both blood and cerebellum. Metabol. Brain Dis. 24, 299-310.

Gybina, A.A., Tkac, I. and Prohaska, J.R. (2009) Copper deficiency alters the neurochemical profile of developing rat brain. Nutr. Neurosci. 12, 114-122.

Gybina, A.A. and Prohaska, J.R. (2008) Fructose 2,6 bisphosphate is lower in copper deficient rat cerebellum despite higher phospho-AMP-activated protein kinase. Exp. Biol. Med.233, 1262-1270.

Pyatskowit, J.W. and Prohaska, J.R. (2008) Iron injection restores brain iron and hemoglobin deficits in perinatal copper deficient rats. J. Nutr.138, 1880-1886.

Prohaska, J.R. (2008) Role of copper transporters in copper homeostasis. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 88, 826S-829S.

Pyatskowit, J.W. and Prohaska, J.R. (2008) Multiple mechanisms account for lower plasma iron in young copper deficient rats. Biometals 21, 343-352.

Gybina, A.A. and Prohaska, J.R. (2008) Copper deficiency results in AMP-activated protein kinase activation and acetylCoA carboxylase phosphorylation in rat cerebellum. Brain Res. 1204, 69-76.

Suazo , M., Olivares , F., Mendez, M.A., Pulgar, R., Prohaska, J.R., Arrendondo, M., Pizarro, F., Olivares, M., Araya, M., and González, M. (2008) CCS and SOD1 mRNA are reduced after copper supplementation in peripheral mononuclear cells of individuals with high serum ceruloplasmin concentration. J. Nutr. Biochem. 19, 269-274 .

Pyatskowit, J.W. and Prohaska, J.R. (2008) Copper deficient rats and mice both develop anemia but only rats have lower plasma and brain iron levels. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. C. 147, 316-323.

Pyatskowit, J.W. and Prohaska, J.R. (2007) Rodent brain and heart catecholamine levels are altered by different models of copper deficiency. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. C. 145, 275-281.

Gybina, A., and Prohaska, J.R. (2006) Variable response of selected cuproproteins in rat choroid plexus and cerebellum following perinatal copper deficiency. Genes and Nutrition 1, 51-60.

Prohaska, J.R., and Broderius, M. (2006) Plasma peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase (PAM) and ceruloplasmin are affected by age and copper-status in rats and mice. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. B. 143, 360-366.

Kuo, Y-M., Gybina, A.A., Pyatskowit, J.W., Gitschier, J., and Prohaska, J.R. (2006) Copper transport protein (Ctr1) levels in mice are tissue specific and dependent on copper status. J. Nutr. 136, 21-26.

Pyatskowit, J.W., and Prohaska, J.R. (2005) L-threo 3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine treatment during mouse perinatal and rat postnatal development does not alter the impact of dietary copper deficiency. Nutr. Neurosci. 8, 173-181.

Prohaska, J.R., and Gybina, A.A. (2005) Rat brain iron concentration is lower following perinatal copper deficiency. J. Neurochem. 93, 698-705.

Prohaska, J.R., Gybina, A.A., Broderius, M., and Brokate, B. (2005) Peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase activity and protein are lower in copper-deficient rats and suckling copper-deficient mice. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 434, 212-220.

Prohaska, J.R., and Gybina, A.A. (2004) Intracellular copper transport in mammals. J. Nutr. 134, 1003-1006.

West, E.C., and Prohaska, J.R. (2004) Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase is lower and copper chaperone CCS is higher in erythrocytes of copper-deficient rats and mice. Exp. Biol. Med. 229, 756-764.

Penland, J., and Prohaska, J.R. (2004) Abnormal motor function persists following recovery from perinatal copper deficiency in rats. J. Nutr. 134, 1984-1988.

Chung, J., Prohaska, J.R., and Wessling-Resnick, M. (2004) Ferroportin-1 mRNA is not upregulated in copper-deficient mice. J. Nutr. 134, 517-521.

Prohaska, J.R., and Gybina, A.A. (2009) In vivo proton NMR spectroscopy reveals an altered neurochemical profile in copper deficient rat brain. FASEB J. 23, 231.7.

Jenkitkasemwong, S., Prohaska, J.R., and Knutson, M.D. (2009) Copper deficiency increases ferroportin expression in rats. FASEB J. 23, 231.6.

Moore, D., Eipper, B.A., Prohaska, J.R., and Mains, R.M. (2009) Variations in dietary copper alter physiological and behavioral function. FASEB J. 23, 231.5

Prohaska, J.R., and Walters, M. (2008) Copper-deficient rats exhibit no alterations in plasma or brain NO metabolites, 3-nitrotyrosine peptide abundance, or NOS mRNA expression. FASEB J. 22, 443.1.

Gybina, A., and Prohaska, J.R. (2007) Cerebella of young copper deficient rats have increased AMPK phosphorylation but decreased fructose 2,6 bisphosphate levels. FASEB J. 21, A723.

Pyatskowit, J.W., Nelson, K.T., Gybina, A.A. and Prohaska, J.R.(2007) Suckling copper-deficient mice and rats exhibit opposite changes in plasma iron, different impacts on brain iron concentration, but both exhibit severe anemia. FASEB J. 21, A163.

Prohaska, J.R. (2006) Impact of copper-status and age on rodent plasma peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase and ceruloplasmin. FASEB J. 20, A1066.

Pyatskowit, J.W., and Prohaska, J.R. (2006) Copper-status and age alter suckling rodent brain and heart catecholamine levels. FASEB J. 20, A1066.

Kuo, Y.M., Gybina, A.A., Gitschier, J. and Prohaska, J.R. (2006) Copper transporter (Ctr1) expression in mouse tissue is impacted by age and dietary copper. FASEB J. 20, A553.

Prohaska, J.R., and Gybina, A.A. (2005) Rat brain iron accumulation is dependent on adequate dietary copper FASEB J. 19, A983.

Pyatskowit, J.W., and Prohaska, J.R. (2005) L-threo 3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine (DOPS) treatment during perinatal development does not alter the impact of dietary copper deficiency in mice. The Toxicologist 84, A279.

Chung, J., Prohaska J. R., and Wessling-Resnick, M. (2004) Copper deficiency in mice increases hepatic iron stores but does not up-regulate expression of the iron exporter Ferroportin-1. FASEB J. 18, A484.

Prohaska, J.R., and West, E. (2004) Erythrocytes from Copper-Deficient Mice and Rats have Lower Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) but Higher Copper Chaperone (CCS) Levels. FASEB J. 18, A915.

Gybina, A., and Prohaska, J.R. (2004) Elevated Rodent Brain Cytochrome C is Correlated with Degree of Copper Deficiency not Apoptosis. FASEB J. 18, A483.

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