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C. L. Eric YenC. -L. Eric Yen

Assistant Professor of Nutritional Sciences
B.S. 1991, Taipei Medical College
Ph.D. 2000, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Postdoctoral Fellowship 2003, J. David Gladstone Institutes, University of California, San Francisco

Emphasis Groups:
Biochemical and Molecular Nutrition
Animal Nutrition
Human Nutrition

Research Interests:
Intestine, assimilation of dietary fat, and energy balance

Research Summary: 
Triacylglycerol (TG) accounts for more than 95% of dietary fat and is a main source of calories. The assimilation of dietary TG is remarkably efficient, which in lean times may confer a selective advantage. When dietary fat is abundant, however, this metabolic efficiency may predispose to obesity and disorders associated with excess in metabolic energy. The assimilation process involves near complete digestion and absorption of dietary TG, and subsequent transport and deposition of TG into adipose tissues. We are interested in the roles of intestine in this process, as the intestine plays an important role in both arms of energy balance as an assimilator and consumer of energy nutrients. Responding to food intakes, it also secretes gut hormones, which coordinate energy balance through the brain and other organs. Our current research focuses on the functions of MGAT2, a TG synthesis enzyme highly expressed in the small intestine. When fed a high-fat diet, mice lacking Mgat2 absorbed normal quantities of fat but did so at a reduced rate. Intriguingly, this was associated with reduced metabolic efficiency and increased energy expenditure. Consequently, Mgat2-deficient mice were protected against obesity, glucose intolerance, fatty liver, and hypercholesterolemia that normally are linked to high-fat feeding. We are now examining potential molecular mechanisms underlying these effects. The ultimate goals of these studies are to better understand the fundamental process of fat assimilation and to explore new approaches to prevent or treat obesity and other metabolic diseases associated with excessive fat intake and energy store.


Representative Publications:

Yen C-LE, Cheong M-L, Grueter C, Zhou P, Moriwaki J, Wong JS, Hubbard B, Marmor S, and Farese RV Jr. (2009) Deficiency of the intestinal enzyme MGAT2 protects mice from metabolic disorders induced by high-fat feeding. Nature Medicine. Published online: 15 March 2009 | doi:10.1038/nm.1937
http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/vaop/ncurrent/pdf/nm.1937.pdf

Shih MY, Kane MA, Zhou P, Streeper RS, Yen C-LE, Napoli JL, Farese RV Jr. (2009) Retinol esterification by DGAT1 is essential for retinoid homeostasis in muring skin.  J. Biol. Chem. Feb 13;284(7):4292-9. Epub 2008 Nov 20.
http://www.jbc.org/cgi/content/full/284/7/4292

Yen C-LE, Stone SJ, Koliwad S, Harris C, and Farese RV Jr. (2008) DGAT enzymes and triacylglycerol biosynthesis. J. Lipid Res. 49(11):2283-301. Epub 2008 Aug 29. Review.
http://www.jlr.org/cgi/content/full/49/11/2283

Yen C-LE and Farese RV Jr. (2006). Fat breakdown: A function for CGI-58 (ABHD5) provides a new piece of the puzzle. Cell Metabolism. May;3(5):305-7
http://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/retrieve/pii/S1550413106001203

Yen C-LE*, Brown CH, IV, Monetti M, and Farese RV Jr. (2005) Identification of a human multifunctional O-acyltransferase expressed in the skin that catalyzes the synthesis of acylglycerols, retinyl esters, and waxes. J. Lipid Res. 46(11):2388-97
http://www.jlr.org/cgi/content/full/46/11/2388

Yen C-LE*, Monetti M, Burri BJ, and Farese RV Jr. (2005) The triacylglycerol synthesis enzyme DGAT1 also catalyzes the synthesis of diacylglycerols, wax esters, and retinyl esters. J. Lipid Res. 46(7):1502-11
http://www.jlr.org/cgi/content/full/46/7/1502

Yen C-LE and Farese RV Jr. (2003) MGAT2, a monoacylglycerol acyltransferase expressed in the small intestine. J. Biol. Chem. 278(20):18532-7
http://www.jbc.org/cgi/content/full/278/20/18532

Yen C-LE, Stone SJ, Cases S, Zhou P, Farese RV Jr. (2002) Identification of a gene encoding MGAT1, a monoacylglycerol acyltransferase. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 99(13):8512–8517.
http://www.pnas.org/content/99/13/8512