Charles Brenner | |
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Born | October 30, 1961 |
Nationality | American |
Alma mater | Wesleyan University (BA) Stanford University (PhD) Brandeis University |
Known for | Discovery and characterization of nicotinamide riboside as a vitamin |
Awards | Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Enzymology Metabolism |
Institutions | City of Hope National Medical Center University of Iowa Dartmouth Medical School Thomas Jefferson University |
Thesis | Specificity and Activity of the Kex2 Protease: From Yeast Genetics to Enzyme Kinetics (1993) |
Doctoral advisor | Robert S. Fuller |
Other academic advisors | Gregory A. Petsko Dagmar Ringe |
Notable students | Peter A. Belenky, Samuel A.J. Trammell |
Website | brennerlab |
Charles Brenner (born October 30, 1961) is the inaugural Alfred E Mann Family Foundation Chair of the Department of Diabetes & Cancer Metabolism at the Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope National Medical Center. Brenner previously held the Roy J. Carver Chair in Biochemistry and was head of biochemistry at the University of Iowa. [1] [2]
Brenner is a major contributor in the field of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) metabolism and has developed targeted, quantitative methods for NAD metabolomics. [3] Brenner discovered eukaryotic nicotinamide riboside (NR) kinase and nucleosidase pathways to NAD. [4] [5] Brenner's work includes the first human trial of NR, which demonstrated safe oral availability as an NAD+ precursor. [6] [4] He has characterized ways in which NAD is disrupted by diseases and metabolic stress. [2]
Brenner graduated from Wesleyan University with a bachelor's degree in biology in 1983. After working for the biotechnology companies Chiron Corporation and DNAX Research Institute, Brenner attended graduate school at Stanford University School of Medicine. At Stanford he worked with Robert S. Fuller, receiving his Ph.D. in Cancer Biology in 1993. Brenner conducted post-doctoral research at Brandeis University with Gregory Petsko and Dagmar Ringe. [7] [8]
Brenner then joined the faculty at Thomas Jefferson University, where he worked from 1996-2003, becoming Director of the Structural Biology & Bioinformatics Program in 2000. He moved to Dartmouth Medical School in 2003, serving as Associate Director for Basic Sciences at Norris Cotton Cancer Center (now named Dartmouth Cancer Center) from 2003-2009. In 2009 he joined the University of Iowa (UI) as Professor and Departmental Executive Officer (DEO) of Biochemistry. In 2010 he became the Roy J. Carver Chair of Biochemistry at UI, holding that position until 2020. [9] [2] [10]
In 2020, Brenner joined City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, California as the inaugural Alfred E Mann Family Foundation Chair in Diabetes and Cancer Metabolism. City of Hope created the position and the associated Department of Diabetes & Cancer Metabolism to focus on underlying metabolism and the intersection of metabolic disturbances with diseases such as cancer and diabetes. [2] [1]
Brenner has been funded by agencies including the March of Dimes, [11] the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, [11] the Beckman Foundation, [12] the Lung Cancer Research Foundation, [13] the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, [14] the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the National Science Foundation. and the National Institutes of Health. [15]
Brenner has made multiple contributions to molecular biology and biochemistry, beginning with purification and characterization of the Kex2 proprotein convertase at Stanford. [16] [17] Significant research projects include the role of Ap3A bindings in the function of the FHIT tumor suppressor gene, [18] characterization and inhibition of DNA methylation, [19] [20] and discovery of new steps in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) metabolism. [21]
Notably, the Brenner laboratory discovered that eukaryotes use nicotinamide riboside (NR) to make NAD+. Bieganowski and Brenner (2004) found that NR is converted to NAD+ through the action of nicotinamide ribose kinases including Nrk1 (yeast and human) and Nrk2 (human). Belenky et al (Cell, 2007) reported another pathway which turns NR into NAM through the action of nucleosidases Urh1/Pnp1/Meu1 and is Nrk1 independent. [4] [22] [6] [23]
Brenner has developed targeted, quantitative analysis of the NAD+ metabolome [3] [24] and made fundamental contributions to NAD metabolism including discovery of nicotinic acid riboside-dependent NAD synthesis, [25] elucidating the mechanism of synthesis of nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate, [26] and discovering multiple conditions in which NAD metabolism is dysregulated in disease. [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32]
Brenner is active in translating NR technologies to treat and prevent human conditions that disturb the NAD system including cancer [29] diabetic and chemotherapeutic peripheral neuropathy, [33] [34] heart failure, [28] central brain injury, [30] inflammation, [31] mitochondrial myopathy [32] pellagra, and infections [27] such as coronavirus infection [6] [35] Brenner's work included the first human trial of NR in 2016, which demonstrated safe oral availability as an NAD+ precursor. [6] [4] Though Brenner was the first to show that NR increases SIR2 activity, improves gene silencing, and can extend yeast lifespan, [6] [36] his work has not emphasized sirtuins or nonspecific anti-aging claims and instead emphasizes how NR repairs metabolic stresses that dysregulate NAD+ [28] [30] and NADPH. [6] [37]
External videos | |
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“Combating Postpartum Metabolic Stress/Cell Reports, Jan. 22, 2019 (Vol. 22, Issue 4)”. |
Examining rodents and their offspring, Brenner has showed that rodent postpartum mothers are under severe metabolic stress to their NAD system. Supplementing rodent mothers with NR increases maternal weight loss, advances juvenile development and provides long lasting neurodevelopmental advantages into adulthood. [38] [39] [14]
Brenner is an author of more than 200 peer-reviewed publications. [40] He was the senior editor of the 2004 book, Oncogenomics: Molecular Approaches to Cancer. [41]
Brenner is both cautious and critical of research that promotes claims of anti-aging and longevity. [42] [43] [44] After writing a favorable review of Steven Austad's book Methuselah's Zoo, [45] he reviewed Lifespan: Why We Age – and Why We Don't Have To by David A. Sinclair, summarizing it as "an influential source of misinformation on longevity, featuring counterfactual claims about longevity genes being conserved between yeast and humans, the existence of supposed activators of these genes, and claimed successful age reversal in mice based on partial reprogramming." [46] Brenner published a major review of sirtuins in 2022 entitled "Sirtuins are not conserved longevity genes". [47]
External videos | |
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“Charles Brenner: ASBMB Award for Exemplary Contributions to Education Lecture”, May 25, 2016. |
In 2012, Brenner and Dagmar Ringe developed pre-medical curriculum recommendations that would be consistent with a revised Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), following a request from the President of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Suzanne Pfeffer. [48] [49] The recommendations, which include development of inorganic, organic and biochemistry coursework that is more geared toward the chemistry of bioorganic functional groups, have been further refined in academic journals. Brenner's contribution to this area was recognized by the 2016 ASBMB Award for Exemplary Contributions to Education. [50]
Brenner is a former member of the Scientific Advisory Board of Sirtris Pharmaceuticals. [51] He was a co-founder of ProHeathspan prior to its acquisition by ChromaDex, and serves as member of the scientific advisory board and chief scientific advisor to ChromaDex. [7] [52]
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is a coenzyme central to metabolism. Found in all living cells, NAD is called a dinucleotide because it consists of two nucleotides joined through their phosphate groups. One nucleotide contains an adenine nucleobase and the other, nicotinamide. NAD exists in two forms: an oxidized and reduced form, abbreviated as NAD+ and NADH (H for hydrogen), respectively.
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, abbreviated NADP+ or, in older notation, TPN (triphosphopyridine nucleotide), is a cofactor used in anabolic reactions, such as the Calvin cycle and lipid and nucleic acid syntheses, which require NADPH as a reducing agent ('hydrogen source'). NADPH is the reduced form, whereas NADP+ is the oxidized form. NADP+ is used by all forms of cellular life.
Sirtuins are a family of signaling proteins involved in metabolic regulation. They are ancient in animal evolution and appear to possess a highly conserved structure throughout all kingdoms of life. Chemically, sirtuins are a class of proteins that possess either mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase or deacylase activity, including deacetylase, desuccinylase, demalonylase, demyristoylase and depalmitoylase activity. The name Sir2 comes from the yeast gene 'silent mating-type information regulation 2', the gene responsible for cellular regulation in yeast.
ADP-ribosylation is the addition of one or more ADP-ribose moieties to a protein. It is a reversible post-translational modification that is involved in many cellular processes, including cell signaling, DNA repair, gene regulation and apoptosis. Improper ADP-ribosylation has been implicated in some forms of cancer. It is also the basis for the toxicity of bacterial compounds such as cholera toxin, diphtheria toxin, and others.
NAD+ kinase (EC 2.7.1.23, NADK) is an enzyme that converts nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) into NADP+ through phosphorylating the NAD+ coenzyme. NADP+ is an essential coenzyme that is reduced to NADPH primarily by the pentose phosphate pathway to provide reducing power in biosynthetic processes such as fatty acid biosynthesis and nucleotide synthesis. The structure of the NADK from the archaean Archaeoglobus fulgidus has been determined.
Bis(5'-adenosyl)-triphosphatase also known as fragile histidine triad protein (FHIT) is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the FHIT gene.
Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase, formerly known as pre-B-cell colony-enhancing factor 1 (PBEF1) or visfatin for its extracellular form (eNAMPT), is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the NAMPT gene. The intracellular form of this protein (iNAMPT) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) salvage pathway that converts nicotinamide to nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) which is responsible for most of the NAD+ formation in mammals. iNAMPT can also catalyze the synthesis of NMN from phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate (PRPP) when ATP is present. eNAMPT has been reported to be a cytokine (PBEF) that activates TLR4, that promotes B cell maturation, and that inhibits neutrophil apoptosis.
NAD-dependent deacetylase sirtuin 2 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the SIRT2 gene. SIRT2 is an NAD+ -dependent deacetylase. Studies of this protein have often been divergent, highlighting the dependence of pleiotropic effects of SIRT2 on cellular context. The natural polyphenol resveratrol is known to exert opposite actions on neural cells according to their normal or cancerous status. Similar to other sirtuin family members, SIRT2 displays a ubiquitous distribution. SIRT2 is expressed in a wide range of tissues and organs and has been detected particularly in metabolically relevant tissues, including the brain, muscle, liver, testes, pancreas, kidney, and adipose tissue of mice. Of note, SIRT2 expression is much higher in the brain than all other organs studied, particularly in the cortex, striatum, hippocampus, and spinal cord.
Nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyltransferase 1 (NMNAT1) is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the nmnat1 gene. It is a member of the nicotinamide-nucleotide adenylyltransferases (NMNATs) which catalyze nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) synthesis.
Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the NNMT gene. NNMT catalyzes the methylation of nicotinamide and similar compounds using the methyl donor S-adenosyl methionine (SAM-e) to produce S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (SAH) and 1-methylnicotinamide.
NAD-dependent deacetylase sirtuin-3, mitochondrial also known as SIRT3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SIRT3 gene [sirtuin 3 ]. SIRT3 is member of the mammalian sirtuin family of proteins, which are homologs to the yeast Sir2 protein. SIRT3 exhibits NAD+-dependent deacetylase activity.
Nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyltransferase 2 (NMNAT2) is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the NMNAT2 gene.
Nicotinamide riboside kinase 2 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the ITGB1BP3 gene.
Nicotinamide riboside (NR, SR647) is a pyridine-nucleoside and a form of vitamin B3. It functions as a precursor to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, or NAD+, through a two-step and a three-step pathway.
MicroRNA 34a (miR-34a) is a MicroRNA that in humans is encoded by the MIR34A gene.
The Nicotinamide Ribonucleoside (NR) Uptake Permease (PnuC) Family is a family of transmembrane transporters that is part of the TOG superfamily. Close PnuC homologues are found in a wide range of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes.
Nicotinamide mononucleotide is a nucleotide derived from ribose, nicotinamide, nicotinamide riboside and niacin. In humans, several enzymes use NMN to generate nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). In mice, it has been proposed that NMN is absorbed via the small intestine within 10 minutes of oral uptake and converted to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) through the Slc12a8 transporter. However, this observation has been challenged, and the matter remains unsettled.
The mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) is a cellular stress response related to the mitochondria. The UPRmt results from unfolded or misfolded proteins in mitochondria beyond the capacity of chaperone proteins to handle them. The UPRmt can occur either in the mitochondrial matrix or in the mitochondrial inner membrane. In the UPRmt, the mitochondrion will either upregulate chaperone proteins or invoke proteases to degrade proteins that fail to fold properly. UPRmt causes the sirtuin SIRT3 to activate antioxidant enzymes and mitophagy.
The mitochondrial theory of ageing has two varieties: free radical and non-free radical. The first is one of the variants of the free radical theory of ageing. It was formulated by J. Miquel and colleagues in 1980 and was developed in the works of Linnane and coworkers (1989). The second was proposed by A. N. Lobachev in 1978.
Nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyltransferase 3 (NMNAT3) is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the NMNAT3 gene.