# RIBOFLAVIN AND FLAVOPROTEIN GENE EXPRESSION

> **NIH NIH R29** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 1993 · $95,044

## Abstract

The long term objective of the proposed research is to determine the role
of cofactor availability in the regulation of gene expression.  The
specific aims are to use in vivo and in vitro models of riboflavin
deficiency to study the role of that vitamin in regulating the expression
of the short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (SCAD) gene.  SCAD is an FAD
dependent dehydrogenase of the mitochondrial beta-oxidation pathway.  In
young rats, this enzyme undergoes a characteristic post weaning maturation,
during which its activity increases by approximately 4-fold over a 3-4 day
period.  Riboflavin deficiency blocks this development.  To examine further
the mechanisms by which riboflavin availability regulates the activity of
the enzyme, a hepatoma cell culture system of riboflavin deficiency was
developed in which treatment with riboflavin causes a 50-100 fold increase
in SCAD activity.  Preliminary data suggests that the increased SCAD
activity reflects increased enzyme mass.

The specific aims of the proposed project are to 1) determine the level at
which SCAD gene expression is influenced by riboflavin availability and 2)
characterize the SCAD gene sequences that mediate the response to either
riboflavin or a riboflavin-derived factor.  These aims will be approached
by isolating a cDNA clone encoding SCAD and using it as a probe to measure
SCAD mRNA levels during the developmental period in weanling rats, to
compare the levels in riboflavin-deficient and normally fed rats and to
assess changes in mRNA level in cell culture when riboflavin-deficient
cells are treated with the vitamin.  The cDNA clone will then be used to
estimate SCAD genomic clones.  The long range goal of the research is to
identify gene sequences that may comprise a riboflavin-response element.
This will be approached by subcloning putative regulatory sequences into a
vector containing the chloramphenicol acetyl transferase structural gene,
transfecting the vector into the cultured cells and examining the
expression of CAT in response to riboflavin treatment.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 2199494
- **Project number:** 5R29HD025299-06
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **SAM.gov UEI:** RN64EPNH8JC6
- **Principal Investigator:** NATHAN S ROSS
- **Activity code:** R29 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1993
- **Award amount:** $95,044
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1990-09-01 → 1994-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2199494

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 2199494, RIBOFLAVIN AND FLAVOPROTEIN GENE EXPRESSION (5R29HD025299-06). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/2199494. Licensed CC0.

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