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Byron W. Kemper

Profile picture for Byron W. Kemper

Contact Information

Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology
524 Burrill Hall
407 S. Goodwin Ave
Urbana, IL 61801

Professor Emeritus of Molecular & Integrative Physiology

Research Description

Present: Role of nuclear receptors in regulation metabolism. Past: Gene regulation and cellular localization mechanisms of cytrochromes P450.

Since retirement in 2012, I have been collaborating with Jongsook (Kim) Kemper on studies that examine the role of nuclear receptors and epigenomic factors in the regulation of metabolism in liver and adipose tissue. See the Jongsook Kemper site for details.

Prior to retirement I studied the cytochromes P450 (P450) which comprise a superfamily of hemoproteins which are involved in the oxidative metabolism of many endogenous and exogenous compounds. My primary interests were the mechanisms by which the expression of these genes are regulated, particularly by phenobarbital, and the mechanisms of targeting and retention of P450s in the endoplasmic reticulum.

Education

B.A. 1965 Wabash College
PhD. 1969 Stanford
Postdoc. 1969-72 Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Additional Campus Affiliations

Professor Emeritus, Molecular and Integrative Physiology

Recent Publications

Seok, S., Kim, Y. C., Zhang, Y., Kong, B., Guo, G., Ma, J., Kemper, B., & Kemper, J. K. (2022). Feeding activates FGF15-SHP-TFEB-mediated lipophagy in the gut. EMBO Journal, 41(17), [e109997]. https://doi.org/10.15252/embj.2021109997

Sun, H., Seok, S., Jung, H., Kemper, B., & Kemper, J. K. (2022). Obesity-induced miR-802 directly targets AMPK and promotes nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in mice. Molecular Metabolism, 66, [101603]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molmet.2022.101603

Jung, H., Chen, J., Hu, X., Sun, H., Wu, S. Y., Chiang, C. M., Kemper, B., Chen, L. F., & Kemper, J. K. (2021). BRD4 inhibition and FXR activation, individually beneficial in cholestasis, are antagonistic in combination. JCI Insight, 6(1), [e141640]. https://doi.org/10.1172/jci.insight.141640

Seok, S., Sun, H., Kim, Y-C., Kemper, B., & Kemper, J. K. (2021). Defective FXR-SHP Regulation in Obesity Aberrantly Increases miR-802 Expression, Promoting Insulin Resistance and Fatty Liver. Diabetes, 70(3), 733-744. https://doi.org/10.2337/db20-0856

Byun, S., Seok, S., Kim, Y. C., Zhang, Y., Yau, P., Iwamori, N., Xu, H. E., Ma, J., Kemper, B., & Kemper, J. K. (2020). Fasting-induced FGF21 signaling activates hepatic autophagy and lipid degradation via JMJD3 histone demethylase. Nature communications, 11(1), [807]. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-14384-z

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