Cellular and Molecular Biology Core

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY CORE
The Cellular and Molecular Biology Core (CMBC), previously known as the Adipocyte Biology and Molecular
Nutrition Core, was established in 2006 to primarily assist NORC members in the assessment of adipose
tissue morphology and function. Since then, the Core has broadened its scope to meet the changing needs of
the NORC Research Base and advance in scientific focus. The new name of the Core is more inclusive and
reflects these changes. The purpose of the CMBC is to assist NORC investigators in conducting leading-edge
research in the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for the pathogenesis and complications of
obesity and the abnormalities associated with disruptive alterations in nutrient intake/metabolism.
Accordingly, services provided by the CMBC are no longer focused only on adipose tissue biology, but also
provide critical infrastructure and technical support to study muscle, liver, and endothelial cell function.
Research supported by the CMBC now also includes crosstalk between different tissues (e.g., adipose to liver
or muscle) and between different cells within a tissue (e.g., stromal vascular cells and adipocytes). The CMBC
enhances and facilitates sophisticated nutrition/obesity research by providing: 1) cellular assessments and
services needed for mechanistic studies, including: i) cell lines (mouse and human pre-adipocytes, adipocytes,
myoblasts, macrophages) with optimized culture and differentiation protocols; ii) adipose tissue morphology
assessments; iii) isolation of preadipocytes and immune cells from stromal vascular fraction of adipose tissue
explants/biopsies; iv) standardized preparation of tissue samples for gene expression and protein content; v)
optimized protocols for metabolic studies in cells and tissue explants/biopsies (e.g. glucose and fatty acid
uptake and release); vi) cell/tissue respiration and mitochondrial function; vii) plasma adipokine, myokine,
hepatokine and cytokine concentration using multiplex technology, and viii) isolation and characterization of
extracellular vesicles (exosomes and microvesicles); 2) access to specialized equipment; and 3) expert
consultative services in integrative cellular and molecular biology to allow investigators at any level of
experience to conduct mechanistic nutrition/obesity research. Many CMBC services are not available within
other cores and are completely unique at Washington University, providing critical and cost-effective research
support for NORC investigators. In addition, the CMBC interacts closely with both the NORC Clinical Sciences
Research Core (CSRC) and the Animal Model Research Core (AMRC), so that assays performed by the
CMBC on blood and tissue samples collected from research participants and animals are performed in
conjunction with the analyses conducted in the CSRC and AMRC to provide a comprehensive and integrated
assessment of study outcomes.

Grant Number: 5P30DK056341-25
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: Nada Abumrad