Steenbock Professor of Nutritional Sciences
Professor of Biochemistry
B.S. 1975, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda
Msc. 1978, Makerere University Kampala Uganda
Ph.D. 1985, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
235. Ntambi JM, Stover PJ. (2023) A Conversation with James Ntambi. Annu Rev Nutr. doi: 10.1146/annurev-nutr-061021-020321. PMID: 37253680 [PubMed] Online ahead of print.
234. Grajchen E, Loix M, Baeten P, Côrte-Real BF, Hamad I, Vanherle S, Haidar M, Dehairs J, Broos JY, Ntambi JM, Zimmermann R, Breinbauer R, Stinissen P, Hellings N, Verberk SGS, Kooij G, Giera M, Swinnen JV, Broux B, Kleinewietfeld M, Hendriks JJA, Bogie JFJ. (2023) Fatty acid desaturation by stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 controls regulatory T cell differentiation and autoimmunity. Cell Mol Immunol. 20(6):666-679. doi: 10.1038/s41423-023-01011-2. PMID: 37041314 [PubMed]
233. Ntambi JM, Liu X, Burhans MS, ALjohani A, Selen ES, Kalyesubula M, Assadi-Porter F. (2023) Hepatic oleate regulates one-carbon metabolism during high carbohydrate feeding. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 651:62-69. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.02.018. PMID: 36791500 [PubMed]
The general theme of my research is to understand the genetic regulation of metabolism, adipocyte biology and differentiation. I am specifically interested in the genetic basis of obesity, cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance and diabetes and how dietary factors, hormones and environmental factors influence these disease states. In particular, I study the regulation of the mammalian stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) genes that encode an enzyme involved in biosynthesis of monounsaturated fatty acids. WE are using these genes as a model to understand nutrient gene interactions. We have recently genetically engineered mice that are born without the stearoyl-CoA desaturase gene-1 and found that these mice resist obesity, diabetes, fatty liver disease, and other aspects of the metabolic syndrome.
I am also interested in conducting research on obesity and diabetes and other non-communicable metabolic diseases in developing countries. I provide advice on how to prevent or delay the progression of metabolic diseases through nutritional interventions.