Education:

• Undergraduate: University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL; BS (Biology) 2001.
• Graduate: University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; MS (Exercise Physiology) 2007; PhD (Exercise Physiology) 2007.

Research Interests:

My research focuses on lipid metabolism, with specific interest in triglyceride (TG) storage, breakdown, and utilization in the liver. I am interested in unraveling the function of a specific protein, CGI-58, that is important for regulating the levels of TG in the liver and other tissues. Mutations in the human CGI-58 gene are associated with Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome, a rare autosomal recessive genetic disease in which excessive TG accumulation occurs in multiple tissues.

CGI-58’s role in hepatocyte TG metabolism remains unclear. We are using a transgenic mouse model of hepatic overexpression of CGI-58, as well as in vitro manipulations of this protein, to study the effects on hepatic lipid metabolism. These studies will provide novel insight into the role of CGI-58 in the partitioning of TG and its breakdown products within organisms.

Publications:

Betters JL, Lira VA, Soltow QA, Drenning JA, Criswell DS. Supplemental nitric oxide augments satellite cell activity on cultured myofibers from aged mice. Exp Gerontol. 2008 Sep 13. [Epub ahead of print]

Betters JL, Long JH, Howe KS, Braith RW, Soltow QA, Lira VA, Criswell DS. Nitric oxide reverses prednisolone-induced inactivation of muscle satellite cells. Muscle Nerve. 2008 Feb;37(2):203-9.

Lira VA, Soltow QA, Long JH, Betters JL, Sellman JE, Criswell DS. Nitric oxide increases GLUT4 expression and regulates AMPK signaling in skeletal muscle. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2007 Oct;293(4):E1062-8.

Long JH, Lira VA, Soltow QA, Betters JL, Sellman JE, Criswell DS. Arginine supplementation induces myoblast fusion via augmentation of nitric oxide production. J Muscle Res Cell Motil. 2006;27(8):577-84.

Soltow QA, Betters JL, Sellman JE, Lira VA, Long JH, Criswell DS. Ibuprofen inhibits skeletal muscle hypertrophy in rats. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2006 May;38(5):840-6.

Sellman JE, DeRuisseau KC, Betters JL, Lira VA, Soltow QA, Selsby JT, Criswell DS. In vivo inhibition of nitric oxide synthase impairs upregulation of contractile protein mRNA in overloaded plantaris muscle. J Appl Physiol. 2006 Jan;100(1):258-65.

Betters JL, Criswell DS, Shanely RA, Van Gammeren D, Falk D, Deruisseau KC, Deering M, Yimlamai T, Powers SK. Trolox attenuates mechanical ventilation-induced diaphragmatic dysfunction and proteolysis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2004 Dec 1;170(11):1179-84.

Criswell DS, Shanely RA, Betters JL, McKenzie MJ, Sellman JE, Van Gammeren DL, Powers SK. Cumulative effects of aging and mechanical ventilation on in vitro diaphragm function. Chest. 2003 Dec;124(6):2302-8.