Chad Michael Paton

Education

Research

My research is focused on the bioactive properties of two specific lipids: Dihydrosterculic acid (DHSA) and linoleic acid. DHSA is a cyclopropene fatty acid that is found naturally in cottonseed oil and it blocks endogenous lipid synthesis and cholesterol biogenesis. I am actively pursuing methods to assess its ability to treat hyperlipidemia and hypercholesterolemia in animal and human models. My work in the bioactive properties of linoleic acid has centered on its role in modulating skeletal muscle myogenesis and mitochondrial biogenesis. As a long-chain omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid, it promotes transcriptional activity via nuclear receptor-DNA interactions and more recently I have found that its ability to induce angiopoietin-like protein 4 production in muscle significantly impairs the capacity for muscle differentiation and metabolic function. The purpose of my research is to help restore normal metabolic function in disease states using molecular biology and biochemistry to understand how macronutrient metabolism is regulated in cell and animal models. For more information, visit the Biochemistry of Metabolism Laboratory. 

Teaching

Food and Nutritional Biochemistry (FDST/NUTR 8150)

Advanced Nutrition in Physical Activity, Exercise, and Sport (NUTR 8230)

Nutrition in Physical Activity, Exercise, and Sport (NUTR 4220/6220)

Study Tour in Foods and Nutrition (NUTR 5710) (Study Abroad)

Books

Yura Son & Chad M. Paton, Chapter 18 - Lipid metabolic features of skeletal muscle in pathological and physiological conditions. Lipid Signaling and Metabolism, Academic Press, 2020, Pages 359-383, ISBN 9780128194041, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-819404-1.00018-X

Current Research

1. PUFA-mediated regulation of myogenesis.
2. The role of dihydrosterculic acid in hepatic lipid metabolism.

Publications

Son Y, Lorenz WW, Paton CM. Linoleic acid-induced ANGPTL4 inhibits C2C12 skeletal muscle differentiation by suppressing Wnt/β-catenin. J Nutr Biochem. 2023 Jun;116:109324. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2023.109324. Epub 2023 Mar 23. PMID: 36963729

Son Y, Shockey J, Dowd MK, Shieh JG*, Cooper JA, and Paton CM. A cottonseed oil-enriched diet improves liver and plasma lipid levels in a mouse model of fatty liver disease. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2023 Feb 1;324(2):R171-R182. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00052.2022. Epub 2022 Dec 12. PMID: 36503254

Son Y and Paton CM. A review of free fatty acid-induced cell signaling, angiopoietin-like protein 4, and skeletal muscle differentiation. Frontiers in Physiology, 2022 Sep 6, 13:987977 doi: 10.3389/fphys.2022.987977.

Paton CM, Son Y, Vaughan RA, Cooper JA. Free Fatty Acid-Induced Peptide YY Expression Is Dependent on TG Synthesis Rate and Xbp1 Splicing. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(9), 3368; doi:10.3390/ijms21093368.

Knudsen KH, Stanya KJ, Hyde AL, Chalom MM, Alexander RK, Liou YH, Gangl MR, Jacobi D, Liu S, Sopariwala DH, Fonseca-Pereira D, Li J, Hu FB, Garrett WS, Narkar V, Ortlund EA Kim JH, Paton CM, Cooper JA, Lee CH. Interleukin 13 drives metabolic conditioning of muscle to endurance exercise. Science. 2020 May 1;368(6490).

Son Y, Cox JM, Stevenson JL, Cooper JA, Paton CM. Angiopoietin-1 Protects 3T3-L1 Pre-Adipocytes from Saturated Fatty Acid-Induced Cell Death. Nutr Res. 2020 Feb 13;76:20-28. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2020.02.007.

Rogowski MP, Flowers MT, Stamatikos AD, Ntambi JM, Paton CM. SCD1 activity in muscle increases triglyceride PUFA content, exercise capacity, and PPARδ expression in mice. J Lipid Res. 2013 Oct;54(10):2636-46.

Paton CM, Vaughan RA, Alpergin E, Assadi-Porter F, Dowd MK. Cottonseed oil suppresses SCD1 activity and improves liver metabolomic profiles of high fat fed mice. Nutr Res. 2017 Sep;45:52-62. Epub 2017 Jul 4.