Contact info

Dr Gareth Lim
CRCHUM � Pavillon R
900, St-Denis - Room R08.482
Montr�al, QC H2X 0A9

Tel: 1-514-890-8000, ext. 12927
E-mail: [email protected]

Link to Gareth Lim LinkedIn page
Link to Gareth Lim lab webpage
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Research keywords

During his PhD (Physiology) at the University of Toronto, Dr Gareth Lim trained in the laboratory of Dr Patricia Brubaker. Here, he examined the effects of insulin and insulin resistance on the secretion of the incretin hormone, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). He next joined the research group of Dr James Johnson at the University of British Columbia for his postdoctoral training. Despite starting this position with the intention of focusing on pancreatic β-cell biology, his interests in the regulation of signal transduction pathways led him to explore the roles of molecular scaffold proteins in the context of metabolism and metabolic diseases. More specifically, he has uncovered essential roles of 14-3-3 scaffold proteins in glucose homeostasis, pancreatic β-cell survival, and adipogenesis. In 2016, Dr Lim joined the CRCHUM and the Universit� de Montr�al as a Researcher and Professeur chercheur adjoint (Assistant Professor), respectively.

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1- Lim GE, Piske M, Lulo JE, Ramshaw HS, Lopez AF, Johnson JD. Ywhaz/ 14-3-3ζ deletion improves glucose tolerance through a GLP-1-dependent mechanism. Endocrinology 157:2649-59, 2016.

2- Lim GE, Albrecht T, Piske M, Sarai K, Lee JT, Ramshaw HS, Sinha S, Guthridge MA, Acker-Palmer A, Lopez AF, Clee SM, Nislow C, Johnson JD. 14-3-3ζ coordinates adipogenesis of visceral fat. Nat Commun. 6:7671 doi:10.1038/ncomms 8671, 2015.

3- Lim GE, Piske M, Johnson JD. 14-3-3 proteins are essential signaling hubs for beta cell survival. Diabetologia 56:825-37, 2013.

4- Lim GE, Johnson JD. 14-3-3ζ: A numbers game in adipocyte function? Adipocyte 5:232-7, 2015

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The regulation of glucose and energy homeostasis is controlled by complex signaling networks that require precise actions of various effector proteins. Altering the activity or subcellular localization of these proteins is known to promote the development of metabolic diseases, such as diabetes and obesity. Currently, it is not clear how signaling effectors are accurately coordinated in metabolically relevant tissues. The research group of Dr Lim focuses on the contributions of molecular scaffolds, and in particular members of the 14-3-3 protein family, which have the ability to precisely organize signaling networks. Since their initial discovery in the brain, the unique family of 14-3-3 proteins has been found to spatially and temporally coordinate signaling proteins, especially those implicated in the regulation of metabolism. Currently, the Lim lab is investigating how 14-3-3 proteins influence the function and survival of pancreatic beta-cells, as well as examining how 14-3-3 proteins control processes related to the development and function of adipocytes, or fat cells. Both beta-cells and adipocytes are key cells in the development of type 2 diabetes and obesity, which are both increasing at alarming rates in Canada and throughout the world. In addition to traditional biochemical and molecular techniques and animal models, the Lim lab also utilizes unbiased approaches such as proteomics and Next Generation Sequencing (Transcriptomics, ChIP-Seq) approaches, to better understand how 14-3-3 proteins regulate pathways that control whole-body metabolism and energy homeostasis.