Barshop Institute
October 5, 2026
The enzymatic functions of ABHD6 in metabolic disorders have been well documented. However, the non-enzymatic functions of ABHD6 remain largely unexplored. In this study, Guannan Li, PhD, identified a previously unrecognized role of ABHD6 in interacting with FoxO1 to regulate selective hepatic insulin resistance and metabolic health. These findings reveal an important non-enzymatic function of […]
September 10, 2026
The study identifies CELF2 as an important regulator of tau splicing and the production of 4R tau, providing new insight into molecular mechanisms that may contribute to tau-related neurodegeneration. These findings advance our understanding of how disruptions in RNA regulation may influence neurodegenerative disease. Ishana Syed is an Integrated Biomedical Sciences PhD student in the […]
July 29, 2026
This study shows that CELF2, an RNA-binding protein, is essential for healthy brain development. Researchers found that loss of CELF2 disrupted the organization and maturation of neurons, altered the activity of hundreds of genes, and reduced levels of CAMK2A, a key protein involved in synaptic function. The findings highlight how defects in RNA regulation can […]
July 28, 2026
Dr. Chen is the holder of the Bartell Zachry Memorial Distinguished Professorship for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, an Associate Professor with the Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, and an investigator with the Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies. Transcription factor condensates as storage Lizhen Chen, Zhijie Liu Nat Cell Biol. […]
July 1, 2026
In the paper, titled “Timed secreted proteomes reveal regulation of hepatokines by the liver circadian clock,” researchers found that the liver’s circadian clock controls the timing of protein release, identifying hundreds of proteins that are secreted differently throughout the day and help regulate metabolism. A key discovery was that the liver releases more endostatin during […]
May 22, 2026
Original story: UT Health San Antonio Newsroom By Claire Kowalick SAN ANTONIO (May 21, 2026) For decades, Alzheimer’s disease research has focused almost exclusively on harmful proteins in the brain. But scientists at The University of Texas at San Antonio are taking a new approach to how the disease is understood and treated. A recent […]
April 23, 2026
Original story: UT Health San Antonio Newsroom By Claire Kowalick SAN ANTONIO (April 21, 2026) Alzheimer’s is a highly heritable disease with about 60% of the risk coming from a person’s genes. The other 40% of the risk remains less well-studied and may, in part, come from environmental stressors. The University of Texas at San […]
April 16, 2026
A recent study from the lab of Blake Rasmussen, PhD, and published in the Journal of Applied Physiology provides new insights into how heightened mTORC1 activity in muscle influences the body’s response to endurance exercise. The researchers found that while exercise improved mitochondrial activity and altered muscle lipid metabolism, excessive mTORC1 signaling limited gains in […]
April 9, 2026
Original story: UT Health San Antonio Newsroom By Claire Kowalick SAN ANTONIO (April 8, 2026) New UT San Antonio study introduces analytical tool to better hone aging interventions When scientists test potential life‑extending interventions, often the central question simply asks if the intervention works. New research from The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT […]
February 27, 2026
In this review, titled “Visceral adiposity, metabolic health and aging,” the authors critically evaluate whether visceral adipose tissue (VAT), commonly known as visceral fat, is simply a correlate of aging or whether it plays a direct, causal role in driving age-related metabolic decline and systemic aging processes. The authors conclude that VAT is not inherently […]
