Distinguished Chemistry Alumni Seminar
in Honor of Professor Howell Clark

2006

Dr. John Vincent

Dr. John Vincent and Dr. Howell Clark

Dr. Vincent is currently Professor of Chemistry at the University of Alabama

The title of Dr. Vincent's talk was "Recent advances in the nutritional biochemistry of chromium(III)."

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. John Vincent is currently Professor of Chemistry at the University of Alabama. Dr. Vincent received his B.S. in Chemistry at Murray State University in 1984 and a Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry at Indiana University in 1988. After postdoctoral appointments at NIH and the University of Virginia, he joined the faculty at the University of Alabama in 1991. He is currently a Professor of Chemistry and Coordinator of the Coalition for Biomolecular Products.

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

The elucidation of the structure, function, and mode of action of metallobiomolecules via: 1) spectroscopic, magnetic, kinetic and biochemical studies of the natural systems and 2) the synthesis and characterization of biomimetic inorganic complexes. My research applies biochemical and synthetic and physical inorganic methods to characterize the function and properties of metallobiomolecules (naturally occurring molecules such as proteins, sugars, etc. that contain tightly bound metal ions). The presence of the metal ions gives these species unique magnetic and spectroscopic properties (such as color) that provide avenues (not available to the study of simple proteins, etc.) by which these compounds can be examined in detail. Techniques involved include a variety of chromatographic methods; gel electrophoresis; mass spectrometry; electronic, Raman, electron spin resonance, IR, UV-visible, X-ray absorbance and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies; and an assortment of synthetic methods.

Currently my efforts are focused on the elucidation of the role of chromium in diabetes and the maintenance of proper carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. We have shown that the oligopeptide chromodulin (or also known as low-molecular-weight chromium-binding substance, LMWCr) binds to insulin receptor in response to insulin; this results in an increase of the ability of insulin to signal cells that blood glucose concentrations are high. This may be related to adult-onset diabetes (90% of all diabetes cases in the United States), where body tissues become insensitive to insulin. We have also developed a functional synthetic model for chromodulin; this complex has been shown to lower blood plasma total and LDL cholesterol and triglycerides levels and to increase insulin sensitivity in healthy rats and rat models of obesity and type 2 diabetes, and the chromium compound has also been found to delay the onset of colorectal cancer in rats. Fortunately, the compound has not proven to be mutagenic or genotoxic, unlike at least one other currently available chromium nutritional supplement.

Pictures (click on thumbnail for larger image):

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Last Modified: November 6, 2006