James (Jim) Squires
Chair, Department of Animal Biosciences
Professor
Ontario Agricultural College
Department of Animal Biosciences
Guelph, Ontario
jsquires@uoguelph.ca
Office:
(519) 824-4120 ext. 53928
Bio/Research
Dr. Squires' broad research interests are in metabolism and functional genomics. Of particular interest is the metabolism of boar taint compounds and factors that affect their production and catabolism. Squires' lab has identified some of the key enzymes involved in the metabolic pathways for ska...
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Bio/Research
Dr. Squires' broad research interests are in metabolism and functional genomics. Of particular interest is the metabolism of boar taint compounds and factors that affect their production and catabolism. Squires' lab has identified some of the key enzymes involved in the metabolic pathways for skatole and androstenone. They are characterizing the substrate and inhibitor specificity of a number of porcine CYP450s and phase II enzymes. As well they are studying the role of nuclear receptors CAR, PXR and FXR in the pig, including their ligand specificity, the role of splice variants, and the downstream effects of receptor activation.
Squires' lab has identified a number of polymorphisms in candidate genes that code the key enzymes involved in the metabolism of boar taint compounds. They are particularly interested in polymorphisms that affect the function of these enzymes and thus dramatically affect the trait. They are developing an SNP panel that will be used for genetic selection for low boar taint lines of pigs. With collaborators, they are developing panels of genetic markers for other desirable traits, including improved disease resistance and increased productivity (feed efficiency, growth performance, and meat quality). They are also working with collaborators on hemostasis and metabolic diseases in poultry. Based on the similarities in phase I and II metabolism and nuclear receptor function between pigs and humans, they are developing a porcine hepatocyte model for toxicology and metabolic disease studies relevant to humans.
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Squires' lab has identified a number of polymorphisms in candidate genes that code the key enzymes involved in the metabolism of boar taint compounds. They are particularly interested in polymorphisms that affect the function of these enzymes and thus dramatically affect the trait. They are developing an SNP panel that will be used for genetic selection for low boar taint lines of pigs. With collaborators, they are developing panels of genetic markers for other desirable traits, including improved disease resistance and increased productivity (feed efficiency, growth performance, and meat quality). They are also working with collaborators on hemostasis and metabolic diseases in poultry. Based on the similarities in phase I and II metabolism and nuclear receptor function between pigs and humans, they are developing a porcine hepatocyte model for toxicology and metabolic disease studies relevant to humans.
Click to Shrink <<