Faculty

Petra ("Peko") Tsuji

Assistant Professor

Research Interests:

My laboratory investigates dietary compounds as preventive strategies against human diseases, especially cancer and inflammation. Additional interests include human gene polymorphisms that have been linked to variable cancer incidence and thus may be viable molecular targets for therapy or prevention. These genes, among others, may be responsible for the individual responses to dietary compounds. Current projects include the effects of the essential micronutrient selenium and selenium-containing proteins in cancer prevention and promotion. Biological models utilized include, but are not limited to, in vitro (human and mouse cancer cells, tissue extracts) and in vivo (mouse, fish) models.

Recent Publications:

Yoo, M.-H., Carlson, B. A., Tsuji, P. A., Tobe, R., Naranjo-Suarez, S., Lee, B. J., Davis, C. I., Gladyshev, V. N., & Hatfield, D. L. 2012. Selenoproteins harboring a split personality in both preventing and promoting cancer. Pages 325-333 in Hatfield, D.L., Berry, M. J., & Gladyshev, V. N. (eds). Selenium: Its Molecular Biology and Role in Human Health. 3rd Edition. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, New York, NY.

Tsuji, P. A., Davis, C. D., & Milner, J. A. 2012. Selenium: Dietary sources and human requirements. Pages 517-529 in Hatfield, D. L., Berry, M. J., & Gladyshev, V. N. (eds). Selenium: Its Molecular Biology and Role in Human Health. 3rd Edition. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, New York, NY.

Tsuji, P. A., Naranjo-Suarez, S., Carlson, B. A., Tobe, R., Yoo, M.-H., & Davis, C. D. Deficiency in the 15 kDa selenoprotein inhibits human colon cancer cell growth. Nutrients (Special Issue: Diet & Cancer Prevention) 3:805-817.