Tolunay Beker Aydemir

Our overall research interests center on how transporter-mediated zinc and manganese mobilization function to regulate diverse cellular processes in health and disease. Research Focus: The Aydemir Lab investigates how essential micronutrients—particularly zinc and manganese—regulate critical cellular processes and maintain human health. Through preclinical animal models and ex vivo organoid cultures, we study how the Solute Carrier (SLC) family of metal transporters facilitates micronutrient functions across tissues, organs, and cells. Our approach integrates multiple scientific disciplines, including: • Advanced biochemistry techniques • Molecular biology methods • Cutting-edge nutritional genomics • State-of-the-art metallomics analysis using Microwave Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (MP-AES) Our research explores interactions between: • Gene-micronutrient • Macronutrient-micronutrient • Disease-micronutrient Current Research Priorities: • Understanding zinc and manganese transport dynamics in health and disease • Investigating zinc-mediated interactions between host systems and gut microbiome • Examining how these processes influence multiple organ systems in chronic inflammatory conditions and metabolic disorders

Hung YH, Kim Y, Mitchell SB, Thorn TL, Aydemir TB.* Absence of Slc39a14/Zip14 in mouse pancreatic beta cells results in hyperinsulinemia. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2024 Jan 1;326(1):E92-E105. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00117.2023. PubMed PMID: 38019082. Mitchell SB, Thorn TL, Lee MT, Kim Y, Comrie JMC, Bai ZS, Johnson EL, Aydemir TB.* Metal transporter SLC39A14/ZIP14 modulates regulation between the gut microbiome and host metabolism. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2023 Dec 1;325(6):G593-G607. doi: 10.1152/ajpgi.00091.2023. Epub 2023 Oct 24. PubMed PMID: 37873588. Mitchell SB, Hung YH, Thorn TL, Zou J, Baser F, Gulec S, Cheung C, Aydemir TB.* Sucrose-induced hyperglycemia dysregulates intestinal zinc metabolism and integrity: risk factors for chronic diseases. Front Nutr. 2023 Aug