Vitamin A expert A. Catharine Ross presenting K-State Hageman lecture Nov. 8

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Source: Subbarat Muthukrishnan, 785-532-6939, smk@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, 785-532-6415, ebarcomb@k-state.edu

Thursday, November 2, 2006

VITAMIN A EXPERT A. CATHARINE ROSS PRESENTING K-STATE HAGEMAN LECTURE NOV. 8

MANHATTAN -- As children, we're often told that carrots and other foods rich in vitamin A are good for our eyes, but that's just the beginning, according to a researcher speaking at an upcoming lecture at Kansas State University.

A. Catharine Ross, professor and Dorothy Foehr Huck Chair in Nutrition at Pennsylvania State University, is presenting this year's Richard H. and Elizabeth C. Hageman Distinguished Lecture in Agricultural Biochemistry. Ross will present "Regulating a Key Regulator of Differentiation: How is the Production and Metabolism of Retinoic Acid Controlled?" at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, in 120 Ackert Hall. A reception will begin at 3:30 p.m. in the foyer in Chalmers Hall.

Prior to the lecture, Ross also will present a colloquium, "Vitamin A Status: Why it Still Matters," from 9:30-11:30 a.m. in 137 Waters Hall. Refreshments will be served at 9:15 a.m.

Both presentations are free and open to the public.

Ross is a nutritional biochemist who has spent more than 20 years exploring why vitamin A is important. Her work during the 1980s indicated vitamin A is important for immune function. She also has researched retinoic acid, or vitamin A acid, which in certain combinations can boost antibody production and also may help neonatal lungs. Ross' recent work has included proteomics studies of enzymes regulated by vitamin A and detailed studies of mechanisms whereby retinoic acid regulates function and localization of proteins.

Ross earned her doctorate in biochemistry and her master's in nutritional science, both from Cornell University. She earned her bachelor's degree in zoology from the University of California at Davis, and did post-doctoral research at Columbia University.

The lecture is named for the late Richard Hageman, a Kansas native and K-State alum, and Elizabeth C. Hageman, a retired biochemist. Richard Hageman was a research chemist and professor whose research included studying plant nitrogen metabolism and rate-limiting enzymes in crops. Elizabeth C. Hageman was involved in pioneering work with the in vitro culture of bovine mammary gland tissue.