Dr. Turner’s research focuses on identifying bioactive compounds in the diet that suppress colon carcinogenesis and inflammatory bowel disease. Part of the projects are targeted at studying the regulation of colonocyte proliferation and apoptosis, and determining how dietary components influence apoptosis induction in order to eliminate DNA damaged cells. Current research is designed to understand how diet and radiation exposures influence the intestinal environment, with particular attention to the interaction between microbiota and colon epithelia. Recent outcomes have detected changes in the metabolic profile of microbiota after radiation exposure and have identified dietary interventions that protect against colon disease through the establishment of beneficial bacterial populations that produce desirable microbial metabolic byproducts. Changes in the microbial metabolites were shown to impact epigenetic regulation of gene transcription and host metabolomic profile. In addition, we have recently started working to understand how diet impacts apoptosis induction in colon adult stem cells, especially in response to DNA damaging agents. A current NASA-funded project will determine the response of colon microbiota, the microbial metabolites and epigenetic state of colonocytes to radiation exposures. Work conducted in the laboratory is currently funded by the United Sorghum Checkoff Board, the California Dried Plum Board, NASA and USDA.
