Robert Metzger, Ph.D.

Email

Primary Email: [email protected]

Phone/Fax

Primary Phone: 42710

Building/Location

Chemical Sciences Laboratory - 312B
5500 Campanile Dr
San Diego, CA 92182

Bio

My current research interests cover four major areas: 1) Determining the metabolic roles for enzymes that catalyze the oxidation of non-phosphorylated hexoses and pentoses; 2) Uncovering whether abnormal levels of certain acid hydrolases are directly connected with the development of diabetic complications which cause blindness, atherosclerosis, and kidney failure; 3) Conducting protein-browning (Maillard) reactions for diagnostic tests of the effectiveness of treatment given to diabetic patients, in order to prevent complications of diabetes mellitus; 4) Finding undiscovered terpenes, peptides, polysaccharides and other natural products produced by native fauna and flora, then isolating the compounds by differential extractions and chromatography, testing them for pharmaceutical potential, and identifying their structures by NMR and other forms of spectroscopy.

Areas of Specialization

Biochemistry