Laboratory of Jack D. Herbert
PhD, LSU Medical Center, 1967
Professor Emeritus

Research in this laboratory includes investigation of the effects of different dietary regimens on growth rates and nitrogen excretion patterns in pen-raised alligators.

Since the uricotelic/ammonteleic alligator may develop gout under some conditions, related work involves studies of de novo purine synthesis and intermediary metabolism of amino acid precursors of uric acid and urinary ammonia. Some of the amino acid metabolism studies resulted in the serendipitous discovery that Carbonic Anhydrase inhibitors blocked many carboxylation reactions in vivo (e.g. those catalyzed by Pyruvate Carboxylase, Acetyl CoA Carboxylase, Carbamyl Phosphate Synthetase). Additional experiments have been designed to delineate the role of Carbonic Anhydrase in intermediary metabolism.

Recent Publications

Herbert JD, Coulson TD, Coulson RA. Growth rates of Chinese and American alligators. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol. Apr;131(4):909-16 (2002) View Abstract