London Metropolitan University Research Institutes
 

Professor Michael A Crawford


PhD, CBiol FSB, FRCPath


Research Interests

  • Lipids, brain development and evolution

The special interest is in the role the lipids and essential fatty acids are interacting with the cellular signaling systems. That is we are interested in the key interaction between nutrition affecting membrane lipids and gene expression. Lipid composition is influenced by diet and that in turn influences the membrane proteins which are the ion channels, receptors, signaling and protective enzymes. With only 40,000 genes or less reported in the Human Genome result instead of an expected 150,000, the interface between nutrition and gene expression, which has been the hub of our work, now becomes a post-genome priority.
DHA (C22:6n-3) accounts for over 50% of the fatty acids in the photoreceptor and nearly that in the synapse, in which the more readily made precursors omega-3 DPA (C22:5n-3) or EPA (C20:5n-3) have not been used throughout evolution. To investigate this phenomenon, we are collaborating internationally along lines suggested in our recent paper. (Crawford MA, Bloom M, Cunnane S, Holmsen H, Ghebremeskel K, Parkington J, Schimdt W, Sinclair AJ and Leigh Broadhurst C (2001) Docosahexaenoic acid and cerebral evolution. In Fatty Acids and Lipids - New Findings, Ed Hamazaki T, Okuyama H., World Rev. Nutr. Diet, Basel, Krager, 88: 6-17.)

International collaboration is being developed to better understand the links between contrasting diets, in Europe, Asia and Africa with adverse pregnancy outcome and chronic disease. Other work in collaboration with several outside groups is exploring the way in which the lipids and AA and DHA in particular are involved in prenatal programming and gene expression. In this context we have set up the Archbishop Desmond Tutu Post Graduate Research Fellowship to examine the possibility that maternal nutrition could be manipulated to down grade the permissivity of the white cell membrane to HIV entry and so help protect against vertical transmission of HIV-1.

Publications

  • Brand A, Crawford MA, Yavin E (2010) Retailoring docosahexaenoic acid-containing phospholipid species during impaired neurogenesis following omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid deprivation. J Neurochem. Jun 16 [Epub ahead of print]
  • Brough L, Rees GA, Crawford MA, Morton RH, Dorman EK (2010) Effect of multiple-micronutrient supplementation on maternal nutrient status, infant birth weight and gestational age at birth in a low-income, multi-ethnic population. Br J Nutr. 104(3):437-445.
  • Kirby A, Woodward A, Jackson S, Wang Y, Crawford MA (2010) The association of fatty acid deficiency symptoms (FADS) with actual essential fatty acid status in cheek cells. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 83(1):1-8.
  • Kirby A, Woodward A, Jackson S, Wang Y, Crawford MA (2010) Childrens' learning and behaviour and the association with cheek cell polyunsaturated fatty acid levels. Res Dev Disabil. 31(3):731-742.
  • Kirby A, Woodward A, Jackson S, Wang Y, Crawford MA (2010) A double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigating the effects of omega-3 supplementation in children aged 8-10 years from a mainstream school population. Res Dev Disabil. 31(3):718-730.
  • Moodley T, Vella C, Djahanbakhch O, Branford-White CJ, Crawford MA (2009) Arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acid deficits in preterm neonatal mononuclear cell membranes. Implications for the immune response at birth. Nutr Health. 20(2):167-185.
  • Zhang J, Wang Y, Meng L, Wang C, Zhao W, Chen J, Ghebremeskel K, Crawford MA (2009) Maternal and neonatal plasma n-3 and n-6 fatty acids of pregnant women and neonates in three regions in China with contrasting dietary patterns. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 18(3):377-388.
  • Crawford MA, Bazinet RP, Sinclair AJ (2009) Fat intake and CNS functioning: ageing and disease. Ann Nutr Metab. 55(1-3):202-228.
  • Wang Y, Lehane C, Ghebremeskel K, Crawford MA (2009) Modern organic and broiler chickens sold for human consumption provide more energy from fat than protein. Public Health Nutr. 13(3):400-408.
  • Izzeldin SH, Crawford MA, Ghebremeskel K (2009) Salt fortification with iodine: Sudan situation analysis. Nutr Health. 20(1):21-30.
  • Caraveo-Patin J, Wang Y, Soto LA, Ghebremeskel K, Lehane C, Crawford MA (2009) Eco-physiological repercussions of dietary arachidonic acid in cell membranes of active tissues of the Gray whale.  Marine Ecology [in print]  (10.1111/j.1439-0485.2009.00289.x.).
  • Crawford MA, Bazinet RP, Sinclair AJ (2009) Fat intake and CNS functioning: ageing and disease. Ann Nutr Metab. 55(1-3):202-28.
  • Sumich AL, Matsudaira T, Gow R, Ibrahimovic A, Ghebremeskel K, Crawford MA, Taylor E (2009) Resting state electroencephalographic correlates with red cell long chain fatty acids, memory performance and age in adolescent boys with attention and hyperactivity disorder. Neuropharmacology. 57(7-8):708-714
  • Wang Y, Lehane C, Ghebremeskel K, Crawford MA (2009) Modern organic and broiler chickens sold for human consumption provide more calories from fat than protein. Public Health Nutr 4:1-9
  • Izzeldin SH, Crawford MA, Ghebremeskel K (2009) Salt fortification with iodine: Sudan situation analysis. Nutr Health 20(1): 21-30.
  • Gow RV, Matsudaira T, Taylor E, Rubia K, Crawford M, Ghebremeskel K, Ibrahimovic A, Vallée-Tourangeau F, Williams LM, Sumich A (2009) Total red blood cell concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids are associated with emotion-elicited neural activity in adolescent boys with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 80(2-3): 151-156
  • Brough L, Rees GA, Crawford MA, Dorman EK (2009) Social and ethnic differences in folic acid use preconception and during early pregnancy in the UK: effect on maternal folate status. J Hum Nutr Diet. 20: 100-107
  • Schmidt WF, Mookherji S, Crawford MA (2009) Unit cell volume and liquid-phase immiscibility in oleate-stearate lipid mixtures. Chem Phys Lipids. 158: 10-15.
  • Crawford M, Broadhurst CL, Galli C, Ghebremeskel K, Holmsen H, Saugstad LF, Schmidt WF, Sinclair AJ, Cunnane SC (2008) The role of docosahexaenioc and arachidonic acids as determinants of evolution and hominid brain development. Fisheries for Global Welfare and Environment, 5th World Fisheries Congress, p57-76.
  • Broadhurst CL, Schmidt WF, Crawford MA, Wang Y, Li R (2004) 13C Nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of natural undiluted lipids: Docosahexaenoic-rich phospholipid and triacylglycerol from fish. J Agric Food Chem 52(3): 4250-4255.
  • Crawford MA, Bloom M, Broadhurst CL, Schmidt WF, Cunnane SC, Galli C, Ghebremeskel K, Linseisen F, Lloyd-Smith J, Parkington J (2004) Evidence for the unique function of DHA during the evolution of the modern hominid brain. Oleagineux Corps Gras Lipids Dossier: Acides Gras Omega 3: Aspects Metabolique 11(1):30-37.
  • Crawford MA (2004) Docosahexaenoic acid and the evolution of the brain - a message for the future. Lipid Technology 16(3).
  • Cunnane S, Crawford M (2003) Survival of the fattest: fat babies were the key to evolution of the large human brain. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol. 136(1):17-26
  • Wang Y, Crawford A, Chen J, Li J, Ghebremeskel K, Campbell TC, Fan W, Parker R, Leyton J (2003) Fish consumption, blood docosahexaenoic acid and chronic diseases in Chinese rural populations. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol. 136(1):127-140
  • Crawford MA, Golfetto I, Bistanis D, Ghebremeskel K, Min Y, Moodley T, Poston L, Phylactos A, Cunnane S, Schmidt W (2003) Arachidonic and Docosahexaenoic Acids in Protection Against Central Nervous System Damage in Preterm Infants. Lipids 38(4):303-315.
  • Broadhurst CL, Wang Y, Crawford MA, Cunnane SC, Parkington JE and Schmidt WF (2002) Brain-specific lipids from marine, lacustrine, or terrestrial food resources: potential impact on early African Homo sapiens. Comp Biochem Physiol Part B 131:653-673.
  • Crawford MA, Bloom M, Cunnane S, Holmsen H, Ghebremeskel K, Parkington J, Schimdt W, Sinclair AJ and Leigh Broadhurst C (2001) Docosahexaenoic acid and cerebral evolution. In Fatty Acids and Lipids - New Findings, ed Hamazaki T, Okuyama H., World Rev Nutr Diet Basel, Krager, 88: 6-17. [PDF]
  • Crawford MA (2000) Placental delivery of arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids: implications for the lipid nutrition of the preterm infant. Am J Clin Nutr 71:275S-284S. [PDF]
  • Crawford MA, Bloom M, Broadhurst CL, Schmidt WF, Cunnane SC, Galli C, Ghebremeskel K, Linseisen F, Lloyd-Smith J and Parkington J (1999) Evidence for the unique function of DHA during the evolution of the modern hominid brain. Lipids 34: S39-S47. [PDF]
  • Bloom M, Linseisen F, Lloyd-Smith J and Crawford MA (1998) "Insights from NMR on the Functional Role of Polyunsaturated Lipids in the Brain" 1998 Enrico Fermi International School of Physics: "Magnetic Resonance and Brain Function - Approaches from Physics" in Varenna, Italy. [PDF]


Contact Information

E-mail: m.crawford@londonmet.ac.uk






 

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