Current Search: Honors Student Theses (x) » Europe (x) » Molecular aspects (x)
View All Items
- Title
- Cells and cocktails: antioxidants rescue carcinogen induced mitotic defects in both chromosomally stable and unstable cells.
- Creator
- Griffin, Isabel Sloan., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Abstract/Description
-
Tumor cells are characterized by an increase in genomic instability, brought about by both chromosomal rearrangement and chromosomal instability. Both of these broad changes can be induced by exposure to carcinogens. During mitosis, cells can exhibit early and late lagging chromosomes, multipolar spindles or anaphase bridges, all of which contribute to genomic rearrantement. We have studied the link between exposure to carcinogen and prevalence of mitotic defect in both chromosomally stable...
Show moreTumor cells are characterized by an increase in genomic instability, brought about by both chromosomal rearrangement and chromosomal instability. Both of these broad changes can be induced by exposure to carcinogens. During mitosis, cells can exhibit early and late lagging chromosomes, multipolar spindles or anaphase bridges, all of which contribute to genomic rearrantement. We have studied the link between exposure to carcinogen and prevalence of mitotic defect in both chromosomally stable and unstable cell lines as well as ecamined the restorative effects of antioxidants in preventing mitotic defects. We have exposed MES-SA uterine cancer cells to vinyl chloride followed by exposure to an antioxidant : ascorbic acid, B-carotene, or lycopene. Treated cells were then scored for the prevalence of mitotic defects within the population and compared to controls. We have also investigated whether pre-treatment with the antioxidants will weaken the effects of carcinogen exposure in these cell lines.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3359304
- Subject Headings
- Cellular signal transduction, Cell differentiation, Medical genetics, Cancer, Genetic aspects, Antioxidants, Therapeutic use, Cancer, Chemoprevention, Apoptosis, Molecular aspects, Genetic regulation
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Correlation between specific carcinogenic chemicals and specific mitotic defects and the restorative role of antioxidants.
- Creator
- Yates, Travis., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Abstract/Description
-
The progression of cancerous cells towards a more aggressive tumor can be linked to external elements called carcinogens. The goal of this project is to examine the correlation between exposure to specific carcinogens and an increase of mitotic defects. These defects can manifest as lagging chromosomes, multipolar spindles, and anaphase bridges. Some of these instabilities are associated with the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are known to damage DNA. The potential for...
Show moreThe progression of cancerous cells towards a more aggressive tumor can be linked to external elements called carcinogens. The goal of this project is to examine the correlation between exposure to specific carcinogens and an increase of mitotic defects. These defects can manifest as lagging chromosomes, multipolar spindles, and anaphase bridges. Some of these instabilities are associated with the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are known to damage DNA. The potential for damage to the genome can be averted via antioxidants. Using the oral cancer cell line UPCI:SCC103, we established a baseline for the mitotic defects in the absence and presence of various ROS-inducing carcinogens using DAPI-stained fixed cells examined by immunofluorescent microscopy, The cells were treated with varying concentrations of the antioxidants, Vitamin C, (Sb(B-Carotene, and Vitamin E. The reactive oxygen scavengers significantly reduced the number of mitotic defects. A possible link between the carcinogens and lagging chromosomes was established.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2009
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/210007
- Subject Headings
- Cellular signal transduction, Genetic regulation, Antioxidants, Therapeutic use, Apoptosis, Molecular aspects, Cancer, Chemoprevention
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Creation of an aconitase overexpression strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for lifespan analysis.
- Creator
- Nunes, Steve., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Abstract/Description
-
In my thesis work, I attempted to construct a plasmid that would allow stable integration of genes into the Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast genome under the control of the repressible TetO promoter. The yeast ACO1 gene was cloned under the control of the TetO operator and the tTA transactivator. This construct was inserted into yeast cells in order to observe the effects of aconitase overexpression on aging. Unfortunately, the transformed cells appeared incapable of aconitase expression as...
Show moreIn my thesis work, I attempted to construct a plasmid that would allow stable integration of genes into the Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast genome under the control of the repressible TetO promoter. The yeast ACO1 gene was cloned under the control of the TetO operator and the tTA transactivator. This construct was inserted into yeast cells in order to observe the effects of aconitase overexpression on aging. Unfortunately, the transformed cells appeared incapable of aconitase expression as determined by glutamic acid auxptrophy, a phenotype of aconitase mutants. We have sequenced the pIT1ACO1 plasmid and have found many abnormalities in the promoter region. If the plasmid can be made to function as intended, the resulting yeast strain can be used in the future to determine if aconitase plays an important role in cellular aging.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3359306
- Subject Headings
- Yeast fungi, Research, Methodology, Microbial genetics, Genetic engineering, Aging, Molecular aspects, Cell metabolism, Mutation (Biology)
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- The effect of mutated aconitase on yeast longevity.
- Creator
- Kwan, CJ., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Abstract/Description
-
Aconitase is an important enzyme in the citric Acid Cycle, is needed for maintenance of mitochondrial DNA, is a key regulator of iron in the cell, and is very sensitive to oxidative stress. We have isolatd the yeast ACO1 gene, which codes for aconitase, and randomly mutated it to create a mutant library of cells each expressing a different version of ACO1. We will select for oxidative stress resistant aconitase in S. cerevisiae by subjecting strains to successive rounds of heat shock and...
Show moreAconitase is an important enzyme in the citric Acid Cycle, is needed for maintenance of mitochondrial DNA, is a key regulator of iron in the cell, and is very sensitive to oxidative stress. We have isolatd the yeast ACO1 gene, which codes for aconitase, and randomly mutated it to create a mutant library of cells each expressing a different version of ACO1. We will select for oxidative stress resistant aconitase in S. cerevisiae by subjecting strains to successive rounds of heat shock and competitive growth against other mutants. The "winner" of this competition will then be analyzed for which version of aconitase it is expressing, which may lead to increased longevity.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3359310
- Subject Headings
- Yeast fungi, Research, Microbial genetics, Aging, Molecular aspects, Mutation (Biology), Cell metabolism
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Iron and mitochondrial aging.
- Creator
- Paez, Rafael., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Abstract/Description
-
Aging is a process characterized by accumulated oxidative damage to DNA, proteins, and lipids,which leads to the gradual degeneration of cellular activity. Mitochondria play a central role in aging because they produce both cellular energy and oxidative stress. As resultof accumulated oxidative damage, mitochondria function decays, which leads to a cellular energy deficit and compromises cellular function. Iron is an essential nutrient reequired by mitodhondria to function optimally. It has...
Show moreAging is a process characterized by accumulated oxidative damage to DNA, proteins, and lipids,which leads to the gradual degeneration of cellular activity. Mitochondria play a central role in aging because they produce both cellular energy and oxidative stress. As resultof accumulated oxidative damage, mitochondria function decays, which leads to a cellular energy deficit and compromises cellular function. Iron is an essential nutrient reequired by mitodhondria to function optimally. It has been proved that iron supplementation increases the lifespan of several yeast strains, including superoxide dismutase mutants. We are interested in finding where the iron is going and what it might be doing that is beneficial to the cell. We have used Saccharomyces cerevisiae as our molecular model of aging. Our results indicate that the extra iron is being transported into the mitochoindria.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3359313
- Subject Headings
- Oxidation, Physiological, Aging, Molecular aspects, Mitochondrial DNA, Yeast fungi, Research, Methodology, Free radicals (Chemistry), Pathophysiology
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- The use of novel HDACi's for treatment of memory impairment in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.
- Creator
- Moyes, Jonathan., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Abstract/Description
-
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an increasingly common neurological disorder that mainly affects memory formation and retention. It is characterized by unique intercellular neurofibrillary tangles and extracellular beta-amyloid plaques. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi's) are competitive antagonists against histone deacetylases, causing histone acetyltransferases to acetylate the genome unregulated. This thesis investigates the use of new histone deacetylase inhibitors on recovering memory...
Show moreAlzheimer's disease (AD) is an increasingly common neurological disorder that mainly affects memory formation and retention. It is characterized by unique intercellular neurofibrillary tangles and extracellular beta-amyloid plaques. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi's) are competitive antagonists against histone deacetylases, causing histone acetyltransferases to acetylate the genome unregulated. This thesis investigates the use of new histone deacetylase inhibitors on recovering memory in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. By use of a fear conditioning paradigm, we have shown that these HDACI's increase memory in AD mice, but show either no effect or a positive effect in wild-type mice. Future experiments will investigate the efficacy of compound 966 and the spine density of hippocampal brain slices after fear conditioning trials.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3359315
- Subject Headings
- Alzheimer's disease, Chemotherapy, Pharmacogenetics, Histone deacetylase, Inhibitors, Nervous system, Degeneration, Molecular aspects
- Format
- Document (PDF)