Biotechnology
http://hdl.handle.net/10211.3/5652
2024-03-28T09:04:58ZComparative analyses of osteotropic human breast cancer cells in response to a bisphosphonate drug
http://hdl.handle.net/10211.3/118952
Comparative analyses of osteotropic human breast cancer cells in response to a bisphosphonate drug
Morshedian, Shaghayegh
Of those women who progress to an advanced stage of breast cancer, over 80% will develop bone metastases. Currently, bisphosphonates are used for the treatment of metastatic bone disease. Our preliminary results indicate that zoledronic acid directly acts on osteotropic cells by inhibiting angiogenesis and proliferation, and inducing cell death. In this project we used a proteomic approach to define the differences between (MDA-MB-231) and its osteotropic clone (MDA-231 BO) before and after treatment with zoledronic acid. We hypothesize that the osteotropic cells have properties that are more consistent with osteoclast-like cells. Our results indicate a concentration of 200 ?M ZA induced a strong cell death in 70-80% cells within 48 hr. Cells were then treated for 48 hr and the mitochondria fraction was extracted from both treated and non-treated cell lines. Extracted proteins were separated by SDS-PAGE and 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Finally differentially expressed proteins were identified using a MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometer.
2010-01-01T00:00:00ZOntogenetic changes in the skeletal muscle function of Zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae: identification of biochemical markers for slow and fast contractile behavior
http://hdl.handle.net/10211.3/118838
Ontogenetic changes in the skeletal muscle function of Zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae: identification of biochemical markers for slow and fast contractile behavior
Benjamin, Christina Joyce
Zebrafish is an important model species to study vertebrate development. One particularly interesting aspect of fish ontogeny, which zebrafish larvae exhibit, is the high tail beat frequency up to 10 times higher than that of adult fish. Larvae therefore require a different muscle fiber type than adult fish. This study identifies the changes in muscle protein composition that might underlie this change in muscle contraction frequency. This question is interesting because contraction frequencies above 80 Hz require the so-called superfast muscles, a muscle type so far only been identified in non-locomotory muscles not required to generate significant forces. Superfast muscles are known to differ from normal fast muscles in several proteins, including myosin heavy chain. In this study we will focus on myosin, the largest protein fraction of a muscle that constitutes 40- 50% of total muscle. This study identifies and validates a protocol for myosin protein extraction and identification of myosin isoforms. Fast myosin heavy chains (210 kD) were identified in hatchlings (not yet swimming actively) and in adult Zebrafish (tail beat frequency 10 Hz). In 6-d old larvae (swimming actively, tail beat frequency 100 Hz), we found an isoform (160kD) that was identified in cat masseter muscle, which is a muscle with superfast contraction characteristics. We identified isoforms by probing Western blots with primary antibody (MYH1/2/3) against myosin heavy chains. BCA and ImageJ analysis were performed to quantify the amount of total protein and the myosin content.
2011-01-01T00:00:00ZGrowth characteristics of Dunaliella primolecta and Botryococcus braunii in fruit industry wastewater and development of a protocol to generate transgeinic [s.i.c.] algae
http://hdl.handle.net/10211.3/118821
Growth characteristics of Dunaliella primolecta and Botryococcus braunii in fruit industry wastewater and development of a protocol to generate transgeinic [s.i.c.] algae
Sarvabhowman, Preethi
In the present study, we studied the growth characteristics of two species of green algae; Dunliella primolecta and Botryococcus braunii, in fruit industry wastewater and also studied the COD removal from wastewater by these species. We found that both the species of algae could grow better in 25% (v/v) wastewater reaching the stationary phase when compared to other concentrations of wastewater. However, Dunaliella primolecta was found to be growing faster than Botryococcus braunii, reaching a concentration of 8x106 cells/mL in 15 days. Also, it was found to remove 63% of COD from fruit industry wastewater obtained from Wawona Frozen Foods, CA. We also reported the first successful Agrobacterium tumefaciens method of transformation for the green algae Dunaliella primolecta using the binary vector pCAMBIA 1301 containing the genes coding for GUS (B-Glucuronidase) and hpt (hygromycin phospho- transferase). The developed transformation protocol would pave a way for easy manipulation of Dunaliella primolecta for the production of biofuels and other secondary metabolites.
2010-01-01T00:00:00Z