ABSTRACTS
2019 National McNair Scholars Conference at UCLA
Researcher: Emily Adofo
Presentation Title: Cancer Associated Protein Cortactin Expression in Chinese Hamster Ovarian Cells
Research Focus: Chemistry and Biochemistry
School: College of Saint Scholastica
Presentation Type: Poster Presentation
Cortactin is a protein has been observed as a key element in many invasive cancers including; breast cancer, melanoma, colorectal cancer, and glioblastoma. Cortactin is an important biomarker for aggressive cancers. Past research has focused on the post-translational modifications (PTMs), acetylation and phosphorylation of expressed cortactin in prokaryotic cells. Studies also show that cortacin is overexpressed in many prokaryotic cells altering cell migration, invasion and metastasis. The structural differences of cortactin expressed in eukaryotic cells is a blank canvas. In addition, previous research regarding the role of cortactin in cell migration has remained inconsistent. To gain a better understanding of cortactin it was expressed in eukaryotic cells. To our knowledge, we are the first to express cortactin in mammalian cells. To achieve this, the cortactin gene from bacterial cell p17501 was recombined with a eukaryotic cytomegalovirus promoter (PCMV). The DNA was purified from E.coli cells and amplified using Quiagen Plasmid Mini Kit. Primers were designed and the vector sequenced to confirm that the vector contained the cortactin gene. Chinese Ovarian Hamster (CHO) cells were transfected using lipofectamine. Cortactin produced by CHO cells was visualized on SDS-PAGE and the band observed was matching the reference value. Our current research focuses on gaining a better understanding of the diverse properties of cortactin when expressed in Chinese Ovarian Hamster cells. The expression of cortactin in mammalian cells enables our research to focus on studying the PTM, glycosylation to gain a better understanding of cortactin and its role in aggressive cancers.
Researcher: Alexis Edwards
Title: Effects of inhibition of adenylyl cyclase 1 on morphine tolerance and withdrawal in mice
Research Focus: Neuroscience
School: The College of St. Scholastica
Presentation Type: Poster Presentation
There are many physiological consequences of chronic opioid use, including opioid withdrawal and tolerance. Treatment options for withdrawal exist, however they have significant drawbacks. Accelerating doses of opioids puts people at risk for opioid tolerance and eventually opioid dependence. Activation of opioid receptors inhibit adenylyl cyclase (AC) under normal conditions. After chronic opioid exposure the inhibition of AC does not occur and AC activity is increased. Our hypothesis is that inhibition of AC found in the peripheral and central nervous system, through novel pharmaceutical strategies, will decrease morphine tolerance and withdrawal in mice. In C57Bl6 mice we will induce tolerance to morphine by systemic injection over the course of four days (10-40 mg/kg). We will measure mechanical and thermal withdrawal thresholds to assess analgesia to morphine. On the fifth day, the mice will be assessed for morphine withdrawal. To test the hypothesis that inhibiting AC will decrease morphine tolerance and withdrawal, we will administer systemic injection of a known AC1 inhibitor ST034307 (5mg/kg).
Researcher: Alexis N. Gagne
Presentation Title: Protein Docking of Indolyl/Indazoly (N1 Substituted) Quinolones (C6 and C8 Substituted) in Monocarboxylate Transporters (MCT1 and MCT4): A Computational-Aided Drug Discovery Study.
Research Focus: Computational Chemistry – Computer-Aided Drug Design
School: College of Saint Scholastica
Presentation Type: Poster Presentation
Drug discovery is a multimillion dollar industry, and the process of launching a new drug into the market can take up to decades. By using computational chemistry, the cost and time of this process can be cut down dramatically. This study is the first time that the College of Saint Scholastica (CSS) has implemented Computer-Aided Drug Design (CADD) in their institution. The current study has three goals: a) identify suitable protein docking programs, b) find systems to study and c) perform protein docking. The selected protein-docking tools are Autodock Vina, MGTools, and Visual Molecular Dynamics for manipulation. These codes were chosen because they were well documented, fast, reliable, user friendly, and free software. Autodock Vina, as a protein-docking algorithm, will allow us to predict the position and orientation of a drug molecule in the protein receptor. The drug-protein systems selected were analogues of Indolyl/Indazoly (N1 Substituted) Quinolones (C6 and C8 Substituted) interacting with Monocarboxylate Transporters (MCT1 and MCT4), these quinolone analogues were previously synthesized by Trygstad’s organic group at CSS. MCT membrane proteins transport glucose to the cells, and it is thought that cancer cells consume large amounts of sugars. Thus, blocking the MCTs with a strongly binding molecule can effectively kill the cancer cell. A systematic study of MCT receptors will allow the prediction of the most likely binding site, as well as the stronger binding analogue. It is the hope of the researchers that these findings contribute to the systematic design of anticancer drugs.
Researchers: Nya Gayluak
Presentation Title: Investigating the Anatomical basis of Myofascial trigger points in the Deltoid muscle
Research Focus: Myofascial Trigger Points
School: The College of St. Scholastica
Presentation Type: Poster Presentation
This study aimed to investigate the pathophysiology of Myofascial Trigger Points (MTP’s) and establish a correlation between clinically pre-defined MTP’s and nerve entry points in skeletal muscles. We focused specifically on the deltoid muscle, because of its importance in activities of daily living and quality of life. Our hypothesis suggests that if MTP’s are associated with the neuromuscular junction represented by the nerve entry points, then the entry points we identify of the axillary nerve in the deltoid muscle should match the MTPs as previously, clinically described. Establishing such a correlation informs the current standard of diagnosis, management and treatment of chronic pain syndromes associated with MTP’s. 12 human cadavers were dissected to reveal the axillary nerve and its branching patterns into the deltoid muscle. Nerve entry points in the anterior, medial and posterior fibers of the deltoid were identified and compared to the MTP’s. Our study found a significant correlation between the locations and numbers of nerve entry points of the axillary nerve in the deltoid muscle. These findings strongly suggest that MTP’s are associated with the neuromuscular junction represented by the nerve entry points in the muscle. This has been thought to be associated with dysfunctions in calcium metabolism at the histochemical level. Based upon our findings, we can deduce that the neuromuscular junction may hold answers to better understanding chronic pain associated with MTP’s, which is grounds for future studies. We believe this association has tremendous value in diagnosing and managing chronic pain syndromes associated with MTP’s.
Keywords: Myofascial Trigger Points, Deltoid muscle, Axillary nerve, Chronic pain.
Researcher: Adel Morey
Presentation Title: The Effects of Socioeconomic Status, Race, Culture and Support in Post- Secondary Education Aspirations and Success for Students
Research Focus: Sociology, Psychology
School: College of St. Scholastica
Presentation Type: Poster Presentation
In this country our underrepresented students are not being given equitable and equal opportunities when it comes to education and academic success. This correlates with postsecondary aspirations and success in college institutions. Socioeconomic status (SES) and race play a role in education as well as students’ support from family, teachers and counselors. The youth are categorized based off of what they look like or their family background. The students are tracked before they are given a chance. This allows teachers and counselors to expect less from different groups of students in turn hinders their academic potential. This study shows the differences that shape students’ postsecondary outlooks and aspirations. As well as the barriers, parental involvement, and academic support (lack thereof) from educational institutions that hinder or help academic outcomes and success for students. It is an ethnographic study, where the data that was collected was from Dr. Audrey Devine Eller’s (ADE) previous study.
Which consisted of high school students from the New Brunswick area in New Jersey. Students were interviewed junior year, senior year and had follow ups after high school. This study was done over a 5-year period. Different family culture and support come in different ways in which help or hinder a student’s motivation to be successful. Support from the educational institutions also help or hinder academic potential for the students. These are factors that correlate with the success or failure when it comes to postsecondary education.
Researcher: Vang Pa Chang
Presentation Title: Resilience and Emotional Intelligence in First-Generation College Students
Research Focus: resilience, emotional intelligence, first-generation students
School: The College of Saint Scholastica
Presentation Type: Poster Presentation
This literature review investigates the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and resilience in first-generation college students. Previous studies showed that emotional intelligence predicts resilience among students and students with higher resilience can more easily adapt and cope with academic stressors. This is vital for completion of a college degree along with continuing higher education for students who are limited by financial issues, experiences, knowledge and resources. Yet, very few research studies focus on the psychological development of students who are first-generation. This literature review comprises previous literature and studies to investigate the relationship between EI and resilience among first- generation college students and first-generation students who are planning to attend graduate school. In addition, the relationship between EI and resilience on stress is also examined in the literature. The literature suggests that fostering EI and resilience in first-generation college students as a tool for academic success can help students overcome barriers as well as influence colleges to develop intervention programs aim at promoting academic resilience and emotional intelligence. For future study at the College of Saint Scholastica, the hypothesis is that resilience and emotional intelligence are key factors in determining the academic success and well-being of first-generation college students.
Researcher: Mary Vue
Presentation Title: Purification of a plant lectin from kohlrabi/Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes and identification of binding specificity
Research Focus: Plant Lectin
School: College of Saint Scholastica
Presentation Type: Poster Presentation
Plant lectins are proteins that agglutinate cells. They are involved in cancer detection, cell toxicity, and cell growth inhibition. Some plant lectin discoveries include ConA (from jack bean), Lens culinaris agglutinin (from lentils), Ricin (from castor beans), and Wheat germ agglutinin (from wheat). Kohlrabi or Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes is a vegetable that has been associated with a trypsin inhibitor, antifungal peptides, and proteins that have potential anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant properties. To our knowledge, we are the first to observe lectin activity from kohlrabi. The protein was extracted from kohlrabi cabbage and leaves with Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS) pH 7.4.
Hemagglutination assay was used to detect lectin activity in the crude extraction using 2% (v/v) sheep erythrocytes in PBS. The lectin was purified using size exclusion chromatography Sephadex G-75.
Column fractions were tested for presence of protein by using a UV spectrophotometer at 280 nm and testing for presence of lectin activity using 2% (v/v) sheep erythrocytes. The molecular weight of the lectin was determined using SDS- PAGE Electrophoresis. Plant lectins bind specifically to distinctive carbohydrates; the lectin from kohlrabi may be useful in medical applications. In future research, the carbohydrate specificity of this new plant lectin will be identified so the application of this lectin can be further explored.
Researcher: Claudina Williams
Presentation Title: A Collectivistic Approach to Improving the Effectiveness of the Recycling Behavior
Research Focus: Environmental psychology
School: The College of St. Scholastica
Presentation Type: Poster Presentation
The American culture of environmentalism is embedded within the American ideology of individualism that results in individualized pro-environmental actions, such as recycling. Although recycling is a pro-environmental behavior that is demonstrated by many Americans, its effectiveness in managing waste remains low. The aim of this study is to examine the effectiveness of recycling when approached as a collectivistic responsibility. This study consists of 50 participants of The College of St. Scholastica who are at least 18 years of age. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two recycling groups: individualistic and collectivistic. The participants who are assigned to the individualistic group receive information that is commonly made available to the public regarding recycling; they represent the current social approach to recycling. The participants who are assigned to the collectivistic group are informed on recyclables and engaged in various interactive activities via social media and group events.
Throughout the study, participants complete several surveys aiming to identify their beliefs, attitudes, and recycling behavior. The predicted results are that the collectivistic group will show increased engagement with recycling and expand on other pro-environmental behaviors, such as limiting energy usage and using public transit.