Date of Award
2015
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Natural Sciences
First Advisor
Walstrom, Katherine
Keywords
Isocitrate Dehydrogenase-1, C. elegans, Cancer, Caenorhabditis elegans, IDH1, Mutation
Area of Concentration
Natural Sciences
Abstract
Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH-1) is a key protein in metabolism in not only NADPH production but the citric acid cycle. IDH-1 also has a mutant version characterized in many human cancers, and this association is largely attributed to shifts in cancer metabolism. When the mutant IDH-1 is present alpha-ketogluterate production is largely supplanted by the production of R-2-Hydroxyglurate. This shift hinders NADPH production and affects chromatin regulation. This study set out to induce a comparable mutation in the C. elegans IDH-1 protein to study its kinetics in comparison to the wild type protein. The mutagenesis method involves PCR, and we found a number of ways to improve the PCR products yet never identified a mutant plasmid. This indicates a strong possibility of either a restriction enzyme inhibitor or problems with the competent cells.
Recommended Citation
Dodge, Casey, "Attempted Mutagenesis of Caenorhabditis elegans Isocitrate Dehydrogenase-1, a Homolog of a Protein Associated with Human Cancers" (2015). Theses & ETDs. 5011.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/5011