Page 25 - Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program Proceedings 2017-18

School of Science
Division of Life Science

their natural habitats. Elasmoid scales in teleosts can be regenerated upon physical removal. My study also aims to track
the temporal changes in morphology of the regenerating scales. With epifluorescence observations of vitally stained
zebrafish (Danio rerio) scales, I described the change in calcium hydroxyapatite localization over three weeks of
regeneration.

Role of RNA Helicases in MiRNA Biogenesis

Supervisor: NGUYEN Tuan Anh / LIFS
Student: MAN Ka Ho / BIOT Course: UROP1100, Fall

Different types of RNA plays different roles in cellular processes. Students studying in life science usually understand the
function of the common RNA like mRNA and tRNA in transcription and translation but there is a type of RNA which does
not code for any protein but plays important role in gene regulation—microRNA(miRNA), which is a small non-coding
RNA molecule containing about 22 nucleotides. The project will focus on the functions of RNA helicases in miRNA
biogenesis and enough amount of human RNA helicases sample is need. Therefore, the first duty for students is to clone,
express and purify human RNA helicases from human cells.

Characterization of Novel Cell Cycle Regulators in Cancer Cells

Supervisor: POON Randy Yat Choi / LIFS
Student: LAU Tsz Yin / BCB Course: UROP1000, Summer

Polyploidy is regarded as a hallmark in many human solid tumour types. Polyploid cancer cells help to explain cancer
stemness, heterogeneity within a tumour and the possible source for cancer to acquire resistance towards
chemo/radiotherapy-induced DNA damage. This study focused on using chemical perturbation to artificially induce
polyploidisation in previously established tetraploid Hep3B cell line, as well as characterising the tetraploid cell line. Data
revealed tetraploids were equally sensitive to chemical perturbation as diploids, including Nocodazole(Noc)- and
thymidine-induced cell cycle arrest and deoxycytidine-induced release. No major difference regarding the unperturbed
cell cycle, observed using live cell imaging, was found between diploids and tetraploids. This study provided integral
reference for further manipulation and polyploidisation of tetraploids.

Targeting Mitotic Regulators in Cancer Cells for Potential Treatment

Supervisor: POON Randy Yat Choi / LIFS
Student: TAM Man Yee / BCB Course: UROP1100, Summer

The progression of cell cycle is regulated by cyclin-dependent kinases(CDKs) and cyclins. CDK1 and CDK2 are two
important CDKs and their functions have not been fully elucidated yet. In this project, the relative ratio of CDK1 and
CDK2 in HeLa cells is determined through quantification using Western blotting to examine the functions and
relationship between CDK1 and CDK2. On the other hand, this project also aimed to prepare a CDK1 CDK2 double
knockout HeLa cell line through CRISPR/Cas9 system to observe its phenotype in the absence of both endogenous CDK1
and CDK2, which may shed light on functional differences between CDK1 and CDK2. It is found that the quantity of CDK2
is larger than that of CDK1, with a 1.44 : 1 ratio, suggesting that functional differences between CDK1 and CDK2 is not
due to its endogenous amount.

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