School of Science Division of Life Science 27 Potential Cancer Drug Identification and Characterization Supervisor: LIANG Chun / LIFS Student: ZENG Crystal Ziwei / BTGBM Course: UROP 1100, Spring The DNA replication-initiation process is tightly regulated by the functioning of DNA replication-initiation proteins (DRIPs) in cells, ensuring controlled cell division. However, when this regulation fail and uncontrolled proliferation occurs, tumor cells can form, leading to cancer and affecting human health. Hence, proteins involved in the DNA replication-initiation process may serve as targets for cancer therapy by inhibiting tumor cell proliferation. The project will utilize two immortalized cell line – the cancer cell line HeLa and normal cell line RPE1, to evaluate the efficacy of two candidate drugs for inhibiting growth in cancer cells and in therapeutic use by targeting blockage of the mini-chromosome complex (MCM), potentially leading to the development of a novel cancer therapeutic. Quantitative, Strain-Specific Mapping of Bacterial Communities in Microbiomes Supervisor: LIAO Yi / LIFS Student: LEE Jinho / BIOT Course: UROP 1100, Spring UROP 2100, Summer This project investigates microbe-host interactions in Drosophila melanogaster, focusing on hutH and SPH93 roles in sleep fragmentation (SF) and enhanced fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for Acinetobacter junii detection. E. coli DH5α plasmids expressing hutH and SPH93, verified by Sanger sequencing, induced SF and unexpectedly extended lifespan in Drosophila. A. junii hutH knockout faced antibiotic resistance, prompting chloramphenicol use; transformations showed no knock-out colonies. YFP-excited FISH improved A. junii detection, with growth adjustments for A. baumannii and A. ursingii. Future steps include increasing linear DNA to 1 µg, exploring apramycin, and using CRISPR-Cas9 for knockouts. Genome Editing by CRISPR Supervisor: LIU Zhen / LIFS Student: JIA Elena Minghua / BCB-IRE Course: UROP 2100, Fall UROP 3100, Spring Ciliopathies are a group of genetic disorders caused by defects in the structure or function of cilia, leading to a wide range of clinical manifestations, including respiratory, renal, and reproductive abnormalities. Despite significant advances, the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying ciliopathies remain incompletely understood. This study employs CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to investigate the roles of specific genes concerning ciliopathies, particularly those involved with the respiratory system. By creating knockout models, we aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying these disorders. Our findings provide insights into the genetic basis of ciliary function and offer potential targets for therapeutic development in ciliopathies.
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