Long Term Membrane Potential (Vmem) Modulation and Cellular Senescence.
Choi, Young Jun.
2015
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Abstract:
Endogenous bioelectrical signaling is a powerful system that controls various cell
functions such as regeneration, proliferation and differentiation. This project
specifically aimed to study the connection between modulation of membrane voltage and
cell senescence. Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells of different passage numbers grown in
depolarized/hyperpolarized conditions were tested in ... read moreparallel to ascertain differences
in varying phenotypes. Cell senescence characteristics were quantified by cumulative
population doubling, changes in growth rate, attrition of telomere length and
accumulation of tumor suppressor proteins P53, P21 and P16, which are often used as
measures for the quantification of senescence. The P53 protein pathway plays a pivotal
role in regulating cell growth and apoptosis and is widely considered one of the most
powerful tumor suppressor genes. The p21 pathway is called a cyclin-dependent kinase
inhibitor that controls progression at G1 and S phases of the cell cycle. The p21
protein is a known mediator of cell cycle checkpoint regulation and DNA damage response.
The p16 retinoblastoma pathway works to inhibit cyclin-dependent kinases leading to G1
cell cycle arrest through the retinoblastoma (Rb) protein. In addition, the premature
aging disease Hutchinson Gilford Progeria syndrome was used as a model to better
understand the connection between membrane voltage characteristics and cellular
senescence. Experiments were conducted to measure how the Progeria syndrome may alter
normal biophysical activity.
Thesis (M.S.)--Tufts University, 2015.
Submitted to the Dept. of Biomedical Engineering.
Advisor: David Kaplan.
Committee: Hyunmin Yi, and Qiaobing Xu.
Keyword: Biomedical engineering.read less - ID:
- cc08hs67z
- Component ID:
- tufts:21389
- To Cite:
- TARC Citation Guide EndNote
