University of Michigan-Flint

Faculty Name:  Julius Militante

Department:  Biology

Campus Address:  264 MSB

Email:  jmilita@umflint.edu

Phone:  810-762-3360

Project Description:  Cancer as a deadly disease cannot be fully explained by mutations or changes in the actual DNA sequence of the genes that control the growth and development of calls.  Epigenetics involves cellular mechanisms that are stable enough in nature that epigenetic traits can pass from one generation to another, e.g.,DNA methylation.  This may also explain the stable changes in the cell that lead to cancer in that, changes in the methylation state of the gene nucleotides may result in grave derangements of cellular function, even while the DNA sequence itself may remain undisturbed.  Cancer becomes truly deadly when the state of metastasis occurs, i.e., the cancer cells develop the ability to invade adjacent normal tissue and thus throughout the body.  Data from experiments by the Co-PI of this project have shown that metastasis of cancer cells in culture can by induced by decreases in oxygen (hypoxia) and by increases in temperature (hyperthermia).  This response is associated with increases in the levels of stress-responsive proteins called proprotein convertases (PCs).  The objective of this study is to characterize changes in the gene methylation state of one of these PC proteins called PACE4.  Cells will be grown in culture and subjected to both hypoxic and hyperthermic stress, and the changes in DNA methylation will be measured using epigenetic technique now widely in use, the methylation specific PCR and bisulfite DNA sequencing.  The data gathered will help in understanding the stable and persistent nature of the cellular changes associated with metastasis.

Semesters Desired:  Fall 2011 AND Winter 2012

GSRA Position Description:  The graduate student will establish the cell culture system that is the experimental model for this project.  The student will also perform all the molecular biology experiments that will measure the DNA methylation state of the promoter region of the PACE4 genes, and analyze the data gathered.  The data will serve as the basis for the research thesis requirement for the MS degree.

Specific Day/Time Requirements:  None identified

Special Requirements:  The student must have his/her Bachelor's degree and must be a thesis Master's student in Biology.

Graduate Students in These Programs May Apply:  Candidate in mind