Degree Type
Honors Capstone Project
Date of Submission
Spring 5-1-2012
Capstone Advisor
Francesca Pignoni, Ph.D.
Honors Reader
John Belote, Ph.D
Capstone Major
Biology
Capstone College
Arts and Science
Audio/Visual Component
no
Capstone Prize Winner
no
Won Capstone Funding
yes
Honors Categories
Sciences and Engineering
Subject Categories
Biology | Genetics | Immunology and Infectious Disease
Abstract
Cancer is a complex and multigenic disease, which is typically initiated by genetic mutations in tumor suppressor genes that regulate homeostatic mechanisms within cells. Oncogenic promoter mutations, like those involved in signal transduction pathways, also have the potential to induce cancer in an otherwise healthy organism. Transformation is highly dependent upon mutations to both tumor suppressor and oncogenes, as neither mutation is exclusive in its ability to generate malignant tumors. In the model organism, Drosophila melanogaster, I have generated metastatic cancer through the genetic effect of overactive Raf signaling, in conjugation with silencing selected tumor suppressor genes using RNA interference. Metastasis, the uncontrollable migration of cancer to non-adjacent areas within an organism, was analyzed in vivo, using Green Fluorescent Protein as an indicator for the presence of mutant tissue. Scribble (scrib) and Discs large (Dlg), two genes involved in cell polarity, demonstrated the highest incidence of metastatic cancer when silenced using RNAi. This novel preliminary screen exhibits the influential role of Raf signaling and cell polarity genes in generating metastatic cancer.
Recommended Citation
Cole, Amanda, "Signaling Pathways and Genetic Interactions That Lead to Metastatic Cancer in Drosophila melanogaster" (2012). Honors Capstone Projects - All. 137.
https://surface.syr.edu/honors_capstone/137
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
