19th Annual Student Research Conference
Science
Development of human cancer cells with Let-7 microRNA genes
Melvin E. Omodon
Dr. Scot Hammond (University of North Carolina Chapel Hill), Dr. Stephanie Fore, and Dr. Anton Weisstein, Faculty Mentors
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of RNAs found in organisms ranging from nematodes to plants to humans that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression. Let-7 miRNA have been shown to play a role in development and is disregulated in cancer cells. Preliminary data suggest that, contrary to expectation, expression of primary transcript miRNA does not correlate with expression of mature miRNA. The objective of this study is to develop human cancer cell lines with Let-7 miRNA genes to study proteins involved in secondary regulation of these molecules. Plasmids containing miRNA targets and reporter proteins were constructed. E. coli cells were transformed with plasmids constructs and screened with antibiotics. Viruses were transfected with plasmid containing Let-7 miRNA genes and used to infect human cancer cells. These cells are being used to study proteins involved in the secondary regulation of Let-7 miRNA
Keywords: Genetics, MicroRNA, Post-transcriptional, RNA interference, Gene Silencing, Hela Cells, Transfection
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 52-3
Location: VH 1408
Time: 3:15