Inhibition of Cancer Cell Growth by Activation of the PP1 Phosphatase

Document Type

Article

Abstract

The research I performed with support from the Eugene M Lang Foundation was the culmination of 2 years of work in the area of cancer research performed under Dr. Krucher's supervision. We are interested in how cells divide, and how the process goes awry in the development of cancer. My focus was to elucidate the mechanism by which a "cancer gene", Rb, gets activated. Our work involved several techniques utilitized in Cell and Molecular Biology such as cell culture, western blotting, immunoprecipitation and enzyme assays. Our results were that we determined at least one function of a newly identified protein, and its role in cell division control. The work I performed serves as the basis for future work of Dr. Krucher and her students in the development of a novel way to stop cancer cells from growing. I learned an enormous amount in the research lab including cell and molecular biology techniques, experimental design, interpretation of results, and completion of a research project through oral presentation and publication. My experience at Pace allowed me to acquire the opportunity to participate in the sumer research program at Albert Einstein School of Medicine and has only strengthened my career goal of pursuing a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and/or Cell and Molecular Biology.

Information about the Student Author

Class of 2003, Major: Biochemistry

Dissemination of Results

At the "Cancer Genetics and Tumor Suppressor Genes" meeting held at Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. in August 2002, I gave a poster presentation describing this work, entitled, "PNUTS (Phosphatase Nuclear Targeting Subunit) inhibits PP1 activity toward the retinoblastoma protein, RB" The results of my research project entitled, "PNUTS(phosphatase nuclear targeting subunit) inhibits retinoblastoma-directed PP1 activity" were published in the journal, Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 297 (2002) 463-467. In Fall 2003, I entered a Ph.D. graduate program in Biochemistry/Molecular Biology at Albert Einstein School of Medicine. I am enormously grateful to my mentor, Dr. Krucher, for all that she has taught me. I am also appreciative of the support provided by Pace University's Eugene Lang Presidential Grant for Student Research.

Faculty Mentor

Nancy A. Krucher, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biology

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