Date Completed: 2/6/08
Faculty Name: Rosa Serra
UAB Department: Cell Biology
UAB School: Medicine
Campus Address: MCLM 660
Campus Zip: 0005
Telephone: 934-0842
Email Address: rserra@uab.edu
Fax: 975-5648
Research Program Area: Tumor Biology
Project Title: Role of Wnt5a in mammary development and cancer
Project Status: Already up-and-running
Proposed Start Date: Negotiable
Proposed End Date: Negotiable
Number of Weeks of Internship: Negotiable
Number of Interns: 1
Other faculty, staff, or graduate students who may help supervise intern: Kevin Roarty; Sarah Baxley
Expected Number of Work Hours Per Week: Negotiable
Expected Work Schedule for Intern: NOT very flexible, intern MUST be at work on certain days and times
Category of Research: Laboratory Research; Animal Research
Cancer Research: Breast
Project Description: Wnt5a is a member of the Wingless-related/MMTV-integration family of secreted growth factors, which are involved in a wide range of cellular processes. Wnt signaling can be broadly divided into two categories (1) the canonical, b-catenin-dependent pathway and (2) the non-canonical b-catenin-independent pathway. Canonical, b-catenin dependent Wnt signaling is required to maintain the stem cell populations in various tissues including the breast and increased or inappropriate canonical signaling is associated with the formation of breast tumors. In contrast, Wnt5a is a non-canonical signaling Wnt. Loss of Wnt5a is associated with early relapse of invasive breast cancer, increased metastasis, and poor survival. Very little is known about how Wnt5a acts as a tumor suppressor. It has been suggested that Wnt5a can antagonize canonical Wnt signaling in several developmental biology systems. The goal of this pilot proposal is to begin to test the hypothesis that Wnt5a acts as a tumor supressor in the mammary gland by antagonizing canonical signaling and limiting the population of mammary stem cells that can act as targets for various carcinogens. To test this hypothesis, the stem cell population in control and Wnt5a-null mammary tissue will be compared. First the western blot technique will be used to measure the level of stem cell markers in control and Wnt5a mutant glands. Next, the stem cell populations will be quantified through flow cytometry. Mammary stem cells are an important target of various carcinogens. Stem cells represent a subpopulation of cells within the tumor that can propagate indefinitely and are highly tumorigenic. Current therapies can kill the bulk of a tumor but do not target tumor stem cells thereby leading to recurrence. Combining conventional therapies with those that target stem cells may effectively eliminate both tumor bulk and the tumor stem cells that may lead to recurrence.
Intern's Anticipated Duties:
Duty 1: Isolate cells from mice
Duty 2: Perform Western blot analysis of proteins in the mouse cells
Duty 3: Perform flow cytometry on cells isolated from the mice
Preceptor will provide intern with access to the following: office or desk space; computer and printer; laboratory work bench space; equipment needed to complete project; supplies needed to complete project
Likelihood of authoring publications: Possible
Background, education, experience, or expertise preferred: Animal Research; Cell Biology; Basic Knowledge of Lab Skills; Genetics; Just the willingness to learn (most important)
This faculty member has been a CaRES Preceptor for two summers.
Intern 1: Anjali Kumbla