Date Completed: 2/13/08
Faculty Name: Hongju Wu
UAB Department: Division of Human Gene Therapy
UAB School: Medicine
Campus Address: BMR II 552
Telephone: 934-9910
Email Address: hongjuwu@uab.edu
Research Program Area: Experimental Therapeutics
Project Title: Evaluating the tumorigenic potential of Akt1 overexpression in primary pancreatic islet cells
Project Status: Already up-and-running
Proposed Start Date: June 2
Proposed End Date: August 29
Number of Weeks of Internship: 12
Number of Interns: 1
Expected Number of Work Hours Per Week: 37.5 hours
Expected Work Schedule for Intern: Flexible, intern can largely set his or her own schedule
Category of Research: Laboratory Research
Cancer Research: Pancreas
Project Description: The serine/threonine protein kinase B, Akt1 (also called PKBalpha), is a key player in the PI3 kinase signaling pathway, which is activated in response to growth factors or insulin. As the direct downstream target of PI3 kinase, Akt1 is essential for the control of cell cycle progression and cell survival in normal cells. Upregulation of active Akt1 has been demonstrated in a variety of tumor cells, arguing for a role of Akt1 activation in tumor development. Previous studies and our own data suggest that activation of Akt1 promotes pancreatic islet cell survival, thus holds therapeutic potential as a treatment strategy for type 1 diabetes, in which the patients' pancreatic islet cells are largely destroyed by autoimmunity. However, one unsolved safety issue is whether activation of Akt1 in pancreatic islet cells would cause tumor formation. This CaRES summer project is designed to investigate this issue. We have constructed several adenoviral vectors that deliver a constitutively active Akt1 and control genes into pancreatic islet cells. The summer intern will employ these vectors to deliver the genes of interest into pancreatic islet cells, characterize their effects on the cellular functions, and analyze their potential in mediating tumorigenesis in the primary islet cells.
Intern's Anticipated Duties:
Duty 1: Preparing reagents
Duty 2: Tissue culture
Duty 3: Cellular and biochemical assays
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 need to complete project
Likelihood of authoring publications: Very Likely
Background, education, experience, or expertise preferred: Basic Knowledge of Lab Skills
This faculty member has been a CaRES Preceptor for one summer.
Intern 1: Leslie Perry