ACI

College of Idaho Prospective Mentors

Name:

Institute:

Department:

Email:

Website:

Dr. Carolyn Dadabay

The College of Idaho

Chemistry

cdadabay@albertson.edu

Research:

My primary research interest is in the family of plant-derived compounds known as flavonoids. Dietary flavonoids, such as found in tea, chocolate, berries and brightly colored vegetables, act as both antioxidants and antiproliferative agents, and are associated with lowered susceptibility to heart disease and cancer. However their mechanism of action at the cellular level remains unclear. Preliminary evidence suggests that local sagebrush populations produce high levels and a wide variety of flavonoids. My interest is in characterizing the flavonoid production profiles of local sagebrush populations, and to identify unusual or novel flavonoid compounds, through analysis of plant extracts. Flavonoid profiles will be compared in different species, and in different plant tissues. Sagebrush-derived compounds will then be tested for a variety of activities that are related to beneficial health effects: antioxidant capacity in vitro and in cultured cells, antiproliferative effects on cultured tumor cells, involvement in cellular signaling pathways and inflammatory responses. Identification and characterization of sagebrush-derived flavonoids may aid in the development of these compounds as dietary supplements and/or therapeutic agents. This work will be carried out in collaboration with Dr. Don Mansfield of the Biology Department.

In collaboration with Dr. John Thurston of the Chemistry Department, the synthesis and in vivo activity of resorcinarenes (cyclic aromatic tetramers which have potential in anti-cancer therepy) will be analyzed.

Summer Project

1. Compare extracts containing flavonoids from local sagebrush species. Analyze flavonoid fraction by reverse phase HPLC and spectral analysis for preliminary identification and quantification of flavonoids present.

2. Characterized sagebrush-derived flavonoid fractions for antioxidant capacity. Antioxidant capacity would quantified in vitro, and in cultured cell lines.

3. Characterize sagebrush derived flavonoid fractions for anti-proliferative effects on HepG2 cultured human liver tumor cell line.

In collaboration with Dr. John Thurston:

4. Characterize the uptake and retention of resorcinarene compounds in cultured cell lines.

Name:

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Department:

Email:

Website:

Dr. Mark P. Gunderson

College of Idaho

Biology Department

mgunderson@albertson.edu http://www.albertson.edu/biology

Research:

Studying the impacts of environmental contaminants on living organisms using principles based in physiology, reproductive biology, pharmacology, ecology, wildlife biology, biochemistry and other related fields is the general area of my interests. My research program at the College of Idaho will focus on investigating the roles and modes of action that trace environmental contaminants, such as heavy metals and pesticides, play in altering normal cellular and physiological functions related to reproduction and development in vertebrates. In collaboration with Dr. Sara Heggland (C of I) we will use an in vitro cell line model to examine the interaction of heavy metals with sex steroid signaling pathways. Our main goal is to explore the interaction between estradiol and the heavy metal cadmium in bone-forming osteoblasts in order to better understand how cadmium contributes to the pathogenesis of osteoporosis.

Summer Project:

Investigate cadmium’s role as an endocrine disruptor in bone (collaboration with Dr. Sara Heggland; C of I)

Name:

Institute:

Department:

Email:

Website:

Dr. Sara Heggland

College of Idaho

Biology Department

sheggland@albertson.edu

Research:

The heavy metal cadmium, a widespread environmental contaminant and component in cigarettes, accumulates in the body and poses a threat to human health. Bone is a critical target site for cadmium and human exposure to cadmium is linked to bone diseases, including osteoporosis and osteopenia. In 2005, a CDC report listed cadmium as a toxin that merits monitoring. This report, combined with the escalating cost of healthcare for osteoporosis, emphasizes the importance of research to decipher the underlying mechanisms of cadmium-induced osteotoxicity. Despite its recognized importance as an environmental toxin, little is known about how cadmium directly impacts bone cells, in particular the bone-forming osteoblasts. Research from our laboratory indicates that cadmium exposure induces apoptosis, programmed cell death, in osteoblastic cells. Our overarching research goal is to identify the intracellular mechanisms involved in cadmium-induced osteoblast apoptosis, which in turn, may ultimately contribute to net bone loss. Collectively, a cadmium osteotoxicity in vitro model may help identify targets for treatment and prevention of osteoporosis, a major metabolic bone disease with an annual cost > 20 billion dollars.

Summer Project:

Students involved in this research will be exposed to a variety of cell biology techniques. Some techniques used in the research include cell culture, flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy, Western blot analysis, RT-PCR, real-time PCR, and cell proliferation assays.

1. Explore the protein kinase C signaling pathway in cadmium-induced osteoblast apoptosis.

2. Investigate cadmium’s role as an endocrine disruptor in bone (collaboration with Dr. Mark Gunderson; C of I).

3. Investigate whether lycopene, an antioxidant found in tomatoes, can protect against cadmium-induced osteotoxicity.

4. Study the role of the osteoblast in breast cancer metastasis to bone (collaboration with Dr. Cheryl Jorcyk; BSU)