ARHI is a tumor suppressor gene inactive in up to 60% of breast, pancreatic and ovarian cancers. To test its role in sebaceous tumors, immunofluorescence, Western blots, and PCR were used to assay ARHI mRNA and protein presence in normal human sebaceous cells, and its absence in human sebaceous tumor cells. To test the role of Lef/TCF transcription factors on ARHI expression, the levels of ARHI mRNA in normal sebaceous, telogen stem cells, and tumor cells were compared with ARHI levels in a LEF/TCF knockdown line. The data indicated lower ARHI expression in the LEF/TCF knockdown cells, evidence of a possible relationship. The data support the role of ARHI in sebaceous tumor formation in tissues, but indicate no significant difference in ARHI mRNA or protein levels in cultured cells.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Scoppettuolo, Leia M.

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042308-183756

Advisor

• Adams, David S.

Year

• 2008

Sponsor

• UMass Medical School

Date created

• 2008-04-23

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biology & Biotechnology

Rights statement

• In Copyright