• Home
• Application
• Projects
• Previous Programs
  • 2006
    • Program Schedule
    • Events Schedule
    • Participants/Project Abstracts
  • 2007
    • Program Schedule
    • Events Schedule
    • Participants/Project Abstracts
• Links
  • Department of Chemistry
  • NFS REU
  • Analytical Sciences Digital Library
  • ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry

Participants/Project Abstracts

Summer 2007 Bioanalytical Science REU Participants

APPLICATIONS OF LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY-MASS SPECTROMETRY FOR BIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
Rachel L. Dyer and Yinsheng Wang
Department of Chemistry, University of California – Riverside, UCR 92521 and St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN 55057

Abstract
High mobility group (HMG) proteins are low molecular weight, chromosomal proteins found to be highly expressed in several types of cancerous tissue and directly correlated to the metastatic potential of certain tumors. HMG proteins possess the abilities to regulate a variety of intracellular processes ranging from cell growth and chromatin remodeling to apoptosis.Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of HMG proteins are thought to alter the protein’s binding ability to DNA and thereby influence cellular processes. Identification of these PTMs is necessary to characterize their influence on HMG proteins and to serve as potential targets for pharmaceutical therapies. In this study, HMG proteins were extracted from primary and metastatic Wistar-Melanoma cells and Escherichia coli  cells using 5% HClO₄ and purified by RP-HPLC using a C4 column and a 5-30% CH₃CN gradient. HMG protein levels from WM cells and HMG A1b from E. coli were low for analysis.  We were able to isolate sufficient recombinant HMGA1a protein from E. coli cells.

The formation of senile plaques in the progressive neurodegenerative disorder, Alzheimer’s disease has been associated with the deposition of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides. These peptides have been implicated in oxidative DNA damage through their ability to facilitate redox reactions and generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). The neurotoxicity of Aβ has been shown to be dependent upon copper(II), a demonstrated mediator of Fenton reactions.  2’-Deoxyguanosine (dG) was treated with Fenton-type reagents CuCl₂ and ascorbate in the presence of Aβ peptide(1-16). LC-MS/MS analysis revealed that the formation of 8-oxo-2’-deoxyguanosine is markedly enhanced in the treated sample than control sample.

« Back to Participants/Project Abstracts Main Page