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Department of Chemistry
Chemistry Seminar
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April 17, 2008 |
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Mr. Steve Seedhouse
Stem Cells Properties and Potential
Abstract: Stem cells are pluripotent cells which have the potential to differentiate into any specialized cell for an organism. The abilities to both maintain undifferentiated stem cell lines, as well as induce differentiation into a desired cell type are imperative for exploiting the power of stem cells in clinical applications. Stem cells can potentially unlock cures for ailments such as failing organs, paralysis, and Parkinson’s disease among others Outlined in this talk, are the important findings of an investigation into the chromatin structure of undifferentiated embryonic stem cells. In particular, two methylation sites on the H3 histone (Lys4 and Lys27) in the chromatin structure either hide or expose genes which mostly encode for transcription factors. Therefore these methylation sites control the gene expression in the undifferentiated stem cell. Chromatin Immunoprecipitation and DNA microarrays, as well as PCR were used to isolate and amplify the DNA sequences impacted by these methylation sites. It was determined that the two methylation sites form overlapping patterns termed “bivalent domains”. These domains typically hide or express transcription factor genes. These domains are resolved upon differentiation.
Mr. Geoffrey Schweikhard
Pyrimidine Synthesis and Use in Anti-Tumor Therapeutics
Abstract: Pyrimidines have been investigated for their biological properties as well as their potential use as target specific anti-tumor agents in the fight against cancer. Several synthetic pathways have been developed for the formation of pyrimidines and for the addition of substituent groups to pyrimidines. Two pathways, a Biginelli Synthesis and a Microwave Irradiation synthesis are discussed further in this presentation. From the production of these pathways, anti-tumor agents such as Gleevec can be produced. Gleevec is a tyrosine kinase specific inhibitor that is being used today in order to fight gastrointestinal stromal tumors. These tumors arise from the Philadelphia Chromosome mutation. We show, in this presentation, how Gleevec inhibits this chromosomal mutation from producing further tumors and cancer cells and how Gleevec reduces the size of tumors by up to 70% of its original size.
