Theses and Dissertations

Date of Award

12-2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

First Advisor

Dr. Manish Tripathi

Second Advisor

Dr. Meena Jaggi

Third Advisor

Dr. Bilal Hafeez

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the primary cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and it is the third most common cancer diagnosed in adults in the United States according to the American Cancer Society. We have identified lncRNA UCA1, a poor prognosis marker in CRC, responsible for increased proliferation and upregulating key genes related to glucose metabolism. Recombinant cell lines were generated to overexpress and knockdown UCA1 to establish the phenotype and to investigate the properties endowed in metastasis. A vital aspect of the metastatic progression is when the cell survives detachment from the extracellular matrix. At 36 hours of anchorage-independent stimulation, we found an uptick in glucose consumption, lactate production, and an increase in the expression of metabolic markers compared to 0 hrs. The increase in expression of these markers indicates aerobic metabolic activity during anchorage-independent growth with UCA1 expression. This relationship needs to be further examined and could lead to understanding the increased morbidity associated with lncRNA UCA1 and CRC.

Comments

Copyright 2022 Sophia M. Leslie. All Rights Reserved.

https://go.openathens.net/redirector/utrgv.edu?url=https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/role-lncrna-uca1-colorectal-cancer-progression/docview/2802207716/se-2?accountid=7119

Available for download on Sunday, April 13, 2025

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