Homework
This person offered a contradicting view to Boveri’s hypothesis
Von Hansemann
What is a point mutation?
A mutation in a single nucleotide
What is the role of the mitochondria?
Energy generation through oxidative phosphorylation
Normal cells perform what kind of respiration?
Aerobic
Most of the cellular pyruvate is converted into what, rather than mitochondria?
Lactose
Who suggested the nuclear gene theory of cancer and in what year
Boveri, 1914
What is apoptosis?
Programmed cell death
What is the shape of the mitochondrial DNA?
Circular
Activation of which pathway assists in the reprogramming of metabolic synthesis?
"Bonus points " for the gene.
PI3 Kinase/Akt , PTEN
What is the Warburg effect?
“modified cellular metabolism based on aerobic fermentation found in cancer cells, which tend to favor anabolic glycolysis rather than the oxidative phosphorylation pathway”
What was Boveri’s Hypothesis and what is the history behind his theory?
Theodor Boveri suggested that cancer could arise from defects in the segregation of chromosomes during cell division.Boveri’s hypothesis on the role of chromosomes in the origin of malignancy was based on his observations of chromosome behavior in nematodes and sea urchins
What is Somatic Evolution?
Individual cells are intrinsic to maximize their own fitness by faster growth and proliferation.
How is mitochondrial DNA inherited?
Maternally inherited
Cancer reprograms the synthesis of what systems? (three possible answers, only one required)
1) Nucleotides
2) Lipids
3) Proteins
Briefly explain the ketogenic diet
A low carb high fat diet
How does the Nuclear gene theory of cancer relate to somatic mutations?
The nuclear gene theory of cancer suggests that cancer could arise from defects in the segregation of chromosomes during cell division. In many tumor tissues, there are extra chromosomes, missing chromosomes or broken chromosomes. These observations were extended to somatic mutations within individual genes such as tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes.
What is one of the six hallmarks of cancer?
1) sustaining proliferative signaling
2) evading growth suppressors
3) activating invasion and metastasis
4) enabling replicative immortality
5) inducing angiogenesis
6) resisting cell death
What is heteroplasmy in relation to the mitochondria?
Coexistence of different mtDNA in a single cell
Cancerous cells uptake which amino acid more relative to regular cells?
glutamine, as a nitrogen and carbon supplement
Why is the ketogenic diet effective for losing weight?
The ketogenic diet is a diet with low carbs and high fats which puts the body in a metabolic state called ketosis that breaks down fatty acids.
What was one problem with the nuclear gene theory of cancer? What was one piece of evidence?
One problem regarding the somatic nuclear gene theory came from the nuclear/cytoplasmic transfer experiments that looked at tumorigenic and non-tumorigenic cells. These researchers showed that tumorigenicity is suppressed when the cytoplasm from non-tumorigenic cells that contained normal mitochondria was combined with nuclei from tumor cells.
Name one evolutionary reason for disease vulnerability applied to cancer.
Maximum reproduction at the cost of health (breast and prostate cancer)
Trade-offs among different diseases (cancer vs aging)
Co-evolution with pathogens (microbiota and colon cancer)
Mismatch with the modern environment (UV radiation and skin cancer)
How does the frequency of highly-pathogenic mtDNA change as humans age?
They rise in frequency
How does the chemotherapy drug 5-fluorouracil work?
Interrupts DNA synthesis.
How? Fluorouracil is introduced intravenously. What are the potential side effects? Discuss.
STAMP is a human mitochondrial DNA sequencing method. What does STAMP stand for?
Sequencing by Targeted Amplification using Multiplex Probes