Jennifer Cain

Publication Date

1-1-2000

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Mitchell, John L. A.

Degree Name

B.S. (Bachelor of Science)

Legacy Department

Department of Biological Sciences

Abstract

Polyamines are essential for life and are associated with cell cycle and development. Excess polyamine production occurs during tumor formation and is one possible target for chemopreventative and chemotherapeutic treatment. One enzyme, ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), plays a key role in polyamine biosynthesis. Among other regulators, the protein antizyme (Az) limits polyamine levels in the cell. It binds ODC and renders it unable to produce polyamines. The mechanism by which ODC and Az interact is unknown and is explored in this study. It is known that ODC and Az have high affinity for one another, but the reason for the basal level of ODC activity that remains in excess Az in assays is unclear. Varying the temperature and coenzyme concentrations in an assay revealed that these factors successfully changed the level of ODC activity at which the two proteins ceased to bind. The persistence of ODC activity in excess Az under several assay conditions showed that the remaining activity is not a result of the methods by which the assay is prepared. The mechanism by which some ODC activity is allowed to remain in excess Az remains uncertain.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references.

Extent

13 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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