Novel Comet Assay Identifies Preliminary DNA Damage Prior to Cell Apoptosis in Mouse Model of RAGE Over-expression

Authors

Steven Knapp, Brigham Young University
Paul Reynolds, Brigham Young University

Keywords

novel comet assay, DNA damage, cell apoptosis, mouse model of RAGE

College

Life Sciences

Department

Physiology and Developmental Biology

Abstract

The goal of this project was to characterize the predisposing susceptibility of mice that overexpress receptors for advanced gylcation end products (RAGE) to apoptosis (cell death) and autophagy. Work has already been done to characterize this mouse model as pro-apoptotic; this new project will allow us to identify powerful markers that track DNA damage prior to cell death. RAGE is found in the lungs and aids in the transitioning of cell types (Reynolds P et Al., 2011). The expression of RAGE increases during instances of disease including COPD, diabetes, and lung cancer (Celli BR et Al., 2004, Wu L et Al., 2011). Conditional RAGE overexpression in lungs of adult mice elicits apoptosis and causes airspace enlargement resulting in increased inflammation (Stogsdill et Al., 2013). Overexpression of RAGE through its signaling pathway is known to lead to apoptosis, however the precise timing and threshold before a cell reaches cell death is not known.

Recommended Citation

Knapp, Steven and Reynolds, Paul (2015) "Novel Comet Assay Identifies Preliminary DNA Damage Prior to Cell Apoptosis in Mouse Model of RAGE Over-expression," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2015: Iss. 1, Article 160.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2015/iss1/160