Student Research Projects
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Department
Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences
Abstract
The soft-shell clam species Mya arenaria is a common model organism in leukemia research. Currently, the typical method for classifying leukemic from non-leukemic specimens is based on visualization of cell concentration and morphology through light microscopy. This approach is highly qualitative, which makes identification of pre-leukemic and semi-leukemic specimens difficult. One more quantitative approach uses flow cytometry to measure levels of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) expression. In certain human tissues, such as breast tissue, high ALDH expression is a marker for identifying cancer stem cells. The enzyme assay ALDEFLUOR® can actively measure aldehyde dehydrogenase expression in viable cells, but the effectiveness of certain protocol conditions is dependent upon the cell type. This project finds the ideal protocol conditions for the ALDEFLUOR® enzyme assay as an alternative method for classifying M. arenaria specimens. It also examines the advantages and disadvantages of both methods, and compares each of them for use in leukemia research.
Date of Publication or Presentation
Spring 2014
Project Type
Undergraduate Research Project
College or School
COLSA
First Advisor
Charles Walker
Recommended Citation
Norwood, Katherine F., "Investigations into the use of ALDEFLUOR® as an alternative method to classify leukemia in the soft-shell clam Mya arenaria." (2014). Student Research Projects. 18.
https://scholars.unh.edu/student_research/18
Included in
Biochemistry Commons, Laboratory and Basic Science Research Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Molecular Biology Commons