Characterizing Chromatin Conformation in Senescent Cells
Location
Poster #13
Department
Chemistry
Abstract
Cellular senescence is characterized by a cell that stops proliferating toward the end of its life cycle. As cells age, the accumulation of DNA damage may lead to the risk of many human pathologies such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. This project aims to characterize chromatin conformation as cells undergo senescence. We will expose human embryonic lung fibroblast (LF1) cells to etoposide, a topoisomerase II inhibitor that causes a break in double-stranded DNA. The cells are imaged using partial wave spectroscopic (PWS) microscopy every other day to monitor changes in chromatin conformation as senescence progresses. These changes are quantified using chromatin packing scaling (D), a statistical parameter that represents how a chain of chromatin is packed into three-dimensional space. By studying the chromatin conformation within senescent cells, we may better understand how DNA damage leads to a variety of diseases and develop better therapeutics to treat them.
Faculty Sponsor
Vadim Backman
Characterizing Chromatin Conformation in Senescent Cells
Poster #13
Cellular senescence is characterized by a cell that stops proliferating toward the end of its life cycle. As cells age, the accumulation of DNA damage may lead to the risk of many human pathologies such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. This project aims to characterize chromatin conformation as cells undergo senescence. We will expose human embryonic lung fibroblast (LF1) cells to etoposide, a topoisomerase II inhibitor that causes a break in double-stranded DNA. The cells are imaged using partial wave spectroscopic (PWS) microscopy every other day to monitor changes in chromatin conformation as senescence progresses. These changes are quantified using chromatin packing scaling (D), a statistical parameter that represents how a chain of chromatin is packed into three-dimensional space. By studying the chromatin conformation within senescent cells, we may better understand how DNA damage leads to a variety of diseases and develop better therapeutics to treat them.