Date of Award
7-2020
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences
First Advisor
Dennis Peffley, PdH
Second Advisor
Harold Komiskey, PhD
Third Advisor
Xinyu Wang, PhD
Fourth Advisor
Richard White, PhD
Abstract
Prostate cancer is the abnormal growth and proliferation of previously normal cells of the prostate and has the second highest incidence in men worldwide. Physiologic manipulation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a highly conserved enzyme responsible for regulation of energy homeostasis during metabolic stress, is a potential treatment, especially for metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancers. AMPK is a known inhibitor of the enzyme mTOR, the final enzyme in the PKT/AKT/mTOR pathway responsible for cell growth and proliferation signaling. The hypothesis of this project is that activation of AMPK leads to increased mTOR-dependent mitophagy and subsequent autophagy in prostate cancer cells. The overall aim of this project is to establish a role between activated AMPK and mTOR dependent mitophagy and autophagy. Although preliminary data remains inconclusive, future research is promising.
Recommended Citation
Richardson, Brianne, "AMPK and mTOR Impose Dualistic Regulation of Mitophagy and Autophagy in In Vitro Models of Prostate Cancer" (2020). PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship. 200.
https://digitalcommons.pcom.edu/biomed/200