BOSTON UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
DIVISION OF GRADUATE MEDICAL SCIENCES CANDIDATE
Thesis
RETINOIC ACID REGULATION OF LIMB REGENERATION
IN AMBYSTOMA MEXICANUM AND OTHER REGENERATES
by
ANDREW JUNGSOO KIM
B.A., Vassar College, 2013
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree of
Master of Science
2017
© 2016 by ANDREW JUNGSOO KIM All rights reserved
Approved by
First Reader Elizabeth Whitney, Ph.D./M.S.T.P. Assistant Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology
Second Reader Louis Toth, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology
DEDICATION
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
RETINOIC ACID REGULATION OF LIMB REGENERATION
IN AMBYSTOMA MEXICANUM
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Investigations into mediators of RA signaling led to the discovery of a cell surface molecule known as Prod 1 (da Silva, Gates, & Brockes, 2002). Prod1is upregulated in response to increases in RA signaling and is particularly important as it allows a critical signal transduction event to occur that results in necessary changes in cellular identity within the blastema (da Silva et al., 2002). There are other targets of RA signaling, which have been identified in recent years. It is the goal of this thesis to survey these other gene targets and to explore the various ways in which RA signaling governs the process of limb regeneration in organisms like A. mexicanum. Additionally, this thesis will address the practicality of understanding the physiological and biochemical mechanisms of regeneration and the state of current experimental projects aimed at utilizing this knowledge for medical …show more content…
Wolfram Goessling, MD/PhD
Brigham & Women’s Hospital | Division of Genetics | Boston, MA
August 2013 – July 2015
Thesis Student, Laboratory of Dr. David Jemiolo, PhD
Vassar College | Department of Biology | Poughkeepsie, NY
September 2011 – May 2013
Research Assistant, Laboratory of Dr. Albert Lai, MD/PhD David Geffen School of Medicine| Department of Neurology | Los Angeles, CA June 2011 – August 2011 & June 2012 – August 2012
Research Assistant, Laboratory of Dr. Bill Straus, PhD
Vassar College | Department of Biology | Poughkeepsie, NY
February 2011 – May 2011
PUBLICATIONS
1. Liu, L.Y., Alexa, K., Cortes, M., Schatzman-Bone, S., Kim, A.J., Mukhopadhyay, B., Cinar, R., Kunos, G., North, T.E. & Goessling, W. (2016). Cannabinoid receptor signaling regulates liver development and metabolism. Development, 143:
The earliest beginnings of anatomy could be traced back to the Egyptians in 1600 B.C.E., when early examinations of sacrificial victims were taking place. From this time, scholars have found the earliest medical document, known as the Edwin Smith Papyrus, in which it described early anatomical observations made by the Egyptians, most likely due to their knowledge gained from mummification. The papyrus displayed organs such as the bladder, uterus, kidneys, liver, spleen, heart, and blood vessels.
Alcohol and marijuana use are common in adolescents. Studies have shown that 1 to 2 years of chronic marijuana use and 20 drinks per month show abnormal brain structure (Squeglia, Jacobs, & Tapert). Drugs or alcohol will make can c...
Only about 30 of the chemicals in marijuana have been studied extensively for their psychoactive effects. Of these delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is known to be the most psychoactive chemical. This chemical is converted into over 60 other psychoactive metabolites by the liver (Carroll 1993). These chemical reactions, however, have either proved insignificant or not enough research has been conducted to prove their importance. Researchers have been mostly concerned with the interaction of THC in the humanbody.
The human body produces naturally occurring cannabinoids. The cannabinoids are lipophilic. Delta-8 and Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) have been found to produce most of the psychoactive effects of marijuana (Carter et al., 2003). Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol appears to be the most abundant cannabinoid and the main source of cannabis' impact. Cannabidiol is
Cannabis is the substance originating from the plant Cannabis sativa, which can be found in regions all over the world (Solowij, 13). The plant itself contains more than 60 cannabinoid compounds, but the primary psychoactive compound is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (Gaoni & Mechoulam, 1964). Howlett and Colleagues found that cannabinoids inhibit the enzyme that synthesizes cyclic AMP in cultured nerve cells. As many receptors relay their signals to the cell interior by changing cellular cyclic AMP, this evidence suggests that cannabinoids were not just dissolving nonspecifically in membranes, but rather acting through their own receptors (Howlett et al., ...
Schwartz, Richard H. "Marijuana: A Decade And A Half Later, Still A Crude Drug With Underappreciated Toxicity." Pediatrics 109.2 (2002): 284. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 29 Mar. 2014.
In 2002, a group of Australian researchers published a paper entitled the "Effect of different protocols of caffeine intake on metabolism and endurance performance". Caffeine use during sporting events has become much more popular and has widely studied. The purpose of the research was to examine the work increasing (ergogenic) effects of differing regiments of caffeine on metabolism and performance while simulating the typical nutritional preparation an athlete would do for a race. The study also sought to examine the effect of timing of caffeine intake, comparing results when caffeine was given before an event (precaf) to results from caffeine given during an event (durcaf). In addition, the researchers wanted to understand the practice of endurance athletes drinking defizzed Coca-Cola towards the end of a race. It was widely observed that many triathletes and marathoners feel they derive a boost from consuming Coca-Cola in the final stages of an event as a replacement to sports drinks.
Metabolism is extremely altered during the transition period. The prepartum is marked by an accentuated fetus growth (Bauman and Bruce Currie, 1980) and the onset of lactation; however, the postpartum is marked by an increase in milk production over time and deficit on the intake of nutrients. This situation causes a negative balance of nutrients, when the intake of nutrients does not meet the requirements of the animal; more specifically about energy, it is well-known that transition cows undergo negative energy balance (NEB), and it is easily characterized by body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS) loss. Bertics et al., 1992, and Hayirli et al., 2002, observed that DMI is affected during the prepartum period, showing a decrease of about 30% on the last couple weeks before parturition. After parturition, DMI increases to support mainly the demands for lactation but it is still not enough to meet the animal demands (NRC, 2001). DMI is directly related to milk yield and strategies have been developed to maximize intake in order to increase milk production, this shows its importance by the fact of an increase of about 1 kg on milk production at peak of lactation reflects about 200 kg of extra milk on the current lactation. Providing quality feed and maximizing DMI during the transition period is of high importance in minimizing NEB and its detrimental effects consequently improving milk production. Metabolic demands are increased to support lactation, and homeorhetic adaptations occur to partition nutrients to the mammary gland. A good example it is the glucose metabolism, an important metabolite used as main fuel for cells and also transformed in lactose by the mammary gland, which is affected in order of trying to meet th...
...eveloping parts, the frontal cortex, is responsible for planning, judgment, decision-making and personality. Teenagers also have to deal with the immaturity of their endocannabinoid system. This system is accountable for the psychological mechanisms that respond to the active drug in marijuana, THC. Krista Lisdahl, PhD, the director of the Brain Imaging and Neuropsychological Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, states, “That system (endocannabinoid) is important for cognition, neurodevelopment, stress response and emotional control, and it helps to modulate other major neurotransmitter systems” (Lisdahl). Frequent exposure to marijuana can “dial down cellular activity in the endocannabinoid system… That sets the stage for why adolescents may be more sensitive to the effects of repeated marijuana exposure, from a neuroscience perspective." (Lisdahl)
Anatomy is a study of the structure or internal workings of something and physiology is the branch of biology that deals with the normal functions of living organisms and their parts. A cosmetologist practice beautifying the face, hair and skin of their clients and a nail tech purpose is to take care of both finger and toenails.
Zein, N. N., & Edwards, K. (2009). The Cleveland Clinic guide to liver disorders. New York: Kaplan Pub.
Degenhardt, L, & Hall, W.D. (2008). The Adverse Effects of Cannabinoids: Implication for use of Medical Marijuana. Canadian Medical Association, 178,1-2.
Exploring the role of stem cells in cutaneous wound healing: Katherine Lau, Ralf Paus, Stefan Tiede.
The history of anatomy and physiology dates back to ancient Egyptian times when humans were mummified after death and bodies would be stripped of their internal organs during the embalming process. It was not until much later when Hippocrates II, known as the father of medicine, was the first to write about human anatomy. Shortly after that, the Alexandrian Medical School was established, where human dissection was allowed for the first time, which promoted research and new discoveries in the field. From there, many other influential researchers came up with theories regarding the cardiovascular and nervous systems, etc; however, the missing links in some of the earlier theories was found with the discovery of the microscope, which changed the focus of research and led to many advancements in the field.
A number of organs have the intrinsic ability to regenerate, a distinctive feature that varies among organisms. Organ regeneration is a process not fully yet understood however when its underlyning mechanism are unreveled, it holds tremendous therapeutic potential for humans. [28]