Effect of Environmental Factors on the Secondary Structures and Activities of Proteins

Abstract

Cancer is considered the third leading cause of mortality in the United Arab Emirates. Many inflammatory diseases, including cancer, are linked to elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels such as superoxide radicals and hydrogen peroxide. However, the cause of this oxidative stress is still elusive and yet to be understood. In normal conditions, cells maintain cell homeostasis by catalyzing the reactive oxygen species using antioxidant enzymes such as catalase and superoxide dismutase. The oxidative stress in cancer cells suggests that antioxidants enzymes are not as active as in normal cells or the production of oxygen radicals is not as in normal cells. The goal of the study is to understand the cause of elevated levels of reactive oxygen species by studying the effect of the environmental factors of cancer on the activity and secondary structures of protein. To achieve the objectives of the study, several experiments have been performed using catalase, superoxide dismutase, cancer cell line and normal cell lines.

First, two experiments were performed to measure the catalase activity in different pH buffer solutions and with exposure to reactive oxygen species. Next, the same two experiments were performed to measure the superoxide dismutase activity in different pH buffer solutions and with exposure to reactive oxygen species. ELISA test was then performed on two different cell lines, in order to study the effect of cancer acidic environment and elevated levels of reactive oxygen species on cancer cells and normal cells Lastly, circular dichroism was use to measure the effect of the environmental factors of cancer on the secondary structure of the antioxidant enzyme catalase and superoxide dismutase.

Date of Award	20 Jul 2024
Original language	American English
Supervisor	Sung Mun Lee (Supervisor)