Degree Project in Molecular Biotechnology
Masters Programme in Molecular Biotechnology Engineering, Uppsala University School of Engineering
UPTEC X 15 018
Date of issue 2015-09Author
Tiolina Östergren
Title (English)
Identification of MYCN and SOX9 target genes and a study of drug treatment effects in medulloblastoma
Title (Swedish) Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant brain tumor affecting children. The
transcription factors MYCN and SOX9 are associated with initiation, maintenance and recurrence of MB and are also connected to more aggressive tumors. In this study, a ChIP was performed to isolate DNA from genes that are transcriptionally regulated by these proteins. Identification of these target genes will reveal new potential drug targets and help us better understand the functions of MYCN and SOX9. The ChIP was not fully optimized during this project and the target genes were not sent for sequencing and identified. To study the connection between SOX9 and
recurrence, cells with different levels of SOX9 were treated with drugs, after which cell viability was measured. No significant difference in resistance could be measured. Change in expression level of MYCN, SOX9 and other relevant genes after drug treatment was also studied. The results show an increase in SOX9 and HES1, suggesting that these genes are involved in tumor
recurrence.
Keywords
Medulloblastoma, MYCN, MYC, SOX9, HES1, ChIP, recurrence Supervisors
Fredrik Swartling, Vasil Savov, Holger Weishaupt
Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University
Scientific reviewer
Tobias Sjöblom
Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University
Project name Sponsors
Language
English Security
ISSN 1401-2138 Classification
Supplementary bibliographical information Pages
29
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