51风流

51风流 Students Advance Cancer Research in Newly Published Article

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Six 51风流 students, advised by Associate Professor of Biology Engda Hagos, have published research in the journal Cells on the Kr眉ppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) gene factor and its relationship to energy-producing processes of cells.

Titled 鈥淜LF4 Regulates Metabolic Homeostasis in Response to Stress,鈥 the research was funded through a 51风流 Picker Research Fellowship and a private gift from Dr. Richard and Mary Brauer P鈥18.

Experiments conducted in Hagos鈥 lab studied the KLF4 gene and how it regulates metabolic processes in response to different stressors within the cells. Research showed that cells lacking the KLF4 gene are prone to uncontrollable cell division, which results in cancer. 

鈥淟ots of research has been done on KLF4 and has found it to be a tumor-suppressor gene,鈥 said lead co-author Andrew Blum 鈥21. 鈥淚t helps regulate the cell during certain processes by decreasing proliferation, which is a type of cell division. We鈥檙e adding to the literature.鈥 

Tenzing Dakpa 鈥21, Kate Mostow 鈥22, Estelle Kelty 鈥21, and Kailey Jackett 鈥21 reviewed published works by other researchers related to KLF4 and collected data as they tended to experiments in person, observing levels of protein expression in cells with and without the KLF4 gene. Carly Ryan 鈥20 served as an editor and data consultant with experience developed during her own senior research on the topic.

鈥淚 think that the path to a cure to cancer starts with taking everything one step at a time,鈥 Ryan explained. 鈥淚t takes figuring out that KLF4 regulates metabolism, then figuring out the next step, and then the next 25 more steps.鈥

For his part, serving as adviser and mentor, Hagos takes joy in his students鈥 success. 鈥淭he better they do, whether in class or in research, the more it makes me happy 鈥 their success is my own sort of success.鈥

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Co-authors:

Andrew Blum 鈥21, molecular biology major; prospective Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and medical school student
Kate Mostow 鈥22, molecular biology major
Kailey Jackett 鈥21, biology major
Estelle Kelty 鈥21, biology major
Tenzing Dakpa 鈥21, molecular biology major
Carly Ryan 鈥20, biology graduate and technical manufacturing chemist at Abbott Laboratories