Date of Award

8-7-2018

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biology

First Advisor

Ritu Aneja

Second Advisor

Vincent Rehder

Third Advisor

Liana Artinian

Abstract

The ability of cancer cells to synthesize and store lipids in the form of lipid droplets (LDs) gives them a proliferative advantage over normal cells. Here, we elucidate the effect of monoethanolamine (Etn) on the lipid metabolism of LD-rich prostate carcinoma (PC3) cells. Etn is a ubiquitous molecule that serves as a phospholipid precursor and has been shown to have anticancer activity, although its mechanism of action is not fully understood. PC3 cells were treated with Etn and evaluated with a combination of biochemical and cell biology techniques. Treatment with Etn caused a decrease in cytosolic LD abundance induced by Ca2+-stimulated lipolysis. Our study effectively implicates the disruption of lipid metabolism as a contributor to Etn-induced cell death. This finding opens new avenues for the development of LD-targeted anticancer therapy.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.57709/12538625

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