Mechanism Determination of the Effects of Pancratistatin on Cancerous Mitochondrial Membranes

Pancratistatin (PST) has been shown to selectively eliminate human cancer cells, but has not been used extensively in clinical trials due to its low availability in nature. Recently, different forms of PST have been synthesized and have demonstrated anti-cancer activity. These synthesized PST molecules have been tested on prostate, pancreatic, osteosarcoma and colorectal cancer cells. However, the mechanism in which PST actually eliminated cancer cells is unknown. The goal of this research project is to understand how PST operates as an anti-cancer agent in order to heighten its potential. In order to determine this mechanism, scattering techniques such as small angle neutron scattering and small angle X-ray scattering. These techniques can extract structural information in regards to how PST interacts with cancerous cells, more specifically, how PST interacts with the cancerous cell membrane. Also, molecular dynamics studies will be used to simulate the effects of PST on cancerous cell membranes. Molecular dynamics is simply a computer simulation method that allows the movements of molecules to be studied. To start the research project, the molecular dynamics study will be used to get a general idea of how PST should operate on cancerous cells. “TO BE CONT’D”

Faculty Supervisor:

Drew Marquardt

Student:

Partner:

Max-Planck-Institut für Kolloid- und Grenzflächenforschung

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology; Life Sciences (not health); Pharmaceuticals

University:

University of Windsor

Program: