Date of Graduation
5-2015
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Degree Level
Undergraduate
Department
Biological Sciences
Advisor/Mentor
Shi, Wei Q.
Committee Member/Reader
Lee, Sun-Ok
Committee Member/Second Reader
Du, Yuchun
Committee Member/Third Reader
Funkhouser, Eric M.
Abstract
Ipomoeassin F is one member of a family of macromolecules isolated from the leaves of the morning glory flower, ipomoea squamosa, which has been used as a homeopathic cancer remedy for centuries (Zhu, Huang, Zheng, Zhu, & Yang, 2013). It has been proven to be highly cytotoxic to many cancer cell lines, but nothing is yet known of its mode of action in the cell (Cao, et al., 2007). To begin progress towards understanding the mode of action of ipomeoassin F, this study aimed to perform fluorescence imaging studies for the ultimate purpose of determining its cellular localization in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Attempts were made at both direct and indirect fluorescence imaging. To perform direct fluorescence imaging studies, two fluorescent dye probes known for their stability and ease of modification were synthesized: BODIPY and coumarin. The BODIPY synthesis was very challenging, and yield was very poor, averaging 0.46% yield. Both were subjected to SAR studies to evaluate their suitability for use in fluorescence imaging. Cytotoxicity assays revealed that neither dye probe can be used to study ipomoeassin F via direct fluorescence, because their addition to the ipomoeassin F molecule too severely inhibits its normal cytotoxic activity. To perform indirect fluorescence imaging studies, click chemistry was performed between a triazole coumarin fluorophore and a biorthogonal alkyne analog of ipomoeassin F to yield a fluorescent product. The reactions performed as part of this project were preliminary, and included a calibration titration, two model system reactions, and a study of the analog. These reactions elucidated conditions and suggestions that will be useful in future studies of ipomoeassin F.
Keywords
Cancer; Homepathic; Imaging studies
Citation
Oliver, M. G. (2015). Fluorescent cell imaging studies of antitumor natural macrocycle ipomoeassin F. Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/biscuht/8
