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Title
Atomic Force Microscopy Imaging of Chromatin in Cancerous and Non-Cancerous Esophageal Cells
Description
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to study structural differences in the chromatin of cancerous (CP-D) and non-cancerous (EPC2) cell lines. Chromatin samples were extracted using a salt fractionation protocol and subject to Mnase digestion for 2, 4, 8, and 16 minutes. Samples were then immobilized on APTES-functionalized mica sheets. Images were produced using the tapping mode capabilities of the AFM and structural differences between cell lines were quantified using image processing software. Vast differences in chromatin structure were observed between cancerous and non-cancerous cell lines and it was discovered that CP-D chromatin is present as scattered nucleosomes and nucleosome aggregates while EPC2 chromatin is present in intricate arrays. It was also observed that in both the CP-D and EPC2 cell lines, nucleosomes were more isolated and less apparent at longer Mnase digestion times. These findings lead to the conclusion that as the DNA becomes sufficiently digested, chromatin and nucleosomal arrays begin to deteriorate and lose their complex and elaborate structure.
Date Created
2019-05
Contributors
- Piper, Miles Jeffrey (Author)
- Ros, Robert (Thesis director)
- Lindsay, Stuart (Committee member)
- School of Molecular Sciences (Contributor)
- School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (Contributor)
- Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Topical Subject
Resource Type
Extent
13 pages
Language
eng
Copyright Statement
In Copyright
Primary Member of
Series
Academic Year 2018-2019
Handle
https://hdl.handle.net/2286/R.I.52621
Level of coding
minimal
Cataloging Standards
System Created
- 2019-04-18 12:00:27
System Modified
- 2021-08-11 04:09:57
- 3 years 2 months ago
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