 Schari Ezell |
Home Institution: Tougaloo College
Major: Chemistry Expected Date of Graduation: May 2005 Mentor: Dr. Kristine Willett Organizations and Honors:
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ABSTRACT
Aromatase Expression During the Developmental Process
| Cytochrome P450s (CYPs) are physiologically important enzymes because of their biological oxidation and reduction reactions in vertebrates. CYP19, which is also known as aromatase, is of particular interest. Aromatase is responsible for the conversion of androgens, such as testosterone, into estrogen. However, exposure to various carcinogens has been linked to disruption of the steroidal homeostasis of estrogen. Research is presently being conducted on the effects of aromatase expression and, more specifically, at which age it is expressed during the developmental process. The experimental model for this particular research project is the Fundulus heteroclitus, a fish species that inhabits the North American Atlantic coastline. RNA was extracted from fish of six different age groups in an effort to discover the time at which the ovarian and brain form of aromatase is initially expressed. These PCR results will lay the foundation for further research surrounding the homeostatic importance of estrogen and the consequential effects of hormonal imbalances due to carcinogens such as benzo(a)pyrene. |