Date Approved

2017

Date Posted

2017

Degree Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department or School

Chemistry

Committee Member

Deborah Heyl-Clegg, Ph.D., Chair

Committee Member

Hedeel Evans, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Jeffrey Guthrie, Ph. D.

Committee Member

Steven Backues, Ph. D.

Abstract

It has been previously shown that cysteine-deleted tachyplesin (CDT) and its many analogs display antibacterial effects. However, little has been said about its possible anticancer effects and which analogs serve as the best inhibitors of the growing cancer cells. This research focused on CDT and four of its analogs: All D-CDT, Reverse DCDT, Reverse CDT, and Serine-Control CDT. MTT assays against the A549 adenocarcinoma lung cancer cell line showed All D-CDT to be the most effective analog in preventing cancer cell growth. Hyaluronidase and apoptosis assays were performed to better understand the mechanism by which the All D-CDT is preventing cancer cell survival. From this data it was seen that the All D-CDT analog inhibits cancer cell growth via a hyaluronan interaction but it does not induce cellular apoptosis. This makes the analog of CDT a prospective treatment for cancer.

Included in

Chemistry Commons

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