Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.Med.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 55-66). Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Virginia Commonwealth University, 2010. / Prepared for: Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology. Title from resource description page. Includes bibliographical references.

Blood vessel injury was found to release intracellular pools of protein D-aspartyl/L-isoaspartyl carboxyl methyltransferase (PIMT) into the extracellular milieu, where it became trapped. Trapped PIMT was able to utilize radiolabeled S-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet) introduced into the circulation to methylate blood vessel proteins containing altered aspartyl residues specifically at the site of injury. In vitro studies more fully characterized this endogenous PIMT activity in thoracic aorta and inferior vena cava. At least 50% of the PIMT activity released during injury, was resistant to non-ionic detergent extraction, suggesting that the enzyme activity can become trapped within or behind the extracellular matrix (ECM). Analysis of inferior vena cava, found that 90% of the altered aspartyl residues in blood vessels are inaccessible to methylation by intracellular PIMT under physiological conditions. Subfractionation of inferior vena cava on the basis of solubility found that at least 40% of the altered aspartyl containing proteins in blood vessels are insoluble in non-ionic detergent containing buffers and are highly resistant to extraction by protein denaturants. Analysis of peptides revealed that the majority of the altered aspartyl groups in blood vessels are located extracellularly. Digestion of these extracellular matrix proteins with cyanogen bromide (CNBr), followed by methylation with (PIMT), found that about 60% of the altered aspartyl residues in the ECM are solubilized by this treatment. The presence of hydroxyproline in amino acid hydrosolates of this fraction and acidic pH gel electrophoresis of methylated peptides, allowed the identification of collagen as the major PIMT substrate in the CNBr-soluble material. CNBr peptides derived from both type I and type III collagen were found to methylated. It is estimated that one centimeter of blood vessel contains on the order of 5 x 10����� altered aspartyl residues involving 1% to 5% of the total extracellular protein. / Graduation date: 1997

published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

Yuen, Ka Chun. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 160-185). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.I / 摘要 --- p.IV / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.VI / LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS --- p.VII / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.VIII / LIST OF TABLES --- p.XII / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.XIII / Chapter SECTION I: --- BACKGROUND --- p.1 / Chapter CHAPTER 1: --- Pseudomalignant nature of the placenta --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1 --- Overview --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2 --- "Proliferation, migration and invasion behaviour" --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3 --- Gene expression --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Angiogenic factors --- p.5 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Growth factors --- p.5 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Proto-oncogenes --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3.4 --- Tumour suppressor genes --- p.8 / Chapter CHAPTER 2: --- Epigenetics --- p.10 / Chapter 2.1 --- Overview --- p.10 / Chapter 2.2 --- DNA methylation in mammals --- p.11 / Chapter 2.3 --- Regulation of DNA methylation machinery --- p.12 / Chapter 2.4 --- Role of DNA methylation --- p.13 / Chapter 2.5 --- Aberrant DNA methylation --- p.16 / Chapter 2.6 --- DNA methylation in normal cells --- p.17 / Chapter 2.6.1 --- X-chromosome inactivation --- p.17 / Chapter 2.6.2 --- Genomic imprinting --- p.18 / Chapter 2.6.3 --- Cell-type-specific methylation --- p.19 / Chapter 2.6.4 --- Placental-specific methylation --- p.20 / Chapter 2.7 --- Aim of Thesis --- p.21 / Chapter SECTION II: --- MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY --- p.23 / Chapter CHAPTER 3: --- Materials and methods --- p.24 / Chapter 3.1 --- Preparation of samples --- p.24 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Collection of placental tissues --- p.24 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Preparation of blood cells --- p.25 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- Preparation of cell lines --- p.25 / Chapter 3.1.4 --- Treatment of JAR and JEG3 with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-CdR) and Trichostatin A (TSA) --- p.26 / Chapter 3.2 --- Nucleic acid extraction --- p.26 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- DNA extraction from tissue samples --- p.26 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- DNA extraction from blood cells --- p.29 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- RNA extraction from cell lines --- p.30 / Chapter 3.3 --- Methylation analysis --- p.31 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Principles of bisulfite modification --- p.31 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Bisulfite Conversion --- p.32 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Primer design for methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) --- p.33 / Chapter 3.3.5 --- Primer design for bisulfite sequencing --- p.34 / Chapter 3.3.6 --- Cloning and bisulfite genomic sequencing --- p.35 / Chapter 3.4 --- Quantitative measurements of nucleic acids --- p.39 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Principles of real-time quantitative PCR --- p.39 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Real-time quantitative MSP --- p.42 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Real-time reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR --- p.42 / Chapter 3.5 --- MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (MS) --- p.43 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- Principle of homogeneous MassEXTEND assay and MALDI-TOF MS --- p.43 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme digestion and homogeneous MassEXTEND assay for APC and H19 --- p.46 / Chapter SECTION III: --- A SEARCH FOR HYPERMETHYLATED TUMOUR SUPPRESSOR GENES IN THE HUMAN PLACENTA --- p.48 / Chapter CHAPTER 4: --- Screening on TSGs and non TSGs --- p.49 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.49 / Chapter 4.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.50 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Sample collection --- p.50 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Sample processing and DNA extraction --- p.50 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Experimental Design --- p.51 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results --- p.63 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Identification of hypermethylated TSGs by methylation-specific PCR screening --- p.63 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Validation of hypermethylated TSGs by bisulfite sequencing --- p.69 / Chapter 4.4 --- Discussion --- p.77 / Chapter CHAPTER 5: --- Methylation status of TSGs in different tissues --- p.80 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.80 / Chapter 5.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.81 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Sample collection --- p.81 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Sample processing and DNA extraction --- p.81 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Experimental design --- p.81 / Chapter 5.3 --- Results --- p.86 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Methylation patterns of TSGs in non-placental fetal tissues --- p.86 / Chapter 5.4 --- Discussion --- p.90 / Chapter SECTION IV: --- FUNCTIONAL IMPLICATION OF HYPERMETHYLATED TUMOUR SUPPRESSOR GENES IN THE PLACENTA --- p.94 / Chapter CHAPTER 6: --- Imprinting checking --- p.95 / Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.95 / Chapter 6.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.96 / Chapter 6.2.1 --- Sample collection --- p.96 / Chapter 6.2.2 --- Sample processing and DNA extraction --- p.97 / Chapter 6.2.3 --- Experimental design --- p.97 / Chapter 6.3 --- Results --- p.100 / Chapter 6.3.1 --- Imprinting checking of H19 by enzyme digestion on placental tissues --- p.100 / Chapter 6.3.2 --- Imprinting checking of　APC by enzyme digestion on placental tissues --- p.101 / Chapter CHAPTER 7: --- CORRELATION OF HYPERMETHYLATION AND GENE EXPRESSION --- p.107 / Chapter 7.1 --- Introduction --- p.107 / Chapter 7.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.108 / Chapter 7.2.1 --- Sample preparation and processing --- p.108 / Chapter 7.2.2 --- DNA and RNA extraction from cell lines --- p.108 / Chapter 7.2.3 --- Experimental design --- p.108 / Chapter 7.3 --- Results --- p.111 / Chapter 7.3.1 --- Methylation status of APC in choriocarcinoma cell lines --- p.111 / Chapter 7.3.2 --- Demethylation of APC in choriocarcinoma cell lines --- p.114 / Chapter 7.4 --- Discussion --- p.115 / Chapter SECTION V: --- CONSERVATION OF METHYLATION IN PLACENTA ACROSS DIFFERENT SPECIES --- p.118 / Chapter CHAPTER 8: --- Methylation analysis of hypermethylated TSG homologues in the placentas of the mouse and rhesus monkey --- p.119 / Chapter 8.1 --- Introduction --- p.119 / Chapter 8.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.120 / Chapter 8.2.1 --- Sample collection --- p.120 / Chapter 8.2.2 --- Sample processing and DNA extraction --- p.120 / Chapter 8.2.3 --- Experimental design --- p.120 / Chapter 8.3 --- Results --- p.124 / Chapter 8.3.1 --- Methylation status of TSGs in rhesus monkey and murine placental tissues --- p.124 / Chapter 8.4 --- Discussion --- p.136 / Chapter SECTION VI: --- CONCLUDING REMARKS --- p.138 / Chapter CHAPTER 9: --- Conclusion and future perspectives --- p.139 / Chapter 9.1 --- Pseudomalignant nature of placenta at the epigenetic level --- p.139 / Chapter 9.2 --- Functional implication of TSG hypermethylation --- p.140 / Chapter 9.3 --- Significance of hypermethylated TSGs in the placental evolution --- p.142 / Chapter 9.4 --- Clinical implication of TSG hypermethylation --- p.143 / Chapter 9.5 --- Future perspectives --- p.145 / APPENDIX I COMPLETE BISULFITE SEQUENCING DATA FOR HYPERMETHYLATED TSGS --- p.147 / APPENDIX II BISULFITE SEQUENCING DATA FOR PTEN --- p.156 / APPENDIX III BISULFITE SEQUENCING DATA OF LOCI NOT SHOWING HYPERMETHYLATION --- p.158 / REFERENCES --- p.160

L'auteur n'a pas fourni de résumé en français / L'auteur n'a pas fourni de résumé en anglais

Liu, Xin. / "December 2009." / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 119-126). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract in English --- p.i / Abstract in Chinese --- p.iv / Acknowledgements --- p.vi / List of abbreviations --- p.vii / List of Tables List of Figures --- p.X xii / List of Publications --- p.xiv / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Literature Review --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Gastric cancer epidemiology and etiology --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Molecular carcinogenesis --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3 --- Tumor suppressor gene and the modes of tumor suppressor gene inactivation --- p.4 / Chapter 1.4 --- DNA methylation and carcinogenesis --- p.8 / Chapter 1.5 --- Identification of tumor suppressor genes --- p.15 / Chapter 1.6 --- "Vitamins, vitamin B complex, thiamine transporters and diseases" --- p.18 / Chapter 1.7 --- "Glucose metabolism, glycolysis and carcinogenesis" --- p.22 / Chapter 1.8 --- Clinical implications of DNA methylation --- p.28 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Research Aim and Procedure --- p.31 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Materials and Methods --- p.35 / Chapter 3.1 --- Cell lines and human tissue samples --- p.35 / Chapter 3.2 --- Cell culture --- p.35 / Chapter 3.3 --- Total RNA extraction --- p.36 / Chapter 3.4 --- Genomic DNA extraction --- p.37 / Chapter 3.5 --- Reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) --- p.38 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- Reverse transcription (RT) --- p.38 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Semi-quantitative RT-PCR --- p.40 / Chapter 3.5.3 --- Real time RT-PCR --- p.42 / Chapter 3.6 --- General techniques --- p.44 / Chapter 3.6.1 --- DNA and RNA quantification --- p.44 / Chapter 3.6.2 --- Gel electrophoresis --- p.44 / Chapter 3.6.3 --- LB medium and LB plate preparation --- p.44 / Chapter 3.6.4 --- Plasmid DNA extraction --- p.45 / Chapter 3.6.4a --- Plasmid DNA mini extraction --- p.45 / Chapter 3.6.4b --- Plasmid DNA midi extraction --- p.46 / Chapter 3.6.5 --- DNA sequencing --- p.46 / Chapter 3.7 --- Methylation status analysis --- p.49 / Chapter 3.7.1 --- CpG island analysis --- p.49 / Chapter 3.7.2 --- Sodium bisulfite modification of DNA --- p.49 / Chapter 3.7.3 --- Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) --- p.50 / Chapter 3.7.4 --- Bisulfite genomic sequencing (BGS) --- p.53 / Chapter 3.8 --- Construction of expression plasmid DNA --- p.55 / Chapter 3.8.1 --- Construction of the SLC19A3-expressing vector --- p.55 / Chapter 3.8.2 --- Construction of the FBP1-expressing vector --- p.57 / Chapter 3.9 --- Functional analyses --- p.58 / Chapter 3.9.1 --- Monolayer colony formation assay --- p.58 / Chapter 3.9.2 --- Cancer cell growth curve analysis --- p.59 / Chapter 3.9.3 --- Lactate assay --- p.60 / Chapter 3.10 --- Statistical analysis --- p.61 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Results --- p.62 / Chapter 4.1 --- Identification of novel candidate tumor suppressor genes downregulated by DNA methylation --- p.62 / Chapter 4.2 --- Selection of genes for further study --- p.62 / Chapter 4.3 --- Identification of SLC19A3 as a novel candidate tumor suppressor gene in gastric cancer --- p.64 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Pharmacological restoration of SLC 19A3 downregulation in gastric cancer --- p.64 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Methylation analysis of SLC 19A3 promoter region --- p.66 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Functional analysis of SLC 19A3 in gastric cancer --- p.72 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Clinicopathologic characteristics of SLC 19A3 promoter methylation in gastric cancer --- p.75 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- Discussion --- p.78 / Chapter 4.4 --- Identification of FBP1 as a novel candidate tumor suppressor gene regulated by NF-kB in gastric cancer --- p.85 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Pharmacological restoration of FBP1 downregulation in gastric cancer --- p.85 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Methylation analysis of FBP 1 promoter region --- p.87 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Functional analysis of FBP 1 in gastric cancer --- p.93 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- Reduction of lactate generation under FBP1 expression --- p.95 / Chapter 4.4.5 --- Clinicopathologic characteristics of FBP 1 promoter methylation in gastric cancer --- p.98 / Chapter 4.4.6 --- NF-kB mediated FBP1 promoter hypermethylation in gastric cancer --- p.104 / Chapter 4.4.7 --- Discussion --- p.106 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- General discussion --- p.112 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Summary --- p.117 / Reference list --- p.119