Investigating Polyamines as Natural Regulators of Cholesterol and Vitamin D Metabolism
Help at the intersection: Understanding natural regulators of the enzyme CYP11A1.
Project description
Like a traffic stop, the P450 enzyme CYP11A1 sits at the intersection of two important pathways: the conversion of cholesterol into pregnenolone (a precursor for all of steroid production) and an alternative pathway for activation of vitamin D. In this project, students will seek to investigate how natural regulatory molecules called polyamines are able to achieve structural and functional changes in CYP11A1. This project will require students to learn skills like protein expression and purification, absorbance spectroscopy, chemical cross-linking, and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy.
Project outcome
This project will have an outcome of a research poster, presented at the end of the student's senior year, as well as a minimum of two presentations of data in the Estrada lab meeting. Other potential outcomes may include co-authorship on manuscripts that incorporate the student's data and participation at local research conferences.
Project details
| Length of commitment | Year-long (10-12 months) |
| Start time | Spring (January/February) |
| In-person, remote, or hybrid? | In-Person |
| Level of collaboration | Small group project (2-3 students) |
| Benefits | Potential Academic Credit (Through BCH498) |
| Who is eligible | Juniors |
Project mentor
D. Fernando Estrada
Associate Professor
Biochemistry
Phone: (716) 829-2767
Email: dfestrad@buffalo.edu
Start the project
- Email the project mentor using the contact information above to express your interest and get approval to work on the project. (Here are helpful tips on how to contact a project mentor.)
- After you receive approval from the mentor to start this project, click the button to start the digital badge. (Learn more about ELN's digital badge options.)
Preparation activities
Once you begin the digital badge series, you will have access to all the necessary activities and instructions. Your mentor has indicated they would like you to also complete the specific preparation activities below. Please reference this when you get to Step 2 of the Preparation Phase.
Preparation will consist of students reading two assigned research articles (uploaded), meeting with Dr. Estrada and a senior graduate student prior to the start of the project, and spending an appropriate amount of time (typically 2-3 weeks) shadowing a graduate student in the lab.
Keywords
jacobs school of medicine, biochemistry, protein, enzyme, structural biology