Exam Three from Study Guide

Why are regeneration biologists so focused on understanding gene expression?

the field involves understanding when and where certain genes are expressed or not expressed

important to understanding regeneration and could be used for treatment

genes used for regeneration in one organism could be targeted for regeneration therapies in humans

The authors propose that TREEs are capable of overcoming the spatial and temporal obstacles associated with gene therapy. Why are TREEs likely to overcome these obstacles?

TREEs direct genes expression in a spatial and temporal manner

will help make sure genes are only expressed when and where they need to be

What are two culture conditions that are often maintained in order to construct tissue-specific organoids?

extracellular matrix

Matrigel- a laminin and collagen-rich membrane from Engelbreath-Holm-Swarm sarcoma

What are some challenges to organoid use?

the structure is not the same as the original tissue

heterogeneity

variability

can have a short lifespan in culture

nutrient supply and waste removal

What are caspases (cysteine aspartyl proteases)? Be able to describe a link between a caspase and its downstream target protein during apoptosis.

proteases associated with cell death

precursors that cleave downstream targets during apoptosis

What are some target proteins of caspases?

lamin proteins

cytoskeletal proteins

ROCK1

ICAD

proteins involved in PtdSer exposure such as ATP11A/11C and XKR8

What is immune checkpoint blockade for cancer treatment?

a type of immunotherapy for cancer treatment

blocks the natural mechanisms that suppress T cell function, allowing the immune system to better attack cancer cells

some important molecules to block are CTLA4 and PD1

Describe CAR-T cell therapies for cancer treatment.

uses a patient’s own T cells and modifies them to better bind to and kill cancer cells

these cells are tumor specific and overcome difficulties expanding tumor specific T cells in culture

What is triple-negative breast cancer and why is it difficult to treat?

tumor that lacks estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and the HER2 protein

hormone therapy and therapies targeting the HER2 protein are common cancer treatments that are not effective for it, making it difficult to treat