Abstract
Apoptosis, part of the everyday cell growth, essential for killing tumor cells, vital in organism's survival, kills pernicious cells, thus ridding the organism of mutations. The p53 gene is a tumor suppressor that is mutated in over half of all human tumor cells. When activated, it can stimulate DNA repair and apoptosis, making it crucial in the killing of tumor cells. Piperlongumine, vitamin C, and vitamin D have shown to increase p53 activity, thus increasing survival. Caenorhabdits elegans (C.elegans) underwent ultraviolet-C radiation, subjected to these reagents, and were counted daily in an eight day observation period for survival. Western blot analysis was used to compare the p53 gene activity. Similarly, Volvox carteri were observed for population after heat shock and the administration of the reagents. The results showed the combination of all three reagents led to the largest increase in p53 protein activity, lifespan in the nematodes, and population in the green algae. In C. elegans, the combination of vitamin C and D, statistically, led to the same increase in lifespan as piperlongumine alone. It was found that increasing reagent dosage induced a heighten population in Volvox carteri, while the control drastically decreased. These findings provide further evidence that there indeed exists a p53 gene in Volvox carteri.
Citation Format: Ashley M. Winters. The combined effects of piperlongumine, vitamin C, and vitamin D on Caenorhabditis elegans and Volvox carteri [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy: A New Chapter; December 1-4, 2014; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2015;3(10 Suppl):Abstract nr B59.
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