Miranda Brun, B.Sc.,  Graduate Student

                           

Research Project: Malignant gliomas are the most common type of human adult brain tumour, and comprise grades III and IV astrocytomas. Our lab has found that brain fatty-acid binding protein (B-FABP) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) are co-expressed in a subset of malignant glioma cell lines. This is of note because B-FABP is a marker of radial glial cells (a neuronal precursor cell type), whereas GFAP is an intermediate filament protein specifically expressed in astrocytes (a differentiated glial cell type). Co-expression of these two genes in malignant glioma cells suggests that they may be regulated by the same transcription factors. Previous work from our laboratory has demonstrated that B-FABP and GFAP transcription in malignant glioma is regulated by Nuclear Factor I (NFI). NFI is a transcription factor family which consists of NFI-A, NFI-B, NFI-C and NFI-X. These transcription factors can act as both activators and repressors. Both the B-FABP and GFAP genes have three NFI binding sites upstream of their respective transcription start sites. We have shown that different members of the NFI family bind with different affinities to these NFI binding sites. My research focuses on determining how specific NFIs regulate the expression of the B-FABP and GFAP genes in malignant glioma. As well, I am studying additional mechanisms of B-FABP regulation in malignant glioma. Techniques: RNA isolation, qRT-PCR, confocal microscopy, immunoprecipitation, western blot analysis, DNase I footprintings

Presentations:

Awards:
 Department of Oncology endowed studentship
Provost Doctoral Entrance Award