Date of Award
8-2004
Level of Access Assigned by Author
Campus-Only Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Biochemistry
Advisor
Rebecca J. Van Beneden
Second Committee Member
Dorothy E. Croall
Third Committee Member
Keith W. Hutchinson
Abstract
Environmental exposure to pollutants has been implicated in gonadal tumor formation in Maine softshell clams (Mya armaria). These germinomas have a prevalence as high as 40% in some populations with potential reproductive consequences. Investigations to determine the etiology and mechanisms involved in clam tumorigenesis have been based on a hypothesis of dioxin-induced disease progression. An assessment of changes in gene expression in response to dioxin exposure revealed the upregulation of a mRNA (Mya armaria E3; &E3) with significant sequence homology to E6AP, a HECT (homologous to E6AP carboxy terminus) E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase. E6AP is responsible for the abnormal degradation of the tumor suppressor p53
Recommended Citation
Olberding, Kristen Elizabeth, "An Investigation into the Mechanisms involved in Clam Gonadal Tumorigenisis: Evaluation of an Interaction Between a HECT E3 Ubiquitin-Proten Ligase and the Tumor Suppressor p53" (2004). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 710.
https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/etd/710