A seminar talk titled:
"A novel approach to quantify DNA G-quadruplex structures in human cells"will be presented by Mr. S. M. Rakib-Uz-Zaman, Lecturer of Biotechnology, Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (MNS), BRACU at UB#21511 on Sunday, May 6, 2018 at 2:00pm as a part of the departmental monthly seminar program.
All are cordially invited to attend the seminar.
Abstract:
Guanine-rich single-stranded DNA can fold into four-stranded DNA structures called G-quadruplex or G4 DNA. This G4 DNA originates from self-stacking guanine quartets. After extensive evidence of DNA G4 structures formation in vitro, they have been also observed within the human cells. This G4 structures are associated with a number biological and cellular processes including telomere maintenance, DNA replication, transcription and translation, control of gene expression, as well as genetic and epigenetic instability. So, the recognition of these quadruplex structures is an important goal for the genomic and therapeutic biology. However, the successful identification and quantification G4 DNA in human cells is still a big challenge for the researchers. Here, we report the adaptation of slot blot technique as a novel method for the quantification of G4 DNA in genomic DNA isolated from human Hep2 cells. We also compare the specificity of two G4 specific antibodies (i.e. 1H6 and BG4) for the quantitative visualization of G4 DNA structures in human cells and also develop both the positive and negative controls for the slot blot. We were also able to successfully visualize the G4 DNA in the nuclei of human cells by immunofluorescence and high content analysis utilizing both of these antibodies. Individual cells were assigned to cell cycle for understanding the cell cycle dependence of formation of G4 structures using the HCA. Both the HCA and cell cycle synchronization provide us indications that the G4 DNA is modulated during cell cycle progression, likely being more abundant in the S phase.
Short Biography:
He has completed his M.Sc degree in Protein Science and Biotechnology under the faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine from University of Oulu, Finland and Leibniz Institute on Aging-Fritz Lipmann Institute, Germany with the Erasmus+ Scholarship. He was awarded the Erasmus+ Fellowship to conduct his research work at Leibniz Institute. Erasmus+ is the EU's flagship programme for education, training, youth and culture. During his post-gradute study, He completed his theoretical courses from University of Oulu, Finland and experimental parts from Leibniz Institute on Aging-FLI, Germany. The topic of his master’s thesis was “A Novel Method to Quantify DNA G-Quadruplex Structures in Human Cells”. He has graduated from the department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology from Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet with distinction, securing second position at the faculty of Life Sciences. He has extensive research experience in Cancer Biology and on different cell (human) culture techniques.