Globin genes expression patterns and regulation mechanisms in the prostate gland

• Grant number: 16/06543-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: January 01, 2017
• End date: June 30, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Cytology and Cell Biology
• Principal Investigator: Hernandes Faustino de Carvalho
• Grantee: Isabella Barbutti Gonçalves
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Human alpha (HBA) and beta-globin (HBB) genes are located in clusters in chromosomes 16 and 11, respectively, and are highly expressed in cells from the erythroid lineage. Recent work in our laboratory has identified globin expression in the rodent ventral prostate (mice and rats): newborns, castrated adults and mice fed with normolipidic lard-based diets. The latter presented variable but roughly stoichiometric Hba and Hbb expression. On the contrary, ventral prostate from control adults do not show globin expression, suggesting an inverse correlation between globin expression and cell differentiation. These interesting findings are in agreement with published proteomics data. Therefore, we aim to verify if globin genes regulation and expression in epithelial prostate cells are similar to the found during normal erythroid differentiation, and verify the existence of correlation between globin gene expression and tumor progression in humans, when cells become less differentiated. This project will concentrate on the study of HBA/Hba and HBB/Hbb transcriptional regulation in mice ventral prostate and human epithelial prostate-derived cell lines, in comparison with erythroid cells. Also, we will evaluate in vivo and in silico globin genes expression during prostate cancer progression and its possible role as an early tumor marker. By the end of this project, we hope to have identified novel aspects regarding prostate gene regulation underlined by androgenic regulation.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

GONÇALVES, Isabella Barbutti. Haemoglobin expression and gene regulation mechanisms in prostate cells. 2020. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Biologia Campinas, SP.