Abstract
Gene expression patterns present as a result of a typical yeast diet (YEPD), as well as table sugar (sucrose) and four sugar substitutes Splenda (sucralose-based), Truvia (stevia-based), Equal (aspartamebased), and Sweet N’ Low (saccharin-based) at varying concentrations (low, medium and high) were determined. The sugar and sugar substitutes were administered and examined at extremely high (340 tsp/100 pounds), typically high (34 tsp/100 pounds), and low (10 tsp/100 pounds) concentrations, according to recently published literature based on the diet of typical American teenagers. Experimental data in the 1970s demonstrated that saccharin had a link to bladder cancer in laboratory rats, making it particularly interesting to investigate the possible effect of saccharin on gene expression in the model organism, yeast. Possible connections between saccharin exposure at various concentrations and gene expression of 16 genes belonging to a total of six different functional group categories (cell cycle control, digestion, transcription, ion channel, kinase, and molecular chaperone) were examined and compared to gene expression patterns found for these genes in yeast exposed to low, medium, and high concentrations of the other sugar-related food additives. For each treatment yeast RNA was extracted, quantified and qualitated using UV spectrophotometry, then cDNA was prepared from the extracted mRNA. PCR was then used to target the 16 particular genes of interest in the cDNA. PCR products were visualized using gel electrophoresis and the resulting gene expression profile for each gene in each experimental treatment (including the typical YEPD, control diet) was determined.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Emily Schmitt
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-12-2013 1:00 PM
End Date
4-12-2013 5:30 PM
The Potential Effects of Various Concentrations of Saccharin Compared to Sucralose, Stevia, Aspartame, Sugar, and a Typical Diet on Gene Expression in Yeast
Alvin Sherman Library
Gene expression patterns present as a result of a typical yeast diet (YEPD), as well as table sugar (sucrose) and four sugar substitutes Splenda (sucralose-based), Truvia (stevia-based), Equal (aspartamebased), and Sweet N’ Low (saccharin-based) at varying concentrations (low, medium and high) were determined. The sugar and sugar substitutes were administered and examined at extremely high (340 tsp/100 pounds), typically high (34 tsp/100 pounds), and low (10 tsp/100 pounds) concentrations, according to recently published literature based on the diet of typical American teenagers. Experimental data in the 1970s demonstrated that saccharin had a link to bladder cancer in laboratory rats, making it particularly interesting to investigate the possible effect of saccharin on gene expression in the model organism, yeast. Possible connections between saccharin exposure at various concentrations and gene expression of 16 genes belonging to a total of six different functional group categories (cell cycle control, digestion, transcription, ion channel, kinase, and molecular chaperone) were examined and compared to gene expression patterns found for these genes in yeast exposed to low, medium, and high concentrations of the other sugar-related food additives. For each treatment yeast RNA was extracted, quantified and qualitated using UV spectrophotometry, then cDNA was prepared from the extracted mRNA. PCR was then used to target the 16 particular genes of interest in the cDNA. PCR products were visualized using gel electrophoresis and the resulting gene expression profile for each gene in each experimental treatment (including the typical YEPD, control diet) was determined.
