Determining the Binding of Phycocyanin to the LNCaP Prostate Cancer Cells by Fluorescence Microscopy
Abstract
Phycocyanin (C-PC) is a natural pigment found in blue-green algae known as Spirulina. Since it has antiinflammatory properties, it was speculated that it might also be effective in treating cancers. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to see whether C-PC would bind to the receptors on the cell membrane of cancer cells or penetrate the cell. Furthermore, the study was conducted to see whether the C-PC was able to bind to the membrane receptors with high or low affinity. For our binding and uptake experiments, LNCaP cells were used. After incubating with C-PC, the cells underwent multiple washes to see whether the binding was strong or transient. It was initially predicted that C-PC would bind to receptors on the cell membrane and as a result would not be washed away easily. The fluorescence imaging results of the experiment showed that C-PC could bind to the cell membrane and not to the intracellular receptors. Secondly, the results also indicated that C-PC did not bind to these receptors with high affinity because, as the cells underwent more washes less fluorescence was observed since unbound C-PC was washed away. Thus, the results suggest that C-PC can stimulate cellular response through binding with membraneassociated receptors. However, the binding appears to be of low affinity and the identity of the receptors is yet to be determined (This research was supported by the Royal Dames of Cancer Research, Inc., Ft. Lauderdale).
Faculty Sponsors
Mir Saleem, M.D., Appu Rathinavelu, Ph.D.
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-10-2015 1:00 PM
End Date
4-10-2015 5:30 PM
Determining the Binding of Phycocyanin to the LNCaP Prostate Cancer Cells by Fluorescence Microscopy
Alvin Sherman Library
Phycocyanin (C-PC) is a natural pigment found in blue-green algae known as Spirulina. Since it has antiinflammatory properties, it was speculated that it might also be effective in treating cancers. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to see whether C-PC would bind to the receptors on the cell membrane of cancer cells or penetrate the cell. Furthermore, the study was conducted to see whether the C-PC was able to bind to the membrane receptors with high or low affinity. For our binding and uptake experiments, LNCaP cells were used. After incubating with C-PC, the cells underwent multiple washes to see whether the binding was strong or transient. It was initially predicted that C-PC would bind to receptors on the cell membrane and as a result would not be washed away easily. The fluorescence imaging results of the experiment showed that C-PC could bind to the cell membrane and not to the intracellular receptors. Secondly, the results also indicated that C-PC did not bind to these receptors with high affinity because, as the cells underwent more washes less fluorescence was observed since unbound C-PC was washed away. Thus, the results suggest that C-PC can stimulate cellular response through binding with membraneassociated receptors. However, the binding appears to be of low affinity and the identity of the receptors is yet to be determined (This research was supported by the Royal Dames of Cancer Research, Inc., Ft. Lauderdale).
