Nucleic Aptamer Selection Against FGF8

Selecting against fibroblast growth factor 8 (FGF-8) would be integral in current cancer research. FGF-8 is responsible for the rapid growth of cells and generally decreases as a person grows into adulthood. In cancerous cells, FGF-8 continues to overproduce proteins and continues the activation of growth of cells past the normal apoptosis. Selecting against FGF-8 allows the scientist to inhibit the protein that allows the uncontrollable growth of cancerous cells. Hormonal cancer cells show an increased level of FGF-8.
The aim of selecting against FGF-8 is to create an apatmer that inhibits this growth factor, thus inhibiting the growth of cancerous cells. An aptamer would tag the FGF8 and allow a scientist or doctor to inhibit the mechanism that is allowing this factor to illicit uninhibited growth. Inhibiting FGF-8 would allow for scientists to more specifically target proteins. The aptamer would have theraputic potential.
Specific Aim: Identify an aptamer that inhibits FGF-8.
Figure 1: FGF-8 protein binds to an FGFR and initiates gene expression.

FGF-8 is currently available in the lab.
References
Cook, Lindsey (2010) “RNA selection against fibroblast growth factor 8b: An alternative therapeutic for hormonal cancers”.

Dailey L, Ambrosetti D, Mansukhani A, et al. (2005) “Mechanisms underlying differential responses to FGF signaling”. Cytokine & Growth Factor Reviews 16 (2): 233-247

By: Zoe White

Link to proposal is here
Link to progress report is here