course material

1. Health sciences and medicine Molecular Techniques in Cancer Research
Health sciences and medicine Molecular Techniques in Cancer Research Project
descriptionthere are four questions, each question 625 words:(1) Cancer is largely driven
by the de-regulation of protein kinase cascades and kinases are both drug targets and
biomarkers of cancer. In a genetic screen you identify a protein tyrosine phosphatase as a
tumour suppressor. Describe approaches to identify possible targets of the phosphatase
within the phosphoproteome. Give the general work-flow and emphasize the important
aspects of the experimental design. Discuss the relative advantages and disadvantages of
the strategies you consider useful (20 marks). What resources are available that would
allow you to sort quickly through the data to identify potentially important targets of the
phosphatase (5 marks)?(2) From your analysis you identify a protein “ X” of unknown
function. However, you note that analysis of a wide range of tumours show it to be down-
regulated. What methods could be used to characterize experimentally the “ interactome”
of protein X (i.e. proteins that interact with X)? Include a description of the approaches that
you would use to substantiate and verify your findings. As above, emphasize the important
aspects of the experimental design within a general description of the work-flow. Compare
and contrast the approaches you propose, discussing their merits and disadvantages. Also,
avoid any unnecessary direct repetition of any technique/methodology you have already
discussed in part (1) above (25 marks).(3) One protein “ Y” that interacts with “ X” is
always identified using different screening approaches. It shows homology with zinc
dependent proteases and your preliminary cell biology experiments with a GFP (green
fluorescent protein) fusion protein (Y-GFP) demonstrate localization on the cell surface.
What role do you suspect this protein to have in tumorigenesis? Describe experimental
strategies to test your hypothesis, with an appraisal of each on its ability to substantiate
your hypothesis (25 marks).(4) In your answers above you would have given consideration
to various “ omic” (e.g. proteomic, transcriptomic, interactomic) approaches to
characterizing biological processes that, in the research laboratory, have led to the
identification of many proteins with potential roles in carcinogenesis. Describe and critique
antibody-based techniques that could be implemented in personalized cancer therapeutic
regimes (25 Marks).Maximum 2500 words for the complete answer (questions 1-4). In all
cases you should justify clearly your response and cite relevant material where appropriate.
Citations (20 max; not included in the word count) should not be a substitute for including

2. key information in your answers; they should indicate the extent of your reading and ability
to identify key information. The use of diagrams is encouraged (maximum one original,
clearly legible, half-page per question), but the figure legend is included in the word count.–
20 sources of references from (pubmed or science direct) uptodate (2006 ,2014) just 4
reviewed articles and 16 peer-reviewed.– include work flow in question 1.– my course area
is medical Molecular Techniques in Cancer Research1) Cancer is largely driven by the de-
regulation of protein kinase cascades and kinases are both drug targets and biomarkers of
cancer. In a genetic screen you identify a protein tyrosine phosphatase as a tumour
suppressor. Describe approaches to identify possible targets of the phosphatase within the
phosphoproteome. Give the general work-flow and emphasize the important aspects of the
experimental design. Discuss the relative advantages and disadvantages of the strategies
you consider useful (20 marks). What resources are available that would allow you to sort
quickly through the data to identify potentially important targets of the phosphatase (5
marks)?(2) From your analysis you identify a protein “ X” of unknown function. However,
you note that analysis of a wide range of tumours show it to be down-regulated. What
methods could be used to characterize experimentally the “ interactome” of protein X (i.e.
proteins that interact with X)? Include a description of the approaches that you would use
to substantiate and verify your findings. As above, emphasize the important aspects of the
experimental design within a general description of the work-flow. Compare and contrast
the approaches you propose, discussing their merits and disadvantages. Also, avoid any
unnecessary direct repetition of any technique/methodology you have already discussed in
part (1) above (25 marks).(3) One protein “ Y” that interacts with “ X” is always identified
using different screening approaches. It shows homology with zinc dependent proteases
and your preliminary cell biology experiments with a GFP (green fluorescent protein)
fusion protein (Y-GFP) demonstrate localization on the cell surface. What role do you
suspect this protein to have in tumorigenesis? Describe experimental strategies to test your
hypothesis, with an appraisal of each on its ability to substantiate your hypothesis (25
marks).(4) In your answers above you would have given consideration to various “ omic”
(e.g. proteomic, transcriptomic, interactomic) approaches to characterizing biological
processes that, in the research laboratory, have led to the identification of many proteins
with potential roles in carcinogenesis. Describe and critique antibody-based techniques that
could be implemented in personalized cancer therapeutic regimes (25 Marks).Maximum
2500 words for the complete answer (questions 1-4). In all cases you should justify clearly
your response and cite relevant material where appropriate. Citations (20 max; not
included in the word count) should not be a substitute for including key information in your
answers; they should indicate the extent of your reading and ability to identify key
information. The use of diagrams is encouraged (maximum one original, clearly legible, half-
page per question), but the figure legend is included in the word count.