My Dream Experiment - Microscopy and Live Imaging - IZN Heidelberg 2016

The effect of Inhibition Factor AY on Survivin

Expression in cancer cells
A.Tajeri, Y.Ben Mansour, University of Heidelberg, 2016

Abstract Survivin, a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis

(IAP) protein family that blocks cell death, is highly
expressed in most cancers and is associated with a poor
clinical outcome.
The survivin gene polymorphisms have also been reported to
influence tumor aggressiveness as well as the survival of
cancer patients.
This review discusses the role of IFAY (Inhibition Factor
Ashkan Yassine) in blocking of survivin`s function in cancer
cell.
Keywords: Cancer, Survivin, Inhibition Factor

I. INTRODUCTION

HE inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) proteins are a family of

highly conserved cell death inhibitors that have been
found in yeast, invertebrates, and vertebrates1,2. Survivin,
an inhibitor of apoptosis protein IAP, shown to be involved in
suppressing cell death response1,2. Currently, Survivin protein
expression is being used as a prognostic factor in several
human cancers3.
Manipulation of Survivin regulation and expression may also
lead to the development of new immunotherapy and gene
therapy strategies for the treatment of cancer1,2,3.
The ficticious Inhibition Factor Ashkan Yassine (IFAY),
imagined by Ashkan Tajeri and Yassine Ben Mansour for My
Dream Experiment, is supposed to bind transcription factors,
and prevent RNA polymerase from docking to the region,
thereby inhibiting transcription of the gene coding for
Survivin.
II. GUIDELINES FOR EXPERIMENTAL METHODS
1- Experimental System: Cancer cell cultures
2- Measurement: Interaction between the Inhibition Factor
AY (IFAY) and the Survivin promoter sequence.
3- Fluorescent molecule class: genetically encoded green
fluorescent protein (GFP).
4- Application method: virus-mediated transfection.
Lentivirus can integrate into the host cell genome to
allow stable, long-term expression4.
5- Targeting: we aim to target the promoter sequence

regulating Survivin expression.

6- Color Class: single color, GFP to detect transgenic
expression in vitro. GFP can be excited by 488nm light
and is optimally detected at 510nm4.
7- Microscopy method: Epifluorescence widefield
microscope for a qualitative analysis.
8- Microscopy setup: GFP filter set.
9- Data analysis: a qualitative analysis.
We aim to perform an experiment with 2 samples of cancer
cell cultures. Both cultures are infected with lentivirus
containing a Survivin promoter sequence linked to a GFP
coding sequence. The transfected cells, under normal
conditions, are going to express Survivin coupled with GFP, so
that an emission of the Survivin-GFP complex is resulting at
510nm after excitation at 488nm. The first sample had been
incubated with our Inhibition Factor (IFAY). The second
sample is serving as negative control, without any inhibition
factors, a Survivin-GFP complex emission is to be observed.
III.

FICTITIOUS RESULT

As we expect, Inhibition Factor AY should repress the

expression of Survivin, as a result, the Survivin concentration
in the cytoplasm is nearly by zero and this may lead to a
dramatical reduction of GFP emission. Inhibition Factor AY
seems to have a primordial role in blocking the expression of
Survivin, and as a result a suppression of cell Death is shut
down.
We can suppose that our Inhibition Factor is an effective drug
to influence tumor development.
Furthermore, a quantitative analysis with ELISA could be
performed to detect the fluctuations in Survivin concentration
in cells.
IV. CONCLUSION
As a conclusion, Survivin seems to be proposed as an
attractive target for new anticancer interventions. Although,
some molecular functions as chaperone binding, enzyme
binding and microtubule binding; as well as some biological
processes like regulation of cell proliferation and regulation of

My Dream Experiment - Microscopy and Live Imaging - IZN Heidelberg 2016

apoptosis should be more understood to optimize efficient
anticancer therapeutic interventions.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We want to thank Anna Hertle for encouraging students to
gain self-confidence and develop imagination in designing
research projects.
REFERENCES
[1] Altieri DC, Marchisio PC: Survivin apoptosis: an
interloper between cell death and cell proliferation in
cancer. Lab Invest, 1999; 79: 1327-1333
[2] Schimmer AD. Inhibitor of apoptosis proteins: translating
basic knowledge into clinical practice. Cancer Res.
2004;64:718390
[3] Chiou SK, Jones MK and Tarnawski AS, Survivin an
anti-apoptosis protein: its biological roles and implications
for cancer and beyond. Department of Medicine, Veterans
Affairs Medical Center, Long Beach, CA, USA University
of California, Irvine, CA, USA, 2003.
[4] www.thermofisherscientific.com

survivin1,2,3