Tools for modulating and measuring intracellular redox environment

Intracellular redox environment, the relative amount of oxidized and reduced chemical species within a cell, is important in regulating cellular processes; however, molecular mechanisms that mediate redox environment are poorly understood largely because of limitations of tools to both modulate and measure the intracellular redox environment. For example, pharmacological methods that modulate intracellular redox environment often lack selectivity, cause cellular toxicity, and perturb intracellular homeostasis. Methods for monitoring intracellular redox environment can also cause toxicity and protocols typically require disruption of cells. The overall goal of my dissertation research therefore was to develop and validate tools for both modulating and measuring the intracellular redox environment. This dissertation describes the development of three-electrode electrochemical platforms to modulate the intracellular redox environment of mammalian cells. The platforms are capable of both oxidizing and reducing the intracellular redox environment of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells in correspondence to applied extracellular potential. I also demonstrate the utility of novel FRET-based biosensors, developed by collaborators, as real-time indicators of reduction/oxidation conditions in CHO and isogenic porcine fibroblasts. These studies will help unravel the role of redox regulation in many biological processes including those connected to normal and tumorigenic cells.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Chemical Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2010

Author dc:creator

• Henderson, Jerrod A.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Kenis, Paul J.A.
• Gaskins, H. Rex
• Kong, Hyun Joon
• Price, Nathan D.

• redox environment
• glutathione
• porcine cells
• electrochemical platform

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2010 Jerrod A. Henderson

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/16070

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/16070