Student: Sarah Mann, Undergraduate Student in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Drake University
Research Mentor: James Sacco
Prevalence of Genetic Polymorphisms in the Glutathione S-Transferase P1 (GSTP1) Promoter in Dogs
Glutathione S-transferases, or GSTs, are a superfamily of enzymes that are found in all organisms and function in the detoxification of environmental
xenobiotics. In humans, defects in these enzymes caused by polymorphisms in the gene have been linked to an increased risk for developing certain types of cancer. In dogs, exposure to certain herbicides and pesticides have been linked with a greater likelihood of developing lymphoma. The objective of this study was to sequence the proximal promoter region of the canine GSTP1 gene, identify the type and prevalence of polymorphisms, and predict those polymorphisms’ effects on gene function. So far, seven novel polymorphisms have been discovered in this region, including a highly polymorphic microsatellite region. Predictive software has shown that these polymorphisms will most likely result in decreased transcription factor affinity for its binding site.