Karen Koo
Pronouns: She/Her
Research Mentor(s): Sivakumar Jeyarajan
Co-Presenter:
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Pharmacology / Medicine
Presentation Date: April 20
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: Session 5 – 3:40pm – 4:30 pm
Room: League Ballroom
Authors: Kyorin Koo, Sivakumar Jeyarajan
Presenter: 36
Abstract
Ryanodine receptors, also known as RYRs, are calcium channels that are available in two isoforms, namely RyR1 and RyR2, in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). RyR1 is primarily found in skeletal and cardiac muscle cells, responsible for the regulation of calcium-induced calcium release (CICR). Though RyR1 is also present in pancreatic beta cells, its role in CICR has not been elucidated. The focus of this study is RyR1 function in pancreatic beta cells, most specifically calcium maintenance in the endoplasmic reticulum. To study the calcium metabolic role of RyR1 in pancreatic beta cells, we are using rat insulinoma cells INS-1 – or insulin-secreting cells – as a model. INS-1 cells were treated with Tunicamycin (an inducer of ER stress) which negatively affects and inhibits calcium metabolism. Using this as a tool, coupled with western blotting for RyR1 and RyR2, the connection between RyR1 and calcium metabolism in pancreatic beta cells can be studied. Due to the limited knowledge of RyR1 in the research field of beta cells, however, a commercially purchased functional antibody for RyR1 has not been found, preventing us from successfully identifying RyR1 in INS-1 cells. Therefore, the results of this study remain inconclusive until a specific antibody is able to bind to RyR1.
Biomedical Sciences
