Alex Zeitany

RESEARCH SUMMARY

My research with Dr. Bierbach is focused on examining a platinum based chemotherapeutic agent, Pt-amidine, developed by our group. We believe Pt-amidine interferes with DNA synthesis by forming hybrid adducts that slide into DNA ultimately leading to enzyme mediated strand breakage and apoptosis. This mechanism is different from currently utilized chemotherapy agents, such as Cisplatin, which form DNA crosslinks leading to helix destabilization and apoptosis. Cells treated with Cisplatin are able to continue through the cell cycle and arrest in the G2/M phase. Whereas cells treated with our drug, arrest in the S phase causing it to be a hypercytoxic drug. However, the mechanism of Pt-amidine has not been definitely proven so I am trying to experimentally demonstrate that Pt-amidine creates mechanistic, pre-apoptotic strand breakage and subsequently correlate cell death with this DNA damage. I am accomplishing this goal by using DNA extractions and COMET assays. I am utilizing actual non-small cell lung cancer cell lines obtained from the Tissue Culture Core Facility at Wake Forest Comprehensive Cancer Center incubated in Pt-amidine. I subsequently extract the DNA from these cells as well as perform COMET assays. The extraction utilizes ICP-MS and LCMS to determine how much Pt is associated with the DNA and to identify the specific base pair adducts formed. The COMET Assay allows me to view DNA damage in individual cells and assess pre-apoptotic DNA strand breakage.

EDUCATION

2008-present: Bachelor of Science, Department of Chemistry, concentration in Biochemistry; minor in Biology, Wake Forest University

POSITIONS AND HONORS

Order of Omega Greek Honor Society
Alpha Delta Epsilon Pre-medical Honor Society
Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society
Mortar Board Honor Society
Chi Omega Sorority Member
2011-present: Undergraduate Researcher, Department of Chemistry, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC (with U. Bierbach)
Summer 2010-Spring 2011: Undergraduate Researcher at WFUBMC Dermatology Department (with G. Yosipovitch)
Fall 2009-present: Co-president Young Adult Cancer Awareness Society
Fall 2008-Spring 2011: Wake Forest Varsity Cheerleading (Captain Fall 2010-Spring 2011)
Summer 2011-present: Triage Volunteer at Winston-Salem Community Care Center
Fall 2009-present: Organic Chemistry I and II Tutor
Spring 2010-Spring 2011: Preceptor at WFUBMC Comprehensive Cancer Center (with M. Aklilu)
Summer 2009: Summer Intern at UCI Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center (with L. Sender)