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2008 CSL Undergraduate Summer Research Stipends

Kok Ann "Sam" Gan | Scott Justus | Susan Mallgrave | Emily Mick | Christos Mitillos | Yacin Nadji | Angela Pak | Yaofu Zhou

Kok Ann "Sam" Gan Fourth-year undergraduate, Biology Chunbo Zhang Assistant Professor of Biology Gap junction regulation and cancer prevention
Sam (left) studied connexin 43 and its role in preventing cancer.

Professor Zhang focuses on the development of the olfactory system and the structural and molecular mechanisms of olfactory sensation. As an offshoot, she and her team look at the connection between gap junction expression and cancer in order to explore possible cancer prevention.

There is low incidence of cancer in the olfactory system compared with other systems, such as the liver, Zhang explained. "We wonder why," she said. "We are interested in whether and how the gap junction is involved."

"Gap junctions" are microscopic channels that allow molecules and ions, including cell-signaling molecules, to pass between cells. "We know gap junctions are important in cancer prevention," said Zhang. "Now, we think they may have different roles in different stages of cancer. When the person is healthy, they may prevent cancer; in the early stages of a tumor, they may help to suppress the tumor; but when cancer is spreading, they may make it worse."

Each gap junction is made up of a pair of connexons, which in turn are made up of connexins.

Since August 2007, Sam has been involved in research on connexin 43 and its role in preventing cancer through understanding the mechanism of gene regulation and signaling. This summer, Sam worked on the connexin transcript promoter region, which controls expression, testing to see how it is altered under different conditions. He was making various gene constructs to do this — an often-tricky process, "like cut and paste," Zhang said. "Sometimes, it doesn't work."

Sam is a near straight-A student from Malaysia with a special interest in genetics. He sought out research at IIT because, he said, "When I do something, I love to know why," and because research opportunities are not common in Malaysia. There, he said, "We're not trained to ask questions. We're trained to listen. This summer was very different.

Photographer: Mindy Sherman, IIT Communications & Marketing

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