Bar Codes for Prairie Plant Species

The DNA bar code sequences of the first prairie plant with anti-cancer properties will be available on 8 March 2015 in a scientific public data base.  You are likely familiar with the barcodes of items that we purchase, such as food, books, or clothing.  A DNA bar code is the name given to specific DNA sequences of the plant genome.  These sequences are conserved within a plant species and differ to sequences from the same genomic region from other species.  By acquiring the DNA sequences from these regions, one can later distinguish plants from one another by looking at this DNA sequence.  

   We sequenced two DNA barcode regions from the plant Thermopsis rhombifolia, locally known as the Buffalo bean.  The barcodes correspond to the ITS region, which includes the 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene, and the psbA-trnH intergenic spacer, which includes the partial sequence of the tRNA for histidine.  These sequences are available in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Genbank database, and can be consulted for free by anyone with an internet access.  The accession numbers are KP861904 and KP861905.  

   In the future, these sequences can be compared to those of other plants, usually ones of the same genus, Thermopsis.  We are planning to expand our choice of barcode sequences from two to three to provide higher resolution of the genetic relationship between plant species.  We are also applying this approach to the other plant species that have anti-cancer properties in the prairie ecological zone.  In this way we will meet the goal of the Prairie to Pharmacy Program by identifying, characterizing, and sharing the scientific knowledge of the medical properties of plants from the prairies.  

This is the barcode for the book "Plants and the Blackfoot" by Alex Johnston. 

  

Our first paper in the new Prairie to Pharmacy Project

We have published our first paper on our research in the Prairie to Pharmacy Project.  In this project, we are investigating plants from the prairie region of Canada for bio-active compounds in cancer and infectious diseases (antibiotics).  There were a number of hurdles that had to be overcome to launch this project: a short growing season, re-organizing the laboratory, and finding like-minded colleagues. Fortunately with the help of excellent collaborators in Lethbridge and in France, we were able to organize the project and describe our first bio-active plant.  

The scientific name of the plant is Thermopsis rhombifolia; it is commonly known as the buffalo bean.  Our contribution includes providing new DNA sequence (a bar code) and describing its toxic properties at the cellular level.  We used "phenotypic assays", which are a powerful scientific method to find information that eventually leads to the precise biological mechanism of action.  Our next step is to work with expert chemistry partners, who are from France, to identify the active ingredients. The project is growing: there are more plants to investigate and questions to answer.  Thank you those who have helped us - much appreciated.  

If you would like a copy of the paper it will be published in Natural Product Research, or contact us directly.  

A New Paper in Press: A review of genotoxic drugs and checkpoint adaptation

We have a new paper that is published as of today.  This paper reviews the scientific literature about a relatively new topic in cancer cell biology - checkpoint adaptation.  In a few words, checkpoint adaptation is mitosis with damaged DNA.  In this review, we describe how genotoxic cancer drugs, pharmacology, damaged DNA, are linked to checkpoint adaptation.  It is likely that the phenomenon of checkpoint adaptation is more frequent than had been previously reported.  It occurs when cancer cells are treated with pharmacological amounts of genotoxic cancer drugs.  In experiments, if one uses too much of a genotoxic compound (call a supra-pharmacological dose) cells die by other pathways, usually apoptosis.  If one uses too little, the cell repairs the damage.  But if one adds the amount that kills cancer cells without killing healthy cells (a pharmacological dose) then checkpoint adaptation occurs.  We found these "doses" in the scientific literature and report them in this review, to make it easier for others to use them in their experiments.  There are many other important facts brought together in this review.  To receive a copy either contact me, or the first author Lucy Swift, or click on this link:

Checkpoint Adaptation Review - Swift and Golsteyn

 The paper is open access, happy reading.

An image of human cancer cells taken with a microscope.  The rounded objects are cells that are undergoing checkpoint adaptation.  For scale, the bar is 25 um (0.025 mm).  

Jacques Cartier and the first ethnobiology event in Canada

Bust of Jacques Cartier, at Cartier Museum, St-Malo, France

Winter, in the year 1535 near what is now Quebec City (Canada).  Jacques Cartier and his men are gravely ill.  They are 5000 km from home, their boats are locked in ice in a unknown territory, with limited supplies, and no doctor. Jacques Cartier did not know that his men were dying of scurvy, a disease caused by the absence of vitamin C in the diet.  He did observe, however, that a local First Nations man named Agaya, once had similar symptoms, but was now apparently well and walking in front of Cartier's emergency winter shelter. With 25 of his crew already dead, 95% of the remaining members incapacitated and dying, Jacques Cartier decided to ask Agaya for the cure.

Jacques Cartier's former residence, near St-Malo, France.

The First Nations' people offered the needles and bark of the plant "annedda", from which an infusion was to be drunk every second day until cured.  It worked.  Like Agaya, Jacques Cartier's men were quickly restored, survived the remaining Canadian winter and returned to France. With the support of the French king Francois I, Jacques Cartier returned the resource-rich territory a third trip in 1541.

Jacques Cartier's tomb, Cathédrale St-Vincent in St-Malo

Jacques Cartier recorded the first exchange of information between European and Indigenous cultures in Canadian territory for the goal of medical benefit.  Today we call this exchange ethnobiology.  We visited Jacques Cartier's estate, near the port city of St Malo, France, from where he launched his expeditions that opened Canada to the world.  In the Cancer Cell Laboratory, we follow this 500 year old tradition of identifying and testing Canadian plants to find compounds for medicinal benefit.   Our work is focused on finding plants that have compounds with anti-cancer properties.   We have found two plants that show promise in preliminary laboratory tests, and we now are identifying the active ingredients within them.
   

The Prairie to Pharmacy Project

   We have started the Prairie to Pharmacy Project at the University of Lethbridge.  The goal of this project is to identify novel compounds from prairie plants which have beneficial pharmaceutical properties.  To reach this goal, we have drawn from the strengths of the human and natural resources of southern Alberta.  We are working with Dr John Bain, Professor in botany, director of the University Herbarium; with Mr Conrad Littleleaf, Elder of the Pikanii Nation; and Professor Emeritus Leroy Little Bear, University of Lethbridge, to find prairie plants that have medicinal properties and then test them for biological activity in specific assays.  To start, we focus on anti-cancer activities, which is one of the research strengths of the Cancer Cell Laboratory.  Our approach, which is sometimes called ethnobiological research, has been succesful in other regions in the world, but it has not been actively pursued in Alberta.  We predict that plants from southern Alberta contain novel compounds that have anti-cancer activity, or other activities directed to unmet medical needs. 

    Stay tuned...

The CWSF-ESPC 2013 was in Lethbridge

3 of the 4 Lethbridge Winners CWSF 2013

The Canada Wide Science Fair came to Lethbridge. Imagine the energy from 481 young Canadian scientists, 340 expert Judges, 165 Delegates, 3750 visitors (many were school children) and 200+ dedicated volunteers.  For many of us, it left an indelible image of just how smart and positive youth can be.  My role was greatly aided by Dr Marc Roussel, Dept of Chemistry and by Mr Dominic Mudiayi, former laboratory colleague.  The University of Lethbridge was the host for the CWSF. The UoL showcased its campus and placed it firmly on the map for the next generation of Canadian scientists and engineers.  The entire CWSF was major operation run by Youth Science Canada, the National Judging Committee and the Local Host Committee, who had an addition role in leading the regional science fair. It was a lot of work, but clearly the future of science benefits from this effort.  To learn more about the projects presented at the CWSF, visit the virtual CWSF website and see the  winners.

A paper submitted - A new assay to measure mitosis

The measure of productivity in science is publications. One really only gets things done when the research is published.  Today, we submitted a manuscript describing a new method to measure the activity of the enzyme Cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (Cdk1).  This is an important enzyme; it drive cells into mitosis (cell division).  The discovery of Cdk1 and its components led to the Nobel prize awarded in 2001 to Drs Sir Tim Hunt and Sir Paul Nurse.  Other methods to measure Cdk1 activity require the use of radioactive reagents, which are difficult to use, expensive, and dangerous if handled incorrectly.  Our new method requires antibodies, an engineered protein that we made, and western blotting equipment.  Most of the materials are commonly found in cell biology laboratories and we will provide the protein to those who request it.

 

The work was done by a sequence of undergraduate students from the University of Lethbridge, all contributing to the status of "Best Undergraduate Research University of 2012".  All have moved on to better things science related.  To those interested in a pre-print, please let me know.