One of the main hypotheses I investigated is the adenosine hypothesis of schizophrenia and its relationship to ectonucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase-1 (ENTPD1). Adenosine is created by the breakdown of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) by ENTPD1. ENTPD1’s job is simply to remove the three phosphates that are on ATP. If ATP is the currency the brain uses to create energy, ENTPD1 is the printer, and adenosine is the bank teller that gives the money to the proper neurological system.
This summer I worked on optimizing a enzyme assay to make sure it would measure the activity of the ENTPD1 in postmortem (dead) tissue. Some scientists think that running tests with postmortem tissue isn't worthwhile because of the degradation. But based on preliminary results from my primary investigators, enzyme activity is left relatively intact even after being frozen. After running what felt like a million assays, I figured out the parameters needed to make the assay run well and produce useful results.
Using my data and findings, I created a methods poster that I will present on Thursday, August 4, 2016. It covers the steps I took to optimize the assay and how it will be used for future studies.
This summer I worked on optimizing a enzyme assay to make sure it would measure the activity of the ENTPD1 in postmortem (dead) tissue. Some scientists think that running tests with postmortem tissue isn't worthwhile because of the degradation. But based on preliminary results from my primary investigators, enzyme activity is left relatively intact even after being frozen. After running what felt like a million assays, I figured out the parameters needed to make the assay run well and produce useful results.
Using my data and findings, I created a methods poster that I will present on Thursday, August 4, 2016. It covers the steps I took to optimize the assay and how it will be used for future studies.