2026-09-22T10:04:58Z https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/88308 2023-07-11 col_2142_5131 col_2142_14787 com_2142_5130 com_2142_9630 com_2142_234

Wang, Ning Wood, Adam Richard 2015-09-29T21:08:21Z 2015-09-29T21:08:21Z 2017-09-30T09:15:32Z 2015-08 2015-07-21 Tumor-repopulating cells are a highly tumorigenic subpopulation of cancer cells that exhibit stem cell-like properties (e.g. self-renewal). Previous reports have shown that soft 3D fibrin matrices promote self-renewal in TRCs by promoting histone 3 lysine residue 9 (H3K9) de-methylation and Sox2 expression [1]. However, the underlying mechanism(s) by which soft 3D fibrin matrices promote H3K9 de-methylation and Sox2 expression remain elusive. In this study we show that focal adhesion kinase (FAK) regulates Sox2 expression and H3K9 de-methylation through cell division control protein 42 homolog (Cdc42). In comparison to control melanoma cells, TRCs exhibit low FAK and Cdc42 expression. Overexpressing FAK or Cdc42 in TRCs cultured in soft 3D fibrin matrices promotes H3K9 methylation, decreases Sox expression, and suppresses colony growth. Knocking down FAK or Cdc42 expression in control melanoma cells promotes H3K9 de-methylation, increases Sox2 expression, and enhances colony growth in stiff 3D fibrin matrices. Overexpressing Cdc42 in FAK-knock down control melanoma cells inhibits H3K9 de-methylation. Submission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'Closed Access', the embargo will last until 2017-08-01 The student, Adam Wood, accepted the attached license on 2015-07-21 at 14:59. The student, Adam Wood, submitted this Thesis for approval on 2015-07-21 at 15:00. This Thesis was approved for publication on 2015-07-21 at 16:03. DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #8588 on 2015-09-29 at 15:06:47 Made available in DSpace on 2015-09-29T21:08:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 3 WOOD-THESIS-2015.pdf: 432001 bytes, checksum: b0ff59d10ff5045e6dc95031ddddd02e (MD5) Wood_Adam.docx: 880151 bytes, checksum: 723fcbdc5995b4a8f5360515fa650813 (MD5) LICENSE.txt: 4206 bytes, checksum: 2f607e1c20eb2cf2234188ac38871bad (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-07-21 Embargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 89589 Lift date: 2017-09-29T21:08:35Z Reason: Author requested closed access (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD system Limited Restriction Lifted for Item 89589 on 2017-09-30T09:15:32Z. application/pdf http://hdl.handle.net/2142/88308 en Copyright 2015 Adam Wood Tumor-repopulating cells (TRCs) Soft 3D fibrin matrices downregulate FAK expression to promote self-renewal of tumor-repopulating cells text text 2015-8 Mechanical Science & Engineering Mechanical Engineering University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Thesis M.S.