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| Name: | Mary A. Farwell | | Title: | Associate Professor | | Area of Study: | Biochemistry | | Phone: | 252-328-4810 | | E-mail: | farwellm@ecu.edu | | Office: | BN-307A |
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| Research Interests
Gene expression changes in breast cells: We are interested in how breast cells become cancerous. We have overexpressed a proto-oncogene, anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, in MCF10A breast epithelial cells. We are analyzing the changes in gene expression through microarray and quantitative RT-PCR analyses. We hope to determine the specific gene expression changes that occur when an anti-apoptotic gene is overexpressed.
Translational regulation in cancer cells: With colleague Brett Keiper, Brody School of Medicine, we are using siRNA technology to influence of translation initiation complexes in breast cancer cells. We hypothesize that specific isoforms of eIF4G are used in highly proliferative cells, and by individual knockdown of these isoforms, we can affect the proliferation and/or susceptibility of these cells to apoptosis inducers such as apoptotic drugs.
Hypoxic stress in estuarine fish: With colleagues Lisa Clough and Terry West, we are interested in determine the biochemical response to hypoxia in fish. Estuarine fish are exposed to varying oxygen tensions throughout the summer months. We are looking at enzymes that protect against oxidative stress to determine to what extent fish respond to these changes biochemically.
Publications (since 2000)
Rippei Hayashia, Takuya Ueda, Mary A. Farwell and Nono Takeuchi (2007) Nuclear respiratory factor 2 activates transcription of human mitochondrial translation initiation factor 2 gene Mitochondrion 7, 195-203.
Jacquelyn M. Long, Charles W. Bell, Mary E. Kushman, Kevin G. Becker, James A. McCubrey and Mary A. Farwell. Microarray and pathway analysis reveals Bcl-2's cell cycle effect in MCF10A cells. Breast Cancer Research, submitted.
Deborah Booth, Rudy Sirochman, David C. Richardson, Jane S. Richardson, Steven W. Weiner, Mary Farwell, Cindy Putnam-Evans, and Robert C. Bateman Jr., (2005) Assessment of Molecular Construction in Undergraduate Biochemistry Journal of Chemical Education 82, 1854.
R. Glenn Overman, Jr., P.J. Enderle, J.M. Farrow III, J.E. Wiley, and M.A. Farwell (2003) Characterization of the gene and pseudogene for human mitochondrial translational initiation factor 2 (MTIF2) Biochim Biophys Acta 1628; 195-205.
K. Summers, J. da Silva, and M.A. Farwell (2002) Intragenomic conflict and cancer. Medical Hypotheses 59(2):170-179.
R.U Cooper, L.M. Clough, M.A. Farwell, and T.L. West (2002). Hypoxia-induced metabolic and antioxidant enzymatic activities in the estuarine fish Leiostomus xanthurus. J. Exp Marine Biol and Ecol, 279: 1-20.
J.L. Vernon, P.C. Burr, J.E. Wiley and M.A. Farwell. (2000) Assignment of the mitochondrial translation elongation factor Ts gene (TSFM) to human chromosome 12 bands q13->q14 by in situ hybridization and with somatic cell hybrids. Cytogenet and Cell Genet 89: 145-146.
Courses taught
“Basic Laboratory Methods in Biotechnology”, Lecture and Laboratory course 1994-
“Concepts in Cell Biology”, co-instructor 2005-
“Human Genetics” Lecture participant 1997, 2001-
“Transgenics”-Lecture participant, 2002, 2006
Professional Service
Chair, Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, 2003-
Council for Undergraduate Research (CUR) National councilor 2004-2007.
Ad-hoc reviewer for Biochimica Biophysica Acta, Biotechniques, Molecular Evolution
Panel Member, American Heart Association Mid-Atlantic Consortium 2005-
Panel Member, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Neurological Disorders
and Stroke Special Emphasis Panel December Dec. 2000
Grants (since 2000)
Leo Jenkins Cancer Center, 2006-2007. “Targeted depletion of N-terminally extended eIF4G-1 isoforms in breast cancer cell lines to reduce proliferation and/or increase susceptibility to apoptosis”, Brett D. Keiper, PI and Mary A. Farwell, co-PI, $35,000.
Burroughs-Wellcome Fund, 2006-2007. Mary A. Farwell, PI and Patrick Enderle, Co-PI: “Partnering with Regional and Industrial Assets for Teaching and Enrichment in Science (PIRATES) Summer Science Camp”, $57, 802.
NC Sea Grant mini-grant, 2002-2003 Co-PI with Drs. Lisa Clough, Tony Capehart and Terry West,”Does hypoxic pre-conditioning increase tolerance to hypoxia in estuarine fish?” $9000 (with match)
National Institutes of Health AREA (R15) Grant, 2000-2003 “Mitochondrial Activity During Apoptosis in Breast Cells”, $139,000
NC Sea Grant mini-grant, Co-PI with Drs. Lisa Clough and Terry West, 2000-2001 “Can molecular tools be used to identify oxidative stress in estuarine fish?” $9,500 (with match)
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