Saddleback Journal of Biology - Saddleback College

Fall 2009 Biology 3B Paper
0.9
0.8
0.7
Relative CTR-1 mRNA
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0
-0.1
Non-hormone
Hormone
Figure 5 Another set of data using Real Time PCR on CTR1 in mouse mammary explants to observe the effect of
lactational hormones on CTR1 mRNA. We saw a decrease in CTR1 expression at the mRNA level due to hormone
treatment.
Protein expression of CTR1
Western blotting was performed in order to see if there was increased protein expression of CTR1 in the presence of
lactational hormones. The amount of CTR1 protein expression reflects the effect that lactational hormones on it. We
found inconclusive results during one trial when observing CTR1 protein expression with and without lactational
hormones (figure 6). Another trial revealed increased CTR1 protein expression with lactational hormones (figure 7).
Mouse
4
Mouse
3
Mouse
2
Mouse
1
- + - + - + - +
106
81
48
36
28
21
Figure 6. Western blot attempting to observe difference in CTR1 protein expression in mouse mammary explants,
comparing treatment with (+) and without (-) lactational hormones in four different mice. The results were
inconclusive as it is somewhat difficult to compare the bands. The bands were approximately where the CTR1 trimer
size should be (105 kDa).
68
Saddleback Journal of Biology
Spring 2010