Calcitroic Acid as a Potential Key Element in Colon Cancer Prevention

Mentor 1

Dr. Alexander Arnold

Location

Union Wisconsin Room

Start Date

28-4-2017 1:30 PM

End Date

28-4-2017 4:00 PM

Description

Vitamin D is one of the factors involved in maintaining the proper balance of several minerals in the body, such as calcium and phosphate, which are essential for the normal formation of bones and teeth. It can be acquired through diet as vitamin D2, or produced in the body through sun exposure as vitamin D3. The vitamin D gene provides instructions for making a protein known as vitamin D receptor (VDR), which allows the body to respond appropriately to vitamin D. The VDR is a nuclear hormone receptor which regulates a number of genes responsible for many cellular processes throughout the body, hence playing a vital role in one's health. It is activated by vitamin D and its corresponding metabolites, including 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, also known as calcitriol, which is the most active metabolite. The end product of calcitriol is the presumed inactive compound calcitroic acid. VDR acts in the colon by regulating an enzyme which aids in the regulation of bile acids, which in turn are essential for the digestion and absorption of lipids in the small intestine. Higher concentrations of certain bile acids have been found to be toxic and have been linked to the development of colorectal cancer. Our hypothesis is that calcitroic acid is the main regulatory ligand for VDR in the intestines in order to break down excess bile acids. As a result, a higher uptake of vitamin D supplements or a diet rich in vitamin D could potentially decrease one's risk of developing colorectal cancer. Our main focus is the synthesis of calcitroic acid, using ergocalciferol, also known as vitamin D2, as the starting material, and working with a series of organic chemical reactions and further biochemical testing, as a means to possibly determine whether it is, indeed, a major factor in colon cancer prevention.

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Apr 28th, 1:30 PM Apr 28th, 4:00 PM

Calcitroic Acid as a Potential Key Element in Colon Cancer Prevention

Union Wisconsin Room

Vitamin D is one of the factors involved in maintaining the proper balance of several minerals in the body, such as calcium and phosphate, which are essential for the normal formation of bones and teeth. It can be acquired through diet as vitamin D2, or produced in the body through sun exposure as vitamin D3. The vitamin D gene provides instructions for making a protein known as vitamin D receptor (VDR), which allows the body to respond appropriately to vitamin D. The VDR is a nuclear hormone receptor which regulates a number of genes responsible for many cellular processes throughout the body, hence playing a vital role in one's health. It is activated by vitamin D and its corresponding metabolites, including 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, also known as calcitriol, which is the most active metabolite. The end product of calcitriol is the presumed inactive compound calcitroic acid. VDR acts in the colon by regulating an enzyme which aids in the regulation of bile acids, which in turn are essential for the digestion and absorption of lipids in the small intestine. Higher concentrations of certain bile acids have been found to be toxic and have been linked to the development of colorectal cancer. Our hypothesis is that calcitroic acid is the main regulatory ligand for VDR in the intestines in order to break down excess bile acids. As a result, a higher uptake of vitamin D supplements or a diet rich in vitamin D could potentially decrease one's risk of developing colorectal cancer. Our main focus is the synthesis of calcitroic acid, using ergocalciferol, also known as vitamin D2, as the starting material, and working with a series of organic chemical reactions and further biochemical testing, as a means to possibly determine whether it is, indeed, a major factor in colon cancer prevention.