Zander Harpel ’23, Jacob Circelli ’20, Stephanie Wu ’21, and Professor of Biology Wei-Jen Chang are co-authors of an article that was recently published by PLOS ONE.
“Effects of six pyrimidine analogs on the growth of Tetrahymena thermophila and their implications in pyrimidine metabolism” grew from summer research conducted in 2019 by Circelli and Chang, along with Chang’s longtime collaborator RongHan Wei, of Zhengzhou University, who is also a co-author. Following delays caused by the pandemic, the work was completed by Wu, Harpel, and three local high school students.
The article presents the results of research that used several nucleotide analogs, which are often employed in cancer treatments, to help determine the routes of entry into the unicellular protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila. The team also conducted further investigations into how nucleotides are metabolized in the cell, and their results suggest a more complex network than previously predicted.
According to its website, PLOS ONE is “an inclusive journal community working together to advance science for the benefit of society, now and in the future.” The description notes that it was “founded with the aim of accelerating the pace of scientific advancement and demonstrating its value.”
