McNair Scholar 2023 Regina Jareanpalithapon
Regina Jareanpalithapon is a junior at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, majoring in Biochemistry and minoring in Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies. Her research interst includes design and development of potential therapeutic agents to improve human health. Regina plans to pursue a Ph.D. in a field that will allow her to explore her research interests.
My dream is to pursue a Ph.D. and become a leader in the scientific field while researching and developing therapeutic agents for human health. I aim to make a meaningful contribution to the field of medicine and I hope to inspire others, fostering inclusivity, and leaving a lasting impact on society through my work.
Research project
Purification of Human Apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) from Blood Plasma Using Mixed Mode Chromatography
Abstract: This research aims to establish a method for purifying human Apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) from blood plasma necessary for reconstituting into synthetic high density lipoprotein (sHDL) particles. Purifying ApoA1 is crucial for developing sHDL as it makes up around 70% of HDL, which is believed to promote reverse cholesterol transport and found as a therapeutic potential for sepsis. The method to purify ApoA1 involves precipitating human blood plasma with 60% (NH4)2SO4 and then eluting the bound proteins from a HEA HyperCel™ column using a discontinuous pH gradient. The purified ApoA1 is then analyzed for homogeneity and yield through 4-12% SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis, Western blot analysis, and mass spectrometry analysis. The results from this study highlights the challenge in purifying ApoA1 and suggest that further purification strategies should be explored to improve the yield and homogeneity of purified ApoA1.
Faculty mentor
Ling Li is an associate professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Li has established independent research programs investigating plasma lipids and lipoproteins as vascular risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRDs) and aging-related outcomes (i.e., cognition and physical function decline). Applying advanced lipidomics and proteomics techniques to study lipid and protein cargo on fractionated plasma lipoproteins, her lab discovered that regulation of complement pathways through protein cargo on high-density lipoproteins (HDL) could be potentially beneficial for slowing down age-related arterial stiffening and neurodegeneration. This insightful discovery may lead to the therapeutic development of HDL-based delivery of complement regulators for treating and preventing cerebrovascular disease, stroke, and neurodegenerative diseases.