Shantu Amin
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Academic title Professor of Pharmacology
College College of Medicine
Campuses Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Department Pharmacology
Graduate programs Pharmacology
Email Phone
  sga3@psu.edu
 
 
Educational background
  M.S., Chemistry, Gujarat University, 1966
M.S., Organic Chemistry, Stevens Institute of Technology, 1970
Ph.D., Organic Chemistry, Stevens Institute of Technology, 1975
Research interests
 

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Tobacco-specific Nitrosamines


The Amin lab uses mechanisms of chemical carcinogenesis as a tool for developing chemopreventive strategies to reduce the morbidity and mortality from cancer. Our focus has been on structure-activity studies with mutagenic and carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) including NO2-PAHs, wherein we prepare specific model compounds among PAH mutagens, carcinogens and their metabolites for bioassays and for the exploration of DNA and protein adducts. Also, we have gained a great deal of experience with the synthesis, metabolic conversion, and adduct formation of carcinogenic tobacco-specific N-nitrosoamines (TSNA).


To gain a better understanding to the relationship between the DNA lesions and tumor formation, we are involved in the synthesis of site-specifically modified DNA oligomers containing PAH diol epoxide adducts. Synthetic accessibility of DNA containing specific adducts of carcinogenic sterically hindered PAHs are of immense value to an understanding of how such modified sequences are enzymatically processed within the cell and how such processing results in cell transformation.


Lipid Peroxidation


Evidence increasingly shows that many endogenous reactions can cause a variety of DNA damage, including deamination, depurination, methylation, oxidation, and cyclic adduction. Although the damage occurs at high frequency in DNA, its role in carcinogenesis is largely elusive. Studies have shown that a,b-unsaturated aldehydes or enals generated by peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids are the main source of formation of cyclic adducts. The oxidized bases, which have been extensively studied, arise from reaction of DNA with reactive oxygen species. These lesions are potentially important in carcinogenesis because of their mutagenic potential and abundance in tissue DNA. To provide some answers to this important question, the lab is extensively involved in synthesizing oligonucleotides containg a,b-unsaturated aldehydes and enals adducts with focus on two major endogenous DNA lesions: cyclic adducts and oxidized bases.


Chemoprevention


The lab is also involved in structure-activity studies with chemopreventive agents such as organoselenium compounds, NSAIDs (COX-2 and other enzyme inhibitors), cytodifferentiating agents and tea polyphenols. These projects also include the synthesis of both cold-and isotope-labeled model compounds.

Areas of expertise
 
GlobinsPhotochemistry
Genes, rasEpidermis
CodonProdrugs
Bacterial ProteinsMutagenesis, Site-Directed
IndolesAniline Compounds
LactationDeoxyguanine Nucleotides
Lipid PeroxidationThiophenes
Benz(a)AnthracenesDNA Polymerase I
Organoselenium CompoundsHeterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring
DNA-Binding ProteinsMethanol
Iodine RadioisotopesCarcinogens, Environmental
SkinAnticarcinogenic Agents
GlucosinolatesGlutathione
DNADietary Fats
ChemopreventionLasers
TeaAdenosine Triphosphatases
Hydrocarbons, IodinatedNeoplasms, Experimental
MethylnitrosoureaGene Expression Regulation
PapillomaDNA-Directed DNA Polymerase
MicrosomesAryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases
Precancerous ConditionsCaffeic Acids
Stomach NeoplasmsNucleic Acid Heteroduplexes
KidneyEsophageal Neoplasms
Liver Neoplasms7,8-Dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene 9,10-oxide
AdenosineChromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone
Polycyclic Hydrocarbons, AromaticHeterocyclic Compounds
DNA DamageExonucleases
Anti-Inflammatory AgentsTATA Box
ChrysenesAlleles
CatechinDeoxyadenine Nucleotides
PyrenesDNA, Superhelical
AdenocarcinomaHaptens
Breast NeoplasmsCaffeine
FluorenesIsothiocyanates
Nuclear ProteinsNucleic Acid Conformation
Oligonucleotides9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene
HairSmoking
Nasal MucosaTerpenes
Animals, NewbornCytosine
Maternal-Fetal ExchangePlants, Toxic
ThioglycosidesMammary Neoplasms, Animal
BenzopyransMammary Neoplasms, Experimental
Genes, p53Esophagus
BreastHeterocyclic Compounds with 4 or More Rings
AnthraquinonesThiocyanates
LungDNA Adducts
Benzo(a)pyreneEpoxy Compounds
MethyltransferasesTranscription Factors
beta-LactamsCell Transformation, Neoplastic
PyridinesDiet
Salmonella typhimuriumMicrosomes, Liver
GuanineGlutathione Transferase
Mouth NeoplasmsCarcinoma, Hepatocellular
IsoenzymesMass Spectrometry
Skin NeoplasmsLiver
DNA, NeoplasmCarcinogens
CocarcinogenesisSequence Analysis, DNA
Neoplasm ProteinsPhenanthrenes
EthanolSaccharomyces cerevisiae
AdenineMutagenesis
DNA MethylationAdenoma
Polycyclic CompoundsPancreatic Neoplasms
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy ProtocolsCyanates
CotinineAroclors
MutagensSelenomethionine
AminopyridinesMutation
Vitamin EPenicillins
DNA, BacterialEstrenes
GlucuronatesHydroxamic Acids
NicotineBronchi
Liver Neoplasms, ExperimentalLung Neoplasms
BenzopyrenesGastric Mucosa
DimethylnitrosamineSulfhydryl Compounds
Phosphoric Diester HydrolasesButyric Acids
Colonic NeoplasmsEthers, Cyclic
PyrimidinonesIsocyanates
Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme SystemCholesterol
3',5'-Cyclic-AMP PhosphodiesterasesEnvironmental Pollutants
Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide SynthasesProstatic Neoplasms
CephalosporinsAldehydes
Serum AlbuminCytochrome P-450 CYP1A1
Pancreatic JuiceGenes, jun
TobaccoSelenium
DihydroxydihydrobenzopyrenesEscherichia coli
Brain NeoplasmsIntercalating Agents
NitrosaminesNitroso Compounds
Escherichia coli ProteinsAntineoplastic Agents
OligodeoxyribonucleotidesDeoxyribonucleotides
Mammary Glands, AnimalDeoxyguanosine
BenzamidesChromosome Aberrations
ImidazolesNF-kappa B
NF-kappa B p50 SubunitAnti-Allergic Agents
BenzimidazolesGene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
Receptors, Aryl HydrocarbonMelanoma
UreaNaphthalenes
Cell ProliferationPPAR delta
PPAR-betaCaenorhabditis elegans Proteins
Cell Cycle ProteinsGuanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
LigandsMelanoma, Experimental
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktSignal Transduction
Cytotoxicity, ImmunologicKiller Cells, Natural
Estrogen AntagonistsGlucuronosyltransferase
TamoxifenMouth
Publication author name
  Amin S
Amin SG

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