Date of Award
3-28-2016
Document Type
Honors Thesis
Department
Biology
First Advisor
Marlene Murray
Abstract
Bipolar disorder is a severe and chronic debilitating mental disorder characterized by extreme mood swings between mania and depression. The current medications for bipolar disorder, lithium and valproate, have been associated with numerous negative side effects. Although the therapeutic mechanism by which lithium and valproate (VPA) exert their effect is unknown, a leading hypothesis implicates inositol depletion as a mechanism of action. On the other hand, omega-3-fatty acids have been shown to relieve symptoms of bipolar disorder. In this study, we compare the effects of VPA to the effects of decosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on Saccharomyces cerevisiae growth and intracellular inositol concentration. Intracellular inositol levels were examined using a modified enzymatic assay for inositol, which correlates light absorbance to intracellular inositol concentration. The results show that similar to valproate, DHA inhibits cell growth. In addition, unlike valproate, DHA does not decrease intracellular inositol levels.
Recommended Citation
Lee, Jee Yeon (Joanne), "The Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Intracellular Inositol Levels in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae" (2016). Honors Theses. 138.
https://dx.doi.org/10.32597/honors/138/
https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/honors/138
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
DOI
https://dx.doi.org/10.32597/honors/138/