Honors Theses
Date of Award
5-2026
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Degree Name
BS
Department
Biology
Faculty Mentor
Simon Grelet, Ph.D.
Advisor(s)
Marie Migaud, Ph.D. and Joel Andrews, Ph.D.
Abstract
Tumor innervation has emerged as a critical feature of cancer progression, with increased nerve density correlating with enhanced aggressiveness, metastatic dissemination, and poor clinical outcome. However, the functional contribution of neurons to tumor biology remains incompletely defined. We recently identified the intercellular transfer of mitochondria from neurons to cancer cells as a mechanism that promotes tumor progression. We therefore hypothesized that disruption of this transfer could attenuate tumor aggressivity. To directly investigate this process, we developed an approach to isolate mitochondria from donor cells and transplant them into recipient cancer cells independently of canonical cell-cell interactions. Transferred mitochondria were tracked using fluorescent labeling before using a highly sensitive, transfer-dependent reporter system suitable for high-throughput applications. Once established, this platform will enable precise control over mitochondrial dose and delivery, allowing systematic evaluation of the phenotypic consequences in recipient cells. Together, we aim to establish a framework to dissect the functional impact of neuron-derived mitochondria and to refine synthetic biology tools for monitoring intercellular organelle transfer.
Recommended Citation
Parton, Andrew, "Developing a Protocol for Non-cellular Transplantation of Donor Mitochondria into Recipient Cells" (2026). Honors Theses. 167.
https://jagworks.southalabama.edu/honors_college_theses/167
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