Sajia Athai, Class of 2026
All organisms possess a myriad of mechanisms associated with homeostasis and osmotic adjustment to regulate water flow and content. The Photosynthesis Lab Report —an integral component of the BIO 205 course—allows students to test different variables such as salinity on function of chloroplasts under osmotic stress. In a similar study conducted on a much larger scale, a group of researchers led by Barbara Rosatti aimed to analyze the genes associated with the production of stress-response proteins that influence a cell’s ability to respond to hypo-osmotic stress. With a special emphasis on mRNA sequencing, the scientists examined the impact of these proteins on circadian rhythm and transcription.
The researchers chose to use cell cultures WKO-3M22 and PC12 cells at 37°C. The medium was diluted with water to induce hypo-osmotic stress during time intervals of 5 minutes, 12 hours, and 24 hours. A cluster of control cells was exposed to iso-osmotic conditions. RNA was extracted from cells, with bulk mRNA sequencing performed to analyze gene transcription through caveolae deformation. Cell synchronization–initiated through the usage of serum starvation—was analyzed using ImageJ software. The Western blotting technique was utilized to detect the specific protein, Cavin-1. Through fluorescent staining, fluorescence intensity was measured to study the transcript levels affected by osmotic stress.
Through the analysis of staining procedures and ImageJ data accumulation, it was observed that iron channel regulation promotes osmolyte production to retain cellular structures during an influx of water. Changes in circadian rhythm genes–identified as Bmal1 and Ciart–show prominence and rebounding, indicating that the cell adjusts to changes in water pressure. The study highlights the role of Cavin-1–a protein that maintains structural components of the plasma membrane—in sustaining protein synthesis under harsh conditions. The Cavin-1 gene was also found to disrupt regulation between Ciart and the transcription pathway, leading to possible exposure to infections compared to other genes.
Just as BIO 205 laid the foundation for lab report writing for Pre-Health students at SBU, Rosatti and her peers continue to pave the way for research on cell maintenance under changing conditions. The study reveals important information about gene regulation that can be used to study phosphorylation in cells to treat infections. From one lab report to another, the behavior of cells continues to infiltrate the minds of all STEM kids.
Figure 1 Analyzing osmotic stress on cells under different gradients (Nemo Edition)
Works Cited
[1] Qifti A, Adeeko A, Rennie M, McGlaughlin E, McKinnon D, Rosati B, Scarlata S. Hypoosmotic stress shifts transcription of circadian genes. Biophys J. 2025 Feb 4;124(3):565-573. doi: 10.1016/j.bpj.2024.12.027. Epub 2025 Jan 2. PMID: 39754358; PMCID: PMC11866948.
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