Fatty Acid Induction of Lipid Droplets in Cancer Cells

Abstract

There is a growing need for the development and communication of cell culture-based laboratory activities specifically designed for undergraduate students. This multi-week laboratory activity allows students to take part in the planning, experimentation, data analysis, and communication of the results of their cell culture-based research project. The laboratory activity specifically uses fatty acid induction of lipid droplets in cancer HeLa cells followed by a novel live-cell staining protocol developed specifically to allow undergraduate students the opportunity to complete a cell culture-based fluorescence microscopy project. This laboratory activity incorporates multiple levels of assessment and allows students to explore the responses of HeLa cancer cells to their environment.