How to present a

scientific paper
Dr. Rebecca B. Riggins
Department of Oncology, Georgetown University
rbr7@georgetown.edu

Outline
Preliminary thoughts on the assigned
reading
Typical structure of a scientific paper
Differences dictated by journal in which it is
published

Discussion of Zhao et al., with

comparisons to Schafer et al.
Final thoughts on the assigned reading

Todays readings

A scientific paper is like an hourglass

Introduction

(Materials and Methods)

Results

Discussion
Abstract = mini hourglass

The width of the hourglass is

inversely proportional to importance
Introduction

(Materials and Methods)

Results

Discussion

RESULTS and the

HYPOTHESIS/RATIO
NALE are key when it
comes to presenting
a scientific paper
The Introduction is
useful for background
The Discussion is a
useful summary

Zhao et al.: ErbB2, glycolysis, and

breast cancer growth

Keywordsinthetitlewillbebetterdescribedinthe
Introductionsection
Thisshouldguideyouinpreparing3or4slidesto
introducethepaperandwhythestudyisimportant

Cancer cell metabolism

Normal cells and cancer cells differ in how they
derive energy from glucose
Normal: aerobic
O2+glucoseglycolysisoxidativephosphorylation38ATP

Cancer: anaerobic
glucoseglycolysisonly2ATP

Cancer cell glycolysis dependence = Warburg

effect
Explain this graphically using simple images

Please DONT do this

A simple diagram of glycolysis vs.

oxidative phosphorylation

Multiplemoleculesand
pathwayscanregulate
glycolysis
Someoftheseinclude:
Ras,PI3K,mTOR,
Src
Thesearealltargetsof
thereceptortyrosine
kinaseErbB2

http://www.nutritionaloncology.org/images/aerobicGlycolysis.jpg

Pleaseciteyoursource!

The full ErbB family signaling pathway

Ereg
Areg
TGF
EGF

r
b
B

r
b
B

r
b
B

GRB2

1SHC

r
b
B

r
b
B

E
r
b
B
4

E
r
b
B
4

E
r
b
B
4

E
r
b
B
4

Nrg
1,2

HBE
GF

Btc

E
r
b
B
4

E
r
b
B
4

E
r
b
B
3

SOS

Nrg
3,4

E
E
r
r
b
b
B
B
3
3

E
r
b
B
3

r
b
B
2

PI3K

Nck

PDK1
Ras

PLC

Akt/
PKB

FKHR

CDC42
Raf
PAK

AntiApoptosis

MKK
3/6

MEK
1/2

mTOR

PKC
GSK3

p70S6K

JNK
p38
ERKs
Translation

2009

ProteinLounge.com

cFos
El
cJun
k1
Gene Expression

Relevant ErbB family signaling

Ligands

Ereg
Areg
TGF
EGF

r
b
B

r
b
B

r
b
B

GRB2

1SHC

HBE
GF

Nrg
1,2

Btc

Receptors

E
r
b
B
3

r
b
B

r
b
B
2

PI3K

SOS

Intracellular
signaling

PDK1

Ras

Akt/
PKB

FKHR

CDC42
Raf
PAK

mTOR
AntiApoptosis

MKK
3/6

MEK
1/2

GSK3
p70S6K

JNK
p38
ERKs

Elk1

cFos
cJun

2009

ProteinLounge.com

Gene Expression

Translation
Translation

How might ErbB2 regulate glycolysis?

Lactate dehydrogenase A (LDH-A) is a key
glycolytic enzyme, and its expression is
increased in mouse mammary epithelial
cells that overexpress a form of ErbB2
Heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) is a transcription
factor that regulates glucose metabolism
which is itself regulated by Ras (a target of
ErbB2)
Does ErbB2 regulate glycolysis through
these molecules?

Experimental results
Select key figures that illustrate the
important points
These are often positive, but if there is room
for criticism please provide it

Do NOT attempt to describe every panel of

every figure

Overexpression of Erb2 promotes

glycolysis in breast cancer cells

O2consumption

http://www.nutritionaloncology.org/images/aerobicGlycolysis.jpg

Overexpression of ErbB2 increases

LDH-A and HSF1

andknockdownofErbB2reducesLDHAexpressionandglycolysis

Downregulation of HSF1 = reduced

LDH-A and glycolysis

UseofHsf1/cellsisaway
toconfirmsiRNAresults

Glycolysis inhibitors, ErbB2, and

cancer
2DG=glucoseanalogthatcannotundergoglycolysis

Oligomycin=inhibitorofoxidativephosphorylation
Oxamate=inhibitorofLDH,whichconvertspyruvatetolactate

AreErbB2
overexpressingcells
moresensitiveto
glycolysisinhibitors
(andlesssensitiveto
oxidative
phosphorylation
inhibitor)?
http://www.nutritionaloncology.org/images/aerobicGlycolysis.jpg

Overexpression of ErbB2 =
sensitivity to glycolysis inhibitors,
and sensitivity to oxidative
phosphorylation inhibitors
Glycolysisinhibitor

Similarresultswith2DGinanother
celllineoverexpressingErbB2

Oxidativephosphorylationinhibitor

Downregulation HSF1 inhibits ErbB2

effects on glycolysis and sensitivity to
inhibitors
Again,useofHsf1/cellsisaway
toconfirmsiRNAresults

Summary of Results

E r E
r
bE
b
r
r
B B b
b
r
B B
1 2b
B
1 2
1

ErBB2siRNA

E
r
b
B
2

UpregulationofHSF1protein

HSF1siRNA

IncreasedLDHAexpression,enzymeactivity

Increasedglycolysis
Increasedcellgrowth

Glycolysisinhibitors

Discussion section
This is a summary of the major findings,
and their importance for the field of study
The first paragraph is the summary
Subsequent paragraphs elaborate on the
key findings and place them in context

Schafer et al.: metabolic defects due to

cellular detachment
Nature papers are different

Thank you for your attention!

Questions?
If you would like an electronic copy of this
presentation, you can download it here:
http://openwetware.org/wiki/Riggins_Lab
Under Resources, click Lectures
Click How to present a scientific paper