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Do The Inter-Nucleotide Domain Loops Act As An Entropic Sink In The Catalytic Activity Of 3-Phosphoglycerate Dehydrogenase (3pgdh)?, Cristina Adelia Meeham

Honors Theses

In protein science the relationship between protein dynamics and catalytic activity are the subject of considerable contemporary interest. Although protein motions are frequently observed during ligand binding and release steps, the contribution of protein motions to the catalysis of bond making/breaking processes is more difficult to probe and verify. Currently, the field of protein science is trying to uncover the deeper role that dynamics plays in the catalytic activity and allosteric regulation of proteins and to better understand how to more effectively and efficiently target proteins in cancer therapeutics and other metabolic pathways.

Host-Specialization Of Bartonella In Flea Vectors Collected From Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs, Mark D. Massaro

Honors Theses

At least 22 species of Bartonella bacteria have been named and many are associated with one of a list of potential mammalian reservoirs and arthropod vectors. One example of such a system is the parasitism of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) of the Western U.S. by Oropyslla hirsuta and Pulex simulans fleas. These vectors are thought to maintain B. washoensis infection in these mammals, but little is known about their role in the specialization of this strain to this reservoir. We found that the more specialist O. hirsuta fleas were much more likely to be infected with B. washoensis than …

One-Pot Heteroconjugate Addition-Diels-Alder Reactions And Acetate-Catalyzed Aldol Reactions Of Α-Silyl Nitriles, Carly Mueller

Honors Theses

1. A one-pot three-step Diels–Alder reaction sequence of ethyl propiolate and thiols can be performed to produce high yields of complex bicyclic products. A KOt-Bu-catalyzed thioconjugate addition of thiols to enoates, oxidation of the generated thioenoate by mCPBA, and Li-catalyzed Diels–Alder addition of cyclopentadiene occur in situ, without any purification of intermediates.
2. Stereoselectivity of the Diels–Alder product was examined by utilizing a chiral sulfone substrate. It was determined that these substrates were unable to provide significant stereochemical control.
3. Silylation of 3-phenylpropionitrile is achieved at the α-position with trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate and trialkylamine base. Catalyzed by tetrabutylammonium acetate (2.5 mol%), …

A Conservative Isoleucine To Leucine Mutation Of Klentaq1 Dna Polymerase 1 Induces Conformational Change For Cold-Sensitive Phenotype, Emma Caroline Materne

Honors Theses

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) typically employs the Taq or Klentaq1 DNA polymerase from Thermus aquaticus to elongate short sequences of DNA during DNA amplification. Both Taq and Klentaq1 retain activity at room temperature. During assembly of PCR at room temperature, the activity of Taq and Klentaq1 can result in spurious products due to elongation of primers bound to non-target sequences. A mutation of isoleucine to leucine at position 707 of Klentaq1 results in slowing of the enzyme at room temperature without compromising the fidelity of the enzyme. To understand how a mutation over 20Å from the active site can affect …

Formyl Group Activation Of Bromopyrrole Suzuki Cross-Coupling: Application To A Formal Synthesis Of Lamellarin G Trimethyl Ether, Andrew Harrison

Honors Theses

Many biologically interesting compounds have been isolated from marine natural products, many of which contain characteristic pyrroles. Compounds such as polycitones, storniamides, ningalins, and lamellarins have been of particular interest for synthesis due to their vast pharmaceutical potential including the ability to fight tumors as well as induce cytolysis of drug resistant cancer cell lines. Previous studies on the synthesis of Lamellarin G trimethyl ether by the Gupton Group have relied upon vinylogous amide derivatives as building blocks.2 A new pathway utilizing a formylated pyrrole ring provides an interesting method for the synthesis of Lamellarin G trimethyl ether. Regioselective Suzuki …