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The Effect Of Mtor Inhibitor Rapamycin On A Dietary Drosophila Melanogaster Model Of Calcium Oxalate Nephrolithiasis, Michael T. Pignanelli

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Impaired cellular tolerance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been suggested as a common mechanistic link associated with aging in both metabolic syndrome and nephrolithiasis. The mechanistic (mammalian) target of rapamycin (mTOR) activity is characteristic of metabolic syndrome. When nutrients are abundant, mTOR is active. Conversely, fasting inhibits mTOR. Metabolic syndrome is correlated with an increased risk of self-reported or imaging findings of nephrolithiasis. At the individual level, patients with a higher BMI have an increased prevalence of recurrent symptomatic nephrolithiasis, 24-hour urinary excretion of oxalate, sodium, uric acid, calcium, and phosphorous as well as lower pH. Calcium oxalate crystals …

The Role Of The Leucine-Rich (Leur) Domain Of Rho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor (Rgnef) In The Regulation Of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Als) Associated Protein Tar Dna-Binding Protein Of 43 Kda (Tdp-43), Hind Amzil

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The presence of neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions (NCIs) composed of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and neurofilaments is considered to be ALS’s neuropathological hallmark. RGNEF has been previously shown to interact with TDP-43 and to have a regulatory effect on the expression levels of NEFL mRNA and NFL protein in vitro. Here, I examined the mechanism of the RGNEF N-terminus, leucine-rich domain (LeuR) domain’s interaction with TDP-43. I observed that the minimal domain required is 110 amino acids (LeuR110), that the Ankyrin domain adjacent to LeuR110 does not participate, and that LeuR110 forms of a high molecular weight complex with TDP-43 in …

Characterizing The Role Of The Microbiome In Kidney Stone Disease, Kaitlin F. Al

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The goal of this thesis was to increase understanding of the role of the human microbiome in kidney stone disease, from stone nidus formation through to surgical stone treatment, using a combination of in vitro, in vivo, and human clinical investigations.

We first optimized our methods of sample collection for the use of such protocols in clinical studies involving urinary and gut microbiota investigations. We developed a novel method of fecal sampling that is amenable to study participants, inexpensive, and results in reliable downstream sequencing results.

We then utilized this sampling methodology in clinical investigations into the microbiota of …

The Role Of Histone Demethylases In Learning And Memory In The Mushroom Body Of Drosophila Melanogaster, Crystal Keung

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Intellectual disability (ID) is a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with many epigenetic regulators and chromatin modifying enzymes like histone lysine methyltransferases (KMTs) and demethylases (KDMs). Here, I systematically investigate the role of 7 KDMs: Su(var)3-3, KDM2, Lid, CG2982, UTX, KDM4B, JHDM2, and 1 KMT: trr in the context of learning and memory using Drosophila melanogaster. Genetic knockdown of each gene in the mushroom body (MB) of flies are tested for short- and long-term memory impairment using courtship conditioning. Knockdown of 6 KDMs and trr resulted in memory loss. MB morphology was analyzed to determine potential cause of memory loss. …

Analysis Of The Chemotactic And Anti-Ovarian Response To Honeybee Queen Mandibular Pheromone (Qmp) And Its Constituent Components In Drosophila Melanogaster, Suhayr Solangi

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Drosophila melanogaster can mimic qualities of honeybee altruism mediated by queen mandibular pheromone (QMP), a honeybee pheromone, which includes suppression of oogenesis and chemotactic attraction of males to sources of QMP. In this study, I assessed chemotaxis to the components of synthetic QMP (sQMP): the phenols; methyl-p-hydroxybenzoate (HOB) and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylethanol (HVA), and decenoic acids; 9-hydroxy-decenoic acid (9-HDA) and 9-oxo-decenoic acid (9-ODA). I found that the chemotactic response to these components is sexually dimorphic and they have complex interactions with one another. I conducted a screen to inhibit olfactory receptor neurons (ORN) using tetanus toxin (TeTx) and OrGAL4 drivers. Of the …