Life Sciences Commons^™

Initial Characterization Of Prna From Burkholderia Ambifaria: Developing An Nadph-Dependent Activity Assay For Tryptophan Halogenation, Mahmuda Akter

Theses and Dissertations

Some bacteria produce a potent antifungal agent (pyrrolnitrin) from tryptophan using four dioxygen dependent steps to outcompete other microbes. Each step of this process is catalyzed by an oxygenase encoded by the prnABCD cassette. The first enzymatic step in pyrrolnitrin biosynthesis is the regioselective chlorination of tryptophan to form 7-chlorotryptophan. This halogenation is catalyzed by PrnA, a Flavin dependent oxygenase, which has been isolated and characterized from P. fluorescens. The pyrrolnitrin biosynthesis pathway (prnABCD) has been also observed in the Burkholderia genus. This thesis comprises my studies on the expression, purification, and characterization of PrnA from Burkholderia ambifaria. Beyond the …

Anatomy And Physiology Preparatory Course Textbook (2nd Edition), Carlos Liachovitzky

Open Educational Resources

The goal of this preparatory textbook is to give students a chance to become familiar with some terms and some basic concepts they will find later on in the Anatomy and Physiology course, especially during the first few weeks of the course.

Organization and functioning of the human organism are generally presented starting from the simplest building blocks, and then moving into levels of increasing complexity. This textbook follows the same presentation. It begins introducing the concept of homeostasis, then covers the chemical level, and later on a basic introduction to cellular level, organ level, and organ system level. This …

Ahr Expression On Rorc-Expressing Immune Cells Is Essential For I3c-Mediated Protection Against Colitis, Michal C. Williams

Senior Theses

Colitis is an inflammatory bowel disorder (IBD) whose etiology is attributed to modification in the luminal microbiota and dysregulation in the immune response. Indole is a signaling molecule which is naturally produced by gut luminal microbiota. Indole-3- carbinol (I3C) is a compound commonly found in vegetables and a ligand for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). Previous studies have detected decreased expression and activation on the AhR receptor in colitis patients, thought to possibly alter gut microbiota metabolism, subsequently promoting colitis. 1 AhR, expressed in a variety of immune and epithelial cells, contributes to gut homeostasis by affecting vital mediators such …

The Impact Of Natural Rubber As A Toughening Agent On The Strength, Degradability, And Toxicity Of An Algae-Based Bioplastic, Megan Driscoll

Honors College

With the growing attention on widespread plastic usage and its impact on the environment and human health, the need for sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics is more important than ever. One of the most promising solutions is bioplastics; however, current bioplastics struggle to compete with the material properties of petroleum- based plastics. Agar is a sustainable algae-derived hydrocolloid polysaccharide that can be used for bioplastics and biofilms. Despite promising characteristics, bioplastics made from agar are brittle. Common additives, such as the plasticizer glycerol, offset brittleness but sacrifice strength in return. This study looks at the impact of natural rubber as …

An Investigation Of K2 Mycobacteriophage Lysin A Proteins, Ethan Dionne

Chemistry & Biochemistry Student Scholarship

Major: Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kathleen Cornely, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Indolizine Donor-Based Dyes For Applications In Fluorescence Biological Imaging, William Meador

Honors Theses

NIR emissive fluorophores are intensely researched due to their potential to replace modern imaging procedures. Many molecular strategies have been employed in the literature to optimize fluorophores for deeper NIR absorption and emission, biocompatibility, and higher fluorescence quantum yields. Amongst the fluorophores studied to date, proaromatic indolizine donors are attractive alternatives to traditional alkyl amine and indoline based donors due to their 1) lower energy absorption and emission facilitated by proaromaticity, 2) large Stokes shifts due to increased dihedral angles about the π-system, 3) ease of functionalization and capacity for bioconjugation at the phenyl ring, and 4) potential for further …