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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Searching For Potential Binding Partners Of Arabidopsis Β-Amylase2 Using Yeast 2-Hybridization, Megan E. Hines
Searching For Potential Binding Partners Of Arabidopsis Β-Amylase2 Using Yeast 2-Hybridization, Megan E. Hines
Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019
BAM2 is a chloroplast-targeted member of the β-amylase gene family that currently has an unknown function in starch hydrolysis. Previous research indicated that BAM2 did not have significant catalytic activity, but, because the gene is highly conserved and there is a starch-excess phenotype in older plants lacking BAM2, it was hypothesized that BAM2 may instead have a regulatory function. Many regulatory proteins function by interacting with other proteins, so we wanted to test for potential protein binding partners for BAM2 using the yeast two-hybrid system. A plasmid containing the BAM2 gene from Arabidopsis thaliana was co-transformed into Y190-strain yeast ( …
Epigenetic Characterization Of Human Retina Cells, Nicholas R. Dunham
Epigenetic Characterization Of Human Retina Cells, Nicholas R. Dunham
Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019
DNA methylation is an epigenetic modifier that modulates gene expression in plant and vertebrate genomes. The aim of this study was to characterize the role of DNA methylation in the human retina, particularly within rod and cone photoreceptor retinal neurons. Previous studies investigating DNA methylation in murine retinal cells and retina-derived human retinoblastoma immortalized cell culture lines demonstrate an inverse relationship between DNA methylation and transcriptional activity. Here, we used gene-specific bisulfite pyrosequencing analysis to measure DNA methylation in the genomes of human ocular cells in an effort to characterize the role of this important epigenetic modifier. These results can …
The Purification And Characterization Of Beta-Amylase6 In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Catherine E. Torres
The Purification And Characterization Of Beta-Amylase6 In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Catherine E. Torres
Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019
Experimental evidence indicates that the family of beta-amylase (BAM) proteins is largely responsible for the hydrolysis of starch in land plants. In Arabidopsis thaliana there are nine BAM genes, six of which are targeted to the chloroplast, but only four of those are presumed to be catalytically active: BAM1, -2, -3, and -6. Currently, little is known about the expression, characterization, or function of BAM6. Our study of starch accumulation in Arabidopsis indicates that BAM6 may be playing a role in older plants, although it has a minimal role in young plants. To further investigate the function of BAM6 we …
The Effects Of Chronic Partial Sleep Deprivation And Chronic Voluntary Alcohol Consumption On Δfos B Accumulation, Kristian Ponder
The Effects Of Chronic Partial Sleep Deprivation And Chronic Voluntary Alcohol Consumption On Δfos B Accumulation, Kristian Ponder
Masters Theses, 2010-2019
The present study explores the relation between sleep restriction and alcohol use and the neural substrates that result from chronic behaviors. Accumulation of the transcription factors ΔFosB is suggested as a possible outcome of chronic behaviors, such as addiction. Sleep is discussed as possible mediating factor in the relationship between ΔFosB and chronic alcohol consumption. There were four experimental groups in this study: Control (C), Sleep Deprivation only (SD), Alcohol Exposure only (AO), and both sleep deprivation and alcohol exposure (B). Levels of ΔFosB accumulation in the Nucleus Accumbens (NAc) revealed a significant main effect of sleep deprivation, but no …