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Articles 1 - 25 of 25
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Investigating Human Follicle Stimulating Hormone Receptor And Its Partners Using The Apex Assay, Alexandra Temple
Investigating Human Follicle Stimulating Hormone Receptor And Its Partners Using The Apex Assay, Alexandra Temple
Honors Theses
Many men and women deal with fertility whether it’s needing infertility treatments or contraceptives. The follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) play important roles in reproduction and fertility in both males and females. Fertility issues can arise when interactions between FSH and FSHR aren’t functioning properly and FSHR signaling is disrupted. FSHR is a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) found on the cell surface of granulosa cells in women and Sertoli cells in men. Activated FSHR initiates a cascade of downstream signaling events that result in different biological effects such as ovarian follicular development and estrogen production …
The Impact Of Age/Rage Signaling On Oxidative Stress Under Diabetic Conditions In Cardiac Fibroblasts, Christopher Dorroh
The Impact Of Age/Rage Signaling On Oxidative Stress Under Diabetic Conditions In Cardiac Fibroblasts, Christopher Dorroh
Honors Theses
Diabetes is a major health concern in the United States, with 1.5 million new cases diagnosed each year. Patients who suffer from diabetes have an increased risk of developing heart failure, a form of cardiovascular disease. Heart failure has been shown to result from increased left ventricular stiffness, which in turn is caused by increased remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM). This increase in ECM remodeling is a result of AGE/RAGE signaling, which occurs at a heightened level in the cardiac fibroblast cells of diabetics. Studies have shown that diabetics have elevated levels of AGEs (Advanced Glycation End-Products), which bind …
Breast Cancer Sub-Clones That Metastasize To Lung And Bone Exhibit Different Metabolic Preferences, Mollie Merrell
Breast Cancer Sub-Clones That Metastasize To Lung And Bone Exhibit Different Metabolic Preferences, Mollie Merrell
Honors Theses
Metastasis is responsible for the majority of cancer related deaths. In breast cancer the lungs and bones are the major sites for metastasis. Previous studies used the metastatic aggressive MDA-MB-231 breast cancer line to isolate sub-clones that preferentially invade the lungs (LM line) or bones (BoM line). While genes associated with the tissue specific metastasis have been identified, it is unknown if metabolic adaptations contribute to the growth of the LM and BoM lines in their respective organs. The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that the LM and BoM lines exhibit differences in glucose and glutamine …
The Raphe-Hippocampal Tract And Its Age Differences: Diffusion Tensor Imaging And Probabilistic Tractography Study, Ashley Sekul
The Raphe-Hippocampal Tract And Its Age Differences: Diffusion Tensor Imaging And Probabilistic Tractography Study, Ashley Sekul
Honors Theses
The raphe-hippocampal tract links the raphe nuclei to the hippocampus and is responsible for the production of the neurotransmitter serotonin. The hippocampus is key in regulating emotional and stress responses. This study utilized diffusion tensor imaging which uses Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging to provide scans of the brain for analyzing differences in the raphe-hippocampal tract as one ages. In this specific study, 491 samples were visually analyzed to gather data about the fractional anisotropy of the raphe nuclei in both male and female brains ranging from 6 to 85 years old. Through the ranking of images, some were discarded, and …
Glucose Metabolism Of Breast Cancer Sub-Clones That Preferentially Metastasize To The Lungs And Bone, Anna G. Skubiz
Glucose Metabolism Of Breast Cancer Sub-Clones That Preferentially Metastasize To The Lungs And Bone, Anna G. Skubiz
Honors Theses
Malignant breast cancers exhibit preferential metastasis to bone and lung (1). While changes in gene expression in lung-specific (LM) and bone-specific metastasis (BoM) lines derived from the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer line have been identified, few metabolic genes are differentially expressed; thus it is unknown if tissue-specific metabolic reprogramming occurs. Two hallmarks of cancer cells are an altered metabolic phenotype characterized by enhanced conversion of glucose to lactate in spite of adequate oxygen availability for complete mitochondrial oxidation of this substrate (referred to as aerobic glycolysis or the Warburg effect) and a greater dependence on glutamine. These changes in primary tumor …
The Effects Of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 (Igf-1) And Insulin-Like Growth Factor Receptor (Igfr) Regulation On Cognition And Structure Of Astrocytes, Sariya Khan
Honors Theses
Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is a neuroendocrine signaling hormone that plays an integral role in bone and tissue growth and development. Inhibition of this hormone is known to disrupt the chemistry of the brain, resulting in cognitive impairments such as those seen in many common neurodegenerative diseases. While much research has been conducted on neurons and their relation with IGF-1, the role of astrocytes still needs to be explored. Our research investigates how astrocytes are affected as a result of IGF-1 regulation. Preliminary studies in our laboratory established a connection between IGF-1 and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and in …
Dimerization Of Neural Cadherin In The Presence Of Low Calcium, Kyler Pisciotta
Dimerization Of Neural Cadherin In The Presence Of Low Calcium, Kyler Pisciotta
Honors Theses
Cell-cell linkage is a necessity for proper tissue function and stability in many biological systems. One moiety that allows for the proper linking of cells to one another is a family of molecules known as cadherins. This family of proteins can be found within the membrane of many different types of cells and the extracellular portions of the cadherin proteins interact with those of other cells to link adjacent cells together via the formation of a dimer complex. The presence of calcium (Ca2+) is of crucial importance for the formation of this cadherin dimer. In this study, we …
Crystallization Efforts For An Engineered Nickel-Binding Protein, Gold-Bovine Serum Albumin Nanoclusters, And An Artificial De Novo Tetramer Hydrogenase Mimic, Skyler Crane
Honors Theses
Protein crystallization is fundamental to modern research efforts given its ability to determine a protein’s structure as well as the interactions that structure allows and relies upon. This process, though lacking direct application, provides necessary information for subsequent research efforts for which applicationsmay be explored. As such, efforts were taken to crystallize nickel-binding protein (NBP) reengineered from Copper Storage Protein 1 (Csp1) in its apo and metal bound form, Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) in its apo and gold bound form (Au-BSA), and an artificial de novo tetramer hydrogenase mimic peptide to better inform future research actions for these respective molecules. …
Intrinsic Buffer Hydroxyl Radical Dosimetry For Hydroxyl Radical Protein Footprinting, Addison Roush
Intrinsic Buffer Hydroxyl Radical Dosimetry For Hydroxyl Radical Protein Footprinting, Addison Roush
Honors Theses
Hydroxyl radical protein footprinting (HRPF) coupled to mass spectrometry is a powerful technique for the analysis of protein topography as it generates covalent mass labels that can survive downstream sample handling, and it is sensitive to the solvent accessibility of amino acid sidechains. Of the multiple platforms for HRPF, fast photochemical oxidation of proteins (FPOP) utilizes a pulsed 248 nm KrF excimer laser to label proteins by photolyzing hydrogen peroxide. FPOP is the most widely used HRPF platform because it labels proteins faster than unfolding can occur. Variations in FPOP sample conditions make it difficult to compare results between experiments …
Investigatin Actin-Myosin Mechanics To Model Heart Disease Using Fluorescence Microscopy And Optical Trapping, Justin Edward Reynolds
Investigatin Actin-Myosin Mechanics To Model Heart Disease Using Fluorescence Microscopy And Optical Trapping, Justin Edward Reynolds
Honors Theses
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a hereditary disease in which the myocardium becomes hypertrophied, making it more difficult for the heart to pump blood. HCM is commonly caused by a mutation in the β-cardiac myosin II heavy chain. Myosin is a motor protein that facilitates muscle contraction by converting chemical energy from ATP hydrolysis into mechanical work and concomitantly moving along actin filaments. Optical tweezers have been used previously to analyze single myosin biophysical properties; however, myosin does not work as a single unit within the heart. Multiple myosin interacts to displace actin filaments and do not have the same properties …
Studies Of Salvinorin-Based Antagonists To Elucidate Pertinent Interactions For Kappa Opioid Receptor Antagonism, Madeline Keane
Studies Of Salvinorin-Based Antagonists To Elucidate Pertinent Interactions For Kappa Opioid Receptor Antagonism, Madeline Keane
Honors Theses
Opioid abuse, leading to addiction and related deaths, has created a chronic epidemic in the United States for the past 30 years. This crisis has sprung from reliance on the prescription of opioid analgesics as the primary method for the management of pain in the 1990s. At that time, these drugs, specifically Purdue Pharma’s OxyContin, were marketed as non-addictive. Due to this systemic minimization of the addictive properties of opioid analgesics, as prescription rates increased, opioid-related mortality rates climbed. This epidemic continues to be pervasive, as opioid-related overdose resulted in 47,600 deaths in 2017. In addition to the opioid epidemic, …
Cell Proliferation And Viability Inhibition By Resveratrol On Breast Cancer Cell Lines, Kyle Ford Gordon Jr
Cell Proliferation And Viability Inhibition By Resveratrol On Breast Cancer Cell Lines, Kyle Ford Gordon Jr
Honors Theses
Antioxidants are well-known for their various health benefits. They are able to protect cells from being damaged by free radicals that are produced by vital biochemical processes. It has long been known that antioxidants are important in our everyday health, but their potential as disease preventers and potential therapeutic agents is a relatively new field of study. Resveratrol, a natural polyphenol and well-known antioxidant, is found in plants, fruits, and products derived from them, like red wine. Resveratrol has been shown to have various properties, including antiaging, anti-aggregation of platelets, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. Because of their many health benefits, …
The Effects Of Largazole, A Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor, On Breast Cancer Cell Viability And Metastasis, Hannah Mccowan
The Effects Of Largazole, A Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor, On Breast Cancer Cell Viability And Metastasis, Hannah Mccowan
Honors Theses
Histone deacetylase enzymes modify epigenetic characteristics of a genome by removing acetyl groups from histone proteins in chromatin. Histone deacetylase inhibitors work by stopping this activity which can have various results in a cell including apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, differentiation, and migration. The purpose of these experiments was to see how largazole, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, affected cell viability for breast cancer and associated metastatic cell lines in both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. The experiment was completed by setting up two 96-well plates with varying concentrations of largazole and conducting a sulforhodamine viability assay. The specific cell lines used in …
Cloning And Expression Of Human Synaptosome Associated Protein 29 In E. Coli, Logan M. Ryals
Cloning And Expression Of Human Synaptosome Associated Protein 29 In E. Coli, Logan M. Ryals
Honors Theses
Acting as the chief mediators of vesicular fusion, soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) play a role in many intracellular trafficking events by moving opposing membranes into close proximity. One such event takes place in the process of autophagy. A key SNARE involved in autophagy is Synaptosome Associated Protein 29 (SNAP-29), which acts on the autophagosome membrane to promote autophagosome and lysosome fusion. Kaposi’s Sarcoma Herpesvirus (KSHV) proteins ORF33 and ORF38 were demonstrated to interact with SNAP-29. The exact mechanism of this interaction is yet to be elucidated but it is hypothesized that these interactions allow KSHV to modulate …
Alpha-Gal Syndrome: Molecular Characterization Of Amblyomma Americanum Α-D-Galactosidase In Α-Gal Metabolism And Onset Of Red Meat Allergy, Ahmed A. Mohamed
Alpha-Gal Syndrome: Molecular Characterization Of Amblyomma Americanum Α-D-Galactosidase In Α-Gal Metabolism And Onset Of Red Meat Allergy, Ahmed A. Mohamed
Honors Theses
Tick-borne red meat allergy is an IgE-mediated delayed hypersensitivity reaction, increasingly widespread in tick endemic areas in the United States of America, and worldwide. Bites from the lone-star tick (Amblyomma americanum) are believed to be involved as the source of the sensitization of humans to the oligosaccharide galactose-⍺-1,3-galactose (α-gal), which is found in most mammal-derived food products, including gelatin, broths, and red meat. The purpose of this study is to functionally characterize the lone-star tick α-D-galactosidase (AGS) enzyme and assess its role in α-gal metabolism. This enzyme cleaves terminal α-galactose moieties from glycoproteins and glycolipids. Hence, I hypothesized …
A Study Of The Antioxidant Versus Pro-Oxidant Nature Of The Amyloid Beta Peptide And An Analysis Of The Natural Products, Isorhamnetin And Narignenin, As Antioxidants, Kaylee Holmes
Honors Theses
Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder with no cure. Due to the widespread effects of this disease, abundant research efforts have gone towards finding a cure. The amyloid beta (Ab) peptide has been shown to be a potential cause of the disease due to destructive effects on tissues that it can have both by itself and through reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. This study was performed in order to assess the structural properties of Ab42monomers, fibrils and oligomers, to assess the antioxidant versus pro-oxidant behavior of the Ab peptide, and to assess the antioxidant nature of the natural …
Synthesis Of Novel Temozolomide-Fatty Acid Imide Hybrid Compounds For The Chemotherapeutic Treatment Of Glioblastoma Multiforme, Janice Pakkianathan
Synthesis Of Novel Temozolomide-Fatty Acid Imide Hybrid Compounds For The Chemotherapeutic Treatment Of Glioblastoma Multiforme, Janice Pakkianathan
Honors Theses
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive form of brain cancer that originates from glial cells, which make up the supportive tissue surrounding neurons. Temozolomide (TMZ) is the current chemotherapeutic drug administered to treat GBM as it works to inhibit the growth of the cancer cells. This research study focused on developing a method for synthesizing novel hybrid compounds that combines TMZ with various fatty acids known to have anticancer properties, forming a series of imide compounds with potential chemotherapeutic effects. Before synthesizing the compounds, various methods for synthesizing an imide from a primary amide were tested to ensure that TMZ …
The Effects Of Transgenic Alterations Of Bicarbonate-Utilizing Enzymes In Escherichia Coli On The Activity Of Acetyl-Coa Carboxylase, Aniko Alicia Nowakowski
The Effects Of Transgenic Alterations Of Bicarbonate-Utilizing Enzymes In Escherichia Coli On The Activity Of Acetyl-Coa Carboxylase, Aniko Alicia Nowakowski
Honors Theses
No abstract provided.
Understanding How Human Lipoxygenases Bind Molecular Oxygen And Arachidonic Acid Substrate, Austin Paul Primeaux
Understanding How Human Lipoxygenases Bind Molecular Oxygen And Arachidonic Acid Substrate, Austin Paul Primeaux
Honors Theses
No abstract provided.
Effects Of Light Intensity On The Oxygen Production Of Arthrosprira Platensis, Savannah Edwards
Effects Of Light Intensity On The Oxygen Production Of Arthrosprira Platensis, Savannah Edwards
Honors Theses
Space travel is challenging due to the depletion of resources as missions become lengthier. The cyanobacteria, Arthrosprira platensis, commonly known as Spirulina, has the potential to resolve this problem. In order to determine the effects of light intensity and nutrient availability on oxygen production and cell population growth, experiments were run on Spirulina at different light intensities and different nutrient levels. Spirulina cultures were grown in white light boxes with different light conditions (10 ��mol m-2 s-1 , 18 ��mol m-2 s-1, and a light-dark cycle with 18 hours of 18 ��mol m-2 s-1 per 24 hour period ). Oxygen …
The Biochemical Characterization Of Cellular Retinoic Acid Binding Protein Type 1 (Crabp1), Emma Magna
The Biochemical Characterization Of Cellular Retinoic Acid Binding Protein Type 1 (Crabp1), Emma Magna
Honors Theses
The goal of this research was to express and purify Cellular Retinoic Acid Binding Protein Type 1 (CRABP1). CRABP1 binds to retinoic acid in the cell and shuttles the retinoic acid from one area in the cell to another. The overproduction of CRABP1 appears to be problematic because it can sequester the retinoic acid and prevent it from regulating gene expression. Previous studies have shown that increased levels of CRABP1 can result in tumor-promoting activity and disruption of lipid biology in the cell. Our objective was to express this protein in an inducible bacterial system, so that we could purify …
The Effects Of Signaling Molecules To Agrobacterium Tumefaciens Tumorigenesis At Plant Wound Sites, Nicole Walker
The Effects Of Signaling Molecules To Agrobacterium Tumefaciens Tumorigenesis At Plant Wound Sites, Nicole Walker
Honors Theses
Agrobacterium tumefaciens can live independently within soil before infecting its host (McCullen and Binns, 2006). The bacterium infects the plant through the rhizosphere, an area of soil along the plant root surface which contains microorganisms, making up the “external metabolome” (Bais et al. 2006). As these bacteria live in the rhizosphere, they are exposed to a multitude of chemical signals. These chemical signals include several conditions that must be met before the virulence machinery is expressed. These conditions include signaling from phenols and sugars as well as low PO4 levels and low pH. Upon wounding, sugars and phenols are released …
Evaluating A Culprit: A Review Of The Biochemical Mechanisms Of Non-Celiac Gluten Intolerance, Callie Cinque
Evaluating A Culprit: A Review Of The Biochemical Mechanisms Of Non-Celiac Gluten Intolerance, Callie Cinque
Honors Theses
Non-Celiac Gluten Intolerance (NCGI) has evaded biological and chemical mechanisms since it was first reported in 1978. Celiac Disease, a multi-system immune mediated disorder has long served as the most similar counterpart to NCGI. Less cases of celiac disease are going undiagnosed reflecting an improvement on sensitive and decisive diagnostic tools. However, NCGI has been significantly growing as a diagnosis over the past decade with little match or similarity to the markers found in celiac disease patients. Critical evaluation of NCGI theories, experimentation, and existing hypotheses is necessary. This review seeks to synthesize multiple disciplines of gluten research and enhance …
Application Of Β-Chloroenals: One-Pot Syntheses To Create Highly Variable, Functional, And Biologically Interesting Molecules, Julia Powell Siewert
Application Of Β-Chloroenals: One-Pot Syntheses To Create Highly Variable, Functional, And Biologically Interesting Molecules, Julia Powell Siewert
Honors Theses
Pyrroles and pyrazoles are privileged structures which provide a molecular framework found in many different classes of bioactive compounds, thus rendering their syntheses useful in pharmaceutical drug development. Additionally, being able to selectively create these molecules with interesting substituents allows for different pharmacological and biological activities, such as antitumor and antibiotic effects. Our group has used β-chloroenals in the application of many different unique synthetic strategies in the past, and here I show that chloroenals can be used to synthesize novel 1,2,5 trisubstituted pyrroles as well as 1,5 di- and 1,4,5 trisubstituted pyrazoles in fewer steps and with milder conditions …
Identifying Metabolites As Markers Of Fatigue In Athletes, Christopher D. George
Identifying Metabolites As Markers Of Fatigue In Athletes, Christopher D. George
Honors Theses
Fatigue in athletes caused by inadequate rest and other stressors can be severely detrimental to their health, and yet there is no reliable way to measure and track fatigue. Many classical measures of fatigue like body mass and resting heart rate are not reliable ways to track the physical fatigue of an athlete because they can change with many factors. In addition, it is not known how academic stress on top of physical stress affects fatigue. Metabolomics is a relatively new area of study and tracking metabolites offers the possibility to produce biomarkers to assess fatigue. This study collected saliva …