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Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology

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2020

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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Acid-Triggered Self-Assembled Egg White Protein-Coated Gold Nanoclusters For Selective Fluorescent Detection Of Fe3+, No2-, And Cysteine, Wenyan Li, Xiangping Wen, Hemiao Zhao, Wenjun Yan, John F. Trant, Yingqi Li Dec 2020

Acid-Triggered Self-Assembled Egg White Protein-Coated Gold Nanoclusters For Selective Fluorescent Detection Of Fe3+, No2-, And Cysteine, Wenyan Li, Xiangping Wen, Hemiao Zhao, Wenjun Yan, John F. Trant, Yingqi Li

Chemistry and Biochemistry Publications

Herein, we present a simple and economical synthesis for the first multianalyte probe able to selectively quantify the concentrations of Fe3+, NO2-, and cysteine. It comprises H+-triggered self-assembled gold nanoclusters (AuNCs@EW/H+, AuEHs), showing enhanced red fluorescence at 640 nm. The AuEH is a good fluorescent nanosensor for Fe3+ and NO2- with detection limits of 1.40 and 2.82 nM, respectively. Iron detection, through fluorescence quenching, occurs because of nanocluster aggregation elicited by the complexation of Fe3+ with amino acids on the surface of AuEH; nitrite detection likely proceeds through fluorescence quenching via the disassembly of the nanoclusters following irreversible oxidation by …


The Supercam Instrument Suite On The Nasa Mars 2020 Rover: Body Unit And Combined System Tests, Roger C. Wiens, Sylvestre Maurice, Scott H. Robinson, Anthony E. Nelson, Philippe Cais, Pernelle Bernardi, Raymond T. Newell, Sam Clegg, Shiv K. Sharma, Steven Storms, Jonathan Deming, Darrel Beckman, Ann M. Ollila, Olivier Gasnault, Ryan B. Anderson, Yves André, Stanley M. Angel, Gorka Arana, Elizabeth Auden, Pierre Beck, Et. Al. Dec 2020

The Supercam Instrument Suite On The Nasa Mars 2020 Rover: Body Unit And Combined System Tests, Roger C. Wiens, Sylvestre Maurice, Scott H. Robinson, Anthony E. Nelson, Philippe Cais, Pernelle Bernardi, Raymond T. Newell, Sam Clegg, Shiv K. Sharma, Steven Storms, Jonathan Deming, Darrel Beckman, Ann M. Ollila, Olivier Gasnault, Ryan B. Anderson, Yves André, Stanley M. Angel, Gorka Arana, Elizabeth Auden, Pierre Beck, Et. Al.

Faculty Publications

The SuperCam instrument suite provides the Mars 2020 rover, Perseverance, with a number of versatile remote-sensing techniques that can be used at long distance as well as within the robotic-arm workspace. These include laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), remote time-resolved Raman and luminescence spectroscopies, and visible and infrared (VISIR; separately referred to as VIS and IR) reflectance spectroscopy. A remote micro-imager (RMI) provides high-resolution color context imaging, and a microphone can be used as a stand-alone tool for environmental studies or to determine physical properties of rocks and soils from shock waves of laser-produced plasmas. SuperCam is built in three parts: …


Quantifying Anticancer Drug Doxorubicin Binding To Dna Using Optical Tweezers, Zachary Ells Dec 2020

Quantifying Anticancer Drug Doxorubicin Binding To Dna Using Optical Tweezers, Zachary Ells

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Doxorubicin is a successful anticancer drug approved for use in the 1970s and is considered to be one of the most effective cancer treatment methods today. Although Doxorubicin has positive survival statistics it has very negative side effects in many cases. Bleeding from the soles of the palms and feet, along with excruciating pain is often exhibited through the administration of this drug. Based on the preliminary findings utilizing optical tweezers we anticipate that this study will provide critical information about the drug binding mechanism. Single molecule biophysics techniques have provided useful insight into the DNA-binding mechanisms of small molecules. …


Epigenetic Regulation Of Wnt Signaling By Carboxamide-Substituted Benzhydryl Amines That Function As Histone Demethylase Inhibitors, Wen Zhang, Vitaliy M. Sviripa, Yanqi Xie, Tianxin Yu, Meghan G. Haney, Jessica S. Blackburn, Charles A. Adeniran, Chang-Guo Zhan, David S. Watt, Chunming Liu Dec 2020

Epigenetic Regulation Of Wnt Signaling By Carboxamide-Substituted Benzhydryl Amines That Function As Histone Demethylase Inhibitors, Wen Zhang, Vitaliy M. Sviripa, Yanqi Xie, Tianxin Yu, Meghan G. Haney, Jessica S. Blackburn, Charles A. Adeniran, Chang-Guo Zhan, David S. Watt, Chunming Liu

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Aberrant activation of Wnt signaling triggered by mutations in either Adenomatous Polyposis Coli (APC) or CTNNB1 (β-catenin) is a hallmark of colorectal cancers (CRC). As part of a program to develop epigenetic regulators for cancer therapy, we developed carboxamide-substituted benzhydryl amines (CBAs) bearing either aryl or heteroaryl groups that selectively targeted histone lysine demethylases (KDMs) and functioned as inhibitors of the Wnt pathway. A biotinylated variant of N-((5-chloro-8-hydroxyquinolin-7-yl) (4-(diethylamino)phenyl)-methyl)butyramide (CBA-1) identified KDM3A as a binding partner. KDM3A is a Jumonji (JmjC) domain-containing demethylase that is significantly upregulated in CRC. KDM3A regulates the demethylation of histone H3's lysine …


Let-Dependent Low Dose And Synergistic Inhibition Of Human Angiogenesis By Charged Particles: Validation Of Mirnas That Drive Inhibition, Amber M. Paul, Yen-Ruh Wuu, Burong Hu, Hazeem Okunola, Elizabeth A. Blaber, Margareth Cheng-Campbell, Afshin Beheshti, Peter Grabham Dec 2020

Let-Dependent Low Dose And Synergistic Inhibition Of Human Angiogenesis By Charged Particles: Validation Of Mirnas That Drive Inhibition, Amber M. Paul, Yen-Ruh Wuu, Burong Hu, Hazeem Okunola, Elizabeth A. Blaber, Margareth Cheng-Campbell, Afshin Beheshti, Peter Grabham

Publications

Space radiation inhibits angiogenesis by two mechanisms depending on the linear energy transfer (LET). Using human 3D micro-vessel models, blockage of the early motile stage of angiogenesis was determined to occur after exposure to low LET ions (/AMU), whereas inhibition of the later stages occurs after exposure to high LET ions (>8 KeV/AMU). Strikingly, the combined effect is synergistic, detectible as low as 0.06 Gy making mixed ion space radiation more potent. Candidates for bystander transmission are microRNAs (miRNAs), and analysis on miRNA-seq data from irradiated mice shows that angiogenesis would in theory be downregulated. Further analysis of three …


Correction: Moxley, R.A., Et Al. Intimate Attachment Of Escherichia Coli O157:H7 To Urinary Bladder Epithelium In The Gnotobiotic Piglet Model. Microorganisms 2020, 8, 263, Rodney A. Moxley, Tom W. Bargar, Stephen D. Kachman, Diane R. Baker, David Francis Dec 2020

Correction: Moxley, R.A., Et Al. Intimate Attachment Of Escherichia Coli O157:H7 To Urinary Bladder Epithelium In The Gnotobiotic Piglet Model. Microorganisms 2020, 8, 263, Rodney A. Moxley, Tom W. Bargar, Stephen D. Kachman, Diane R. Baker, David Francis

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [1]: On page 2, the sentence that reads, “Hence, EHEC is a rare but established cause of HUS in children and adults.” should read, “Hence, EHEC is a rare but established cause of UTI-associated HUS in children and adults.” On page 4, the sentence that reads, “As noted previously, 14 of 126 (13.3%) piglets orally inoculated with EHEC O157:H7 strains developed mild to moderate purulent cystitis within 8 d PI [25] (Table 1).” should read, “As noted previously, 14 of 105 (13.3%) piglets orally inoculated with EHEC O157:H7 strains …


Enzymatic Analysis Of Yeast Cell Wall-Resident Gapdh And Its Secretion, Michael J. Cohen, Brianne Philippe, Peter N. Lipke Dec 2020

Enzymatic Analysis Of Yeast Cell Wall-Resident Gapdh And Its Secretion, Michael J. Cohen, Brianne Philippe, Peter N. Lipke

Publications and Research

In yeast, many proteins are found in both the cytoplasmic and extracellu- lar compartments, and consequently it can be difficult to distinguish nonconventional secretion from cellular leakage. Therefore, we monitored the extracellular glyceralde- hyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) activity of intact cells as a specific marker for nonconventional secretion. Extracellular GAPDH activity was proportional to the number of cells assayed, increased with incubation time, and was dependent on added substrates. Preincubation of intact cells with 100mM dithiothreitol increased the reac- tion rate, consistent with increased access of the enzyme after reduction of cell wall di- sulfide cross-links. Such treatment did not increase …


Single-Fluorophore Sensors For Mechanical Force In Living Cells, Sarah Kricheff Dec 2020

Single-Fluorophore Sensors For Mechanical Force In Living Cells, Sarah Kricheff

Honors Scholar Theses

Mechanotransduction is the process by which a mechanical stimulus is converted to a cellular signal. This process is heavily influential of cell morphology, differentiation, and behavior. However, altered levels of mechanical stimuli are also found in many pathological contexts. For example, cancerous cells have stiffer surrounding tissue than healthy cells, and research suggests that this alters cell behavior and promotes metastasis. Despite these findings, the cellular processes behind these signaling alterations remain widely unknown. Understanding these cascades is critical, as involved proteins can give us a deeper understanding of the role of mechanotransduction, and certain proteins can potentially be targeted …


Pathway‐Extended Gene Expression Signatures Integrate Novel Biomarkers That Improve Predictions Of Patient Responses To Kinase Inhibitors, Ashis Bagchee‐Clark, Eliseos J. Mucaki, Tyson Whitehead, Peter Rogan Dec 2020

Pathway‐Extended Gene Expression Signatures Integrate Novel Biomarkers That Improve Predictions Of Patient Responses To Kinase Inhibitors, Ashis Bagchee‐Clark, Eliseos J. Mucaki, Tyson Whitehead, Peter Rogan

Biochemistry Publications

Cancer chemotherapy responses have been related to multiple pharmacogenetic biomarkers, often for the same drug. This study utilizes machine learning to derive multi‐gene expression signatures that predict individual patient responses to specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors, including erlotinib, gefitinib, sorafenib, sunitinib, lapatinib and imatinib. Support vector machine (SVM) learning was used to train mathematical models that distinguished sensitivity from resistance to these drugs using a novel systems biology‐based approach. This began with expression of genes previously implicated in specific drug responses, then expanded to evaluate genes whose products were related through biochemical pathways and interactions. Optimal pathway‐extended SVMs predicted responses in …


Nek1 Phosphorylation Of Yap Promotes Its Stabilization And Transcriptional Output, Md Imtiaz Khalil, Ishita Ghosh, Vibha Singh, Jing Chen, Haining Zhu, Arrigo De Benedetti Dec 2020

Nek1 Phosphorylation Of Yap Promotes Its Stabilization And Transcriptional Output, Md Imtiaz Khalil, Ishita Ghosh, Vibha Singh, Jing Chen, Haining Zhu, Arrigo De Benedetti

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Most prostate cancer (PCa) deaths result from progressive failure in standard androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), leading to metastatic castration-resistant PCa (mCRPC); however, the mechanism and key players leading to this are not fully understood. While studying the role of tousled-like kinase 1 (TLK1) and never in mitosis gene A (NIMA)-related kinase 1 (NEK1) in a DNA damage response (DDR)-mediated cell cycle arrest in LNCaP cells treated with bicalutamide, we uncovered that overexpression of wt-NEK1 resulted in a rapid conversion to androgen-independent (AI) growth, analogous to what has been observed when YAP1 is overexpressed. We now report that overexpression of wt-NEK1 …


Sestrins: Emerging Dynamic Stress-Sensors In Metabolic And Environmental Health, Seung Hyun Ro, Julianne Fay, Cesar I. Cyuzuzo, Yura Jang, Naeun Lee, Hyun Seob Song, Edward N. Harris Dec 2020

Sestrins: Emerging Dynamic Stress-Sensors In Metabolic And Environmental Health, Seung Hyun Ro, Julianne Fay, Cesar I. Cyuzuzo, Yura Jang, Naeun Lee, Hyun Seob Song, Edward N. Harris

Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications

Proper timely management of various external and internal stresses is critical for metabolic and redox homeostasis in mammals. In particular, dysregulation of mechanistic target of rapamycin complex (mTORC) triggered from metabolic stress and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated from environmental and genotoxic stress are well-known culprits leading to chronic metabolic disease conditions in humans. Sestrins are one of the metabolic and environmental stress-responsive groups of proteins, which solely have the ability to regulate both mTORC activity and ROS levels in cells, tissues and organs. While Sestrins are originally reported as one of several p53 target genes, recent studies …


Physical Drivers Facilitating A Toxigenic Cyanobacterial Bloom In A Major Great Lakes Tributary, Paul G. Matson, Gregory L. Boyer, Thomas B. Bridgeman, George S. Bullerjahn, Douglas D. Kane, Robert M.L. Mckay, Katelyn M. Mckindles, Heather A. Raymond, Brenda K. Snyder, Richard P. Stumpf, Timothy W. Davis Dec 2020

Physical Drivers Facilitating A Toxigenic Cyanobacterial Bloom In A Major Great Lakes Tributary, Paul G. Matson, Gregory L. Boyer, Thomas B. Bridgeman, George S. Bullerjahn, Douglas D. Kane, Robert M.L. Mckay, Katelyn M. Mckindles, Heather A. Raymond, Brenda K. Snyder, Richard P. Stumpf, Timothy W. Davis

Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research Publications

The Maumee River is the primary source for nutrients fueling seasonal Microcystis-dominated blooms in western Lake Erie's open waters though such blooms in the river are infrequent. The river also serves as source water for multiple public water systems and a large food services facility in northwest Ohio. On 20 September 2017, an unprecedented bloom was reported in the Maumee River estuary within the Toledo metropolitan area, which triggered a recreational water advisory. Here we (1) explore physical drivers likely contributing to the bloom's occurrence, and (2) describe the toxin concentration and bacterioplankton taxonomic composition. A historical analysis using 10-years …


Spatial Profiling Of Gangliosides In Mouse Brain By Mass Spectrometry Imaging, Douglas A. Andres, Lyndsay E. A. Young, Matthew S. Gentry, Ramon C. Sun Dec 2020

Spatial Profiling Of Gangliosides In Mouse Brain By Mass Spectrometry Imaging, Douglas A. Andres, Lyndsay E. A. Young, Matthew S. Gentry, Ramon C. Sun

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.


Unconventional Constituents And Shared Molecular Architecture Of The Melanized Cell Wall Of C. Neoformans And Spore Wall Of S. Cerevisiae, Christine Chrissian, Coney Pei-Chin Lin, Emma Camacho, Arturo Casadevall, Aaron M. Neiman, Ruth E. Stark Dec 2020

Unconventional Constituents And Shared Molecular Architecture Of The Melanized Cell Wall Of C. Neoformans And Spore Wall Of S. Cerevisiae, Christine Chrissian, Coney Pei-Chin Lin, Emma Camacho, Arturo Casadevall, Aaron M. Neiman, Ruth E. Stark

Publications and Research

The fungal cell wall serves as the interface between the cell and the environment. Fungal cell walls are composed largely of polysaccharides, primarily glucans and chitin, though in many fungi stress-resistant cell types elaborate additional cell wall structures. Here, we use solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to compare the architecture of cell wall fractions isolated from Saccharomyces cerevisiae spores and Cryptococcus neoformans melanized cells. The specialized cell walls of these two divergent fungi are highly similar in composition. Both use chitosan, the deacetylated derivative of chitin, as a scaffold on which a polyaromatic polymer, dityrosine and melanin, respectively, is assembled. …


The Circadian Clock—A Molecular Tool For Survival In Cyanobacteria, Pyonghwa Kim, Manpreet Kaur, Hye-In Jang, Yongick Kim Dec 2020

The Circadian Clock—A Molecular Tool For Survival In Cyanobacteria, Pyonghwa Kim, Manpreet Kaur, Hye-In Jang, Yongick Kim

Chemistry Faculty Research

Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic organisms that are known to be responsible for oxygenating Earth’s early atmosphere. Having evolved to ensure optimal survival in the periodic light/dark cycle on this planet, their genetic codes are packed with various tools, including a sophisticated biological timekeeping system. Among the cyanobacteria is Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942, the simplest clock-harboring organism with a powerful genetic tool that enabled the identification of its intricate timekeeping mechanism. The three central oscillator proteins—KaiA, KaiB, and KaiC—drive the 24 h cyclic gene expression rhythm of cyanobacteria, and the “ticking” of the oscillator can be reconstituted inside a test tube just …


The Role Of Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells In Liver Malady Homeostasis, Fatima Cabral Dec 2020

The Role Of Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells In Liver Malady Homeostasis, Fatima Cabral

Department of Biochemistry: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Current literature described techniques for the purification of liver cell types through text alone. The techniques described for the isolation of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells as well as hepatocytes described here are modified from a published article in the Journal of Visualized experiments. The video protocol allows for the user to successfully isolate cells as the most difficult parts of the procedure are demonstrated visually. The detection of liver maladies such as the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, the stage if this disease and differentiation between non-alcoholic and alcoholic fatty liver disease is demonstrated in the development of a unique panel …


Editorial: Structure And Function Of Chloroplasts - Volume Ii, Yan Lu, Lu Ning Liu, Rebecca L. Roston, Jurgen Soll, Hongbo Gao Nov 2020

Editorial: Structure And Function Of Chloroplasts - Volume Ii, Yan Lu, Lu Ning Liu, Rebecca L. Roston, Jurgen Soll, Hongbo Gao

Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.


Dna Aptamer-Drug Targeting Chemotherapy: Investigation Of Cell Cycle Inhibition Via S15 Aptamer – Norcantharidin Complex, Shannon Fehr Nov 2020

Dna Aptamer-Drug Targeting Chemotherapy: Investigation Of Cell Cycle Inhibition Via S15 Aptamer – Norcantharidin Complex, Shannon Fehr

Senior Honors Theses

Lung Cancer is the leading cause of cancer related death in both men and women in the United States (Bray et al., 2018). Cancer treatments are often non-specific and kill many dividing cells within a patient causing unwanted side effects. Norcantharidin (NCTD) is a synthetic FDA approved treatment for cancers including non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). NCTD suppresses cell proliferation by inhibiting cells from exiting the G2 phase of the cell cycle. Aptamers are short single-stranded DNA or RNA molecules with ligand directed self-annealing capabilities allowing selective binding to specific targets. This paper will discuss the hypothesized effects of using …


An Investigation Into The Adverse Effects Of Oxidative Stress From Exposure To Bisphenol A And Its Analogues, Rachel Nas Nov 2020

An Investigation Into The Adverse Effects Of Oxidative Stress From Exposure To Bisphenol A And Its Analogues, Rachel Nas

Senior Honors Theses

Oxidative stress is a physiological event caused by an overaccumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within the body. While ROS are a natural by-product of oxygen metabolism, too many can lead to cell and tissue damage and contribute to many etiologies. Bisphenol A (BPA), a component of many plastic products, has been shown to induce oxidative stress. While the industrial usage of BPA usage has lessened, the safety of its replacements is unknown. This paper will primarily discuss ROS and mechanisms of oxidative stress, the usage of BPA and its analogues, etiologies associated with oxidative stress resulting from exposure to …


Biophysical Analysis Of Pseudomonas-Phage Pap3 Small Terminase Suggests A Mechanism For Sequence-Specific Dna-Binding By Lateral Interdigitation., Marzia Niazi, Tyler J. Florio, Ruoyu Yang, Ravi K. Lokareddy, Nicholas A. Swanson, Richard E. Gillilan, Gino Cingolani Nov 2020

Biophysical Analysis Of Pseudomonas-Phage Pap3 Small Terminase Suggests A Mechanism For Sequence-Specific Dna-Binding By Lateral Interdigitation., Marzia Niazi, Tyler J. Florio, Ruoyu Yang, Ravi K. Lokareddy, Nicholas A. Swanson, Richard E. Gillilan, Gino Cingolani

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

The genome packaging motor of tailed bacteriophages and herpesviruses is a powerful nanomachine built by several copies of a large (TerL) and a small (TerS) terminase subunit. The motor assembles transiently at the portal vertex of an empty precursor capsid (or procapsid) to power genome encapsidation. Terminase subunits have been studied in-depth, especially in classical bacteriophages that infect Escherichia coli or Salmonella, yet, less is known about the packaging motor of Pseudomonas-phages that have increasing biomedical relevance. Here, we investigated the small terminase subunit from three Podoviridae phages that infect Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We found TerS is polymorphic in solution but …


A Co-Opted Steroid Synthesis Gene, Maintained In Sorghum But Not Maize, Is Associated With A Divergence In Leaf Wax Chemistry, Lucas Busta, Elizabeth Schmitz, Dylan K. Kosma, James C. Schnable, Edgar B. Cahoon Nov 2020

A Co-Opted Steroid Synthesis Gene, Maintained In Sorghum But Not Maize, Is Associated With A Divergence In Leaf Wax Chemistry, Lucas Busta, Elizabeth Schmitz, Dylan K. Kosma, James C. Schnable, Edgar B. Cahoon

Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications

Virtually all land plants are coated in a cuticle, a waxy polyester that prevents nonstomatal water loss and is important for heat and drought tolerance. Here, we describe a likely genetic basis for a divergence in cuticular wax chemistry between Sorghum bicolor, a drought tolerant crop widely cultivated in hot climates, and its close relative Zea mays (maize). Combining chemical analyses, heterologous expression, and comparative genomics, we reveal that: 1) sorghum and maize leaf waxes are similar at the juvenile stage but, after the juvenile-to-adult transition, sorghum leaf waxes are rich in triterpenoids that are absent from maize; 2) biosynthesis …


Natalia Shustova Answers Questions About 15 Years Of Research On Covalent Organic Frameworks, Natalia B. Shustova Prof. Dr. Nov 2020

Natalia Shustova Answers Questions About 15 Years Of Research On Covalent Organic Frameworks, Natalia B. Shustova Prof. Dr.

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.


Pathway-Extended Gene Expression Signatures Integrate Novel Biomarkers That Improve Predictions Of Patient Responses To Kinase Inhibitors, Ashis Jem Bagchee-Clark, Eliseos J. Mucaki, Tyson Whitehead, Peter Rogan Nov 2020

Pathway-Extended Gene Expression Signatures Integrate Novel Biomarkers That Improve Predictions Of Patient Responses To Kinase Inhibitors, Ashis Jem Bagchee-Clark, Eliseos J. Mucaki, Tyson Whitehead, Peter Rogan

Biochemistry Publications

No abstract provided.


Pathway-Extended Gene Expression Signatures Integrate Novel Biomarkers That Improve Predictions Of Patient Responses To Kinase Inhibitors, Jem Bagchee-Clark, Eliseos J. Mucaki, Tyson Whitehead, Peter Rogan Nov 2020

Pathway-Extended Gene Expression Signatures Integrate Novel Biomarkers That Improve Predictions Of Patient Responses To Kinase Inhibitors, Jem Bagchee-Clark, Eliseos J. Mucaki, Tyson Whitehead, Peter Rogan

Biochemistry Publications

Cancer chemotherapy responses have been related to multiple pharmacogenetic biomarkers, often for the same drug. This study utilizes machine learning to derive multi-gene expression signatures that predict individual patient responses to specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors, including erlotinib, gefitinib, sorafenib, sunitinib, lapatinib and imatinib. Support Vector Machine learning was used to train mathematical models that distinguished sensitivity from resistance to these drugs using a novel systems biology-based approach. This began with expression of genes previously implicated in specific drug responses, then expanded to evaluate genes whose products were related through biochemical pathways and interactions. Optimal pathway-extended support vector machines predicted responses …


An In Silico Approach To Enzymatic Synthesis Of Fucooligosaccharides Using Α-L-Fucosidase From Thermotoga Maritima, Emmanuel Pérez-Escalante, Luis Guillermo González-Olivares, Araceli Castañeda-Ovando, Alma Elizabeth Cruz-Guerrero, John F. Trant, Wendolyne López-Orozco, Luis Humberto Mendoza-Huizar, Sergio Alatorre-Santamaría Nov 2020

An In Silico Approach To Enzymatic Synthesis Of Fucooligosaccharides Using Α-L-Fucosidase From Thermotoga Maritima, Emmanuel Pérez-Escalante, Luis Guillermo González-Olivares, Araceli Castañeda-Ovando, Alma Elizabeth Cruz-Guerrero, John F. Trant, Wendolyne López-Orozco, Luis Humberto Mendoza-Huizar, Sergio Alatorre-Santamaría

Chemistry and Biochemistry Publications

Abstract: Fucooligosaccharides comprise the primary group of human milk oligosaccharides. Due to their beneficial properties, a series of synthetic methods have been proposed to obtain them. Enzy- matic methods show great promise, and α-L-fucosidase from Thermotoga maritima has emerged as a powerful catalyst for their production. Nonetheless, the enzyme’s limited substrate scope has de- layed its wider application. The present work aims to compare the relative reactivity of fucose, pNP-fucose, and ethyl-fucose, while also exploring the molecular interactions of these fucosyl-donors with the enzyme through a combination DFT and docking analysis. The HOMO-LUMO band gaps range from −7.14571 to −4.24429 …


Bacterial Mechanisms Of Toxicity And Resistance To Organoarsenicals, Luis D. Garbinski Nov 2020

Bacterial Mechanisms Of Toxicity And Resistance To Organoarsenicals, Luis D. Garbinski

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Arsenic is a toxic element prevalent in the environment since the origin of life on Earth. Bacteria evolved in an arsenic-rich environment, where they developed ways to both overcome arsenic toxicity and harness it to compete with other organisms. These mechanisms include chemical modifications (e.g. oxidation, methylation), degradation, and efflux. The goal of this dissertation is to better characterize these mechanisms, illuminating the arsenic biogeocycle and allowing us to harness organoarsenical toxicity for novel antibiotics. A goal of my research was to elucidate the antibiotic properties of MAs(III), which is synthesized by bacteria to thrive over other bacteria, by identifying …


Rapid Evolution Of Aerosol Particles And Their Optical Properties Downwind Of Wildfires In The Western Us, Lawrence I. Kleinman, Arthur J. Sedlacek, Kouji Adachi, Peter R. Buseck, Sonya Collier, Manvendra K. Dubey, Anna L. Hodshire, Ernie Lewis, Timothy B. Onasch, Jeffery R. Pierce, John Shilling, Stephen R. Springston, Jian Wang, Qi Zhang, Shan Zhou, Robert J. Yokelson Nov 2020

Rapid Evolution Of Aerosol Particles And Their Optical Properties Downwind Of Wildfires In The Western Us, Lawrence I. Kleinman, Arthur J. Sedlacek, Kouji Adachi, Peter R. Buseck, Sonya Collier, Manvendra K. Dubey, Anna L. Hodshire, Ernie Lewis, Timothy B. Onasch, Jeffery R. Pierce, John Shilling, Stephen R. Springston, Jian Wang, Qi Zhang, Shan Zhou, Robert J. Yokelson

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications

During the first phase of the Biomass Burn Operational Project (BBOP) field campaign, conducted in the Pacific Northwest, the DOE G-1 aircraft was used to follow the time evolution of wildfire smoke from near the point of emission to locations 2-3.5 h downwind. In nine flights we made repeated transects of wildfire plumes at varying downwind distances and could thereby follow the plume's time evolution. On average there was little change in dilution-normalized aerosol mass concentration as a function of downwind distance. This consistency hides a dynamic system in which primary aerosol particles are evaporating and secondary ones condensing. Organic …


Development Of A Dna Methylation Multiplex Assay For Body Fluid Identification And Age Determination, Quentin Gauthier Nov 2020

Development Of A Dna Methylation Multiplex Assay For Body Fluid Identification And Age Determination, Quentin Gauthier

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For forensic laboratories, the determination of body fluid origin of samples collected at a crime scene are typically presumptive and often destructive. However, given that in certain cases the presence of DNA is not in dispute and rather where the DNA came from is of primary concern, new methodologies are needed. Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, affect gene expression in every cell of every mammal. These DNA methylation patterns typically are observed as the addition of a methyl group on the 5’ carbon of a cytosine followed by guanine (CpG). Methylation patterns have been observed to change in response …


Hysteretic Behavior In Voltage-Gated Channels, Carlos A. Villalba-Galea, Alvin T. Chiem Nov 2020

Hysteretic Behavior In Voltage-Gated Channels, Carlos A. Villalba-Galea, Alvin T. Chiem

School of Pharmacy Faculty Articles

An ever-growing body of evidence has shown that voltage-gated ion channels are likely molecular systems that display hysteresis in their activity. This phenomenon manifests in the form of dynamic changes in both their voltage dependence of activity and their deactivation kinetics. The goal of this review is to provide a clear definition of hysteresis in terms of the behavior of voltage-gated channels. This review will discuss the basic behavior of voltage-gated channel activity and how they make these proteins into systems displaying hysteresis. It will also provide a perspective on putative mechanisms underlying hysteresis and explain its potential physiological relevance. …


Dissolved Microcystin Release Coincident With Lysis Of A Bloom Dominated By Microcystis Spp. In Western Lake Erie Attributed To A Novel Cyanophage, Katelyn M. Mckindles, Makayla A. Manes, Jonathan R. Demarco, Andrew Mcclure, R. Michael Mckay, Timothy W. Davis, George S. Bullerjahn Nov 2020

Dissolved Microcystin Release Coincident With Lysis Of A Bloom Dominated By Microcystis Spp. In Western Lake Erie Attributed To A Novel Cyanophage, Katelyn M. Mckindles, Makayla A. Manes, Jonathan R. Demarco, Andrew Mcclure, R. Michael Mckay, Timothy W. Davis, George S. Bullerjahn

Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research Publications

Western Lake Erie (Laurentian Great Lakes) is prone to annual cyano- bacterial harmful algal blooms (cHABs) dominated by Microcystis spp. that often yield microcystin toxin concentrations exceeding the federal EPA recreational con-tact advisory of 8 μg liter-1. In August 2014, microcystin levels were detected in fin-ished drinking water above the World Health Organization 1.0 μg liter-1 threshold for consumption, leading to a 2-day disruption in the supply of drinking water for >400,000 residents of Toledo, Ohio (USA). Subsequent metatranscriptomic analysis of the 2014 bloom event provided evidence that release of toxin into the water sup-ply was likely caused by cyanophage …