Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 5 of 5
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Integration Of Bmp And Insulin/Igf-1 Signaling Regulates Multiple Homeostatic Functions In Caenorhabditis Elegans, James F. Clark
Integration Of Bmp And Insulin/Igf-1 Signaling Regulates Multiple Homeostatic Functions In Caenorhabditis Elegans, James F. Clark
Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
The maintenance of homeostatic functions is key to the survival and well-being of an organism. Regulation of homeostasis relies on varied inputs, both intrinsic and extrinsic, to potentiate a web of interconnected signaling relays. Insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS) is a well-known regulator of glucose and lipid metabolism, as well as having far reaching effects in other homeostatic mechanisms. On the other hand, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), a member of the transforming growth factor beta signaling superfamily, is known for its role in differentiation and development, with only recent studies highlighting potential roles in metabolic homeostasis. Here we elucidate new functions for …
Autophagy And Lipid Homeostasis In C. Elegans, Melissa J. Silvestrini
Autophagy And Lipid Homeostasis In C. Elegans, Melissa J. Silvestrini
Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
The worldwide prevalence of obesity, particularly in developed nations, has become an epidemic in recent decades and the trend is continuing to rise. Moreover, the prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents is rising at an alarming rate. Obesity is associated with an increased risk of metabolic disorders including heart disease, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Therefore it is no surprise that lipid-related metabolic disorders have become a significant burden to our healthcare system. In recent years, the conserved cellular recycling process of autophagy has been linked to several lipid-related metabolic disorders, including insulin resistance, …
Role Of Bec-1/Beclin 1 And Autophagy Genes In C.Elegans Germline Cell Proliferation, Kristina Ames
Role Of Bec-1/Beclin 1 And Autophagy Genes In C.Elegans Germline Cell Proliferation, Kristina Ames
Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
Autophagy is an evolutionary conserved process involved in the cellular adaptation to stress and basal levels of autophagy are crucial for cellular metabolism and homeostasis. Cellular recycling by autophagy is characterized by the formation of distinctive double-membrane vesicles (autophagosomes) that engulf unnecessary cytoplasmic components, such as organelles and long-lived proteins. Failure to remove protein aggregates and/or damaged organelles, via autophagy, has been implicated in various medical conditions such as liver disease, neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Autophagy may suppress or promote cellular proliferation in tumors, depending on the type and metabolic state of the cell, where autophagy is generally believed to …
Identification And Characterization Of Protein Phopshatases Regulating The Sma/Mab Pathway In C. Elegans, Sheng Xiong
Identification And Characterization Of Protein Phopshatases Regulating The Sma/Mab Pathway In C. Elegans, Sheng Xiong
Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
TGF-beta signaling is a conserved signaling pathway among eukaryotes, which controls various normal cellular responses from cell proliferation to cell death. The mutations in its components are found in developmental disorders and cancer. Therefore, this signaling pathway is extensively investigated so that new therapeutic targets could be discovered and novel drugs could be developed. Previous studies suggested the involvement of phosphatases in regulation of TGF-beta signaling, but these studies were performed in cell culture rather than intact organisms. C. elegans is a tractable organism in which to study signaling in vivo. In C. elegans, growth is controled by a conserved …
Candida Albicans Als5p Amyloid In Host-Microbe Interactions: A Ceanorhabditis Elegans Study, Michael Bois
Candida Albicans Als5p Amyloid In Host-Microbe Interactions: A Ceanorhabditis Elegans Study, Michael Bois
Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
Candida albicans, a dimorphic fungus and an opportunistic pathogen, possesses a myriad of adherence factors including members of the agglutinin-like sequence (Als) family of mannoproteins. The adhesin Als5p mediates adhesion to many substrates, and is upregulated during commensal interactions, but is downregulated during active C. albicans infections[1]. An amyloid forming core sequence at residues 325-331 has been shown to be important for Als5p function, because a single amino acid substitution at position 326 (V326N) greatly reduces Als5p-mediated adherence[2]. We evaluated the role of Als5p in host-microbe interactions, using Caenorhabditis elegans as a host model and feeding them Saccharomyces cerevisiae expressing …