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Articles 61 - 90 of 261
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Bpab, A Novel Protein Encoded By The Lyme Disease Spirochete's Cp32 Prophages, Binds To Erp Operator 2 Dna, Logan H. Burns, Claire A. Adams, Sean P. Riley, Brandon L. Jutras, Amy Bowman, Alicia M. Chenail, Anne E. Cooley, Laura A. Haselhorst, Alisha M. Moore, Kelly Babb, Michael G. Fried, Brian Stevenson
Bpab, A Novel Protein Encoded By The Lyme Disease Spirochete's Cp32 Prophages, Binds To Erp Operator 2 Dna, Logan H. Burns, Claire A. Adams, Sean P. Riley, Brandon L. Jutras, Amy Bowman, Alicia M. Chenail, Anne E. Cooley, Laura A. Haselhorst, Alisha M. Moore, Kelly Babb, Michael G. Fried, Brian Stevenson
Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications
Borrelia burgdorferi produces Erp outer surface proteins throughout mammalian infection, but represses their synthesis during colonization of vector ticks. A DNA region 5′ of the start of erp transcription, Operator 2, was previously shown to be essential for regulation of expression. We now report identification and characterization of a novel erp Operator 2-binding protein, which we named BpaB. erp operons are located on episomal cp32 prophages, and a single bacterium may contain as many as 10 different cp32s. Each cp32 family member encodes a unique BpaB protein, yet the three tested cp32-encoded BpaB alleles all bound to the same DNA …
Splice Factor Sfrs6: Regulation By P53 And Effect On Il-24 Splicing, Erin L. Schmidt
Splice Factor Sfrs6: Regulation By P53 And Effect On Il-24 Splicing, Erin L. Schmidt
Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects
Alternative splicing of RNA transcripts is emerging as a major mechanism for expanding the proteome. Splice pattern changes are found in numerous diseases and cancers, indicating the importance of tight control over this process. While the mechanism of splicing has been described in detail, it is less clear how a cell is able to modify its splicing patterns in response to different conditions. Our lab previously demonstrated that DNA damage can induce SFRS6, the gene coding for splicing factor SRp55, thereby leading to changes in the splicing patterns of several target genes related to survival and apoptosis. We also …
Genome Sequence Of The Model Mushroom Schizophyllum Commune, Robin A. Ohm, Jan F. De Jong, Luis G. Lugones, Andrea Aerts, Erika Kothe, Jason E. Stajich, Ronald P. De Vries, Eric Record, Anthony Levasseur, Scott E. Baker, Kirk A. Bartholomew, Pedro M. Coutinho, Susann Erdmann, Thomas J. Fowler, Allen C. Gathmen, Vincent Lombard, Bernard Henrissat, Nicole Knabe, Ursula Kues, Walt W. Lily
Genome Sequence Of The Model Mushroom Schizophyllum Commune, Robin A. Ohm, Jan F. De Jong, Luis G. Lugones, Andrea Aerts, Erika Kothe, Jason E. Stajich, Ronald P. De Vries, Eric Record, Anthony Levasseur, Scott E. Baker, Kirk A. Bartholomew, Pedro M. Coutinho, Susann Erdmann, Thomas J. Fowler, Allen C. Gathmen, Vincent Lombard, Bernard Henrissat, Nicole Knabe, Ursula Kues, Walt W. Lily
Biology Faculty Publications
Much remains to be learned about the biology of mushroom-forming fungi, which are an important source of food, secondary metabolites and industrial enzymes. The wood-degrading fungus Schizophyllum commune is both a genetically tractable model for studying mushroom development and a likely source of enzymes capable of efficient degradation of lignocellulosic biomass. Comparative analyses of its 38.5-megabase genome, which encodes 13,210 predicted genes, reveal the species's unique wood-degrading machinery. One-third of the 471 genes predicted to encode transcription factors are differentially expressed during sexual development of S. commune. Whereas inactivation of one of these, fst4, prevented mushroom formation, inactivation of another, …
Conidia But Not Yeast Cells Of The Fungal Pathogen Histoplasma Capsulatum Trigger A Type I Interferon Innate Immune Response In Murine Macrophages, Diane O. Inglis, Charlotte A. Berkes, Davina R. Hocking Murray, Anita Sil
Conidia But Not Yeast Cells Of The Fungal Pathogen Histoplasma Capsulatum Trigger A Type I Interferon Innate Immune Response In Murine Macrophages, Diane O. Inglis, Charlotte A. Berkes, Davina R. Hocking Murray, Anita Sil
Biology Faculty Publications
Histoplasma capsulatum is the most common cause of fungal respiratory infections and can lead to progressive disseminated infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Infection occurs upon inhalation of the aerosolized spores, known as conidia. Once inside the host, conidia are phagocytosed by alveolar macrophages. The conidia subsequently germinate and produce a budding yeast-like form that colonizes host macrophages and can disseminate throughout host organs and tissues. Even though conidia are the predominant infectious particle for H. capsulatum and are the first cell type encountered by the host during infection, very little is known at a molecular level about conidia or about …
G-Lattices For An Unrooted Perfect Phylogeny, Monica Grigg
G-Lattices For An Unrooted Perfect Phylogeny, Monica Grigg
Mathematical Sciences Technical Reports (MSTR)
We look at the Pure Parsimony problem and the Perfect Phylogeny Haplotyping problem. From the Pure Parsimony problem we consider structures of genotypes called g-lattices. These structures either provide solutions or give bounds to the pure parsimony problem. In particular, we investigate which of these structures supports an unrooted perfect phylogeny, a condition that adds biological interpretation. By understanding which g-lattices support an unrooted perfect phylogeny, we connect two of the standard biological inference rules used to recreate how genetic diversity propagates across generations.
A Perturbation Method For Inference On Regularized Regression Estimates, Jessica Minnier, Lu Tian, Tianxi Cai
A Perturbation Method For Inference On Regularized Regression Estimates, Jessica Minnier, Lu Tian, Tianxi Cai
Harvard University Biostatistics Working Paper Series
No abstract provided.
Gene Cooption And Convergent Evolution Of Oxygen Transport Hemoglobins In Jawed And Jawless Vertebrates, Federico G. Hoffmann, Juan C. Opazo, Jay F. Storz
Gene Cooption And Convergent Evolution Of Oxygen Transport Hemoglobins In Jawed And Jawless Vertebrates, Federico G. Hoffmann, Juan C. Opazo, Jay F. Storz
Jay F. Storz Publications
Natural selection often promotes evolutionary innovation by coopting preexisting genes for new functions, and this process may be greatly facilitated by gene duplication. Here we report an example of cooptive convergence where paralogous members of the globin gene superfamily independently evolved a specialized O2 transport function in the two deepest branches of the vertebrate family tree. Specifically, phylogenetic evidence demonstrates that erythroidspecific O2 transport hemoglobins evolved independently from different ancestral precursor proteins in jawed vertebrates (gnathostomes) and jawless fish (cyclostomes, represented by lamprey and hagfish). A comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of the vertebrate globin gene superfamily revealed that the …
Development Of Pyrf-Based Genetic System For Targeted Gene Deletion In Clostridium Thermocellum And Creation Of A Pta Mutant, Shital A. Tripathi, Daniel G. Olson, D. Aaron Argyros, Bethany B. Miller, Trisha F. Barrett, Daniel M. Murphy, Jesse D. Mccool, Anne K. Warner, Vineet B. Rajgarhia, Lee R. Lynd, David A. Hogsett, Nicky C. Caiazza
Development Of Pyrf-Based Genetic System For Targeted Gene Deletion In Clostridium Thermocellum And Creation Of A Pta Mutant, Shital A. Tripathi, Daniel G. Olson, D. Aaron Argyros, Bethany B. Miller, Trisha F. Barrett, Daniel M. Murphy, Jesse D. Mccool, Anne K. Warner, Vineet B. Rajgarhia, Lee R. Lynd, David A. Hogsett, Nicky C. Caiazza
Dartmouth Scholarship
We report development of a genetic system for making targeted gene knockouts in Clostridium thermocellum, a thermophilic anaerobic bacterium that rapidly solubilizes cellulose. A toxic uracil analog, 5-fluoroorotic acid (5-FOA), was used to select for deletion of the pyrF gene. The ΔpyrF strain is a uracil auxotroph that could be restored to a prototroph via ectopic expression of pyrF from a plasmid, providing a positive genetic selection. Furthermore, 5-FOA was used to select against plasmid-expressed pyrF, creating a negative selection for plasmid loss. This technology was used to delete a gene involved in organic acid production, namely pta, which encodes …
Phylogenetic Studies Of Newly Isolated Freshwater Magnetospirilla Using Cbb And Mam Genes, Nathan Viloria, Christopher T. Lefevre, Dennis A. Bazylinski
Phylogenetic Studies Of Newly Isolated Freshwater Magnetospirilla Using Cbb And Mam Genes, Nathan Viloria, Christopher T. Lefevre, Dennis A. Bazylinski
Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)
The phylogeny and general relatedness of prokaryotes is determined by comparisons of the sequences of rRNA genes, most commonly the 16S rRNA gene. Comparisons between other gene sequences have been used for this purpose and some have supported conclusions from 16S rRNA genes while others have not. In this study, 13 new magnetospirilla were phylogenetically characterized using the sequences of the 16S rRNA gene as well as the genes for forms I and II ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO) (cbbL and cbbM, respectively) and for two magnetosome membrane proteins unique to magnetotactic bacteria, mamJ and mamK. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with degenerate …
Genetically Modifying Arabidopsis Thaliana With A Gene From Drought-Tolerant Xerophyte Larrea Tridentata (Creosote Bush), Norris Lam, Liyuan A. Zhang, Lingkun Gu, Qingxi J. Shen
Genetically Modifying Arabidopsis Thaliana With A Gene From Drought-Tolerant Xerophyte Larrea Tridentata (Creosote Bush), Norris Lam, Liyuan A. Zhang, Lingkun Gu, Qingxi J. Shen
Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)
L. tridentata, or desert creosote bush, is a xerophytic C3 plant native to the American Southwest, and is known to have evolutionarily developed sophisticated cellular mechanisms to deal with periods of intense abiotic stress. Particularly, complex signaling pathways in L. tridentata allow it to survive in periods of severe water deficiency. Through the findings of Zou et al. [5,6], LtWRKY21 synergistically works with abscisic acid (ABA) to transactivate both ABA-inducible HVA1 and HVA22 promoters. In addition, as ABA and gibberellic acid (GA) pathways are known to act antagonistically. Expectantly, the findings of Zou et al. suggest that LtWRKY21 activates ABA …
Antibiotic Resistance In Bacillus Subtilis As Affected By Transcriptional Derepression And The Stringent Response, Brandon Eisinger, Ronald E. Yasbin, Eduardo A. Robleto
Antibiotic Resistance In Bacillus Subtilis As Affected By Transcriptional Derepression And The Stringent Response, Brandon Eisinger, Ronald E. Yasbin, Eduardo A. Robleto
Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)
Bacterial cells under conditions of starvation or prolonged non-lethal selective pressures accumulate mutations in highly transcribed genes. This process is part of cellular programs to increase genetic diversity in conditions of stress, also known as stationary phase or stress-induced mutagenesis. This experiment investigated mutation frequencies for antibiotic resistance as affected by the stringent response. The stringent response is a global cellular process that initiates at the cessation of growth and mediates changes in gene expression that repress synthesis of ribosome components. We used Bacillus subtilis strains that differ in RelA proficiency. The relA gene controls the synthesis of (p)ppGpp, the …
Examination Of Germination Receptors Of B. Subtilis And B. Megaterium, Shruti Patel, Alessio Luinetti, Ernesto Abel-Santos, Eduardo Robleto
Examination Of Germination Receptors Of B. Subtilis And B. Megaterium, Shruti Patel, Alessio Luinetti, Ernesto Abel-Santos, Eduardo Robleto
Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)
Many bacterial species including those in the Bacilli group form spores as a mechanism to survive harsh conditions such as extreme temperature, radiation, chemicals, and nutrient starvation. By forming spores, they can remain metabolically dormant for an extended period and revert to their vegetative form when environment becomes favorable. This resumption of metabolism and growth is marked by a process called germination that is triggered by exogenous nutrients such as amino acids, sugars, and nucleotides. The (Ger) germination receptors that are postulated to respond to these germinants, in the case of B. subtilis and B. megaterium, are a complex of …
Impact Of Historical Climate Change On The Genetic Structure Of The Great Basin Pocket Mouse, Perognathus Parvus, Ashwitha Francis, Mallory E. Eckstut, Brett R. Riddle
Impact Of Historical Climate Change On The Genetic Structure Of The Great Basin Pocket Mouse, Perognathus Parvus, Ashwitha Francis, Mallory E. Eckstut, Brett R. Riddle
Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)
The dynamics of genetic patterns, such as genetic differentiation within and between populations and the geographic distribution of genetic lineages, are often influenced by historical events (such as climatic changes) that have substantially impacted regional biodiversity (the study of phylogeography; Avise, 20001). The magnitude of genetic differentiation among populations is often increased if suitable habitat is reduced, because there is restricted migration among populations. When migration is restricted, the populations may become genetically differentiated from conspecific populations and, over time, may become independent lineages that follow distinctive evolutionary trajectories (Stebbins, 19523; Nevo & Beiles, 19892; Thomas et al., 19984). In …
The Small Regulatory Rna Ryhb Regulates Icsa Expression In Shigella Flexneri, Nick Egan, Helen J. Wing
The Small Regulatory Rna Ryhb Regulates Icsa Expression In Shigella Flexneri, Nick Egan, Helen J. Wing
Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)
Shigella flexneri is a gram negative non-motile, non-spore forming, rod-shaped bacterium responsible for bacillary dysentery in humans. The master regulator, VirF, initiates a cascade of virulence gene activation by acting as a transcription factor for the gene encoding the global regulator, VirB (1). Production of VirB is also negatively regulated by the regulatory small RNA (sRNA), RyhB 2). Regulatory sRNAs are untranslated RNA molecules involved in the regulation of both transcription and translation. RyhB, a 90 nt sRNA, was first identified in E. coli and subsequently found in all Shigella species. In Shigella this sRNA is maximally expressed in response …
Evaluating Snow Microbial Assemblages, Jenny Lam, Jessica K. Guy, Ryan Brock, Matt Oates, Alison E. Murray
Evaluating Snow Microbial Assemblages, Jenny Lam, Jessica K. Guy, Ryan Brock, Matt Oates, Alison E. Murray
Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)
Psychrophiles are organisms that grow optimally below 20C (1). The US Great Basin is home to many mountain peaks with an abundance of alpine snow environments perfect for psychrophilic habitation. We analyzed samples from three different locations, Wheeler Peak, Pacific Crest Trail, and Mount Conness, characterizing and comparing the psychrophilic communities at varying depth intervals in the snow. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) showed no notable difference in community structure with depth, but there was a distinct difference when comparing different snow environments (i.e. shaded vs. full sun exposure). The chlorophyll concentration decreased as the …
Evaluation Of Virb Binding Site Contribution To The Regulation Of The Icsp Promoter In Shigella Flexneri, Juan C. Duhart, Maria I. Castellanos, Helen J. Wing
Evaluation Of Virb Binding Site Contribution To The Regulation Of The Icsp Promoter In Shigella Flexneri, Juan C. Duhart, Maria I. Castellanos, Helen J. Wing
Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)
Shigella species are gram-negative, rod-shaped bacteria that are closely related to Escherichia coli. Virulent Shigella spp. are intracellular pathogens that invade, replicate and spread through epithelial cells of the lower intestine and cause bacillary dysentery in humans. This disease is characterized by a robust inflammatory response that results in fever, abdominal pain, and bloody diarrhea (3). According to the CDC, approximately 14,000 cases are reported each year in the United States alone. This number however, does not reflect the actual incidence of this disease as many cases go unreported. The molecular pathogenesis of these bacteria lies in the large virulence …
Modifying The Amino Acid Sequence In The Surface-Exposed Loops Of The Omptin Family Of Proteins To Determine Their Effect On Function, Natiera Magnuson, Eun-Hae Kim, Christian Ross, Helen J. Wing
Modifying The Amino Acid Sequence In The Surface-Exposed Loops Of The Omptin Family Of Proteins To Determine Their Effect On Function, Natiera Magnuson, Eun-Hae Kim, Christian Ross, Helen J. Wing
Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)
The omptin family of proteins consists of proteases which lie in the outer membrane of some gram-negative, pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli (OmpT), Shigella flexneri (IcsP), Salmonella typhimurium (PgtE), and Yersinia pestis (Pla). These proteases are highly conserved, sharing approximately 50% sequence identity and a β-barrel shape (fig. 1D). The differences in the structure of these four proteins are in the surface-exposed loop region surrounding the active site, but not in the active site itself [4]. These proteases are important for the virulence of many bacteria. For example, OmpT of E. coli cleaves an antimicrobial peptide secreted by epithelial …
Cross-Reactivity Of Antibodies Against Leptospiral Recurrent Uveitis-Associated Proteins A And B (Lrua And Lrub) With Eye Proteins, Ashutosh Verma, Pawan Kumar, Kelly Babb, John F. Timoney, Brian Stevenson
Cross-Reactivity Of Antibodies Against Leptospiral Recurrent Uveitis-Associated Proteins A And B (Lrua And Lrub) With Eye Proteins, Ashutosh Verma, Pawan Kumar, Kelly Babb, John F. Timoney, Brian Stevenson
Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications
Infection by Leptospira interrogans has been causally associated with human and equine uveitis. Studies in our laboratories have demonstrated that leptospiral lipoprotein LruA and LruB are expressed in the eyes of uveitic horses, and that antibodies directed against LruA and LruB react with equine lenticular and retinal extracts, respectively. These reactivities were investigated further by performing immunofluorescent assays on lenticular and retinal tissue sections. Incubation of lens tissue sections with LruA-antiserum and retinal sections with LruB-antiserum resulted in positive fluorescence. By employing two-dimensional gel analyses followed by immunoblotting and mass spectrometry, lens proteins cross-reacting with LruA antiserum were identified to …
Steps Toward Butternut (Juglans Cinerea L.) Restoration, Sunshine L. Brosi
Steps Toward Butternut (Juglans Cinerea L.) Restoration, Sunshine L. Brosi
Doctoral Dissertations
Butternut (Juglans cinerea L.), a lesser-known relative of black walnut (Juglans nigra L.), is a native tree species beneficial for wildlife, valuable for timber, and part of the great diversity of species in the eastern forests of North America. Populations of butternut are being devastated by butternut canker disease, caused by the fungus Sirococcus clavigignenti-juglandacearum (V.M.G. Nair, Kostichka, & Kuntz), which is thought to be introduced to North America. The disease causes multiple branch and stem cankers that eventually girdle trees. Small population sizes, lack of sprouting, and shade intolerance exacerbates the disease and results in permanent losses of butternut …
Characterizing The Role Of Dna Repair Proteins In Telomere Length Regulation And Maintenance: Fanconi Anemia Complementation Group C Protein And 8-Oxoguanine Dna Glycosylase, David Beomjin Rhee
Characterizing The Role Of Dna Repair Proteins In Telomere Length Regulation And Maintenance: Fanconi Anemia Complementation Group C Protein And 8-Oxoguanine Dna Glycosylase, David Beomjin Rhee
Doctoral Dissertations
Telomeres are the chromosome end structures consisting of telomere-associated proteins and short tandem repeat sequences, TTAGGG, in humans and mice. Telomeres prevent chromosome termini from being recognized as broken DNA ends. The structural integrity of DNA including telomeres is constantly threatened by a variety of DNA damaging agents on a daily basis. To counteract the constant threats from DNA damage, organisms have developed a number of DNA repair pathways to ensure that the integrity of genome remains intact. A number of DNA repair proteins localize to telomeres and contribute to telomere maintenance; however, it is still unclear as to what …
Translational Regulation In Arabidopsis Thaliana: Genetic And Functional Characterization Of Eukaryotic Initiation Factor 3, Bijoyita Roy
Translational Regulation In Arabidopsis Thaliana: Genetic And Functional Characterization Of Eukaryotic Initiation Factor 3, Bijoyita Roy
Doctoral Dissertations
Molecular functions of eukaryotic initiation factor 3 (eIF3) in translation are manifold, encompassing events from initiation complex assembly to translation termination. The contribution of the individual subunits of eIF3 to its multiple activities is quite unclear. It has been hypothesized that several of its 13 subunits contribute to mRNA specific regulation. Prior research had established that the h subunit of eIF3 in Arabidopsis was required for translation of specific mRNAs as well as for organ formation and meristem development. This study aims towards understanding the functions of individual subunits of eIF3 in the context of plant development and to further …
Methicillin Resistance In Staphylococcus Pseudintermedius, Chad Christopher Black
Methicillin Resistance In Staphylococcus Pseudintermedius, Chad Christopher Black
Doctoral Dissertations
Staphylococcus pseudintermedius affecting dogs is analogous to S. aureus on humans, acting as both normal flora and opportunistic pathogen. Methicillin resistance in S. pseudintermedius is recent, with the first documented occurrence of an isolate bearing the methicillin resistance gene, mecA, in 1999. This gene encodes penicillin binding protein 2a, which renders all beta-lactam drugs ineffective and functions as a “gateway” antibiotic resistance determinant. In the presence of ineffective antibiotics, opportunities for mutational events and acquisition of mobile genetic elements increase as microbial densities increase, often leading to multi-drug resistance. Methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius (MRSP) infections have become increasingly common. For …
The Maximum Clique Problem: Algorithms, Applications, And Implementations, John David Eblen
The Maximum Clique Problem: Algorithms, Applications, And Implementations, John David Eblen
Doctoral Dissertations
Computationally hard problems are routinely encountered during the course of solving practical problems. This is commonly dealt with by settling for less than optimal solutions, through the use of heuristics or approximation algorithms. This dissertation examines the alternate possibility of solving such problems exactly, through a detailed study of one particular problem, the maximum clique problem. It discusses algorithms, implementations, and the application of maximum clique results to real-world problems. First, the theoretical roots of the algorithmic method employed are discussed. Then a practical approach is described, which separates out important algorithmic decisions so that the algorithm can be easily …
Investigating Genetic Diversity Of Phytophthora Spp. And Related Oomycetes, Jonathan Patrick Hulvey
Investigating Genetic Diversity Of Phytophthora Spp. And Related Oomycetes, Jonathan Patrick Hulvey
Doctoral Dissertations
Oomycetes, like fungi, are filamentous heterotrophs, but unlike true fungi are diploid and share a photosynthetic ancestor. Many of these organisms are plant and animal pathogens, and members of the genus Phytophthora cause devastating disease on a diverse array of agricultural plant hosts. Several diverse topics in oomycete biology are investigated in this dissertation. Chapter 2 is a report on loss of heterozygosity in Phytophthora capsici in response to chemical mutagenesis.The research presented in Chapters 3 and 4 are centered on documenting biodiversity and genetic diversity of populations of Phytophthora species obtained from infected plant hosts. The final chapter (Chapter …
Genetic Analysis Of The Function Of The Drosophila Doublesex-Related Factor Dmrt93b, Diana O'Day
Genetic Analysis Of The Function Of The Drosophila Doublesex-Related Factor Dmrt93b, Diana O'Day
Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)
DMRT (Doublesex and Mab-3 related transcription factor) proteins generally associated with sexual differentiation in many organisms share a common DNA binding domain and are often expressed in reproductive tissues. Aside from doublesex, which is a central factor in the regulation of sex determination, Drosophila possesses three different dmrt genes that are of unknown function. Because the association with sexual differentiation and reproduction is not universal and some DMRT proteins have been found to play other developmental roles we chose to further characterize one of these Drosophila genes. We carried out genetic analysis of dmrt93B, which was previously found to be …
The Domains Of The Catalytic Subunit Of The Eukaryotic Rna Degrading Exosome, Rrp44p, Have Distinct Functions, Daneen Schaeffer
The Domains Of The Catalytic Subunit Of The Eukaryotic Rna Degrading Exosome, Rrp44p, Have Distinct Functions, Daneen Schaeffer
Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)
The exosome is a 3’ to 5’ exoribonuclease complex that consists of ten essential subunits. In the cytoplasm, the exosome degrades mRNA in a general mRNA turnover pathway and in several mRNA surveillance pathways. In the nucleus, the exosome processes RNA precursors to form small, stable, mature RNA species, including rRNA, snRNA, and snoRNA. In addition to processing these RNAs, the nuclear exosome is also involved in degrading aberrantly processed forms of these RNAs, and others, including mRNA.
The 3’ to 5’ exoribonuclease activity of the exosome is contributed by the RNB domain of the only catalytically active subunit, Rrp44p, …
E2f1 And Tumor Suppression: The Role Of P21, Mirnas, And The Dna Damage Response, Regina L. Weaks
E2f1 And Tumor Suppression: The Role Of P21, Mirnas, And The Dna Damage Response, Regina L. Weaks
Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)
E2F1 is a multi-faceted protein that has roles in a number of important cellular processes including cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, proliferation, and the DNA damage response (DDR). Moreover, E2F1 has opposing roles in tumor development, acting as either a tumor suppressor or an oncogene depending on the context. In human cancer, E2F1 is often deregulated through aberrations in the Rb-p16INK4a-cyclin D1 pathway. In these studies we examined three mechanisms by which E2F1 might mediate its tumor suppressive properties: p21-induced senescence, miRNAs, and the DNA damage response. We found that E2F1 acts as a tumor suppressor in response to ras activation …
Candidate Gene Studies In Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Pamela Jackson
Candidate Gene Studies In Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Pamela Jackson
All Dissertations
Autism Spectrum Disorder is a grouping of disorders that range from the diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome to Autistic Disorder (formally known as autism). Attention Deficit Disorders and Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified are also a part of this spectrum of disorders. Autism Spectrum Disorder affects one out of every 110 children and has a male to female ratio of 4:1. This has led to the need to identify genes that may be causative for this disorder.
Several genome-wide scans have been conducted and have identified locations in the human genome that may contain causative genes for Autism Spectrum Disorder. One …
Transcriptional Regulation Of The Shigella Flexneri Icsp Promoter: Silencing And Anti-Silencing By H-Ns And Virb, Dustin Harrison
Transcriptional Regulation Of The Shigella Flexneri Icsp Promoter: Silencing And Anti-Silencing By H-Ns And Virb, Dustin Harrison
UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones
Shigella species are gram-negative intracellular pathogens that cause bacillary dysentery in humans. Many genes required for virulence of Shigella are carried on a large 230 kb plasmid and many of these are under the transcriptional control of the histone-like nucleoid structuring protein (H-NS) and by the major virulence regulator VirB. At the non-permissive temperature of 30⁰C, H-NS represses transcription, while at 37⁰C VirB alleviates this repression. This mechanism of gene regulation has been coined "silencing/anti-silencing" and is commonly found in many important bacterial pathogens including Salmonella spp. and Yersinia spp. The icsP gene, encoded by the Shigella virulence plasmid, is …
The Larval Salivary Gland Of Drosophila Melangogaster: A Model System For Temporal And Spatial Steroid Hormone Regulation, Benjamin Constantino
The Larval Salivary Gland Of Drosophila Melangogaster: A Model System For Temporal And Spatial Steroid Hormone Regulation, Benjamin Constantino
UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones
Drosophila melanogaster provides an ideal model organism to test genetic and molecular biological mechanisms within the context of a living animal. For over one hundred years Drosophila continues to produce a boundless extent of informative and important scientific data providing crucial insight into development, disease progression and genetic interactions. A century as a model organism allowed for the development of an abundance of unique genetic and molecular tools allowing researchers to tease apart cellular mechanisms with very little limitation. From the whole adult body to tissue function to molecular networks, if a biological question arises it most likely can be …