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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Preparation And Purification Of Enlarged Multinucleated U937 Human Leukemia Cells And Their Susceptibility To Physical Damage By Ultrasound, Kathryn Gold
Honors Capstone Projects - All
Multinucleation occurs in neoplastic cells that have been treated with cytochalasin B, a fungal toxin that disrupts actin microfilament structures. When the actin cytoskeleton is disrupted, contractile ring formation and cytokinesis are inhibited. In normal cells cytochalasin B prevents the cells from entering the cell cycle. However in neoplastic cells, since cytokinesis no longer occurs, the dividing cell becomes enlarged and heavily multinucleated. We propose that enlarged leukemia cells may be more sensitive to ultrasound treatment because of their increased size and weakened cytoskeletal structure. To determine the differential chemical and physical response of enlarged, multinucleated cells in comparison with …
Mechanisms Underlying The Sperm Quality Advantage In Sperm Competition And Cryptic Female Choice In Drosophila Melanogaster, James Pattarini, William T. Starmer, Adam Bjork, Scott Pitnick
Mechanisms Underlying The Sperm Quality Advantage In Sperm Competition And Cryptic Female Choice In Drosophila Melanogaster, James Pattarini, William T. Starmer, Adam Bjork, Scott Pitnick
Honors Capstone Projects - All
Contrary to early predictions of sperm competition theory, postcopulatory sexual selection favoring increased investment per sperm (e.g., sperm size, sperm quality) has been demonstrated in numerous organisms. Recent findings reveal that sperm production strategies are highly variable, with males of some species producing relatively few, giant sperm. We empirically demonstrate for Drosophila melanogaster that both sperm quality and sperm quantity independently contribute to competitive male fertilization success. The interaction between sperm quality and quantity suggests an internal positive reinforcement on selection for sperm quality, with selection predicted to intensify as investment per sperm increases and the number of sperm competing …
A Sensitive Subject: Haploinsufficiency Of The Yeast Vma13 Gene In Simple And Compound Heterozygotes, Jason Michael Rizzo
A Sensitive Subject: Haploinsufficiency Of The Yeast Vma13 Gene In Simple And Compound Heterozygotes, Jason Michael Rizzo
Honors Capstone Projects - All
Vacuolar-proton translocating-ATPases (V-ATPases) are the membranebound transporters responsible for controlling pH levels in intracellular compartments. The V-ATPase enzyme is a multi-subunit complex consisting of two distinct domains, a cytosolic V1 region and a membrane-bound Vo domain. While the interface between V1 and Vo is not as well understood, studies suggest the possibility of multiple peripheral stalks tethering the complex. In response to glucose deprivation, the V1 and Vo sectors of the enzyme are capable of dissociating into separate, and inactive, domains as a means of regulation. At least 4 V1 subunits (C, H, E, and G) are believed to form …
The Role Of Trailerhitch In Mouse Germ Cell Development, Ashley L. O'Hara
The Role Of Trailerhitch In Mouse Germ Cell Development, Ashley L. O'Hara
Honors Capstone Projects - All
During oogenesis in the Drosophila ovary, a 16-cell cyst develops in which one cell grows to become the oocyte. The surrounding nurse cells transport mRNAs, proteins, and organelles to the oocyte during development and must be localized properly within the oocyte. A complex of proteins is responsible for mRNA localization, including the recently discovered protein Trailerhitch. Homologs of Trailerhitch exist in other species including C. elegans, yeast, mice, and humans, but the function is unknown. We are interested in studying the function of Trailerhitch in mouse germ cell development. Mice with a nonfunctional Trailerhitch gene were synthesized using a gene …
Ventilator Induced Lung Injury, John A. Johnson Jr.
Ventilator Induced Lung Injury, John A. Johnson Jr.
Honors Capstone Projects - All
Severe physical-trauma can lead to the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Currently, the only known treatment for ARDS is mechanical ventilation. However, if mechanical ventilation is applied inappropriately further injury and malfunction of the lungs may occur, and thus, causing a ventilator induced lung injury (VILI). VILI has several manifestations including volutrauma, atelectrauma, and biotrauma. These mechanisms often exacerbate one another adding further insult to the injury. The goal of this current study is to establish a stable control pig model of ARDS as a comparison for ventilatory strategies that will act in a more protective manner than …
The Response Of A Biocompatible Liquid Crystal To Ions And Chemistry On Nanostructured Surfaces, Anny Huang
The Response Of A Biocompatible Liquid Crystal To Ions And Chemistry On Nanostructured Surfaces, Anny Huang
Honors Capstone Projects - All
Traditional lyotropic liquid crystals are composed of amphiphilic molecules forming assemblies in water. Disodium cromoglycate (cromolyn or DSCG) – an antiasthmatic drug – is a novel and unusual lyotropic liquid crystal because it is not amphiphilic, and yet, it exhibits large birefringence (shininess) when dissolved in water forming lyotropic liquid crystal. In the work, DSCG liquid crystal is doped with different types of salt such as sodium chloride and sodium perchlorate, and the response in the changes of birefringence and liquid crystal transition temperature is studied. We find that addition of certain type of salts enhance the propensity of formation …
Total Synthesis Of Pumiliotoxin 341a, Lydia Choi
Total Synthesis Of Pumiliotoxin 341a, Lydia Choi
Honors Capstone Projects - All
Pumiliotoxin 341 A differs from all other pumiliotoxins in that its alkylidene side chain has been cyclized to form a pyranose ring, providing another quaternary center in its indolizidine ring. Although the gross structure of this natural product has been determined, the absolute and relative stereochemistry of the tertiary alcohol on C14 is still unknown. As a result, we want to synthesize this alkaloid to prove its stereochemistry and to prepare material for further biological analysis. A rhodium-catalyzed alkyne addition reaction currently being developed in our group is employed as the key reaction in our synthesis of the indolizidine core. …
Gene Deletion In Yeast That Affects Mitochondrial Dna Stability, Function And Maintenance, Rachel Charron
Gene Deletion In Yeast That Affects Mitochondrial Dna Stability, Function And Maintenance, Rachel Charron
Honors Capstone Projects - All
The study of genomic analysis of deletion mutants in Saccharomyces cerevisiae associated with mitochondrial genome stability has produced both genetic and biochemical findings to be applied to the study of many mitochondrial genetic disorders in humans. Saccharomyces cerevisiae has approximately 6,200 ORFs in its genome. Of the 6,200 ORFs, 4,878 are non-essential. The EuroScarf deletion project removed all the non-essential ORFs, of the 4,878 viable haploid strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and replaced them with the G418 resistance cassette. A subset of 700 deletion mutants that were previously identified as important for mitochondrial function and biogenesis was compiled from the …