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Wright State University

Theses/Dissertations

Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology, and Physiology

2008

Articles 1 - 3 of 3

Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Sensitization To Trail-Induced Apoptosis In K-Ras 12 Mutant Pancreatic Cancer Cells By Bitc, Christina Ann Wicker Jan 2008

Sensitization To Trail-Induced Apoptosis In K-Ras 12 Mutant Pancreatic Cancer Cells By Bitc, Christina Ann Wicker

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Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is an aggressive cancer with a greater than 95% mortality rate and short survival after diagnosis. Chemotherapeutic resistance hinders successful treatment. This resistance is associated with mutations within codon 12 of the K-Ras gene (K-Ras 12), which is present in over 90% of all pancreatic adenocarcinomas. Codon 12 mutations maintain Ras in a constitutively active state leading to continuous cellular proliferation. Our study determined if TRAIL resistance in pancreatic adenocarcinomas with K-Ras 12 mutations could be overcome by first sensitizing the cells with Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC). BITC is a component of cruciferous vegetable extracts and a cell cycle …


Regulation Of Calcium Entry Pathway In Jurkat T Cells, Petronilla A. Fruasaha Jan 2008

Regulation Of Calcium Entry Pathway In Jurkat T Cells, Petronilla A. Fruasaha

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Calcium release-activated calcium channels (CRAC) control influx of calcium in human T lymphocytes. Hour-long calcium elevations are necessary for efficient gene expression during T cell activation and proliferation. We report here that, the time course for store-operated Ca2+ entry is short-lived (3-4 min) and therefore, cannot account for the prolonged Ca2+ elevations necessary for NFAT translocation into nucleus. Previous findings strongly suggest that T cell activation is accompanied by cytosolic alkalinization. Here, we show that pH changes in Jurkat T cells following activation with mitogenic lectin, phytohemagglutinin (PHA), depends on the length of time of exposure and the concentration (potency) …


Ultrastructural Analysis Of Excitatory And Inhibitory Synapses Within The Medial Nucleus Of The Trapezoid Body Of Normal Hearing And Congenitally Deaf Mice, Melissa A. Bautista Jan 2008

Ultrastructural Analysis Of Excitatory And Inhibitory Synapses Within The Medial Nucleus Of The Trapezoid Body Of Normal Hearing And Congenitally Deaf Mice, Melissa A. Bautista

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The auditory brainstem has been the area of much focus in recent years due to its advantages in circuitry and synaptic connections. The endbulbs and calyces of Held are large, glutamatergic synapses within the AVCN and MNTB, respectively. Because of their large size and accessibility these synapses have offered the ability to study pre- and post-synaptic mechanisms of neurotransmission within the central nervous system. The calyx of Held synapse is the main excitatory input into the MNTB principal cells, containing hundreds of individual synaptic specializations, or release sites. Previous studies have identified physiological and morphological changes at the endbulb of …