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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Radiation Exposure Determination In A Secure, Cloud-Based Online Environment, Ben C. Shirley, Eliseos J. Mucaki, Peter Rogan
Radiation Exposure Determination In A Secure, Cloud-Based Online Environment, Ben C. Shirley, Eliseos J. Mucaki, Peter Rogan
Biochemistry Publications
Rapid sample processing and interpretation of estimated exposures will be critical for triaging exposed individuals after a major radiation incident. The dicentric chromosome (DC) assay assesses absorbed radiation using metaphase cells from blood. The Automated Dicentric Chromosome Identifier and Dose Estimator System (ADCI) identifies DCs and determines radiation doses. This study aimed to broaden accessibility and speed of this system, while protecting data and software integrity. ADCI Online is a secure web-streaming platform accessible worldwide from local servers. Cloud-based systems containing data and software are separated until they are linked for radiation exposure estimation. Dose estimates are identical to ADCI …
Radiation Exposure Determination In A Secure, Cloudbased Online Environment, Ben C. Shirley, Eliseos J. Mucaki, Joan H.M. Knoll, Peter Rogan
Radiation Exposure Determination In A Secure, Cloudbased Online Environment, Ben C. Shirley, Eliseos J. Mucaki, Joan H.M. Knoll, Peter Rogan
Biochemistry Publications
Rapid sample processing and interpretation of estimated exposures will be critical for triaging exposed individuals after a major radiation incident. The dicentric chromosome (DC) assay assesses absorbed radiation using metaphase cells from blood. The Automated Dicentric Chromosome Identifier and Dose Estimator System (ADCI) identifies DCs and determines radiation doses. This study aimed to broaden accessibility and speed of this system, while protecting data and software integrity. ADCI Online is a secure web-streaming platform accessible worldwide from local servers. Cloud-based systems containing data and software are separated until they are linked for radiation exposure estimation. Dose estimates are identical to ADCI …
Discovery And Validation Of Information Theory-Based Transcription Factor And Cofactor Binding Site Motifs., Ruipeng Lu, Eliseos J Mucaki, Peter K Rogan
Discovery And Validation Of Information Theory-Based Transcription Factor And Cofactor Binding Site Motifs., Ruipeng Lu, Eliseos J Mucaki, Peter K Rogan
Biochemistry Publications
Data from ChIP-seq experiments can derive the genome-wide binding specificities of transcription factors (TFs) and other regulatory proteins. We analyzed 765 ENCODE ChIP-seq peak datasets of 207 human TFs with a novel motif discovery pipeline based on recursive, thresholded entropy minimization. This approach, while obviating the need to compensate for skewed nucleotide composition, distinguishes true binding motifs from noise, quantifies the strengths of individual binding sites based on computed affinity and detects adjacent cofactor binding sites that coordinate with the targets of primary, immunoprecipitated TFs. We obtained contiguous and bipartite information theory-based position weight matrices (iPWMs) for 93 sequence-specific TFs, …
Molecular Effects Of Cancer-Associated Somatic Mutations On The Structural And Target Recognition Properties Of Keap1., Halema Khan, Ryan C Killoran, Anne Brickenden, Jingsong Fan, Daiwen Yang, Wing-Yiu Choy
Molecular Effects Of Cancer-Associated Somatic Mutations On The Structural And Target Recognition Properties Of Keap1., Halema Khan, Ryan C Killoran, Anne Brickenden, Jingsong Fan, Daiwen Yang, Wing-Yiu Choy
Biochemistry Publications
Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) plays an important regulatory role in the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-dependent oxidative stress response pathway. It functions as a repressor of Nrf2, a key transcription factor that initiates the expression of cytoprotective enzymes during oxidative stress to protect cells from damage caused by reactive oxygen species. Recent studies show that mutations of Keap1 can lead to aberrant activation of the antioxidant pathway, which is associated with different types of cancers. To gain a mechanistic understanding of the links between Keap1 mutations and cancer pathogenesis, we have investigated the molecular effects of a …
Characterization Of Ranbpm Molecular Determinants That Control Its Subcellular Localization, Louisa M Salemi, Sandra O Loureiro, Caroline Schild-Poulter
Characterization Of Ranbpm Molecular Determinants That Control Its Subcellular Localization, Louisa M Salemi, Sandra O Loureiro, Caroline Schild-Poulter
Biochemistry Publications
RanBPM/RanBP9 is a ubiquitous, nucleocytoplasmic protein that is part of an evolutionary conserved E3 ubiquitin ligase complex whose function and targets in mammals are still unknown. RanBPM itself has been implicated in various cellular processes that involve both nuclear and cytoplasmic functions. However, to date, little is known about how RanBPM subcellular localization is regulated. We have conducted a systematic analysis of RanBPM regions that control its subcellular localization using RanBPM shRNA cells to examine ectopic RanBPM mutant subcellular localization without interference from the endogenously expressed protein. We show that several domains and motifs regulate RanBPM nuclear and cytoplasmic localization. …
Megatevs: Single-Chain Dual Nucleases For Efficient Gene Disruption, Jason M Wolfs, Matthew Dasilva, Sarah E Meister, Xu Wang, Caroline Schild-Poulter, David R. Edgell
Megatevs: Single-Chain Dual Nucleases For Efficient Gene Disruption, Jason M Wolfs, Matthew Dasilva, Sarah E Meister, Xu Wang, Caroline Schild-Poulter, David R. Edgell
Biochemistry Publications
Targeting gene disruptions in complex genomes relies on imprecise repair by the non-homologous end-joining DNA pathway, creating mutagenic insertions or deletions (indels) at the break point. DNA end-processing enzymes are often co-expressed with genome-editing nucleases to enhance the frequency of indels, as the compatible cohesive ends generated by the nucleases can be precisely repaired, leading to a cycle of cleavage and non-mutagenic repair. Here, we present an alternative strategy to bias repair toward gene disruption by fusing two different nuclease active sites from I-TevI (a GIY-YIG enzyme) and I-OnuI E2 (an engineered meganuclease) into a single polypeptide chain. In vitro, …
Automating Dicentric Chromosome Detection From Cytogenetic Biodosimetry Data., Peter K Rogan, Yanxin Li, Asanka Wickramasinghe, Akila Subasinghe, Natasha Caminsky, Wahab Khan, Jagath Samarabandu, Ruth Wilkins, Farrah Flegal, Joan H Knoll
Automating Dicentric Chromosome Detection From Cytogenetic Biodosimetry Data., Peter K Rogan, Yanxin Li, Asanka Wickramasinghe, Akila Subasinghe, Natasha Caminsky, Wahab Khan, Jagath Samarabandu, Ruth Wilkins, Farrah Flegal, Joan H Knoll
Biochemistry Publications
We present a prototype software system with sufficient capacity and speed to estimate radiation exposures in a mass casualty event by counting dicentric chromosomes (DCs) in metaphase cells from many individuals. Top-ranked metaphase cell images are segmented by classifying and defining chromosomes with an active contour gradient vector field (GVF) and by determining centromere locations along the centreline. The centreline is extracted by discrete curve evolution (DCE) skeleton branch pruning and curve interpolation. Centromere detection minimises the global width and DAPI-staining intensity profiles along the centreline. A second centromere is identified by reapplying this procedure after masking the first. Dicentrics …
Splicing Mutation Analysis Reveals Previously Unrecognized Pathways In Lymph Node-Invasive Breast Cancer., Stephanie N Dorman, Coby Viner, Peter K Rogan
Splicing Mutation Analysis Reveals Previously Unrecognized Pathways In Lymph Node-Invasive Breast Cancer., Stephanie N Dorman, Coby Viner, Peter K Rogan
Biochemistry Publications
Somatic mutations reported in large-scale breast cancer (BC) sequencing studies primarily consist of protein coding mutations. mRNA splicing mutation analyses have been limited in scope, despite their prevalence in Mendelian genetic disorders. We predicted splicing mutations in 442 BC tumour and matched normal exomes from The Cancer Genome Atlas Consortium (TCGA). These splicing defects were validated by abnormal expression changes in these tumours. Of the 5,206 putative mutations identified, exon skipping, leaky or cryptic splicing was confirmed for 988 variants. Pathway enrichment analysis of the mutated genes revealed mutations in 9 NCAM1-related pathways, which were significantly increased in samples with …
Fuzzy Complex Formation Between The Intrinsically Disordered Prothymosin Α And The Kelch Domain Of Keap1 Involved In The Oxidative Stress Response., Halema Khan, Elio A Cino, Anne Brickenden, Jingsong Fan, Daiwen Yang, Wing-Yiu Choy
Fuzzy Complex Formation Between The Intrinsically Disordered Prothymosin Α And The Kelch Domain Of Keap1 Involved In The Oxidative Stress Response., Halema Khan, Elio A Cino, Anne Brickenden, Jingsong Fan, Daiwen Yang, Wing-Yiu Choy
Biochemistry Publications
Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) is an inhibitor of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a key transcription factor for cytoprotective gene activation in the oxidative stress response. Under unstressed conditions, Keap1 interacts with Nrf2 in the cytoplasm via its Kelch domain and suppresses the transcriptional activity of Nrf2. During oxidative stress, Nrf2 is released from Keap1 and is translocated into the nucleus, where it interacts with the small Maf protein to initiate gene transcription. Prothymosin α (ProTα), an intrinsically disordered protein, also interacts with the Kelch domain of Keap1 and mediates the import of Keap1 into the nucleus …
Stomatin-Like Protein 2 Binds Cardiolipin And Regulates Mitochondrial Biogenesis And Function., Darah Christie, Caitlin D Lemke, Isaac M Elias, Luan A Chau, Mark G Kirchhof, Bo Li, Eric H Ball, Stanley D Dunn, Grant M Hatch, Joaquín Madrenas
Stomatin-Like Protein 2 Binds Cardiolipin And Regulates Mitochondrial Biogenesis And Function., Darah Christie, Caitlin D Lemke, Isaac M Elias, Luan A Chau, Mark G Kirchhof, Bo Li, Eric H Ball, Stanley D Dunn, Grant M Hatch, Joaquín Madrenas
Biochemistry Publications
Stomatin-like protein 2 (SLP-2) is a widely expressed mitochondrial inner membrane protein of unknown function. Here we show that human SLP-2 interacts with prohibitin-1 and -2 and binds to the mitochondrial membrane phospholipid cardiolipin. Upregulation of SLP-2 expression increases cardiolipin content and the formation of metabolically active mitochondrial membranes and induces mitochondrial biogenesis. In human T lymphocytes, these events correlate with increased complex I and II activities, increased intracellular ATP stores, and increased resistance to apoptosis through the intrinsic pathway, ultimately enhancing cellular responses. We propose that the function of SLP-2 is to recruit prohibitins to cardiolipin to form cardiolipin-enriched …
Decreased Stability And Increased Formation Of Soluble Aggregates By Immature Superoxide Dismutase Do Not Account For Disease Severity In Als., Kenrick A Vassall, Helen R Stubbs, Heather A Primmer, Ming Sze Tong, Sarah M Sullivan, Ryan Sobering, Saipraveen Srinivasan, Lee-Ann K Briere, Stanley D Dunn, Wilfredo Colón, Elizabeth M Meiering
Decreased Stability And Increased Formation Of Soluble Aggregates By Immature Superoxide Dismutase Do Not Account For Disease Severity In Als., Kenrick A Vassall, Helen R Stubbs, Heather A Primmer, Ming Sze Tong, Sarah M Sullivan, Ryan Sobering, Saipraveen Srinivasan, Lee-Ann K Briere, Stanley D Dunn, Wilfredo Colón, Elizabeth M Meiering
Biochemistry Publications
Protein aggregation is a hallmark of many diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), where aggregation of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) is implicated in causing neurodegeneration. Recent studies have suggested that destabilization and aggregation of the most immature form of SOD1, the disulfide-reduced, unmetallated (apo) protein is particularly important in causing ALS. We report herein in depth analyses of the effects of chemically and structurally diverse ALS-associated mutations on the stability and aggregation of reduced apo SOD1. In contrast with previous studies, we find that various reduced apo SOD1 mutants undergo highly reversible thermal denaturation with little aggregation, enabling quantitative thermodynamic …