Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology Commons^™

G-Quadruplex Dna Structures And Site Specific Genetic Instability, Jonathan David Williams

Theses and Dissertations

Repetitive DNA comprises a majority of the human genome yet functions and overall impacts on site-specific genetic instability are not fully defined. Repetitive G-rich sequences have the propensity to form G-quadruplex (G4), which are stable non-B form DNA structures. G4 structures are conspicuously found at regions of site-specific instability. Even so, human genomic loci capable of forming this structure and their connection to DNA rearrangements are just beginning to be elucidated. My dissertation focuses on G4 structures and their capacity to promote site-specific changes in the human genome, particularly at oncogenes. I identified and investigated new biologically relevant G4 loci …

Dysregulation Of Micrornas In Blood As Biomarkers For Diagnosing Prostate Cancer, Rhonda W. Daniel

Theses and Dissertations

Prostate cancer is the most common noncutaneous cancer among men, yet current diagnostic methods are insufficient and more reliable diagnostic markers need to be developed. The answer that can bridge this gap and enable more efficient diagnoses may lie in microRNAs. These small, single stranded RNA molecules impact protein expression at the translational level and regulate important cellular pathways. Dysregulation of these small RNA molecules can have tumorigenic effects on cells and lead to many types of cancers.

Currently the Prostate-Stimulating Antigen (PSA) is used as a diagnostic marker for prostate cancer. However, many factors can elevate PSA levels such …

Mysteries Of The Trypanosomatid Maxicircles: Characterization Of The Maxicircle Genomes And The Evolution Of Rna Editing In The Order Kinetoplastida, Preethi Ranganathan Iyengar

Theses and Dissertations

The trypanosomatid protists belonging to Order Kinetoplastida are some of the most successful parasites ever known to mankind. Their extreme physiological diversity and adaptability to different environmental conditions and host systems make them some of the most widespread parasites, causing deadly diseases in humans and other vertebrates.

This project focuses on their unique mitochondrion, called the kinetoplast, and more specifically involves the characterization of a part of their mitochondrial DNA (also called kinetoplast DNA or kDNA), the maxicircles, which are functional homologs of eukaryotic mitochondrial DNA in the kinetoplastid protists. We have sequenced and characterized the maxicircle genomes of 20 …