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Full-Text Articles in Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology

Functionalization Of Chitosan Based Microparticles For In Vitro 3d Culture Of Human Liver Cells, William Imes Jan 2022

Functionalization Of Chitosan Based Microparticles For In Vitro 3d Culture Of Human Liver Cells, William Imes

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Previous work involving 3D culture of human liver cells with fluorinated chitosan based microparticles has shown that their incorporation provides needed structural cues that the culture of cells alone does not provide, such as increased gas transport. However, using bare microparticles to grow large 3D cellular structures is not practical as they tend to collapse before any meaningful research can be done on them. It is proposed that this is because of the lack of extracellular matrix (ECM)components within pure cell culture in vitro, which in their absence cannot adequately facilitate biochemical communication and adhesion between cells. It is …


The Effect Of Cxcl12 Ligand On Internalization And Dimerization Of Cxcr4 Receptors In Live Cells, Loga Iyer Jan 2021

The Effect Of Cxcl12 Ligand On Internalization And Dimerization Of Cxcr4 Receptors In Live Cells, Loga Iyer

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The primary objective of this project was to determine the effect of CXCL12 ligand binding on the CXCR4 receptor, specifically, how it would impact receptor internalization and dimerization. The CXCL12 ligand derives from the stromal cell-derived alpha family [8]. The CXCR4 receptors, known as C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 play an essential role in controlling cell proliferation. When misregulated, these receptors can drive tumorigenesis and are thus important targets of cancer therapy. These G protein-coupled receptors stimulate a cascade of signaling pathways in specific tissues [1]. These pathways include the positive transcriptional control of CXCR4 via the Nuclear Respiratory Factor-1 …


Non-Invasive Method For Leptin Supplementation In Zebrafish (Danio Rerio), Regan Mcnamara Jan 2020

Non-Invasive Method For Leptin Supplementation In Zebrafish (Danio Rerio), Regan Mcnamara

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

I tested the hypothesis that recombinant leptin protein can be introduced to zebrafish in vivo through non-invasive soaking in a solution containing the protein. One way to study various molecules’ effects in vivo is through intraperitoneal or intracerebroventricular injections during the embryonic or larval stage, which is invasive, difficult to administer, and can have a high mortality rate. 48 hours post fertilization (hpf) zebrafish were soaked in a His-tagged recombinant leptin protein solution at 10 nM and 100 nM concentrations (produced by Genscript). After soaking, zebrafish larvae were washed extensively to remove all recombinant protein on their exterior before homogenization. …


Altering Oligomerization Of Epha2 Via Mutations In The Intracellular Domain, Ryan W. Lingerak Jan 2018

Altering Oligomerization Of Epha2 Via Mutations In The Intracellular Domain, Ryan W. Lingerak

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Eph receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are activated by membrane-bound ligands called ephrins. Eph RTKs are divided into two subclasses, each activated by a specific classes of the ligand ephrin. The overexpression of Eph receptors is correlated to cancer cell metastasis in several different types of cancers. Studies with the EphA2 extracellular domain (ECD) and ephrinA1 ligand have shown that upon binding of ephrin to the receptor, EphA2 undergoes increased oligomerization and activation. This indicates that oligomerization is intimately connected to kinase activity. High resolution crystal structures of the EphA2 ECD have revealed some details of these ligand bound oligomers, as …


Pcdh19 Expression In Normal And Regenerating Adult Zebrafish Retinas, Kristin N. Forkapa Ms. Jan 2015

Pcdh19 Expression In Normal And Regenerating Adult Zebrafish Retinas, Kristin N. Forkapa Ms.

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

My Honors Research Project will test the function of the N-cadherin molecule on the zebrafish optic nerve regeneration. N-cadherin is a member of the cadherin superfamily. Cadherins are cell adhesion molecules important for animal development and maintenance of adult structures. Unlike mammals, fish and amphibians have the ability to regenerate their optic nerve after damages. Molecular mechanisms underlying the optic nerve regeneration are still under intense investigation. Studies in Dr. Liu’s laboratory showed that expression of several cadherins, including N-cadherin, was greatly increased during adult zebrafish optic nerve regeneration, suggesting that cadherins may be involved in the optic nerve regeneration …


Histological And Immunohistochemical Analyses Used To Study Craniosynostosis In Pediatric Patients, Palvir Kaur Baadh Jan 2015

Histological And Immunohistochemical Analyses Used To Study Craniosynostosis In Pediatric Patients, Palvir Kaur Baadh

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Craniosynostosis is a condition in which one or more of the sutures of the skull grow together (fuse) earlier than normal in infants. Sutures are large gaps located at the bony plates or joints of the head. Craniosynostosis causes the skull to expand and grow in the direction of any normal open suture, creating craniofacial complications, such as drooping eyelids and abnormal intracranial pressure, head shape, or brain morphology. This premature fusion or ossification of sutures affects approximately 300-500 live births in 1,000,000 (Kolpakova-Hart et al., 2008) with considerable variation in phenotype, depending on which suture(s) is involved. Corrective …