Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology Commons^™

Cal And Magi Pdz Protein Regulation Of Crfr1 And 5-Ht2ar Trafficking And Signaling, Maha Mahmoud Hammad

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

PDZ (PSD95/Disc Large/Zona Occludens) domain-containing proteins are scaffolding proteins that play important roles in regulating the activity of G protein-coupled receptors. Corticotropin Releasing Factor Receptor 1 (CRFR1) and Serotonin 2A Receptor (5-HT_2AR) are two GPCRs that are commonly associated with mental disorders. Both receptors also contain a class I PDZ-binding motif at the carboxyl terminal tail. In the first chapter, we investigate the effects of CAL (CFTR-associated ligand) on regulating the trafficking and signaling of CRFR1. We demonstrate a role for CAL in inhibiting CRFR1 endocytosis, cell surface expression, and CRF-mediated ERK1/2 signaling via the CRFR1 PDZ-binding motif. …

Assessment Of Post-Treatment Imaging Changes Following Radiotherapy Using Magnetic Susceptibility Techniques, Jean-Guy Belliveau

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Radiation therapy (RT) is a common treatment for brain neoplasms and is used alone or in combination with other therapies. The use of RT has been found to be successful in controlling tumors and extending the overall survival of patients; however, there are many unanswered questions regarding radiotherapy effects in the normal brain surrounding or infiltrated by tumor. Changes to the vascular and parenchyma have been documented, and more recently inflammatory mechanisms have been postulated to play a role in radiation injury. Traditional imaging techniques used within the clinic (CT and MRI) are often lacking in their ability to differentiate …

Regulation Of Phosphatase And Tensin Homolog Expression And Activity By Transforming Growth-Factor Beta In The Trabecular Meshwork Cells: Implications For Primary Open Angle Glaucoma, Nikoleta Tellios

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Glaucoma is a multifactorial condition caused, in part, by fibrosis of the sieve-like trabecular meshwork (TM) tissue, which impedes drainage of aqueous humor (AH), leading to increased intraocular pressure and associated optic nerve damage and blindness. Fibrosis of the TM is mainly caused by the increased levels of active transforming growth factor-β 2 (TGFβ2) in the AH of glaucoma patients.

Previous reports have shown that TGFβ decreases the expression of Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog (PTEN) gene and that PTEN is a major regulator of ECM deposition. In this study we investigate the regulation of PTEN protein expression and …