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Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology Commons™
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- Photosynthesis (2)
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Articles 1 - 10 of 10
Full-Text Articles in Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology
Positron Emission Tomography In Oncology And Environmental Science, Samantha Delaney
Positron Emission Tomography In Oncology And Environmental Science, Samantha Delaney
Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
The last half century has played witness to the onset of molecular imaging for the clinical assessment of physiological targets. While several medical imaging modalities allow for the visualization of the functional and anatomical properties of humans and living systems, few offer accurate quantitation and the ability to detect biochemical processes with low-administered drug mass doses. This limits how physicians and scientists may diagnose and treat medical issues, such as cancer, disease, and foreign agents.
A promising alternative to extant invasive procedures and suboptimal imaging modalities to assess the nature of a biological environment is the use of positron emission …
Symmetry-Inspired Analysis Of Biological Networks, Ian Leifer
Symmetry-Inspired Analysis Of Biological Networks, Ian Leifer
Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
The description of a complex system like gene regulation of a cell or a brain of an animal in terms of the dynamics of each individual element is an insurmountable task due to the complexity of interactions and the scores of associated parameters. Recent decades brought about the description of these systems that employs network models. In such models the entire system is represented by a graph encapsulating a set of independently functioning objects and their interactions. This creates a level of abstraction that makes the analysis of such large scale system possible. Common practice is to draw conclusions about …
Molecular Dynamics Simulations Of Self-Assemblies In Nature And Nanotechnology, Phu Khanh Tang
Molecular Dynamics Simulations Of Self-Assemblies In Nature And Nanotechnology, Phu Khanh Tang
Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
Nature usually divides complex systems into smaller building blocks specializing in a few tasks since one entity cannot achieve everything. Therefore, self-assembly is a robust tool exploited by Nature to build hierarchical systems that accomplish unique functions. The cell membrane distinguishes itself as an example of Nature’s self-assembly, defining and protecting the cell. By mimicking Nature’s designs using synthetically designed self-assemblies, researchers with advanced nanotechnological comprehension can manipulate these synthetic self-assemblies to improve many aspects of modern medicine and materials science. Understanding the competing underlying molecular interactions in self-assembly is always of interest to the academic scientific community and industry. …
Third Harmonic Generation: A Method For Visualizing Myelin In The Murine Cerebral Cortex, Michael Redlich
Third Harmonic Generation: A Method For Visualizing Myelin In The Murine Cerebral Cortex, Michael Redlich
Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
Here we present the use of Third Harmonic Generation (THG) for the label-free imaging of myelinated axons in the murine cerebral cortex. Myelin plays an important role in the processes of learning and disease. However, much of the myelin biology research thus far has focused on white matter tracts where myelin is more visible. Much is still unknown, particularly with regard to myelin in gray matter. First, we engage in THG microscopy using an optical parametric oscillator pumped by a titanium-sapphire laser to demonstrate the utility of the technique for imaging myelin in vivo. Second, we investigate the use of …
Using The Marcus Inverted Region And Artificial Cofactors To Create A Charge Separated State In De Novo Designed Proteins, Eskil Me Andersen
Using The Marcus Inverted Region And Artificial Cofactors To Create A Charge Separated State In De Novo Designed Proteins, Eskil Me Andersen
Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
To create an efficient de novo photosynthetic protein it is important to create long lived charge separated states. Achieving stable charge separation leads to an increase in the efficiency of the photosynthetic reaction which in turn leads to higher yields of end products, such as biofuels, electrical charge, or synthetic chemicals. In an attempt to create charge separated states in de novo proteins we hypothesized that we could engineer the free energy gaps in the proteins from excited primary donor (PD) to acceptor (A), and A back to ground state PD such that the forward electron transfer (ET) would be …
Proton Pumping Mechanism In Cytochrome C Oxidase, Xiuhong Cai
Proton Pumping Mechanism In Cytochrome C Oxidase, Xiuhong Cai
Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
Cytochrome c Oxidase (CcO), is the terminal electron acceptor in the membrane bound aerobic respiratory chain. It reduces O2 to water. The energy released by this reaction is stored by pumping protons from the high pH, N-side of the membrane to the low pH, P-side. The generated proton gradient provides the motive force for synthesis of ATP by the ATP synthase.
Building a proton gradient across the membrane requires that proton transport must occur along controllable proton pathways to prevent proton leakage to the N-side. It has been suggested that CcO function requires proton transfer channels in both the …
Supercharged Models Of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins And Their Utility In Sensing, Peter J. Schnatz
Supercharged Models Of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins And Their Utility In Sensing, Peter J. Schnatz
Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
In this thesis I show that greatly increasing the magnitude of a protein’s net charge using surface supercharging transforms that protein into a ligand-gated or counterion-gated conformational molecular switch. To demonstrate this I first modified the designed helical bundle hemoprotein H4 using simple molecular modeling, creating a highly charged protein which both unfolds reversibly at low ionic strength and undergoes the ligand-induced folding transition commonly observed in signal transduction by intrinsically disordered proteins in biology. Due to the high surface charge density, ligand binding to this protein is allosterically activated by low concentrations of divalent cations and the polyamine spermine. …
Biophysical Characterization Of A De Novo Elastin, Kelly Nicole Greenland
Biophysical Characterization Of A De Novo Elastin, Kelly Nicole Greenland
Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
Natural human elastin is found in tissue such as the lungs, arteries, and skin. This protein is formed at birth with no mechanism present to repair or supplement the initial quantity formed. As a result, the functionality and durability of elastin's elasticity is critically important. To date, the mechanics of this ability to stretch and recoil is not fully understood. This study utilizes de novo protein design to create a small library of simplistic versions of elastin-like proteins, demonstrate the elastin-like proteins, maintain elastin's functionality, and inquire into its structure using solution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR).
Elastin is formed from …
De Novo Design And Engineering Of Functional Metal And Porphyrin-Binding Protein Domains, Bernard Howard Everson
De Novo Design And Engineering Of Functional Metal And Porphyrin-Binding Protein Domains, Bernard Howard Everson
Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
In this work, I describe an approach to the rational, iterative design and characterization of two functional cofactor-binding protein domains. First, a hybrid computational/experimental method was developed with the aim of algorithmically generating a suite of porphyrin-binding protein sequences with minimal mutual sequence information. This method was explored by generating libraries of sequences, which were then expressed and evaluated for function. One successful sequence is shown to bind a variety of porphyrin-like cofactors, and exhibits light- activated electron transfer in mixed hemin:chlorin e6 and hemin:Zn(II)-protoporphyrin IX complexes. These results imply that many sophisticated functions such as cofactor binding and electron …
An Experimental Investigation Into The Mechanisms Of Bacterial Evolution, Zhenmao Wan
An Experimental Investigation Into The Mechanisms Of Bacterial Evolution, Zhenmao Wan
Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
This thesis studies the two fundamental mechanisms of bacterial evolution — horizontal gene transfer and spontaneous mutation, in the bacterium Escherichia coli through novel experimental assays and mathematical simulations. First, I will develop a growth assay utilizing the quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to provide real-time enumeration of genetic marker abundance within bacterial populations. Second, I will focus on horizontal gene transfer in E. coli occurring through a process called conjugation. By fitting the qPCR data to a resource limited, logistic growth model, I will obtain estimated values of several key parameters governing the dynamics of DNA transfer through conjugation …