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Full-Text Articles in Molecular Biology
Probing Interactions Between Canonical Nox Domains, Akua Acheampong
Probing Interactions Between Canonical Nox Domains, Akua Acheampong
Master of Science in Integrative Biology Theses
NAPDH oxidase enzymes (NOXes) reduce molecular oxygen to superoxide and other ROS. NOXes contain a catalytic core comprising a heme-containing transmembrane (TM) domain and a cytoplasmic dehydrogenase (DH) domain that binds the substrate NADPH and the cofactor. Previously, NOXes were only characterized in eukaryotes, but have recently been identified in prokaryotes, namely bacteria. Due to their constitutive activity and solubility in detergent, bacterial NOXes, such as Streptococcus Pneumoniae NOX, have emerged as a model for studying NOXes. Past research studies in NOXes have identified conserved, putative interacting regions at the interface of the TM and DH domains: the TM B-loop, …
Characterization Of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Serine-600 Phosphorylation, Kevin Patel
Characterization Of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Serine-600 Phosphorylation, Kevin Patel
Master of Science in Chemical Sciences Theses
Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is part of a family of three nitric oxide synthase (NOS) enzymes that catalyze the production of nitric oxide (NO). NO is a gaseous, free-radical signaling molecule that has a variety of cellular and physiological functions that range from maintaining cardiovascular homeostasis to neurotransmission. The function of NO greatly depends on the concentration and is cell type specific. eNOS is the most regulated of the three NOS isoforms and the mechanisms of regulation can be through protein-protein interactions and posttranslational modifications. A connection with eNOS and the cell cycle has begun to form with recent …
Understanding How Map Kinases Influence Endothelial Nitric-Oxide Synthase Activity, Xzaviar Solone
Understanding How Map Kinases Influence Endothelial Nitric-Oxide Synthase Activity, Xzaviar Solone
Master of Science in Integrative Biology Theses
Mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) p38 and ERK have both been reported to bind endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) with submicromolar affinity via proposed interactions with a pentabasic non-canonical MAPK binding sequence in the autoinhibitory insertion of eNOS. The neuronal isoform, which lacks the pentabasic motif, did not bind either MAPK significantly. In the present study, the pentabasic motif was validated using predictive modeling programming, and eNOS phosphorylation by MAPKs (P38, ERK and JNK) was examined using in vitro kinase assays and immunoblotting. JNK phosphorylation at Ser114 contrasts with ERK, which phosphorylated Ser600, and p38, which phosphorylated …
Novel Cell Penetrating Peptides Effect Endosomal Escape And Deliver Protein Cargos Into Living Cells, Verra M. Ngwa
Novel Cell Penetrating Peptides Effect Endosomal Escape And Deliver Protein Cargos Into Living Cells, Verra M. Ngwa
Master of Science in Chemical Sciences Theses
Over the last decade a number of peptides that are rapidly internalized by mammalian cells have been discovered or designed. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are capable of mediating penetration of the plasma membrane, allowing delivery of macromolecular cargoes to the cell interior. We have developed a novel CPP-adaptor protein technology that allows any user-defined cargo delivery and release into the cytoplasm. Our hypothesis is that a CPP-adaptor with a moiety allowing high-affinity but reversible non-covalent cargo binding would lead to more efficient penetration and release than current CPP delivery strategies. Delivery of proteins to the interiors of cells has many applications. …