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Full-Text Articles in Molecular Biology

Applications Of Variable Number Tandem Repeat Genotyping In The Validation Of An Animal Medical Model And Gene Flow Studies In Threatened Populations Of Reptiles, Candace D. Smith Dec 2009

Applications Of Variable Number Tandem Repeat Genotyping In The Validation Of An Animal Medical Model And Gene Flow Studies In Threatened Populations Of Reptiles, Candace D. Smith

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

We used variable number tandem repeats (VNTR) to validate the chicken as a human medical model for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. We identified seven regions on four chromosomes and interrogated for VNTR markers that significantly associate with Pulmonary Hypertension Syndrome/ascites. In those regions, we identified 7 candidate genes; AGTR1, ACE, p38MAPK, SST, 5HT2B, NET1, and CALM3 for further analysis as significantly contributing QTL for ascites/PHS. We also used variable number tandem repeats to measure gene flow and gather evidence for multiple paternity in a population of Timber rattlesnakes, Crotalus horridus. We were able to verify 1 VNTR that can be used …


Characterization And Functional Regulation Of Bioactive Peptides In Avian Macrophages And Heterophils, Lakshmi Kannan Dec 2009

Characterization And Functional Regulation Of Bioactive Peptides In Avian Macrophages And Heterophils, Lakshmi Kannan

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Oligopeptides and low molecular weight polypeptides play central roles as effectors and signal transducers acting as hormones, neurotransmitters, growth factors, toxins, and antimicrobial factors that are important for the survival of the organism. Owing to the ubiquitous involvement of peptides in many key regulatory processes, we have been interested to identify native peptides in different cells and tissues and understand their functions. To conduct our studies, we used avian macrophages and heterophils as models of specialized cells which constitute central components of innate immunity. These studies involved (a) qualitative identification and characterization of the peptides associated with high intensity mass …


The Role Of Multiple Ccaat-Binding Factors In Candida Albicans Gene Expression, Lashall Lynn Bates Dec 2009

The Role Of Multiple Ccaat-Binding Factors In Candida Albicans Gene Expression, Lashall Lynn Bates

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The CCAAT-binding factor is a heterooligomeric transcription factor that is evolutionarily conserved in eukaryotes. In yeast, the DNA-binding component that interacts with the CCAAT consensus sequence in promoters consists of the subunits termed Hap2p, Hap3p and Hap5p. In yeast and fungi, a fourth subunit, Hap4p, is required for regulating gene expression. The goal of this research is to understand the function of the Candida albicans CCAAT-binding factor and how it relates to virulence and pathogenicity. C. albicans is a human opportunistic pathogen responsible for a variety of mucosal and systemic infections that result in significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in …


Understanding The Role Of Histones During Chromosome Segregation: A Study Of The Effects Of Histone Gene Dosage In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Rebecca Leigh Danforth May 2009

Understanding The Role Of Histones During Chromosome Segregation: A Study Of The Effects Of Histone Gene Dosage In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Rebecca Leigh Danforth

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Chromatin plays a role in all cellular functions that involve DNA. These include, but are not limited to replication, recombination, transcription, and chromosome segregation. Chromosome segregation is an extremely well conserved cellular process and is essential for maintaining the genetic integrity of a cell. There is very strong evidence indicating that chromatin structure is critical for maintaining the fidelity of chromosome transmission, but its specific role(s) in this process remains unclear. Chromatin is comprised of arrays of nucleosomes that serve to compact DNA. These nucleosomes consist of 146 bp of DNA that is wrapped around a histone octamer; two each …


The Membrane Interface Of Chloroplast Signal Recognition Particle-Dependent Protein Targeting, Naomi Jane Marty May 2009

The Membrane Interface Of Chloroplast Signal Recognition Particle-Dependent Protein Targeting, Naomi Jane Marty

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A novel signal recognition particle (SRP) found in the chloroplast (cpSRP) works in combination with the cpSRP receptor, cpFtsY, to facilitate the post-translational targeting of a family of nuclear-encoded thylakoid proteins to the Alb3 translocase in thylakoid membranes. Work here focused on understanding events at the membrane that take place to ensure targeting of the cpSRP-dependent substrate to Alb3. Specifically, we sought to understand the structural and functional role of membrane binding by cpFtsY, a protein that exhibits the ability to partition between the membrane (thylakoid) and soluble (stroma) phase during protein targeting. We also sought to understand whether a …


Evolution Of Gene Structure In Multicellular Eukaryotes, Maria Hester Jan 2009

Evolution Of Gene Structure In Multicellular Eukaryotes, Maria Hester

Inquiry: The University of Arkansas Undergraduate Research Journal

We investigated the patterns of intron conservation in eukaryotes for five different genes. The genes examined were ribosomal proteins L8, S14 and S17, along with elongation factor 2B and triose phosphate isomerase. Intron conservation for S14, S17, and triose phosphate isomerase was determined for 32 species representing the major branches of multicellular eukaryotes. For 25 conserved introns 16 were phase 0, five were phase 1, and four were phase 2. Triose phosphate isomerase had five of nine conserved introns shared between plants and animals, where S14 had one of nine and S17 had one of seven. However, there were two …


Letter From The Dean, Lalit Verma Jan 2009

Letter From The Dean, Lalit Verma

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.