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Full-Text Articles in Molecular Biology

Identification Of Proteins Potentially Involved In The Formation Of Lafora Bodies, A Hallmark Of Lafora Disease, Elham Schokraie, Oliver Kötting, Matthew S. Gentry Sep 2013

Identification Of Proteins Potentially Involved In The Formation Of Lafora Bodies, A Hallmark Of Lafora Disease, Elham Schokraie, Oliver Kötting, Matthew S. Gentry

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Presentations

Lafora Disease (LD) is a fatal teenage-onset progressive myoclonus epilepsy. It is characterized by the formation of Lafora bodies (LBs), deposits of abnormally branched, insoluble, hyperphosphorylated glycogen-like polymers that are generally believed to trigger the development of the clinical symptoms of LD. 58% and 35% of the LD cases are caused by mutations in EPM2A (laforin) and EPM2B (malin), respectively. However, little is known about their function in LB formation. Two different mechanisms have been proposed to explain the accumulation of insoluble LBs: first, excessive glycogen phosphorylation and, second, an imbalance between glycogen synthesizing enzymes. The present study aims at …


Biochemistry Of 1, 2-Dehydro-N-Acetyldopamine Derivatives, Adal T. Abebe Jun 2013

Biochemistry Of 1, 2-Dehydro-N-Acetyldopamine Derivatives, Adal T. Abebe

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Dehydrodopa/dopamine derivatives form an important group of biomolecules participating in sclerotization of all arthropod cuticles, gluing and cementing mussels and related organisms to solid surfaces, and defense reactions of countless marine and invertebrate organisms. Yet very little information is available on the biochemistry of these highly reactive and unstable molecules. To understand their physiological role, I conducted a thorough biochemical study on three representative compounds that cover the entire plethora of dehydrodopa/dopamine derivatives. Employing diode array UV-visible spectroscopy, HPLC, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry, I investigated the oxidation chemistry of 1,2-dehydro-N-acetyldopamine (dehydro NADA), 1,2-dehydro-N-acetyldopa and 1,2-dehydro-N-acetyldopa …


Using Rnai In C. Elegans To Demonstrate Gene Knockdown Phenotypes In The Undergraduate Biology Lab Setting, Nicole M. Roy May 2013

Using Rnai In C. Elegans To Demonstrate Gene Knockdown Phenotypes In The Undergraduate Biology Lab Setting, Nicole M. Roy

Biology Faculty Publications

RNA interference (RNAi) is a powerful technology used to knock down genes in basic research and medicine. In 2006 RNAi technology using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) was awarded the Nobel Prize in medicine and thus students graduating in the biological sciences should have experience with this technology. However, students struggle conceptually with the molecular biology behind the RNAi technology and find the technology difficult to grasp. To this end, we have provided a simple, streamlined and inexpensive RNAi procedure using C. elegans that can be adopted in upper level biology classes. By using an unknown RNAi-producing bacteria, students perform novel …


Elucidating The Role Of Dopamine In The Avoidance Response Of Caenorhabditis Elegans Utilizing Microfluidics, Patricia Frances Turturro Jan 2013

Elucidating The Role Of Dopamine In The Avoidance Response Of Caenorhabditis Elegans Utilizing Microfluidics, Patricia Frances Turturro

Theses Digitization Project

This study looks at dopamine modulation of ASH neurons, which are part of the avoidance circuit of C. elegans, and their response to water soluble stimuli. Because nematodes such as Caenorhabditis elegans utilize dopamine at the molecular and cellular level in much the same way as mammals, they offer researchers a unique opportunity to study the mechanisms of dopamine signaling.


Cell Type Difference In Influenza A Viral Mrna Nuclear Export, Sean William Larsen Jan 2013

Cell Type Difference In Influenza A Viral Mrna Nuclear Export, Sean William Larsen

Theses Digitization Project

The focus of this thesis research was to clarify the role of host Nxf1 in influenza viral mRNA nuclear export. This study aims to define the nuclear mRNA export pathways of influenza viral mRNA. If viral mRNAs are discovered to utilize neither known mRNA nuclear export pathway this would indicate the mRNA exports via undefined mRNA nuclear export pathway. This might be an atypical pathway not utilized by many host mRNAs and thus might reveal novel antiviral target. 293T (Human embryonic kidney cells) and A549 (Human lung epithelial) cells were purchased from ATCC American Tissue Culture Collection.