Other Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology Commons^™

Characterization Of The Reconstituted And Native Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Type Iii Secretion System Translocon, Kathryn R. Monopoli

Masters Theses

The Type III Secretion (T3S) system is a system utilized by many pathogenic bacteria to inject proteins into host cells during an infection. Effector proteins enter the host cell by passing through the proteinaceous T3S translocon, which forms a pore on the host cell membrane. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that utilizes the T3S system, and very little is known about how the P. aeruginosa translocon forms.

The proteins PopB and PopD are believed to assemble into the P. aeruginosa translocon. A pore-forming heterocomplex of PopB and PopD has been reconstituted in model membranes, however this heterocomplex has not …

Promoting Extracellular Matrix Crosslinking In Synthetic Hydrogels, Marcos M. Manganare

Masters Theses

The extracellular matrix (ECM) provides mechanical and biochemical support to tissues and cells. It is crucial for cell attachment, differentiation, and migration, as well as for ailment-associated processes such as angiogenesis, metastases and cancer development. An approach to study these phenomena is through emulation of the ECM by synthetic gels constructed of natural polymers, such as collagen and fibronectin, or simple but tunable materials such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) crosslinked with short peptide sequences susceptible to digestion by metalloproteases and cell-binding domains. Our lab uses PEG gels to study cell behavior in three dimensions (3D). Although this system fosters cell …

Fishing For A Sustainable Future: Aquaponics As A Method Of Food Production, Richard Ramsundar

Student Theses 2015-Present

This thesis compares and explains the advantages aquaponics farming has over modern industrial intensive farming. Through a comparison natural capital usage, conservation, recycling and cost, the thesis advocates for the expansion of aquaponics usage in urban settings. The thesis also explains the history of intensive farming and aquaponics in America, the science of how aquaponics operates, the economic and environmental costs of modern intensive farming versus aquaponics farming, and the social implications of aquaponics. Lastly, I propose a policy that reallocates farm subsidies by modifying the Farm Bill. Then I propose policies that support creating a new standard of farm …

Towards The Development Of A Maga Reporter Gene Expression Construct For Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Karina Quiaoit

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Development of methods to monitor cellular activity with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides a powerful tool for studying disease progression and monitoring therapy. This thesis investigates components necessary for development of reporter gene expression for MRI, to track Nkx2.5 transcription factor activity during tumour growth and, in the future, to calibrate MR contrast against a well-known optical reporter gene, like firefly luciferase. In human MCF-7 breast cancer cells, Nkx2.5 is induced by all-trans retinoic acid (tRA) and activates a minimal promoter of the rat sodium iodide symporter (rNISmin) gene. Here, we used firefly luciferase reporter gene expression to examine a …

Shifting The Stress Curve: Using "Stress Inoculation" And Exercise To Promote Resilience, Mikyung Kim

Master's Theses

Problem

Stress influences an organism’s physiological systems via an inverted u-shaped curve: An optimum amount of stress will optimize body functions, but too little stress or too much stress for long periods of time can impair body functions. Researchers have been very interested in exploring the mechanisms that may “delay the tipping point” between the positive and negative effects of stress. A rightward shift in the stress curve would allow one to maintain optimal performance even at higher or more prolonged stress levels. The molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie this rightward shift could result in resilience, clinically defined as …

Expression Analysis Of A Glucose Oxidase Transgene In Tobacco, Jordan Burt

Honors Theses

Glucose oxidase (GOX) is an enzyme in plants that catalyzes the oxidation of glucose to hydrogen peroxide and Glucono delta-lactone[5]. We have expressed GOX under the control of an estrogen inducible system, XVE, to analyze the gene's expression under this system compared to a system using the 35s system. The 35s system contains a promoter that constitutively turns on the GOX gene in the Nicotiana tabacum plant which causes the gene to always be turned on. Leaf disc assays were performed with discs from 35s, XVE, and also wild type plants (not containing the GOX gene) in order to extract …