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Sensing Ribonuclease H Activity With Dna Nanoswitches, Ruju Trivedi
Sensing Ribonuclease H Activity With Dna Nanoswitches, Ruju Trivedi
Biological Sciences
Ribonuclease H (RNase H) is a damage-repair protein and ribonuclease that specifically catalyzes the hydrolysis of RNA in an RNA/DNA duplex and breaks down RNA/DNA junctions. It plays an important role in a variety of biological processes including DNA replication, DNA repair, and transcription. It is also pivotal in anti-HIV drug development and the analysis of cellular processes and has been shown to be a potential therapeutic target for various neoplastic diseases. This thesis discusses a unique assay based on DNA nanoswitches to detect RNase H levels and activity. The assay is based on conformational changes of DNA nanoswitches in …
One-Step Cellular Micro-Rna Detection With Programmable Dna Nanoswitches, Molly F. Macisaac
One-Step Cellular Micro-Rna Detection With Programmable Dna Nanoswitches, Molly F. Macisaac
Biological Sciences
MicroRNAs play important roles in gene regulation. Additionally, differential expression of specific microRNAs have been correlated with a wide range of diseases. Sensitive and selective detection of microRNAs is thus important for enabling their use as biomarkers, drugs, or drug targets. Current detection techniques such as northern blotting and quantitative real-time PCR require skilled personnel and expensive equipment to execute complex and time consuming assays. Here we develop and validate a one-step, non-enzymatic microRNA detection assay using DNA nanoswitches programmed to recognize and bind a specific microRNA. Binding induces a loop in the structure, allowing the target microRNA to be …
Transcriptional Regulation Of Dksa P3 Promoter In Escherichia Coli, Chibuokem Ikwuazom
Transcriptional Regulation Of Dksa P3 Promoter In Escherichia Coli, Chibuokem Ikwuazom
Biological Sciences
DksA, a global gene regulator, binds to RNA po lymerase to regulate transcription initiation in Escherichia coli . It negatively regulates transcription of some genes, such as those for ribosomal RNAs and fis , and positively regulates transcription of other genes, including genes involved in amino acid biosynthesis. Little is known about how DksA itself is regulated. Current work in our lab has shown three major promoters, a σ 70 dependent P 1 promoter and two σ 38 (RpoS) - dependent promoters (P 2 and P 3 ), regulate the transcription of dksA . More is current ly known about …