Cell Biology Commons^™

Microcirculation: Electrophysiological Basis For The Response Of Endothelial Cells To Inflammatory Mediators-Bradykinin, Kai Miao

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Using conventional microelectrodes, I studied the electrical basis for determining the resting V$\sb{\rm m}$ in intact EC's from hamsters. The resting V$\sb{\rm m}$ were found to be $-$40 mV for aortic EC's and $-$43 mV for vena caval EC's. The contributions of ions to the resting V$\sb{\rm m}$ of aortic EC's were compared in terms of the transference number (t$\sb{\rm ion}$). To develop a technique for in situ monitoring changes in V$\sb{\rm m}$ of postcapillary venular EC's in the hamster mesentery, a voltage-sensitive fluorescent probe, bisoxonol, was used to load the cells and the fluorescence signals were analyzed under an …

In Situ Regulation Of Cytosolic Phospolipase A₂, Beverly A. Rzigalinski

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

The 85 kDa cytosolic phospholipase A₂ (cPLA₂) is an agonist-responsive effector for intracellular signal transduction through the arachidonate cascade. In vitro studies have demonstrated that this enzyme is regulated by sub-micromolar calcium and is specific for arachidonate as the sn-2 fatty acyl group of phospholipid substrates. However, very little data is available regarding in situ mechanisms which govern the activity of cPLA₂. The primarily objective of these studies was to develop an in situ system for the study of cPLA₂, and investigate mobilization of arachidonate during signal transduction events.

Dimethylsulfoxide differentiation of the …

Mutations In The Non-Helical Linker Segment L1-2 Of Keratin 5 In Patients With Weber-Cockayne Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex, Yiu-Mo Chan, Qian-Chun Yu, Janine M. Leblanc-Straceski, Angela Christiano, Lena Pulkkinen, Raju S. Kucherlapati, Jouni Uitto, Elaine Fuchs

Biology Faculty Publications

Keratins are the major structural proteins of the epidermis. Analyzing keratin gene sequences, appreciating the switch in keratin gene expression that takes place as epidermal cells commit to terminally differentiate, and elucidating how keratins assemble into 10 nm filaments, have provided the foundation that has led to the discoveries of the genetic bases of two major classes of human skin diseases, epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS) and epidermolytic hyperkeratosis (EH). These diseases involve point mutations in either the basal epidermal keratin pair, K5 and K14 (EBS), or the suprabasal pair, K1 and K10 (EH). In severe cases of EBS and EH, …

Analysis Of Human Sperm Chromatin Integrity, Silvina M. Bocca

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Determining potential maternal or paternal sources of abnormal chromosomal constitution gives opportunity for preconception genetic counseling. The most direct determination is achieved by analyzing the nuclear constitution of the gametes.

The present study evaluated the integrity of human spermatozoal nuclear material in the two condensation stages of chromatin and chromosomes. Original semen samples (ORI) and their swim-up fractions (SW, selected for motility) from men of known (donors) and unknown (patients) fertility were analyzed. The extent of chromatin condensation was assessed by light microscopy and flow cytometry during the time course of a chemically-induced decondensation reaction.

Motile spermatozoa were used to …

Translational Regulation Of The C-Jun Proto-Oncogene, Anil Sehgal

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

The v-jun oncogene was originally isolated from the ASV17 virus in 1987. Ever since its isolation, extensive work has been done to understand the role of the v-jun oncogene in cell transformation. The c-Jun protein is a transcription factor which binds to the DNA target TGACTCA. The c-Jun protein binds to DNA in the form of dimers. It can form homodimers with itself and heterodimers with Jun family (JunB and JunD), Fos family (FosB, Fra1 and Fra2), or with CREB family members through the leucine zipper motif. Because the c-jun proto-oncogene plays an important role in cell transformation, extensive work …

Induction Of Cytotoxic Gene Expression During Rat Cardiac Allograft Rejection And The Effects Of Combination Low Dose Cyclosporine A/Methotrexate Immunosuppressive Therapy In Prolonging Graft Survival, Theresa Torres. Pizarro

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Binding Of Matrix Attachment Regions To Lamin Polymers Involves Single-Stranded Regions And The Minor Groove., M. E. Eva Ludérus, Jan L. Den Blaauwen, Oncko J. De Smit, Duane A. Compton, Roel Van Driel

Dartmouth Scholarship

Chromatin in eukaryotic nuclei is thought to be partitioned into functional loop domains that are generated by the binding of defined DNA sequences, named MARs (matrix attachment regions), to the nuclear matrix. We have previously identified B-type lamins as MAR-binding matrix components (M. E. E. Ludérus, A. de Graaf, E. Mattia, J. L. den Blaauwen, M. A. Grande, L. de Jong, and R. van Driel, Cell 70:949-959, 1992). Here we show that A-type lamins and the structurally related proteins desmin and NuMA also specifically bind MARs in vitro. We studied the interaction between MARs and lamin polymers in molecular detail …

Development And Application Of A Thermistor Current Meter, Carl M. Way, Albert J. Burky, Christine Miller-Way

Biology Faculty Publications

This report provides details for the construction of a hot-bead thermistor current meter which is capable of measuring water velocities on a millimeter spatial scale and for the construction of a compact and accurate calibration system. Hot-bead thermistor current meters can be built with response times of 200 ms capable of measuring velocities between 0.1 and 80 cm s-1. The construction of a sturdy probe for application in lotic systems such as high gradient Hawaiian streams was achieved by the use of heavy-duty acrylic tubing, small stainless steel gas-chromatography tubing, and flexible Tygon spaghetti tubing. An acrylic handle anchors the …

Cell Division In The Multicellular Marine Red Alga Agardhiella Subulata, Karel Joan Klepacki

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Contaminated Sediment On The Epidermal Goblet Cells Of The Mummichog, Fundulus Heteroclitus, Laurent C. Mézin

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Secretion of mucus by epidermal goblet cells is an important first line of defense for teleosts. It protects them against many of the biological, physical and chemical insults they encounter in their environment. This project monitored changes in hemoglobin concentration in epidermal mucus and in the density, diameter and mucus quality of epidermal goblet cells in the mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus, following exposure to creosote-contaminated sediment. Male fish (200) were exposed for 13 days in flowthough aquaria to either an uncontaminated reference sediment or contaminated sediment containing 30% Elizabeth River sediment. Fish were sampled on Days 0, 3, 7 and 13. …

Liver Lipids Profiles In Nude Mice Implanted Subcutaneously With Cells Of Human Prostate Adenocarcinoma Grade Iv, Lawrence M. Mwasi

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Liver lipid changes in male BALB-c nude mice due to subcutaneously implanted human prostate metastatic grade IV adenocarcinoma was studied. The prostate cancer cells were cultured in F12 plus 7.5% horse serum and 25% fetal calf serum medium. When they reached confluence, some of these cells were fixed with glutaraldehyde and thoroughly washed with buffer then 4 x107 cells were implanted into four mice. Four more mice were implanted with 4 x 106 viable, unfixed cells. Four uninjected mice served as controls. All the mice were sacrificed 18 days later. The total liver lipids (TLL) from each liver were extracted …

Correlation Between Chromatid Deletion Production And Progression Of The Dna Replication Fork In Uv-Irradiated S Phase Xenopus Cells, Daniel M. Yoder, Jason M. Hiles, H. Gaston Griggs

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Experimentation was performed primarily to determine whether progression of the DNA replication fork along segments of S phase Xenopus chromosomes, which contain UV-induced pre-aberrational lesions, plays a significant role in conversion of these lesions into chromatid deletions. Specifically, a Xenopus chromosome that was both easy to identify and that possessed a single DNA replication fork in one arm was found and used to conduct the experimentation. This chromosome was exposed to UV in early S phase and a Bromodeoxyuridine/Giemsa differential staining technique was applied in conjunction with conventional aberrational techniques to correlate progression of the DNA replication fork through segments …