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Loyola Marymount University and Loyola Law School

Articles 451 - 460 of 460

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Cures Garden Program - Martha Baldwin, Center For Urban Resilience Jan 2015

Cures Garden Program - Martha Baldwin, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 10: Garden Ecology

No abstract provided.


Dynamic Motions Of The Hiv-1 Frameshift Site Rna, Kathryn Mouzakis Jan 2015

Dynamic Motions Of The Hiv-1 Frameshift Site Rna, Kathryn Mouzakis

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Works

The HIV-1 frameshift site (FS) plays a critical role in viral replication. During translation, the HIV-1 FS transitions from a 3-helix to a 2-helix junction RNA secondary structure. The 2-helix junction structure contains a GGA bulge, and purine-rich bulges are common motifs in RNA secondary structure. Here, we investigate the dynamics of the HIV-1 FS 2-helix junction RNA. Interhelical motions were studied under different ionic conditions using NMR order tensor analysis of residual dipolar couplings. In 150 mM potassium, the RNA adopts a 43°(±4°) interhelical bend angle (β) and displays large amplitude, anisotropic interhelical motions characterized by a 0.52(±0.04) internal …


Global Shape Mimicry Of Trna Within A Viral Internal Ribosome Entry Site Mediates Translational Reading Frame Selection, Kathryn Mouzakis Jan 2015

Global Shape Mimicry Of Trna Within A Viral Internal Ribosome Entry Site Mediates Translational Reading Frame Selection, Kathryn Mouzakis

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Works

The dicistrovirus intergenic region internal ribosome entry site (IRES) adopts a triple-pseudoknotted RNA structure and occupies the core ribosomal E, P, and A sites to directly recruit the ribosome and initiate translation at a non-AUG codon. A subset of dicistrovirus IRESs directs translation in the 0 and +1 frames to produce the viral structural proteins and a +1 overlapping open reading frame called ORFx, respectively. Here we show that specific mutations of two unpaired adenosines located at the core of the threehelical junction of the honey bee dicistrovirus Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV) IRES PKI domain can uncouple 0 and …


Exploration Of Climate Influences On The Abundance Of Galls On Red Willow (Salix /Aevigata) Across Two Riparian Communities In Southern California, Victor D. Carmona-Galindo, Rachael Sears, Tauras P. Vilgalys, Emily Hand, Sara Morledge-Hampton May 2014

Exploration Of Climate Influences On The Abundance Of Galls On Red Willow (Salix /Aevigata) Across Two Riparian Communities In Southern California, Victor D. Carmona-Galindo, Rachael Sears, Tauras P. Vilgalys, Emily Hand, Sara Morledge-Hampton

Biology Faculty Works

In Southern California, the red willow (Sa/ix laevigata Bebb) hosts a variety of gall-inducing parasitic insects. However, little is known about the ecology of these parasites, particularly the characterization of their microclimate preferences. This study explores the relationship between microclimate and gall frequencies in S. laevigata in the Ballona Wetlands and Temescal Canyon, and gall count correlated with biotic and abiotic factors such as soil pH, soil moisture and willow density. Significantly more galls per leaf were found at Temescal Canyon than Ballona Wetlands. Although the number of galls per leaf correlated negatively with soil pH, soil moisture content and …


Structure And Dynamics Of The Hiv-1 Frameshift Element Rna, Kathryn Mouzakis Jan 2014

Structure And Dynamics Of The Hiv-1 Frameshift Element Rna, Kathryn Mouzakis

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Works

The HIV-1 ribosomal frameshift element is highly structured, regulates translation of all virally encoded enzymes, and is a promising therapeutic target. The prior model for this motif contains two helices separated by a three-nucleotide bulge. Modifications to this model were suggested by SHAPE chemical probing of an entire HIV-1 RNA genome. Novel features of the SHAPE-directed model include alternate helical conformations and a larger, more complex structure. These structural elements also support the presence of a secondary frameshift site within the frameshift domain. Here, we use oligonucleotide-directed structure perturbation, probing in the presence of formamide, and in-virion experiments to examine …


Iapp Aggregation And Cellular Toxicity Are Inhibited By 1,2,3,4,6-Penta-O-Galloyl-Β-D-Glucose, Edward Bruno, Catalina Pereira, Karla P. Roman, Marisa Takiguchi, Pei-Yu Kao, Luiza A. Nogaj, David A. Moffet Mar 2013

Iapp Aggregation And Cellular Toxicity Are Inhibited By 1,2,3,4,6-Penta-O-Galloyl-Β-D-Glucose, Edward Bruno, Catalina Pereira, Karla P. Roman, Marisa Takiguchi, Pei-Yu Kao, Luiza A. Nogaj, David A. Moffet

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Works

The polyphenol, 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose (PGG) has been found to exhibit a host of positive pharmacologic activities, including anti-cancer and anti-diabetic. Little is known about the mode of action of PGG in yielding these positive activities. We show here that PGG is a potent inhibitor of IAPP (islet amyloid polypeptide, amylin) aggregation. Preventing the initial aggregation event of IAPP is one strategy for slowing, and possibly preventing, the toxic effects of IAPP oligomeric intermediates. Equal molar ratios of PGG to IAPP substantially reduced the ability of IAPP to bind thioflavin T. Atomic force microscopy revealed that PGG prevented amyloid-based fiber formation under …


Hiv-1 Frameshift Efficiency Is Primarily Determined By The Stability Of Base Pairs Positioned At The Mrna Entrance Channel Of The Ribosome, Kathryn Mouzakis Jan 2013

Hiv-1 Frameshift Efficiency Is Primarily Determined By The Stability Of Base Pairs Positioned At The Mrna Entrance Channel Of The Ribosome, Kathryn Mouzakis

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Works

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) requires a programmed -1 ribosomal frameshift for Pol gene expression. The HIV frameshift site consists of a heptanucleotide slippery sequence (UUUUUUA) followed by a spacer region and a downstream RNA stem-loop structure. Here we investigate the role of the RNA structure in promoting the -1 frameshift. The stem-loop was systematically altered to decouple the contributions of local and overall thermodynamic stability towards frameshift efficiency. No correlation between overall stability and frameshift efficiency is observed. In contrast, there is a strong correlation between frameshift efficiency and the local thermodynamic stability of the first 3-4 bp in …


From Gene Mutation To Protein Characterization, David A. Moffet Mar 2009

From Gene Mutation To Protein Characterization, David A. Moffet

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Works

A seven-week “gene to protein” laboratory sequence is described for an undergraduate biochemistry laboratory course. Student pairs were given the task of introducing a point mutation of their choosing into the well studied protein, enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). After conducting literature searches, each student group chose the mutation they wanted to introduce into EGFP. Students designed their sequence-specific mutagenic primers and constructed their desired mutation. The resulting EGFP mutant proteins were expressed in E. coli, purified and characterized. This laboratory sequence connected the major concepts of molecular biology and biochemistry, while incorporating the thrill of novel discovery in …


Improving The Computer Science In Bioinformatics Through Open Source Pedagogy, John David N. Dionisio, Kam D. Dahlquist Jun 2008

Improving The Computer Science In Bioinformatics Through Open Source Pedagogy, John David N. Dionisio, Kam D. Dahlquist

Biology Faculty Works

Bioinformatics relies more than ever on information technologies. This pressures scientists to keep up with software development best practices. However, traditional computer science curricula do not necessarily expose students to collaborative and long-lived software development. Using open source principles, practices, and tools forms an effective pedagogy for software development best practices. This paper reports on a bioinformatics teaching framework implemented through courses introducing computer science students to the field. The courses led to an initial product release consisting of software and an Escherichia coli K12 GenMAPP Gene Database, within a total "incubation time" of six months.


Extensive Regional Atmospheric Hydrocarbon Pollution In The Southwestern United States, Lambert A. Doezema Oct 2003

Extensive Regional Atmospheric Hydrocarbon Pollution In The Southwestern United States, Lambert A. Doezema

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Works

Light alkane hydrocarbons are present in major quantities in the near-surface atmosphere of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas during both autumn and spring seasons. In spring 2002, maximum mixing ratios of ethane [34 parts per 109 by volume (ppbv)], propane (20 ppbv), and n-butane (13 ppbv) were observed in north-central Texas. The elevated alkane mixing ratios are attributed to emissions from the oil and natural gas industry. Measured alkyl nitrate mixing ratios were comparable to urban smog values, indicating active photochemistry in the presence of nitrogen oxides, and therefore with abundant formation of tropospheric ozone. We estimate that 4-6 teragrams of …