Digital Commons Network^™

Glutathione: A Small Molecule With Big Sense, Cristina E. Raya, Debasish Bandyopadhyay

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Chemistry)

Glutathione, a peptide found in microbes, plants and animals including human plays a key role in maintaining healthy cells. The peptide exists in both reduced and oxidized forms. Synthesis of GSH occurs in the cytosol of cells, and the extent of glutathione synthesis relies on various factors, such as amino acid availability, protein activity etc. Once synthesized, glutathione exists in both forms: oxidized (GSSG) and reduced (GSH). Oxidized glutathione characterized by its disulfide linkage. On the other hand, presence of a thiol group characterizes the reduced glutathione. This thiol makes the tripeptide an essential component of health; it makes glutathione …

Quercetin Inhibits Glucose Transport By Binding To An Exofacial Site On Glut1, Kathryn E. Hamilton, Janelle F. Rekman, Leesha K. Gunnink, Brianna M. Busscher

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Quercetin, a common dietary flavone, is a competitive inhibitor of glucose uptake and is also thought to be transported into cells by GLUT1. In this study, we confirm that quercetin is a competitive inhibitor of GLUT1 and also demonstrate that newly synthesized compounds, WZB-117 and BAY-876 are robust inhibitors of GLUT1 in L929 cells. To measure quercetin interaction with L929 cells, we develop a new fluorescent assay using flow cytometry. The binding of quercetin and its inhibitory effects on 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) uptake showed nearly identical dose dependent effects, with both having maximum effects between 50 and 100 μM and similar …

Conformationally-Controlled Late-Stage Modifications For Sar Studies Of The C-3-Glcp Moiety Of Ipomoeassin F, Lucas Whisenhunt

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The resin glycoside, ipomoeassin F has been shown to be extremely potent against multiple cancer lines (IC50 = 4.2-36 nM). However, the mechanism of action of this potent and complex natural product is still not fully understood. The α,β-unsaturated esters of the glucosyl moiety have been shown to be vital for the overall cytotoxicity of ipomoeassin F. Nevertheless, the importance of the tigloyl ester of the glucosyl moiety is still largely unknown. This work aimed to study the pharmacophore importance of the tigloyl ester by creating, an efficient, scalable, and flexible synthesis route for various analogs. The 18-linear step synthesis …

Working With Organic Peroxides In The Academic Lab, Patrick Dussault

Organic Peroxides: Safety Issues

ABSTRACT: The following is a brief introduction to peroxide safety from the viewpoint of a synthetic chemist. Major topics include: classes of organic peroxides; peroxide reactivity; hazard identification and minimization; reaction monitoring; and, hazards associated with auto-oxidation of peroxidizable solvents.

KEYWORDS: peroxide, hydroperoxide, hydroperoxyacetal, ozonide, perester, dihydroperoxide, monoperoxyacetal, active oxygen, peroxide strips, TLC indicator, self-accelerating decomposition, radical, exothermicity, transition metals.

CONTENTS: 1. Literature resources 2. Major classes of peroxides 3. Basis for peroxide reactivity 4. Determining reactivity and minimizing hazards a. Steps to take before an experiment b. Minimizing hazard during reactions c. Monitoring reactions d. Working with isolated peroxides …

Ultrafast And Nonlinear Spectroscopy Of Nanomaterials, Rami Anthony Khoury

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Ultrafast and nonlinear spectroscopies are implemented in the investigation of excited-state dynamics and structural properties of materials and nanomaterials. In the first study, the excited-state dynamics of size-dependent colloidal TiO₂-Au nanocomposites are investigated using ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy. The dynamics corresponding to the plasmon depletion band are characterized by electron-phonon and phonon-phonon coupling lifetimes that are observed to be independent of the gold nanocluster shell thickness. The excited-state dynamics corresponding to the interband transition of gold is also spectrally overlapped with the interfacial electron transfer lifetime, which is shown to decrease as the nanocluster shell thickness increases. In …

The Effects Of Cold Plasma Treatment On Sweet Basil (Ocimum Basilicum), Sauvelson Auguste

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The study discussed herein looks both to continue and to expand upon previous work conducted here at Seton Hall University, which investigated the effect of cold plasma processing on sweet basil and their essential oils. It was found that the application of cold plasma treatment increases plant growth and eugenol concentration, which is an essential oil component and one of the potential natural antioxidants used in food preservation. In this study, we considered methods for increasing the production and harvesting of plants that produce essential oils such as sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum). The study also incorporated more controls …

Semisynthesis Of A Mellein-Type 3,4-Dihydroisocoumarin From Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (Cnsl), Clarence A. Mgina, Fatma Kadir

Tanzania Journal of Science

Mellein-type 3,4-dihydroisocoumarin 39 (i.e., 8-methoxy-3-tridecyl-3,4-dihydroisocoumarin or 8-methoxy-3-tridecylisochroman-1-one), and its precursors, namely, methyl 2-methoxy-6-pentadecylbenzoate (37), methyl 2-methoxy-6-pentadecanoylbenzoate (38) and (E)-methyl 2-methoxy-6-(pentadec-1-enyl)benzoate (19) were synthesized from anacardic acid (12) as a starting material obtained from Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL) in an overall yield of 78%. The transformation of 12 to 39 involved protection of the reactive phenolic and carboxylic acid groups of compound 12 through methylation followed by hydrogenation so as to saturate the mono-, di- and tri-unsaturated C15 chains of anacardic acid (12). Subsequent benzylic oxidation and reduction of the keto functional group with concomitant dehydration of the alcohol led …

Determination Of Toxic Diethylene Glycol In Toothpastes In Dar Es Salaam By High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography And Colorimetric Methods, John Andrew Marco Mahugija

Tanzania Journal of Science

The aim of this study was to determine the presence and the levels of diethylene glycol (DEG) in toothpaste products commonly used in Dar es Salaam. Forty five samples of different brands of imported and locally manufactured toothpastes were collected and processed prior to analysis. High performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) method was used for the qualitative detection of diethylene glycol in the toothpastes. In quantitative analysis, a colorimetric method that involved ultraviolet–visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometric measurements of absorbances of prepared coloured samples and standards was used. DEG was found in 37.8% of the tested samples. The concentrations of the DEG …

Cost Effective Strategy For The Synthesis Of Azo Dyes By Using Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (Cnsl), Mathias Yohana, Monica M. Ndoile, Quintino A. Mgani

Tanzania Journal of Science

The synthesis and dyeing properties of two types of azo dyes are reported in this paper. The two types of dyes were obtained from coupling of amino cardanol with unsaturated anacardic acid [ACUSA (Aminocardanol unsaturated anacardic acid)] and saturated anacardic acid [ACSA (Aminocardanol saturated anacardic acid)] separately. Both, anacardic acid and aminocardanol were obtained from CNSL as their source material. ACSA dyes were solid and dark brown while ACUSA were gelatinous and dark red. The performance of both ACUSA and ACSA dyes was moderate on textile fabrics with varying cotton content. The dyeing efficiency of the ACUSA was better than …

Nickel Exposure Reduces Enterobactin Production In Escherichia Coli, Clorissa L. Washington-Hughes, Geoffrey T. Ford, Alsten D. Jones, Kimberly Mcrae, Franklin Wayne Outten

Faculty Publications

Escherichia coli is a well- studied bacterium that can be found in many niches, such as industrial wastewater, where the concentration of nickel can rise to low- millimolar levels. Recent studies show that nickel exposure can repress pyochelin or induce pyo-verdine siderophore production in Pseudomonas aueroginosa. Understanding the mo-lecular cross- talk between siderophore production, metal homeostasis, and metal toxicity in microorganisms is critical for designing bioremediation strategies for metal- contaminated sites. Here, we show that high- nickel exposure prolongs lag phase duration as a result of low- intracellular iron levels in E. coli. Although E. coli cells respond to low- …

Nickel Exposure Reduces Enterobactin Production In Escherichia Coli, Clorissa L. Washington – Hughes, Geoffrey T. Ford, Alsten D. Jones, Kimberly Mcrae, Franklin W. Outten

Faculty Publications

Escherichia coli is a well- studied bacterium that can be found in many niches, such as industrial wastewater, where the concentration of nickel can rise to low- millimolar levels. Recent studies show that nickel exposure can repress pyochelin or induce pyo-verdine siderophore production in Pseudomonas aueroginosa. Understanding the mo-lecular cross- talk between siderophore production, metal homeostasis, and metal toxicity in microorganisms is critical for designing bioremediation strategies for metal- contaminated sites. Here, we show that high- nickel exposure prolongs lag phase duration as a result of low- intracellular iron levels in E. coli. Although E. coli cells respond to low- …

Hiv-1 Integrase-Targeted Short Peptides Derived From A Viral Protein R Sequence, Xue Zhi Zhao, Mathieu Métifiot, Evgeny Kiselev, Jacques Kessl, Kasthuraiah Maddali, Christophe Marchand, Mamuka Kvaratskhelia, Yves Pommier, Terrence R. Burke Jr.

Faculty Publications

HIV-1 integrase (IN) inhibitors represent a new class of highly effective anti-AIDS therapeutics. Current FDA-approved IN strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) share a common mechanism of action that involves chelation of catalytic divalent metal ions. However, the emergence of IN mutants having reduced sensitivity to these inhibitors underlies efforts to derive agents that antagonize IN function by alternate mechanisms. Integrase along with the 96-residue multifunctional accessory protein, viral protein R (Vpr), are both components of the HIV-1 pre-integration complex (PIC). Coordinated interactions within the PIC are important for viral replication. Herein, we report a 7-mer peptide based on the shortened Vpr …

Unraveling Substituent Effects On The Glass Transition Temperatures Of Biorenewable Polyesters, Xiaopeng Yu, Junteng Jia, Shu Xu, Ka Un Lao, Maria J. Sanford, Ramesh K. Ramakrishnan, Sergei I. Nazarenko, Thomas R. Hoye, Geoffrey W. Coates, Robert A. Distasio Jr.

Faculty Publications

Converting biomass-based feedstocks into polymers not only reduces our reliance on fossil fuels, but also furnishes multiple opportunities to design biorenewable polymers with targeted properties and functionalities. Here we report a series of high glass transition temperature (T_g up to 184 °C) polyesters derived from sugar-based furan derivatives as well as a joint experimental and theoretical study of substituent effects on their thermal properties. Surprisingly, we find that polymers with moderate steric hindrance exhibit the highest T_g values. Through a detailed Ramachandran-type analysis of the rotational flexibility of the polymer backbone, we find that additional steric hindrance does …

59th Annual Rocky Mountain Conference On Magnetic Resonance

Rocky Mountain Conference on Magnetic Resonance

Final program, abstracts, and information about the 59th annual meeting of the Rocky Mountain Conference on Magnetic Resonance, co-endorsed by the Colorado Section of the American Chemical Society and the Society for Applied Spectroscopy. Held in Snowbird, Utah, July 22-27, 2018.

Applications Of Click Chemistry In The Development Of Hiv Protease Inhibitors, Mukesh Madan Mudgal, Nagaraju Birudukota, Mayur A. Doke

Chemistry and Physics Faculty Articles

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has been devastating for millions of people around the world. Inhibition of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease is among the most important approaches for the therapeutic intervention in HIV infection. Since the discovery of the HIV-1 protease, this enzyme has been considered as a key target for the inhibition of viral replication. A large body of research has been done to develop an effective HIV-1 protease inhibitor. There are to date 10 HIV-1 protease inhibitor drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that have improved the survival and quality of life of HIV …

Developing More Specific Mirna Biogenesis Inhibitors To Get Effective Regulation Of Mirnas, Umesh Bhattarai

Chemistry and Chemical Biology ETDs

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short (~ 22 nucleotides long) noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally. They control the expression of various genes that are crucial for cellular function, development and human diseases. Tools to regulate the level and function of miRNAs facilitate the studies of their functions and have therapeutic applications. In my thesis, I developed a newly customizable miRNA biogenesis inhibitor to regulate miRNAs.

Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) have been used to regulate miRNA through controlling their production or function. Although commonly used due to the fact that they are easy to design, several limitations exist for ASOs including serious …

Nanostructured Fibers As A Versatile Photonic Platform: Radiative Cooling And Waveguiding Through Transverse Anderson Localization, Norman Nan Shi, Cheng-Chia Tsai, Michael J. Carter, Jyotirmoy Mandal, Adam C. Overvig, Matthew Y. Sfeir, Ming Lu, Catherine L. Craig, Gary D. Bernard, Yuan Yang, Nanfang Yu

Publications and Research

Broadband high reflectance in nature is often the result of randomly, three-dimensionally structured materials. This study explores unique optical properties associated with one-dimensional nanostructures discovered in silk cocoon fibers of the comet moth, Argema mittrei. The fibers are populated with a high density of air voids randomly distributed across the fiber cross-section but are invariant along the fiber. These filamentary air voids strongly scatter light in the solar spectrum. A single silk fiber measuring ~50 μm thick can reflect 66% of incoming solar radiation, and this, together with the fibers' high emissivity of 0.88 in the mid-infrared range, allows …

Identification Of Coliphages In The Aviary At Brookgreen Gardens And The Factors That Might Influence Coliphage Population Dynamics In This Cypress Swamp Environment, Olivia Shirley, Lisa Pieterse, Paul E. Richardson

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

It has been understood that the presence of coliphages (bacteriophages specific for E. coli) in water is an indirect measurement of fecal contamination. Bacteriophages have been suggested to hold an important role in regulating the bacterial population. This pilot study analyzes the relationship between the presence of coliphages in the water in the aviary at Brookgreen Gardens and how environmental factors such as temperature, pH, and turbidity affect the presence of these viruses over the time period of three months (June 2017 through August 2017). Coliphages found in volary water sources were speculated to be deposited directly by birds that …

Conjugation Of Nanomaterials And Nematic Liquid Crystals For Futuristic Applications And Biosensors, Thomas George, Amit Choudhary, Guoqiang Li

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Works

The established role of nematic liquid crystals (NLCs) in the recent rapid development of displays has motivated researchers to modulate the electro-optical properties of LCs. Furthermore, adding nanomaterials into NLCs has led to enhancements of the properties of NLCs, like reduced threshold of the operating voltage, variation in pretilt angle, reduced switching time, etc. These enhanced properties, due to interfacial dynamics, are enabling wider applications of NLCs and nanomaterials. The recent literature of nanomaterial-doped NLCs is rich with various kinds of nanomaterials in a variety of NLCs. The light has been focused on the most widely used and studied gold …

Investigation Of Vaporization Enthalpies And Vapor Pressures Of Organic Compounds By Correlation Gas Chromatography, Carissa Nelson

Dissertations

Thermodynamic properties of organic compounds are useful to scientists and manufacturers in many areas of research and technology. This work focuses on measuring and reporting these properties on materials of commercial, environmental and scientific interest. Vaporization enthalpies and vapor pressures of several organic compounds have been studied using correlation gas chromatography (CGC) and are reported here as well as in recent publications. The CGC method allows for the indirect measurement of these properties in instances where these materials are available only in mixtures or in very small amounts.

The qualities of these measurements for any chosen target are directly related …

An Investigation Of The Order Of Applying An Emollient With A Topical Steroid In The Treatment Of Atopic Dermatitis, Andrea Conner, Ashlee Tietje

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

In 2007, the prevalence of Atopic Dermatitis had increased two to three-fold within the last three decades and affected 15-20% of young children (Buys, 2007). Current treatment includes the use of both steroid and emollient creams. Current suggestions for the order of application are contradictory. This study aims to examine the role of the order of application of treatments for Atopic Dermatitis (AD). Hairless mice (SKH-1) were induced to a mild AD flare-up using 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) and treated with either 1% hydrocortisone (Maximum Strength Cortizone 10 cream) alone, 1% hydrocortisone followed by Cetaphil (emollient), or Cetaphil followed by 1% hydrocortisone. …

Investigating The Lytic Staphylococcus Aureus Bacteriophage Reservoir Amongst A South Carolina University Population: Discovery, Characterization, And Identification Of A Potential Bacteriophage Treatment For Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, Lisa Pieterse, Amy Powers, Derek Pride, Lisha Van Onselen, Giovanna E. Leone, Paul E. Richardson

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

Bacteriophages are viruses that only infect bacterial cells and can be used to treat antibiotic resistant bacterial infections. This study focused on the isolation and characterization of bacteriophages lytic to Staphylococcus aureus at Coastal Carolina University (CCU) in Conway, South Carolina, as a means to isolate bacteriophages that can potentially be used to treat methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), an antibiotic-resistant S. aureus variant. From 2014 to 2018, collection of ear and nose samples from 225 randomly selected CCU volunteers was conducted. Filter sterilization, amplification, microbial tests, and PCR analyses were performed in order to identify and characterize bacteriophages. Coliphage populations …

Doxorubicin-Induced Elevated Oxidative Stress And Neurochemical Alterations In Brain And Cognitive Decline: Protection By Mesna And Insights Into Mechanisms Of Chemotherapy-Induced Cognitive Impairment ("Chemobrain"), Jeriel T. R. Keeney, Xiaojia Ren, Govind Warrier, Teresa Noel, David K. Powell, Jennifer M. Brelsfoard, Rukhsana Sultana, Kathryn E. Saatman, Daret K. St. Clair, D. Allan Butterfield

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment (CICI) is now widely recognized as a real and too common complication of cancer chemotherapy experienced by an ever-growing number of cancer survivors. Previously, we reported that doxorubicin (Dox), a prototypical reactive oxygen species (ROS)-producing anti-cancer drug, results in oxidation of plasma proteins, including apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) leading to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)-mediated oxidative stress in plasma and brain. We also reported that co-administration of the antioxidant drug, 2-mercaptoethane sulfonate sodium (MESNA), prevents Dox-induced protein oxidation and subsequent TNF-α elevation in plasma. In this study, we measured oxidative stress in both brain and plasma of Dox-treated mice …

Table Of Contents

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Cross Photoreaction Of Glyoxylic And Pyruvic Acids In Model Aqueous Aerosol, Sha-Sha Xia, Alexis J. Eugene, Marcelo I. Guzman

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Aerosols of variable composition, size, and shape are associated with public health concerns as well as with light-particle interactions that play a role in the energy balance of the atmosphere. Photochemical reactions of 2-oxocarboxylic acids in the aqueous phase are now known to contribute to the total secondary organic aerosol (SOA) budget. This work explores the cross reaction of glyoxylic acid (GA) and pyruvic acid (PA) in water, the two most abundant 2-oxocarboxylic acids in the atmosphere, under solar irradiation and dark thermal aging steps. During irradiation, PA and GA are excited and initiate proton-coupled electron transfer or hydrogen abstraction …

Regulating Mirna Biogenesis By Small Molecules, Hao Yan

Chemistry and Chemical Biology ETDs

MiRNAs are key cellular regulators and their dysregulation is associated with many human diseases. The development of miRNA inhibitors has significant implications for the therapy of diseases associated with aberrant miRNA expression. It also provides chemical tools for studying miRNA function. This dissertation focuses on the development of small-molecule based miRNA inhibitors targeting miRNA biogenesis.

The dissertation consists of four chapters. In Chapter 1, the biogenesis of miRNA was first introduced, followed by the explanation of miRNA function in health and disease. Then the approaches used for regulating miRNA were reviewed. Finally, the difficulties with miRNA regulation were summarized.

One …

Comparative Strengths Of Tetrel, Pnicogen, Chalcogen, And Halogen Bonds And Contributing Factors, Wenbo Dong, Qingzhong Li, Steve Scheiner

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Ab initio calculations are employed to assess the relative strengths of various noncovalent bonds. Tetrel, pnicogen, chalcogen, and halogen atoms are represented by third-row atoms Ge, As, Se, and Br, respectively. Each atom was placed in a series of molecular bonding situations, beginning with all H atoms, then progressing to methyl substitutions, and F substituents placed in various locations around the central atom. Each Lewis acid was allowed to engage in a complex with NH3 as a common nucleophile, and the strength and other aspects of the dimer were assessed. In the context of fully hydrogenated acids, the strengths of …

Catalytic Functionalization Of Organoaluminum Reagents And Olefins By Cross-Coupling With Copper And Nickel, Bijay Shrestha

Chemistry and Chemical Biology ETDs

This thesis is divided into two parts. The first part focuses on the Cu-catalyzed cross-coupling of organoaluminum reagents with organohalides. One of the most powerful tools for the construction of C-C bonds is cross-coupling. But, this reaction is predominantly catalyzed by Pd, a rare and expensive transition metal, which inevitably makes the process unsustainable in the long-term. Furthermore, Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling also shows low tolerance for alkyl and heteroaryl substrates because of β-hydride elimination and catalyst deactivation, respectively. Although these issues remain largely solved by using sterically hindered and electron-rich ligands, however making these types of ligands is synthetically challenging and …

Building Soft Nanomachines From Polydiacetylene Liposomes, Timothy W. Hanks

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Nmr Structural Investigation Of Chlamydial Protein Complex And Lysine Glycomimetic For Drug Design, Abigael Chebichiy Songok

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Research and design of drugs for treatment against microbial infections require the study of pathogenic proteins involved during infection and replication. Drugs can be designed to interfere with the interaction network of these pathogenic proteins and inhibit the infection process. Determination of the structure and ligands of the target proteins in microbes is essential for designing mechanistic-based drugs. Two Chlamydia proteins involved in host cell invasion were investigated in this study. The goal is to identify amino acids involved at the binding interface of Chlamydia chaperon proteins Scc1 and Scc4 by solution NMR spectroscopy. This information will give a lead …