Digital Commons Network^™

Study Of 2,5-Diaminoimidazolone, A Mutagenic Product Of Oxidation Of Guanine In Dna, Hannah Catherine J. Pollard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

2,5-diaminoimidazolone (Iz) is an important product of a 4-electron oxidation of guanine. The present research focuses on the mechanisms of formation of Iz via pathways initiated by guanine oxidation by one-electron oxidants (OEOs) generated by X-ray radiolysis in aqueous solutions. The kinetics of formation and yields of Iz in reactions of native highly polymerized DNA with different OEOs have been compared using an HPLC-based quantitative analysis of low-molecular products generated from the reaction of DNA-bound Iz with primary amines. Mechanisms of Iz formation in DNA have been investigated including oxygen and superoxide dependence as well as the hypothesis that 8-oxo-G, …

Mechanistic Studies Of The Iron And Molybdenum Nitrogenases, Derek Harris

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

As a basic building block in many biological molecules the element nitrogen (N) is essential for life. Dinitrogen (N2) is abundant in Earth’s atmosphere, but this form is biologically unavailable. To be biologically available N2 must undergo an energy demanding reduction reaction to the fixed form, ammonia (NH3). The industrial Haber-Bosch process, which accounts for approximately 50% of the worlds fixed nitrogen, uses energy from fossil fuels to achieve high pressures and temperatures to facilitate the reaction. The energy used by Haber-Bosch accounts for approximately 2% of the world’s annual supply. The remainder of fixed nitrogen is produced biologically by …

Hydrodesulfurization Of Dibenzothiophene Using Lanthanum Doped Comos2, Carolina Valdes Bracamontes

Theses and Dissertations

Hydrodesulfurization (HDS) is a technique used in petrochemical industry for the removal of sulfur from crude oil. Using dibenzothiophene (DBT) as a target molecule and CoMoS2 catalysts doped with various concentrations of lanthanum were studied for catalytic activity in the removal of DBT from solution. Catalysts were synthesized using ammonium tetrathiomolydate, cobalt chloride and lanthanum nitrate under a solvothermal decomposition in decalin at 350 °C with H2 gas at 160 psi. To evaluate decomposition effects, a second set of catalyst precursors were decomposed in a tube furnace at 450 °C under a constant flow of 10%/90% H2/Ar. Characterizations of the …

Capacity Of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Targeting Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells To Eliminate Follicular Dendritic Cells Bearing Human Immunodeficiency Virus Immune Complexes, Matthew T. Ollerton

Theses and Dissertations

An important obstacle to a functional cure for HIV/AIDS is the persistence of viral reservoirs found throughout the body in various cells and tissues. Reservoirs can be latently infected cells, or in the case of follicular dendritic cells (FDC), non-infected cells that trap infectious virus on their surface through immune complexes (HIV-IC). Although several strategies have been employed to target and eliminate viral reservoirs, they are short-lived and ineffective. In an attempt to provide a long-term approach, chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells were designed to eliminate native HIV on FDCs. Although effective at eliminating HIV-infected cells, and halting spreading …

Hydrogen-Bonding-Directed Ordered Assembly Of Carboxylated Poly(3-Alkylthiophene)S, David W. Bilger, Jose A. Figueroa, Neil D. Redeker, Amrita Sarkar, Morgan Stefik, Shanjuu Zhang

Faculty Publications

Hydrogen-bonding-induced ordered assembly of poly(3-alkylthiophene)s derivatives bearing carboxylic acid groups has been investigated from diluted and concentrated solutions to solid films using ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy, polarized optical microscopy, and four-point probe conductivity measurements. In dilute solutions, the polymer undergoes a spontaneous structural transition from disordered coil-like to ordered rodlike conformations, which is evidenced by time-dependent chromism. Many factors such as alkyl-chain length, types of solvents, and temperature are studied to understand the assembly behavior. Transition kinetics of the assembly process reveals a universal second-order rate law, indicating an intermolecular origin due to hydrogen bonding. When more concentrated, hydrogen bonding drives …

The Autophagy-Related Beclin-1 Protein Requires The Coiled-Coil And Bara Domains To Form A Homodimer With Submicromolar Affinity, Matthew J. Ranaghan, Michael A. Durney, Michael F. Mesleh, Patrick R. Mccarren, Colin W. Garvie, Douglas S. Daniels, Kimberly L. Carey, Adam P. Skepner, Beth Levine, Jose R. Perez

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Beclin-1 (BECN1) is an essential component of macroautophagy. This process is a highly conserved survival mechanism that recycles damaged cellular components or pathogens by encasing them in a bilayer vesicle that fuses with a lysosome to allow degradation of the vesicular contents. Mutations or altered expression profiles of BECN1 have been linked to various cancers and neurodegenerative diseases. Viruses, including HIV and herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), are also known to specifically target BECN1 as a means of evading host defense mechanisms. Autophagy is regulated by the interaction between BECN1 and Bcl-2, a pro-survival protein in the apoptotic pathway that …

Self-Assembled Monolayers And Methods For Using The Same In Biosensing Applications, Patrick Dussault, Rebecca Lai, Thomas J. Fisher, Anita J. Zaitouna

Patrick Dussault Publications

Cross - linked amphiphile constructs that form self - as sembled monolayers ( SAMs ) on metal surfaces such as gold surfaces are disclosed . These new SAMs generate well packed and highly oriented monolayer films on gold sur faces . A method for using the SAMs in the fabrication of biomolecule sensors is also disclosed .

Early Neolithic Wine Of Georgia In The South Caucasus, Michael P. Callahan, Karen E. Smith

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Chemical analyses of ancient organic compounds absorbed into the pottery fabrics from sites in Georgia in the South Caucasus region, dating to the early Neolithic period (ca. 6,000–5,000 BC), provide the earliest biomolecular archaeological evidence for grape wine and viniculture from the Near East, at ca. 6,000–5,800 BC. The chemical findings are corroborated by climatic and environmental reconstruction, together with archaeobotanical evidence, including grape pollen, starch, and epidermal remains associated with a jar of similar type and date. The very large-capacity jars, some of the earliest pottery made in the Near East, probably served as combination fermentation, aging, and serving …

Bioinformatic And Biophysical Analyses Of Proteins, Jonathan Catazaro

Department of Chemistry: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The prevailing dogma in structural genomics is the existence of a strong correlation between protein sequence, structure, and biological function. Proteins with high sequence similarity typically have a similar, if not the same, structure and function. In many cases this logic can fail due to distantly related proteins having very low sequence similarity, a lack of a representative structure, structural novelty, or the absence of a characterized function. Further, the paradigm fails to account for dynamics, which have a significant effect on structural stability and enzymatic efficacy.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is uniquely capable of solving the structure, assisting …

No Evidence For Trace Metal Limitation On Anaerobic Carbon Mineralization In Three Peatland Soils, Jason K. Keller, Jillian Wade

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Peatlands store roughly one-third of the terrestrial soil carbon and release the potent greenhouse gas methane (CH₄) to the atmosphere, making these wetlands among the most important ecosystems in the global carbon cycle. Despite their importance, the controls of anaerobic decomposition of organic matter to carbon dioxide (CO₂) and CH₄ within peatlands are not well understood. It is known, however, that the enzymes responsible for CH₄ production require cobalt, iron and nickel, and there is a growing appreciation for the potential role of trace metal limitation in anaerobic decomposition. To explore the possibility of …

Toward Improving Metalloenzyme Inhibitor Design: A Thermodynamic Study Of Small Molecule Interactions With Copper(Ii), Cobalt(Ii) And Manganese(Ii), Fatimah Aldakheel

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

This work aimed at understanding the interactions of 1) three physiologically relevant transition metal ions copper(II), cobalt(II) and manganese(II) with five tri- or tetra-dentate metal chelators (ligand or L) and 2) the resulting ML complexes with two known metalloenzyme inhibitors, 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-HQ) and acetohydroxamic acid (AHA). The ultimate goal of the work was to identify ligands that can form enzyme active site M²⁺ structural mimetics capable of interacting with metalloenzyme active site inhibitors. The ligands studied were N-(2-(1-methylimidazolyl)methyl)iminodiacetic acid (DA2Im), nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (TREN), tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (TPA), and bis(2-picolyl)amine (BPA) and they were chosen to mimic the coordination environment …

Efficient Air Desulfurization Catalysts Derived From Pig Manure Liquefaction Char, Rajiv Wallace, Sundaramurthy Suresh, Elham H. Fini, Teresa Bandosz

Publications and Research

Biochar from the liquefaction of pig manure was used as a precursor of H2S desulfurization adsorbents. In its inorganic matter, it contains marked quantities of calcium, magnesium and iron, which are known as hydrogen sulfide oxidation catalysts. The char was used either as-received or mixed with 10% nanographite. The latter was added to increase both the content of the carbon phase and conductivity. ZnCl2 in two different ratios of char to an activation agent (1:1 and 1:2) was used to create the porosity in the carbon phase. The content of the later was between 18–45%. The activated samples adsorbed 144 …

Design, Synthesis, Applications Of Polymers And Dendrimers, Alekhya Nimmagadda

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

WHO has reported that antibiotic resistance is the third major cause of human death all over the globe. Recent study, has focused on the development of new antibacterial resistance drugs. Herein, we tried to synthesis a series of polymers that can mimic the HDPs. HDPs can target the bacterial cell membrane and they have less chances to develop bacterial resistance. We synthesized the amphiphilic polycarbonates that are highly selective to Gram-positive bacteria, including multidrug resistant pathogens. The membrane disruption activity of these polymers was proved by fluorescence and TEM studies and the drug resistance study showed that the polymers don’t …

Design And Synthesis Of Cpg-Lytic Peptide Conjugate, Brachytherapy Beads And A Combinatorial Library Of Primary Amines Used As Potential Therapeutics In The Treatment Of Cancers, Josanne-Dee Woodroffe

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cancer remains one of the most feared diseases affecting the modern world. Second to heart disease, it is the largest cause of deaths, affecting one in three persons. Cancer cells are formed when normal, healthy cells become damage, losing their normal regulatory mechanism that control cell growth. There are many different types and progression of these cancer cells that determine the type of treatment a patient receives. The primary focus of this dissertation is to propose three studies of anticancer agents. In Chapter one, a CpG-lytic peptide conjugate was designed to target receptors on the cell membrane to concentrate the …

Expression, Purification And Characterization Of Egf27 From The Notch1 Abruptex Region, Huimin Zhong

LSU Master's Theses

Notch proteins are transmembrane proteins and act as receptors in Notch signaling, which is related to diverse developmental diseases including cancer.^1-2 The mouse Notch1 protein contains 36 tandem epidermal growth factor-like (EGF) repeats in the extracellular domain (ECD).^1-2 Our research project focused on the structural study of the Abruptex region consisting of EGF24-29 in the ECD. The fact that this region is a potential competitor to a Notch ligand, because of its high glycosylation and flexibility, makes it important to solve the three-dimensional structure and investigate the glycosylation effect on the structure of the Abruptex region.³ By …

Development Of Remote Hydroxylation Via Redox Catalysis And Mild Activation Of Thioglycosides For O-Glycosylation, Kristina Deveaux

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The focus of this dissertation is the development of a C-H functionalization method using redox catalysis and the synthesis of saccharides using thioglycosides. Chapter 1 is a review of C-H functionalization and visible-light photoredox catalysis. Over the years there have been many significant contributions to the field of C-H functionalization. Select examples have been discussed and a foundation for the method developed in chapter 2 has been outlined. Chapter 2 discusses the development and optimization of a C-H functionalization method. This approach uses the Tz^o directing group and Ir(ppy)₃ to activate a remote C-H bond via 1,6- and …

Sol-Gel Niobia-Based Sorbents For The Enrichment Of Organophosphorus Compounds By Capillary Microextraction Online Coupled To High Performance Liquid Chromatography, Sheshanka Kesani

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Sample preparation is a key step in chemical analysis, and includes isolation of target analytes, removal of interferences, preconcentration, and/or modification of target analytes (if needed). Sample preparation is also the most time-consuming and error-prone step in the whole analytical process. Traditional sample preparation techniques involve hazardous solvents. Considering the environmental and health safety, it is desirable to reduce or eliminate organic solvents in sample preparation. Solid phase microextraction (SPME) was introduced as a solvent free sample preparation technique. Capillary microextraction (CME) is one of the formats of SPME that can be easily coupled to high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). …

Evaluation Of The Potential Hmga1-Ef24 Nexus In Human Colon Cancer, Madeline Diaz, Takita Sumter

The Winthrop McNair Research Bulletin

The architectural chromatin binding proteins High Mobility Group A1 (HMGA1) are proteins expressed at high levels in malignant cancers and induce neoplastic transformation. The protein is increased as the last step of the Wnt/B-catenin/TCF-4 pathway and mediates drug resistance, therefore correlating with a poor patient prognosis. HMGA1-mediated chemoresistance results from a self-protective process called cellular senescence. Analogs of the antioxidant, curcumin, when used in combination with traditional chemotherapeutic agents, are useful treatment options for drug resistant tumors. This study had two specific aims. The first being to investigate how colon cancer cells HCT116 respond to treatment with EF24. …

Formation Of Highly Functionalized Indole Through Carbon-Carbon Bond Cleavage, Ryan A. S. Pike

Chemistry and Chemical Biology ETDs

Indoles are one of the most abundant heterocycles found in nature and have a wide range of functions. There are a wide variety of indole synthesis methods known both in synthetic chemistry and through biosynthesis. Many of the known indole synthesis routes use a benzene derivative or cyclized ring structure derivative as a starting material. Here, we describe a novel synthetic method utilizing 1, 3-diketones and fumaronitrile with a catalytic amount of base to form a highly functionalized indole as our product. We have isolated and characterized 12 functionalized indoles.

Construction Of Synthetic Signal Pathways In Mammalian Cells Via Induced Protein Proximity, Guihua Zeng

Chemistry and Chemical Biology ETDs

Cell signaling translates extracellular signals into intracellular processes that carry out cellular functions. The introduction of artificial signaling networks using synthetic biology methods has facilitated the investigation of signaling mechanisms and the generation of novel cell functions. Several synthetic biology methods that are based on chemical controls have been developed to provide precise temporal regulation. In my dissertation, we constructed new synthetic biology engineering strategies to control tailored cellular events.

Described in Chapter 2, we developed a new chemical strategy to generate de novo signaling pathways that link a signaling molecule, H₂O₂, to different downstream cellular …

Nanopatterns Of Zinc Phthalocyanines, Gold Nanoparticles, And Porphyrins Prepared Using Particle Lithography: Characterization Of Patterning Steps With Scanning Probe Microscopy, Ashley Marie Taylor

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The growth and self-assembly of molecules on surfaces can be directly visualized at the molecular level using studies which combine nanoscale lithography and high-resolution imaging. Nanopatterning provides a unique and practical approach for direct views of surface changes after the key chemical steps of nanopatterning, providing landmarks and baselines for measuring growth in vertical and lateral dimensions. Controlling the arrangement of materials on surfaces at the nanoscale can be achieved using particle lithography. Arrays of well-defined nanostructures can be prepared with reproducible geometries and arrangement. Results for the preparation of nanopatterns produced with particle lithography are presented using high resolution …

Interactions Between Amyloid-Beta And Microglial Cells, Lisa Gouwens

Dissertations

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia, is a neurodegenerative condition characterized by loss of memory and intellectual abilities. Intracellular plaques of aggregated amyloid-beta (Ab) protein are a well-known pathology associated with AD. Although symptoms usually appear late in life, the accumulation of Ab begins decades earlier and causes activation of microglia, the brain’s immune cells. The ensuing inflammation contributes significantly to neurodegeneration. Determination of the particular form of Ab that causes the most damage in the brain is one of the major questions in the AD field. My research focused on the interactions of microglia with monomers, …

Coupled Plasmon/Molecule Dynamics Near Core-Shell Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Ultrafast Characterization, And Quantum/Classical Modeling, Holden Tyler Smith

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In this dissertation, the resonance coupling of chromaphoric dyes adsorbed on the surface of plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) are investigated using a combined theoretical and experi- mental approach. Colloidal gold, gold-silver core-shell, silver-gold core-shell, and gold-silver- gold core-shell-shell NPs are considered. These NPs are thiolated with mercaptosuccinic acid, and malachite green dyes are adsorbed to the surface of the nanoparticle (NP) via elec- trostatic interactions. Second harmonic generation is used to determine the surface to the isotherm of the molecular dyes to the colloidal nanoparticle surface. Adsorption isotherms show that the SHG intensity increases as the concentration of dye increases, reaching …

The Effect Of Different Heavy Metal Acetate Solutions On The Inhibition Of Catalase Enzyme, Athreya Murali, Sonali Patel

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of different aqueous solutions of ionic compounds on the rate of reaction of the enzyme catalase. The hypothesis states that zinc and cadmium acetate solutions will significantly inhibit catalase and its ability to produce oxygen. In the experiment, there were five trials performed with the lead acetate, zinc acetate, acetic acid, cadmium acetate, and distilled water (the last being the control group). In order to calculate the results, the ANOVA single factor test was used, comparing each solution to water. From results of the ANOVA test, it was found that …

The Effects Of Tension, Curvature, And Lipid Diffusion On The Enrichment Of Ras Proteins In Model Membranes, Nina Daneshvar

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

An intriguing aspect of the cell membrane that provokes study is lipid-anchor enrichment of lipidated proteins on the cell membrane. Specifically, recent in vitro studies involving the enrichment of Ras proteins were done to see how enrichment was affected by changes in membrane curvature. These studies demonstrated the Ras protein’s inclination to the expanded, or outer, leaflet of highly curved membranes. Other research done in vivo, however, provoked further inquiry into Ras protein behavior, since when highly curved protrusions were created in living cells, Ras proteins showed affinity for the inner leaflet. This inspired research to determine the exact mechanism …

Table Of Contents

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Progress Toward Phidianidine Analogues Containing A 1,2,3-Triazole Ring, David Laws Iii, Dillon King, Bryan H. Wakefield

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

Phidianidines are a class of compound that has been extracted from the sea mollusk Phidianis militaris. These compounds have been shown to exhibit a variety of useful properties such as antihistamine effects, anti-cancer activity, agonism of the µ-opioid receptor and neuroprotection. The biological activities are thought to be caused by the 1,2,4- oxadiazole ring found within the molecule. The goal of this project is to synthesize analogues of phidianidine that contain a 1,2,3-triazole instead of the 1,2,4 oxadiazole ring using a method that will allow for other regions of the molecule to be changed. This will help to elucidate …

The Effects Of Sports Related Head Impact On Balance And Neurocognitive Functions, Shaquanda D. Ross-Simmons, Michelle L. Vieyra, Abhishek Jain, Keri Weed

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of sports-related head injury on balance, attention, and memory. Reliable differences have been found using measures that directly tap into brain functioning, such as the auditory oddball task combined with EEG recording. We hypothesized that athletes reporting a diagnosed concussion or participation in high-risk sports would have compromised balance and neurocognitive functioning compared to athletes in low risk sports. Forty-five undergraduate participants were identified as either concussed, non-concussed in high-risk sports, or non-concussed in low-risk sports using a survey of athletic history, head trauma and demographics. The Biopac MP36 system, …

The Future Perspective: Metabolomics In Laboratory Medicine For Inborn Errors Of Metabolism, Yana Sandlers

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Metabolomics can be described as a simultaneous and comprehensive analysis of small molecules in a biological sample. Recent technological and bioinformatics advances have facilitated large-scale metabolomic studies in many areas, including inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs). Despite significant improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of some IEMs, it is still challenging to understand how genetic variation affects disease progression and susceptibility. In addition, a search for new more personalized therapies and a growing demand for tools to monitor the long-term metabolic effects of existing therapies set the stage for metabolomics integration in preclinical and clinical studies. While targeted metabolomics approach …

Evaluation Of Functionalized Magnetite Nanoparticles For The Removal Of Heavy Metal Ions From Aqueous Media, Khaula A. Ai Jahoushi

Theses

Sorption is one of the most efficient techniques for the removal of heavy metal ions from waste water. It involves the use of solid materials, known as sorbents, which can be natural of synthetic in origin. Recently, synthetic nanomaterials of various compositions have been used as sorbents. Among these materials, calcium phosphate; also known as hydroxyapatite (HAp), and magnetite were previously investigated as potential sorbents. In the current study, commercial HAp, and magnetite nanoparticles as well as their physical and chemical mixtures were investigated as potential sorbents for the removal of Cd²⁺ ions from simulated wastewater. A comparison is made …