Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 30 of 101
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Comparing Low Salinity Transcriptomic Profiles Among Hard Clam, Mercenaria Mercenaria, Lines, Leslie Speight Youtsey
Comparing Low Salinity Transcriptomic Profiles Among Hard Clam, Mercenaria Mercenaria, Lines, Leslie Speight Youtsey
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
The hard clam is an important ecological and economic resource along the U.S. Eastern Seaboard. In Virginia alone, farm gate sales were estimated at $38.8 million in 2018 and $57.8 million in 2021, making Virginia the largest producer of hard clams in the U.S. This industry is primarily limited to higher salinity habitats on the seaside of the Eastern Shore of Virginia and lower Chesapeake Bay. Although the hard clam can be found in lower salinity habitats, they do not grow or survive at rates that are practical for productive aquaculture. Even in areas of higher salinity, hard clams are …
Modeling The Effects Of Supercomplex Formation And Stress Response On Alzheimer’S Disease Progression, Morgan Griffin Shelton
Modeling The Effects Of Supercomplex Formation And Stress Response On Alzheimer’S Disease Progression, Morgan Griffin Shelton
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Alzheimer’s disease is a specific form of dementia characterized by the aggregation of Amyloid-β plaques and tau tangles. New research has found that the formation of these aggregates occurs after dysregulation of respiratory activity and the production of radical oxygen species. Proteomic data shows that these changes are also related to unique gene expression patterns. We investigate the impact of these findings on new therapeutic options via metabolic flux analysis of sirtuin stress response pathways and respiratory supercomplex formation. Our results indicate CRISPR Cas-based gene therapy focused on upregulating stable CIII expression, and protective changes in SIRT1 and AMPK expression …
Utilization Of Unnatural Amino Acids To Modulate Protein Structure And Function, John Halonski
Utilization Of Unnatural Amino Acids To Modulate Protein Structure And Function, John Halonski
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Proteins are capable of an astounding array of functions using only the 20 canonical amino acids; however, the ability to add new functional groups to the genetic code through the utilization of unnatural amino acids (UAAs) has greatly expanded our ability to study and manipulate proteins. By expanding the diversity of functional groups within proteins, a wide variety of applications in industry as well as in fields such as diagnostics, biochemistry, and materials science are now possible. These applications have further been expanded through the development and optimization of bioorthogonal reactions which can occur under physiological conditions with a high …
Acetylation Controls Thyroid Hormone Receptor Intracellular Localization And Intranuclear Mobility, Cyril S. Anyetei-Anum
Acetylation Controls Thyroid Hormone Receptor Intracellular Localization And Intranuclear Mobility, Cyril S. Anyetei-Anum
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Thyroid hormone receptor (TR) is responsible for mediating the expression of genes involved in growth, development, and homeostatic regulation, in response to thyroid hormone. There are two main subtypes of TR, TRα1 and TRβ1, that mediate these physiological processes. Dysregulation of TR mediated processes is a contributing factor in disease pathology. Our prior studies show that TR is shuttled rapidly between the nucleus and cytosol, while localizing primarily to the nucleus. TRα1 contains two nuclear localization signals (NLSs) that act together to confer strong nuclear localization, while TRβ1 only contains one NLS (NLS-1). Recently, we found that the intracellular localization …
Spread And Interaction Of Epidemics And Information On Adaptive Social Networks, Yunhan Long
Spread And Interaction Of Epidemics And Information On Adaptive Social Networks, Yunhan Long
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
The spread of diseases and opinions has profoundly affected the development of human societies. The structure of the underlying social network may change as a result of individuals changing their social connections in response to an ongoing epidemic or opinion spreading, either for self protection or as an expression of personal values. The interaction of spreading processes and the underlying network structure has been a focus of many recent studies. In this dissertation, we construct models to better incorporate heterogeneous responses to disease spread and attempted opinion spread.;We first model the simultaneous spread of an epidemic and awareness about the …
Langevin, Population Density And Moment-Based Modeling Of Local And Global Aspects Of Intercellular Calcium Signaling, Xiao Wang
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Markov chain models of the coupled gating of intracellular calcium (Ca 2+) channels are often used to study the stochastic dynamic of local Ca2+ release events and whole cell Ca2+ homeostasis. However, the runtime of the Markov chain description of Ca2+ channel gating is exponential in the number of Ca2+ channel states and may thus result in a combinatorial state space explosion when the number of channel states is large. This dissertation presents several novel stochastic modeling approaches that capture important aspects of Ca 2+ signaling while improving computational efficiency. This dissertation presents several novel stochastic modeling approaches that capture …
A Mathematical Model Of Tau Protein Hyperphosphorylation: The Effects Of Kinase Inhibitors As A Theoretical Alzheimer's Disease Therapy, Patrick Neil Blank
A Mathematical Model Of Tau Protein Hyperphosphorylation: The Effects Of Kinase Inhibitors As A Theoretical Alzheimer's Disease Therapy, Patrick Neil Blank
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
No abstract provided.
Identifying Sumo Protease Targets And Investigating E3 Ligase Interactions, Mark Guillotte
Identifying Sumo Protease Targets And Investigating E3 Ligase Interactions, Mark Guillotte
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
No abstract provided.
Investigation Of Microwave Technologies For Biochemical Applications, Valerie Terynn Tripp
Investigation Of Microwave Technologies For Biochemical Applications, Valerie Terynn Tripp
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
No abstract provided.
Investigating Heat Shock Protein 70 As A Binding Partner Of Mk-Styx, And The Role Of Mk-Styx In Neuronal Differentiation, Lauren Elizabeth Rusnak
Investigating Heat Shock Protein 70 As A Binding Partner Of Mk-Styx, And The Role Of Mk-Styx In Neuronal Differentiation, Lauren Elizabeth Rusnak
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
No abstract provided.
Automated Reductions Of Markov Chain Models Of Calcium Release Site Models, Yan Hao
Automated Reductions Of Markov Chain Models Of Calcium Release Site Models, Yan Hao
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Markov chain models have played an important role in understanding the relationship between single channel gating of intracellular calcium (Ca2+) channels, specifically 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (IP3Rs) and ryanodine receptors (RyRs), and the stochastic dynamics of Ca2+ release events, known as Ca2+ puffs and sparks. Mechanistic Ca2+ release site models are defined by the composition of single channel models whose transition probabilities depend on the local calcium concentration and thus the state of the other channels. Unfortunately, the large state space of such compositional models impedes simulation and computational analysis of the whole cell Ca2+ signaling in which the stochastic dynamics of …
Thermochemistry Of Amino Acids And Constrained Diamines, Erica Jane Tullo
Thermochemistry Of Amino Acids And Constrained Diamines, Erica Jane Tullo
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
The gas-phase proton affinities of several highly basic amino acids and diamines were determined using the extended kinetic method in an ESI-quadrupole ion trap instrument. The non-protein amino acid L-canavanine is structurally related to L-arginine with an oxygen substituted for the terminal methylene group of L-arginine and is highly toxic to humans. The proton affinity of L-arginine, a protein amino acid, was determined to be 1036 kJ mol -1, whereas the proton affinity of L-canavanine was determined to be 1005 kJ mol-1. Thus, substitution of an oxyguanidino group for the guanidine group in L-arginine results in a large decrease in …
Hydrogen/Deuterium Exchange Studies Of Protein And Non-Protein Amino Acids Using Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry, Justine Victoria Arrington
Hydrogen/Deuterium Exchange Studies Of Protein And Non-Protein Amino Acids Using Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry, Justine Victoria Arrington
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
No abstract provided.
Spe-7, A Novel Regulator Of Msp Assembly In C Elegans Spermatocytes, Kari Lynn Messina
Spe-7, A Novel Regulator Of Msp Assembly In C Elegans Spermatocytes, Kari Lynn Messina
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
No abstract provided.
Molecular Marker Development For The Discrimination Of Atlantic And Pacific Blue Marlin (Makaira Nigricans), Laurie Sorenson
Molecular Marker Development For The Discrimination Of Atlantic And Pacific Blue Marlin (Makaira Nigricans), Laurie Sorenson
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
No abstract provided.
Sumo-Dependent Substrate Targeting Of The Sumo Protease Ulp1, Zachary Cole Elmore
Sumo-Dependent Substrate Targeting Of The Sumo Protease Ulp1, Zachary Cole Elmore
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
No abstract provided.
Reactive Sulfur: Redox Reactions Of Cysteines And Methionines In The Cytoskeletal Protein Tubulin, Tara Dawn Hagedorn
Reactive Sulfur: Redox Reactions Of Cysteines And Methionines In The Cytoskeletal Protein Tubulin, Tara Dawn Hagedorn
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
No abstract provided.
Investigations Of The Fragmentation Spectra Of Dipeptides Containing Lysine And Its Non-Protein Amino Acid Homologs, Omar Hamdy
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
No abstract provided.
Understanding The Origins, Dispersal, And Evolution Of Bonamia Species (Phylum Haplosporidia) Based On Genetic Analyses Of Ribosomal Rna Gene Regions, Kristina M. Hill
Understanding The Origins, Dispersal, And Evolution Of Bonamia Species (Phylum Haplosporidia) Based On Genetic Analyses Of Ribosomal Rna Gene Regions, Kristina M. Hill
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
No abstract provided.
The Sumo-Targeted Ubiquitin Ligase Subunit Slx5 Functional Interacts With The Sumo E3 Ligase Siz1, Jason William Westerbeck
The Sumo-Targeted Ubiquitin Ligase Subunit Slx5 Functional Interacts With The Sumo E3 Ligase Siz1, Jason William Westerbeck
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
No abstract provided.
An Investigation Of The Polymorphic Arss Gene Of Helicobacter Pylori, Daniel Ross Hallinger
An Investigation Of The Polymorphic Arss Gene Of Helicobacter Pylori, Daniel Ross Hallinger
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
No abstract provided.
Computational And Experimental Investigations Of Gas-Phase Thermodynamics Of Non-Protein Amino Acids, Ashley R. Janiga
Computational And Experimental Investigations Of Gas-Phase Thermodynamics Of Non-Protein Amino Acids, Ashley R. Janiga
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
No abstract provided.
The Role Of Copepods And Heterotrophic Dinoflagellates In The Production Of Dissolved Organic Matter And Inorganic Nutrients, Grace Kathleen Saba
The Role Of Copepods And Heterotrophic Dinoflagellates In The Production Of Dissolved Organic Matter And Inorganic Nutrients, Grace Kathleen Saba
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Zooplankton play a key role in the cycling of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and inorganic nutrients. The factors that affect these processes, however, are not fully understood. I measured the effects of various diets on DOM and inorganic nutrient production by the copepod Acartia tonsa and the heterotrophic dinoflagellate Oxyrrhis marina, and explored the mechanisms of nutrient release from copepods. Copepods feeding on a mixed diet, the preferred diet of most copepods, had significantly lower dissolved organic carbon (DOC), ammonium (NH4+), and total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) release rates compared to feeding on a carnivorous or herbivorous diet. Thus, copepod feeding …
The Pax-5 Gene Is Alternatively Spliced In Trout B Cells, Raaj Mahendra Talauliker
The Pax-5 Gene Is Alternatively Spliced In Trout B Cells, Raaj Mahendra Talauliker
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
No abstract provided.
Assessing Genetic Variation Within And Among Native Populations And Hatchery Stocks Of Crassostrea Ariakensis Using Microsatellite Markers, Jie Xiao
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Assessing genetic variation within and among native populations and hatchery stocks of Crassostrea ariakensis using microsatellite markers In response to the dramatic decline of eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) populations in the Chesapeake Bay, introduction of the non-native Asian oyster Crassostrea ariakensis has been proposed. Currently several hatchery stocks of C. ariakensis, derived from a few wild populations along the coast of Japan and China, are being maintained in U.S. hatcheries in the Pacific northwest and on the east coast. In recent years, as the risks of the proposed introduction are being assessed, these hatchery animals have been widely used for …
Identification And Quantification Of Polycyclic Musks And Methyl-Triclosan In Unknown Freshwater Fish Tissue Samples, Elizabeth Mara Jacobs
Identification And Quantification Of Polycyclic Musks And Methyl-Triclosan In Unknown Freshwater Fish Tissue Samples, Elizabeth Mara Jacobs
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
No abstract provided.
Markov Chain Models Of Calcium Puffs And Sparks, Jeffrey R. Groff
Markov Chain Models Of Calcium Puffs And Sparks, Jeffrey R. Groff
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Localized cytosolic Ca2+ elevations known as puffs and sparks are important regulators of cellular function that arise due to the cooperative activity of Ca2+-regulated inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (IP3Rs) or ryanodine receptors (RyRs) co-localized at Ca2+ release sites on the surface of the endoplasmic reticulum or sarcoplasmic reticulum. Theoretical studies have demonstrated that the cooperative gating of a cluster of Ca2+-regulated Ca 2+ channels modeled as a continuous-time discrete-state Markov chain may result in dynamics reminiscent of Ca2+ puffs and sparks. In such simulations, individual Ca2+-release channels are coupled via a mathematical representation of the local [Ca2+] and exhibit "stochastic Ca2+ …
Markov Chain Models Of Instantaneously Coupled Intracellular Calcium Channels, Hilary Deremigio
Markov Chain Models Of Instantaneously Coupled Intracellular Calcium Channels, Hilary Deremigio
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Localized calcium elevations known as calcium puffs or sparks are cellular signals arising from cooperative activity of clusters of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (IP3Rs) or ryanodine receptors (RyRs) located at calcium release sites on the endoplasmic or sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane. When Markov chain models of these intracellular calcium-regulated calcium channels are coupled via a mathematical representation of the calcium microdomain, simulated calcium release sites may exhibit the phenomenon of "stochastic calcium excitability" where the IP3Rs or RyRs open and close in a concerted fashion. Although the biophysical theory relating the kinetics of single channels to the collective phenomena of puffs and …
Probability Density Methods For Modeling Local And Global Aspects Of Intracellular Calcium Signaling, G. S. Blair Williams
Probability Density Methods For Modeling Local And Global Aspects Of Intracellular Calcium Signaling, G. S. Blair Williams
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Considerable insight into intracellular calcium (Ca) responses has been obtained through the development of whole cell models that are based on molecular mechanisms, e.g., the kinetics of intracellular Ca channels and the feedback of Ca upon these channels. However, a limitation of most deterministic whole cell models to date is the assumption that channels are globally coupled by a single [Ca], when in fact channels experience localized "domain" Ca concentrations. More realistic stochastic Monte Carlo simulations are capable of representing individual domain Ca concentrations but suffer from increased computational demand. This dissertation introduces a novel probability approach which captures important …
Stable Isotope Dynamics In Summer Flounder Tissues, With Application To Dietary Assessments In Chesapeake Bay, Andre Buchheister
Stable Isotope Dynamics In Summer Flounder Tissues, With Application To Dietary Assessments In Chesapeake Bay, Andre Buchheister
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Stable isotope techniques were applied to summer flounder, Paralichthys dentatus, in Chesapeake Bay to elucidate the relative importance of different prey groups on the growth and productivity of this species. Prior to field application, a laboratory diet-shift study was conducted to evaluate methodological assumptions and obtain necessary isotopic parameters. Specifically, the goals of the laboratory study were to 1) determine isotopic turnover rates and fractionations of δ13C and δ15N in liver, whole blood, and white muscle and 2) estimate the relative importance of growth and metabolic processes on isotopic turnover. Groups of captive juvenile summer flounder (130-255mm total length) were …