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Articles 1 - 17 of 17
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Predicted Structure And Analysis Of The Glycoprotein From Sars-Cov-2 Variants Of Interest, Boris Shabaltiy
Predicted Structure And Analysis Of The Glycoprotein From Sars-Cov-2 Variants Of Interest, Boris Shabaltiy
Honors Theses
SARS-CoV-2 has had a devastating effect on the world, and while the public concern and severity of the diseased caused by it have decreased, it is still crucial to monitor the virus for mutations so we can rapidly identify new variants of concern, and then rapidly prepare new vaccines and treatments. The SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein from the first isolates of the virus (root variant) was structurally characterized in early 2021. The spike protein structure, designated 7CZW, was uploaded to RCSB Protein Data Bank (RCSB PDB). All subsequent mutations the S protein has accumulated are based on the amino acid …
Investigation Of The Role Of Overexpression Of Psbs Under Stress Inducible And Constitutive Promoters To Improve Water Use Efficiency., Annie Nelson
Honors Theses
As climate change continues to impact environmental growth conditions, it has become increasingly more important to identify potential mechanisms of crop development to resist these changes. Previous studies have identified the role of PsbS in the non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) mechanism in the plant by identifying its direct effect on the rate in which excitation energy absorbed by photosystem II is dissipated as heat. It was identified also that PsbS via NPQ oxidizes chloroplastic quinone A (QA) which is a signal for stomatal opening in response to light. By identifying this relationship between PsbS and the signal for stomatal opening in …
Optimization And Standardization Of Dms Chemical Mapping Experiments For Probing Rna 3d Structure, Sarah Brady
Optimization And Standardization Of Dms Chemical Mapping Experiments For Probing Rna 3d Structure, Sarah Brady
Honors Theses
RNA plays a significant and crucial role in biological processes. The properties of RNA are ultimately responsible for each molecule’s unique function. The configuration and structural integrity of RNA is important for its functionality. Chemical mapping detailed in this thesis can be used to analyze the 3D structure of an RNA sequence. RNA is modified via methylation of adenine and cytosine bases using dimethyl sulfate, then reverse transcribed to DNA, then sequenced. The sites where the bases were methylated become mutations in the DNA sequence, allowing for identification of these locations when analyzing sequencing data. Conditions for modification can be …
Hiv-1 Transcription Elongation By Tat-Mediated Recruitment Of P-Tefb, Elizabeth Griggs
Hiv-1 Transcription Elongation By Tat-Mediated Recruitment Of P-Tefb, Elizabeth Griggs
Honors Theses
Over 38.0 million people live with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as of 462019. HIV hijacks the host's cellular machinery to replicate its viral DNA and transcribe the corresponding RNA. HIV-1 transcription relies on both cellular and viral transcription factors for proper regulation. The viral transcriptional activator Tat is a primary regulator. Transcription activation and elongation is controlled through the interaction of Tat with Positive Transcription Elongation Factor b (P-TEFb), a cellular transcriptional activator. The focus of this paper is 1) an in-depth understanding of the interaction between P-TEFb and Tat in HIV transcription, and 2) a review of recent …
Analysis Of Single-Site Cysteine Mutation, I412c, In Human A Glycine Receptor States To Further Refine Structure And Allostery, Leah Engquist
Analysis Of Single-Site Cysteine Mutation, I412c, In Human A Glycine Receptor States To Further Refine Structure And Allostery, Leah Engquist
Honors Theses
The glycine receptor (GlyR) is the major inhibitory receptor in the brain and spinal cord. A member of the pentameric ligand gated ion channel superfamily, crystal structures are available but there are still unresolved areas, specifically the C-terminal tail and TM3-TM4 intracellular loop. Further refinement can provide deeper understanding of the molecular mechanism and allow the creation of novel therapeutics to modulate its function. We propose to insert a single cysteine mutation, I412C, into a Cys null background (C41S/C290A/C345S) to study non- conducting states (resting, desensitized) or with F207G/A288G mutations to study the open state. Purified, reconstituted GlyR is crosslinked …
Using Crispr-Cas9 To Construct Knockout Mutants In Dna-Repair Genes In Arabidopsis Thaliana, David Campbell
Using Crispr-Cas9 To Construct Knockout Mutants In Dna-Repair Genes In Arabidopsis Thaliana, David Campbell
Honors Theses
The mitochondria are known as the powerhouse of the cell, and just like a real powerhouse, it can be a dangerous place to store sensitive information. Energy generation and redox reactions in the mitochondria can cause damage to the DNA stored there, resulting in a higher mutation rate. Compared to their animal counterparts, however, plant mitochondria exhibit a lower mutation rate and a higher recombination rate. It is hypothesized that the unique DNA repair methods present in plant mitochondria are responsible for the phenomena observed there. To study the mechanics of DNA-repair in this organelle, however, researchers must be able …
Engineering Src Homology 2 Domains With Improved Specificity For Sulfotyrosine, Anya Morozov
Engineering Src Homology 2 Domains With Improved Specificity For Sulfotyrosine, Anya Morozov
Honors Theses
Protein tyrosine O-sulfation (PTS) is a common post-translational modification that has been implicated in a variety of biological processes and human illnesses. Despite continued progress in the field of sulfoproteomics, the extent and function of sulfated tyrosine (sulfotyrosine) residues is a topic of ongoing research. Previous work in the Guo Lab has identified Src Homology-2 (SH2) mutants that have a high affinity for sulfotyrosine along with retained high affinity for their natural ligand, phosphorylated tyrosine (phosphotyrosine). In this thesis, I attempted to generate SH2 mutants that have high affinity and specificity for sulfotyrosine over phosphotyrosine. While I successfully generated …
Structure Of Clostridium Perfringens Type Iv Pili, Alexander R. Meyer
Structure Of Clostridium Perfringens Type Iv Pili, Alexander R. Meyer
Honors Theses
Type IV pili (T4P) are thin, hair-like bacterial appendages composed of protein subunits polymerized into a helical fiber. T4P perform diverse functions such as host cell adhesion, biofilm formation, natural competence, and twitching motility. While T4P are well characterized in Gram-negative bacteria, they have more recently been found in Gram-positive bacteria as well. In this work we aimed to solve the crystal structure of the type IV major pilin protein PilA2 from Clostridium perfringens, the predominant pilus subunit which makes up about 99% of the pilus fiber. We report expression, purification, and crystallization conditions which are sufficient for X-ray …
Characterization Of A Split-Nluc Assay For Monitoring Changes In Alpha-Synuclein Solubility In Living Cells, Baolong Truong
Characterization Of A Split-Nluc Assay For Monitoring Changes In Alpha-Synuclein Solubility In Living Cells, Baolong Truong
Honors Theses
Alpha-synuclein is the primary constituent of Lewy Bodies, protein aggregates associated with Parkinson’s Disease, Dementia with Lewy Bodies, and Multiple Systems Dystrophy. Given the terminal nature of these synucleinopathies, the need for an assay that can report on alpha-synuclein aggregation levels in living systems is critical. Western blotting represents one potential approach to this problem; however, this technique can often be limited by selectivity of available antibodies and experimental reproducibility. Herein, we describe a novel luminescence-based assay capable of detecting alpha-synuclein solubility in bacterial cells. This platform can report on the influence of disease-relevant mutations and small molecules. Antibodies are …
Membrane Lipid Extraction Methods From Sorghum Bicolor, Max Regester
Membrane Lipid Extraction Methods From Sorghum Bicolor, Max Regester
Honors Theses
Plants are the basis of the world as we know it. As sessile beings, there are often subject to many environment stressors like drought, extreme temperatures, etc. One way of analyzing how plants respond to these stressors is by monitoring changes in their lipid compositions. Having a better understanding of how plants respond to different stressors can have very important implications when it comes to cultivating crops. When testing lipid composition, it is important to measure levels as they were in the living tissue. The problem is, enzymes known as lipases are active during extraction and can greatly change the …
Development And Implementation Of A Biochemistry Argumentation Task To Promote Scientific Literacy Among Undergraduate Students, Lukas Hall
Honors Theses
Science education reform efforts at the postsecondary level have been lacking regardless of meaningful reform at the K-12 level. Of these reforms, the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) serve to reframe effective science teaching and learning as three-dimensional (3D). That is, 3D instruction integrates core disciplinary ideas, cross-cutting concepts, and science practices to support students’ science learning. There have been calls to extend this 3D model to the postsecondary level. The purpose of this study was to design, implement, and evaluate a 3D task in a university-level biochemistry course. The task was implemented as a homework assignment to 107 students …
Escaping Death: Naloxone's Chemical Nature And Potential To Combat The Opioid Epidemic, Abigale Miller
Escaping Death: Naloxone's Chemical Nature And Potential To Combat The Opioid Epidemic, Abigale Miller
Honors Theses
Naloxone is a life-saving drug with the ability to reverse an opioid overdose. As the opioid epidemic’s death toll rises, we can turn to Naloxone as a tool to combat the crisis. The epidemic, born of corruption, has a wide reach among the people of the United States, with especially firm grasps on middle-aged people, sufferers of chronic pain, white Americans and those living in the eastern portion of the country. Naloxone’s elegant design saves lives by effectively competing for a position on an opioid biding receptor in the brain to almost instantly end an overdose and restore normal breathing. …
Treatment Of Plastic Wastes Using Plasma Gasification Technology, Zachary Homolka
Treatment Of Plastic Wastes Using Plasma Gasification Technology, Zachary Homolka
Honors Theses
Plasma gasification (PG) complements traditional recycling when applied to contaminated or mixed plastics. Without PG these plastics cost recyclers more to process than they are worth on the market, and sometimes they are landfilled or incinerated instead of being recycled. Plasma gasification can take plastic not suitable for traditional recycling and break it down into high-quality syngas for use in electricity generation, chemical manufacturing, or hydrogen production. The technology can be implemented without changing the behavior of consumers, which is a major advantage over attempting to decrease contamination or reduce use of low-value plastic. Due to high capital requirements and …
Characterization Of Metabolic Networks In Differentiated Cd4+ T Cells, Bailee Lichter
Characterization Of Metabolic Networks In Differentiated Cd4+ T Cells, Bailee Lichter
Honors Theses
CD4+ T cells play a critical role in the immune system and protecting the body from infection. Cell differentiation of T-cells leads to the specialization of the immune system and has been determined to have plasticity. Differentiation of the CD4+ T cells depends on cytokines present in the environment, concentration of antigens, types of antigen – presenting cells (APCs), and costimulatory molecules (Luckheeram, 2012). Commonly known differentiated T-cells include the T-helper 1 (Th1) and the T-helper 2 (Th2) cells. Upon CD4+ T cell activation, the cells undergo metabolic changes that allow for cell growth and division. By characterizing the metabolic …
Copy Number Variation In The Porcine Genome Detected From Whole-Genome Sequence, Rebecca Anderson
Copy Number Variation In The Porcine Genome Detected From Whole-Genome Sequence, Rebecca Anderson
Honors Theses
Copy number variations (CNVs) are large insertions, deletions, and duplications in the genome that vary between individuals in a species. These variations are known to impact a broad range of phenotypes from molecular-level traits to higher-order clinical phenotypes. CNVs have been linked to complex traits in humans such as autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, nervous system disorders, and early-onset extreme obesity. In this study, whole-genome sequence was obtained from 72 founders of an intensely phenotyped experimental swine herd at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) in Clay Center, Nebraska. This included 24 boars (12 Duroc and 12 Landrace) and …
Discrimination And Aggregative Patterns Among And Between Populations Of Entamoeba Spp., Katelyn M. Higgins
Discrimination And Aggregative Patterns Among And Between Populations Of Entamoeba Spp., Katelyn M. Higgins
Honors Theses
Kin recognition facilitates the evolution of cooperation in animals, but its relevance in microorganisms and their behavior toward relatives remains unclear. The Entamoeba lineage constitutes an ideal model to determine the behavioral and signaling cues needed for aggregative preference. Chemical cues have been reported for E. histolytica but not E. dispar, suggesting cell-communication between con-specifics and behavioral differences with relevance for disease. Entamoeba varieties have been reported as ‘morphologically undistinguishable’. Two strains of E. invadens have been isolated from different hosts (VK-1: NS - Varanus komodoensis and IP1- serpentes) but were classified within the same ‘species’. Trophozoites …
Characterization Of Expression Of The Kcne Gene Family In Zebrafish, Danio Rerio, Lauren Vernlund
Characterization Of Expression Of The Kcne Gene Family In Zebrafish, Danio Rerio, Lauren Vernlund
Honors Theses
The KCNE gene family codes for five transmembrane accessory proteins, "minK related peptides" or Mirps, involved in the modification of voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels, K+ selective pores vital in the regulation of membrane potential and repolarization in all organisms. In mammals, all five KCNE gene members are conserved and active in the heart. In the zebrafish Danio rerio, there are no apparent orthologs for KCNE2 or KCNE5, yet they contain Kv channels with homologous structure, function, and Mirp regulatory behavior to other organisms. Sequence analysis of wildtype zebrafish KCNE1, 3 and 4, and rtPCR on RNA from zebrafish tissues …