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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
The Cellular Nucleic Acid Binding Protein Regulates The Alzheimer’S Disease Β-Secretase Protein Bace1, Christopher J. Holler
The Cellular Nucleic Acid Binding Protein Regulates The Alzheimer’S Disease Β-Secretase Protein Bace1, Christopher J. Holler
Theses and Dissertations--Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease affecting the elderly population and is believed to be caused by the overproduction and accumulation of the toxic amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide in the brain. Aβ is produced by two separate enzymatic cleavage events of the larger membrane bound amyloid precursor protein, APP. The first, and rate-limiting, cleavage event is made by beta-secretase, or BACE1, and is thus an attractive therapeutic target. Our lab, as well as many others, has shown that BACE1 protein and activity are increased in late-stage sporadic AD. We have extended these findings to show that BACE1 …
The Role Of Syntaxin And Tomosyn In Platelet Secretion, Shaojing Ye
The Role Of Syntaxin And Tomosyn In Platelet Secretion, Shaojing Ye
Theses and Dissertations--Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry
Platelet secretion is important for hemostasis and thrombosis. The components released are also involved in atherosclerosis, inflammation, angiogenesis, and tumor growth. Though the exact mechanism(s) of platelet secretion is still elusive, accumulating evidence demonstrates that SNAREs (Soluble N-ethylmaleimide Sensitive Factor Associated Receptor) and their regulatory partners are critical for platelet exocytosis. Formation of a trans-bilayer complex composed of one v-SNARE (i.e. VAMPs) and two t-SNAREs (i.e. syntaxin and SNAP-25-type) is minimally required for membrane fusion. Regulatory proteins control the rate and specificity of the complex assembly. VAMP-8 and SNAP-23 (a SNAP-25-type t-SNARE) are clearly important; however, the …
Early Events Of Human Metapneumovirus Infection, Andres Chang
Early Events Of Human Metapneumovirus Infection, Andres Chang
Theses and Dissertations--Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry
Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a worldwide respiratory pathogen that belongs to the paramyxovirus family of enveloped viruses and affects primarily the pediatric, geriatric, and immunocompromised populations. Despite its prevalence and importance to human health, no therapies are available against this pathogen. For paramyxoviruses, it is believed that infection starts by attachment of the virus to the surface of the cell through the viral attachment protein followed by fusion between the viral and cellular membranes, a process mediated by the fusion (F) protein at the plasma membrane and at neutral pH. Previous work showed that HMPV infection can occur in the …
Structural Basis Of Substrate Recognition In Thimet Oligopeptidase And Development Of Nanoparticles For Therapeutic Enzyme Delivery, Jonathan Mark Wagner
Structural Basis Of Substrate Recognition In Thimet Oligopeptidase And Development Of Nanoparticles For Therapeutic Enzyme Delivery, Jonathan Mark Wagner
Theses and Dissertations--Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry
Neuropeptidases are responsible for degradation of signaling peptides in the central nervous system and periphery. Some neuropeptidases have also been shown to play a role as part of the cell’s hydrolytic machinery responsible for breaking down proteins and peptides into amino acids, and these enzymes therefore influence small peptide availability for antigen presentation. A better understanding of how neuropeptidases recognize their substrates could lead to therapeutics that modulate the activity of these important enzymes. Alternatively, re-engineering these enzymes to selectively hydrolyze undesirable peptides could make them attractive as therapeutics themselves. A key question in understanding the activity of these enzymes …