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2014

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Articles 421 - 450 of 647

Full-Text Articles in Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology

Splicing Mutation Analysis Reveals Previously Unrecognized Pathways In Lymph Node-Invasive Breast Cancer., Stephanie N Dorman, Coby Viner, Peter K Rogan Jan 2014

Splicing Mutation Analysis Reveals Previously Unrecognized Pathways In Lymph Node-Invasive Breast Cancer., Stephanie N Dorman, Coby Viner, Peter K Rogan

Biochemistry Publications

Somatic mutations reported in large-scale breast cancer (BC) sequencing studies primarily consist of protein coding mutations. mRNA splicing mutation analyses have been limited in scope, despite their prevalence in Mendelian genetic disorders. We predicted splicing mutations in 442 BC tumour and matched normal exomes from The Cancer Genome Atlas Consortium (TCGA). These splicing defects were validated by abnormal expression changes in these tumours. Of the 5,206 putative mutations identified, exon skipping, leaky or cryptic splicing was confirmed for 988 variants. Pathway enrichment analysis of the mutated genes revealed mutations in 9 NCAM1-related pathways, which were significantly increased in samples with …


Localized, Non-Random Differences In Chromatin Accessibility Between Homologous Metaphase Chromosomes., Wahab A Khan, Peter K Rogan, Joan Hm Knoll Jan 2014

Localized, Non-Random Differences In Chromatin Accessibility Between Homologous Metaphase Chromosomes., Wahab A Khan, Peter K Rogan, Joan Hm Knoll

Biochemistry Publications

BACKGROUND: Condensation differences along the lengths of homologous, mitotic metaphase chromosomes are well known. This study reports molecular cytogenetic data showing quantifiable localized differences in condensation between homologs that are related to differences in accessibility (DA) of associated DNA probe targets. Reproducible DA was observed for ~10% of locus-specific, short (1.5-5 kb) single copy DNA probes used in fluorescence in situ hybridization.

RESULTS: Fourteen probes (from chromosomes 1, 5, 9, 11, 15, 17, 22) targeting genic and intergenic regions were developed and hybridized to cells from 10 individuals with cytogenetically-distinguishable homologs. Differences in hybridization between homologs were non-random for 8 …


Interpretation Of Mrna Splicing Mutations In Genetic Disease: Review Of The Literature And Guidelines For Information-Theoretical Analysis., Natasha Caminsky, Eliseos J Mucaki, Peter K Rogan Jan 2014

Interpretation Of Mrna Splicing Mutations In Genetic Disease: Review Of The Literature And Guidelines For Information-Theoretical Analysis., Natasha Caminsky, Eliseos J Mucaki, Peter K Rogan

Biochemistry Publications

The interpretation of genomic variants has become one of the paramount challenges in the post-genome sequencing era. In this review we summarize nearly 20 years of research on the applications of information theory (IT) to interpret coding and non-coding mutations that alter mRNA splicing in rare and common diseases. We compile and summarize the spectrum of published variants analyzed by IT, to provide a broad perspective of the distribution of deleterious natural and cryptic splice site variants detected, as well as those affecting splicing regulatory sequences. Results for natural splice site mutations can be interrogated dynamically with Splicing Mutation Calculator, …


Ambient Measurements Of Biological Aerosol Particles Near Killarney, Ireland: A Comparison Between Real-Time Fluorescence And Microscopy Techniques, D. A. Healy, J. A. Huffmann, David O'Connor, C. Pohlker, U. Poschil, J. R. Sodeau Jan 2014

Ambient Measurements Of Biological Aerosol Particles Near Killarney, Ireland: A Comparison Between Real-Time Fluorescence And Microscopy Techniques, D. A. Healy, J. A. Huffmann, David O'Connor, C. Pohlker, U. Poschil, J. R. Sodeau

Articles

Primary biological aerosol particles (PBAPs) can contribute significantly to the coarse particle burden in many environments. PBAPs can thus influence climate and precipitation systems as cloud nuclei and can spread disease to humans, animals, and plants. Measurement data and techniques for PBAPs in natural environments at high time- and size resolution are, however, sparse, and so large uncertainties remain in the role that biological particles play in the Earth system. In this study two commercial real-time fluorescence particle sensors and a Sporewatch single-stage particle impactor were operated continuously from 2 August to 2 September 2010 at a rural sampling location …


Assembly And Function Of Macromolecular Complexes For Accurate Trna Aminoacylation In Helicobacter Pylori, Gayathri Niroshani Silva Jan 2014

Assembly And Function Of Macromolecular Complexes For Accurate Trna Aminoacylation In Helicobacter Pylori, Gayathri Niroshani Silva

Wayne State University Dissertations

ABSTRACT

ASSEMBLY AND FUNCTION OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPLEXES FOR ACCURATE TRNA AMINOACYLATION IN HELICOBACTER PYLORI

by

GAYATHRI SILVA

January 2014

Advisor: Dr. Tamara L. Hendrickson

Major: Chemistry (Biochemistry)

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Abstract

The aminoacylation of tRNA is a critical step in maintaining the accuracy of the genetic code. Many microorganisms are missing one or more aminoacyl tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) and rely on indirect pathways to produce certain aa–tRNAs. In Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), the genes encoding both asparaginyl tRNA synthetase (AsnRS) and glutaminyl tRNA synthetase (GlnRS) are missing and the organism consequently relies on the indirect pathway for …


Structural And Functional Characterization Of Proteins Of Unknown Function (Hp0495, Hp0100 And Hp1259) In Helicobacter Pylori, Shirin Fatma Jan 2014

Structural And Functional Characterization Of Proteins Of Unknown Function (Hp0495, Hp0100 And Hp1259) In Helicobacter Pylori, Shirin Fatma

Wayne State University Dissertations

H. pylori is missing the glutaminyl- and asparaginyl-tRNA synthetases (GlnRS and AsnRS, respectively). Consequently, H. pylori uses an indirect aminoacylation pathway to generate Gln-tRNAGln and Asn-tRNAAsn. Within this process, Asn-tRNAAsn is produced by misacylation of tRNAAsn with aspartate by a non-discriminating aspartyl-tRNA synthetase (ND-AspRS). Next, the heterotrimeric, glutamine-dependent amidotransferase (called AdT or GatCAB) converts the misacylated Asp-tRNAAsn into Asn-tRNAAsn. A parallel pathway exists for the synthesis of Gln-tRNAGln, wherein misacylation of tRNAGln with glutamate is catalyzed by a tRNAGln-specific glutamyl-tRNA synthetase (GluRS2) to generate Glu-tRNAGln; this misacylated intermediate is converted to Gln-tRNAGln by the same AdT. This dependence on misacylated …


Preliminary Assessment Of Instrumental Methods To Evaluate The Purity Of Biodiesel Produced From Waste Vegetable Oil, Michael Macmurdo Jan 2014

Preliminary Assessment Of Instrumental Methods To Evaluate The Purity Of Biodiesel Produced From Waste Vegetable Oil, Michael Macmurdo

Undergraduate Review

America’s transportation sector is the key link between our growing dependency on oil, and resulting global warming pollution. Petroleum in our cars and trucks accounts for two-thirds of our total oil used and one-third of the U.S. carbon dioxide emissions. Biodiesel is a renewable fuel source and an alternative to petroleum diesel. Biodiesel burns much cleaner than petroleum diesel, producing a significantly lower amount of toxic and greenhouse gas emissions.1 Whereas, there is only a finite amount of petroleum in the earth, biodiesel is produced from renewable resources and even recycled resources such as waste vegetable oil. Despite the benefits, …


Single-Nucleotide Variations In Cardiac Arrhythmias: Prospects For Genomics And Proteomics Based Biomarker Discovery And Diagnostics, Ayman Abunimer, Krista Smith, Tsung-Jung Wu, Phuc Lam, Vahan Simonyan, Raja Mazumder Jan 2014

Single-Nucleotide Variations In Cardiac Arrhythmias: Prospects For Genomics And Proteomics Based Biomarker Discovery And Diagnostics, Ayman Abunimer, Krista Smith, Tsung-Jung Wu, Phuc Lam, Vahan Simonyan, Raja Mazumder

Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine Faculty Publications

Cardiovascular diseases are a large contributor to causes of early death in developed countries. Some of these conditions, such as sudden cardiac death and atrial fibrillation, stem from arrhythmias—a spectrum of conditions with abnormal electrical activity in the heart. Genome-wide association studies can identify single nucleotide variations (SNVs) that may predispose individuals to developing acquired forms of arrhythmias. Through manual curation of published genome-wide association studies, we have collected a comprehensive list of 75 SNVs associated with cardiac arrhythmias. Ten of the SNVs result in amino acid changes and can be used in proteomic-based detection methods. In an effort to …


Pathoscope 2.0: A Complete Computational Framework For Strain Identification In Environmental Or Clinical Sequencing Samples., Changjin Hong, Solaiappan Manimaran, Ying Shen, Joseph F Perez-Rogers, Allyson L Byrd, Eduardo Castro-Nallar, Keith A Crandall, William Evan Johnson Jan 2014

Pathoscope 2.0: A Complete Computational Framework For Strain Identification In Environmental Or Clinical Sequencing Samples., Changjin Hong, Solaiappan Manimaran, Ying Shen, Joseph F Perez-Rogers, Allyson L Byrd, Eduardo Castro-Nallar, Keith A Crandall, William Evan Johnson

Computational Biology Institute

BACKGROUND: Recent innovations in sequencing technologies have provided researchers with the ability to rapidly characterize the microbial content of an environmental or clinical sample with unprecedented resolution. These approaches are producing a wealth of information that is providing novel insights into the microbial ecology of the environment and human health. However, these sequencing-based approaches produce large and complex datasets that require efficient and sensitive computational analysis workflows. Many recent tools for analyzing metagenomic-sequencing data have emerged, however, these approaches often suffer from issues of specificity, efficiency, and typically do not include a complete metagenomic analysis framework.

RESULTS: We present PathoScope …


Characteristics And Prediction Of Rna Structure., Hengwu Li, Daming Zhu, Caiming Zhang, Huijian Han, Keith A Crandall Jan 2014

Characteristics And Prediction Of Rna Structure., Hengwu Li, Daming Zhu, Caiming Zhang, Huijian Han, Keith A Crandall

Computational Biology Institute

RNA secondary structures with pseudoknots are often predicted by minimizing free energy, which is NP-hard. Most RNAs fold during transcription from DNA into RNA through a hierarchical pathway wherein secondary structures form prior to tertiary structures. Real RNA secondary structures often have local instead of global optimization because of kinetic reasons. The performance of RNA structure prediction may be improved by considering dynamic and hierarchical folding mechanisms. This study is a novel report on RNA folding that accords with the golden mean characteristic based on the statistical analysis of the real RNA secondary structures of all 480 sequences from RNA …


Evidence For Hysteretic Substrate Channeling In The Proline Dehydrogenaseand ∆1-Pyrroline-5-Carboxylate Dehydrogenase Coupled Reaction Of Proline Utilizationa(Puta), Michael A Moxley, Nikhilesh Sanyal, Navasona Krishnan, John J. Tanner, Donald F. Becker Jan 2014

Evidence For Hysteretic Substrate Channeling In The Proline Dehydrogenaseand ∆1-Pyrroline-5-Carboxylate Dehydrogenase Coupled Reaction Of Proline Utilizationa(Puta), Michael A Moxley, Nikhilesh Sanyal, Navasona Krishnan, John J. Tanner, Donald F. Becker

Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications

Background: PutA from Escherichia coli is a bifunctional enzyme and transcriptional repressor in proline catabolism.

Results: Steady-state and transient kinetic data revealed a mechanism in which the two enzymatic reactions are coupled by an activation step.

Conclusion: Substrate channeling in PutA exhibits hysteretic behavior.

Significance: This is the first kinetic model of bi-enzyme activity in PutA and reveals a novel mechanism of channeling activation.


Primary Microrna Processing Assay Reconstituted Using Recombinant Drosha And Dgcr8., Ian Barr, Feng Guo Jan 2014

Primary Microrna Processing Assay Reconstituted Using Recombinant Drosha And Dgcr8., Ian Barr, Feng Guo

Natural Sciences and Mathematics | Faculty Scholarship

In animals, the Microprocessor complex cleaves primary transcripts of microRNAs (pri-miRNAs) to produce precursor microRNAs in the nucleus. The core components of Microprocessor include the Drosha ribonuclease and its RNA-binding partner protein DiGeorge critical region 8 (DGCR8). DGCR8 has been shown to tightly bind an Fe(III) heme cofactor, which activates its pri-miRNA processing activity. Here we describe how to reconstitute pri-miRNA processing using recombinant human Drosha and DGCR8 proteins. In particular, we present the procedures for expressing and purifying DGCR8 as an Fe(III) heme-bound dimer, the most active form of this protein, and for estimating its heme content.


Molecular Dissection Of The Mechanism Of Ssdna-Binding Proteins, Kelly Binns Jan 2014

Molecular Dissection Of The Mechanism Of Ssdna-Binding Proteins, Kelly Binns

Undergraduate Review

The maintenance of the integrity of DNA is crucial for life as any change could result in cellular abnormalities leading to disease. DNA is most stable as a double helix. However, many processes manipulating DNA require the presence of vulnerable single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). ssDNA-binding proteins (SSBs) have the ability to bind to ssDNA, stabilize it and thus allow DNA transactions to take place. Prokaryotic SSBs, found in bacteria and viruses that infect them, are comprised of a DNA-binding body and a negatively-charged flexible C-terminal tail. The removal of the tail results in increased ability of the protein to bind ssDNA. …


Split-Spinach Monitoring Of Rna Aptamer Assembly, Tucker A. Rogers, Grant Andrews Jan 2014

Split-Spinach Monitoring Of Rna Aptamer Assembly, Tucker A. Rogers, Grant Andrews

Honors Projects

As insights into RNA’s many diverse cellular roles continue to be gained, interest and applications in RNA self-assembly and dynamics remain at the forefront of structural biology. The bifurcation of functional molecules into nonfunctional fragments provides a useful strategy for controlling and monitoring cellular RNA processes and functionalities. Herein we present the bifurcation of the preexisting Spinach aptamer and demonstrate its utility as a novel split aptamer system for monitoring RNA self-assembly as well as the processing of pre-short interfering substrates. We show for the first time that the Spinach aptamer can be divided into two nonfunctional halves that, once …


Gossypiboma Diagnosed Fifteen Years After A Cesarean Section: A Case Report, Abdul Rehman, Noor Ul-Ain Baloch, Muhammad Awais Jan 2014

Gossypiboma Diagnosed Fifteen Years After A Cesarean Section: A Case Report, Abdul Rehman, Noor Ul-Ain Baloch, Muhammad Awais

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Gossypiboma, a retained surgical sponge, is a rare complication following any surgical procedure and is primarily a result of human error. Such patients often have vague clinical presentations and the diagnosis often comes as a surprise. We present the case of a 40-year-old woman who had a long-standing history of lower abdominal discomfort. She was diagnosed with a gossypiboma fifteen years after a cesarean section. All general physicians, surgeons and radiologists must be aware of this rare but clinically significant entity.


Formyl Group Activation Of Bromopyrrole Suzuki Cross-Coupling: Application To A Formal Synthesis Of Lamellarin G Trimethyl Ether, Andrew Harrison Jan 2014

Formyl Group Activation Of Bromopyrrole Suzuki Cross-Coupling: Application To A Formal Synthesis Of Lamellarin G Trimethyl Ether, Andrew Harrison

Honors Theses

Many biologically interesting compounds have been isolated from marine natural products, many of which contain characteristic pyrroles. Compounds such as polycitones, storniamides, ningalins, and lamellarins have been of particular interest for synthesis due to their vast pharmaceutical potential including the ability to fight tumors as well as induce cytolysis of drug resistant cancer cell lines. Previous studies on the synthesis of Lamellarin G trimethyl ether by the Gupton Group have relied upon vinylogous amide derivatives as building blocks.2 A new pathway utilizing a formylated pyrrole ring provides an interesting method for the synthesis of Lamellarin G trimethyl ether. Regioselective Suzuki …


Regulation Of Nkcc2 Trafficking By Vesicle Fusion Proteins Vamp2 And Vamp3 In The Thick Ascending Limb, Paulo Sebastian Caceres Puzzella Jan 2014

Regulation Of Nkcc2 Trafficking By Vesicle Fusion Proteins Vamp2 And Vamp3 In The Thick Ascending Limb, Paulo Sebastian Caceres Puzzella

Wayne State University Dissertations

The thick ascending limb (TAL) in the kidney regulates extracellular fluid volume and blood pressure. The Na/K/2Cl cotransporter NKCC2 plays a central role in NaCl absorption by the TAL and blood pressure. NKCC2 trafficking to the apical membrane is a major mechanism to control NKCC2 activity. However, little is known about the proteins that mediate NKCC2 trafficking. Inhibition of the vesicle fusion proteins VAMP2 and VAMP3 blunts the increase in surface NKCC2 expression and NaCl absorption in response to stimulation by cAMP. In other cells, VAMPs mediate fusion of exocytic vesicles with the plasma membrane. Whether VAMP2 and VAMP3 mediate …


The Mechanism Of Regulation Of Autosomal Heterochromatic Genes In Drosophila Melanogaster Males By Rox Rna And Msl Proteins, Satya Kiran Koya Jan 2014

The Mechanism Of Regulation Of Autosomal Heterochromatic Genes In Drosophila Melanogaster Males By Rox Rna And Msl Proteins, Satya Kiran Koya

Wayne State University Dissertations

In humans and flies, males and females have different set of sex chromosomes contributing to different levels of X-linked gene expression. To equalize X-linked gene dosage between sexes, both humans and flies developed independent strategies which are called dosage compensation. Human females randomly inactivate one of their X chromosome into barr body and Drosophila males up regulate their single X chromosome two fold. Both strategies equalize of X linked gene dose between sexes.

In Drosophila, dosage compensation is brought about by the ribonucleoprotein Male Specific Lethal (MSL) complex that binds hundreds of sites along the X chromosome and modifies …


Investigation Into The Binding Interactions Of Klenow Fragment To Dna Modified With Carcinogens Af And Aaf Using Surface Plasmon Resonance, Ashley M. Floyd Jan 2014

Investigation Into The Binding Interactions Of Klenow Fragment To Dna Modified With Carcinogens Af And Aaf Using Surface Plasmon Resonance, Ashley M. Floyd

Wayne State University Dissertations

The two major forms of DNA adducts from the carcinogen N-acetoxyacetyl-2-aminofluorene, N-(deoxygunanonsin-8-yl)-2-acetylaminofluorene (dG-C8-AAF) and N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-2-aminofluorene (dG-C8-AF), are both known to impede replication, though in different ways. AAF is a strong block to replication leading to frameshift mutations, while the AF adduct is more easily bypassed, causing base substitutions. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) was used to study the binding of exonuclease deficient E. coli polymerase I, Klenow fragment (KF), to DNA modified with AF or AAF at two locations: as a templating base or in the last formed base pair. KF binding to the modified DNA bases was also monitored to …


Strongly Bound Noncovalent (So3)N:H2co Complexes (N = 1, 2), L. M. Azofra, I. Alkorta, Steve Scheiner Jan 2014

Strongly Bound Noncovalent (So3)N:H2co Complexes (N = 1, 2), L. M. Azofra, I. Alkorta, Steve Scheiner

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications

The potential energy surfaces (PES) for the SO3:H2CO and (SO3)2:H2CO complexes were thoroughly examined at the MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ computational level. Heterodimers and trimers are held together primarily by SO chalcogen bonds, supplemented by weaker CHO and/or OC bonds. The nature of the interactions is probed by a variety of means, including electrostatic potentials, AIM, NBO, energy decomposition, and electron density redistribution maps. The most stable dimer is strongly bound, with an interaction energy exceeding 10 kcal mol(-1). Trimers adopt the geometry of the most stable dimer, with an added SO3 molecule situated so as to interact with both of the original …


Nuclear Import And Interactions Of Potato Yellow Dwarf Virus Nucleocapsid, Matrix, And Phosphoprotein, Gavin Lloyd Franklin Anderson Jan 2014

Nuclear Import And Interactions Of Potato Yellow Dwarf Virus Nucleocapsid, Matrix, And Phosphoprotein, Gavin Lloyd Franklin Anderson

Theses and Dissertations--Plant Pathology

Potato yellow dwarf virus (PYDV) is the type species of the genus Nucleorhabdovirus and, like all members of this genus, replication and morphogenesis occurs inside the nuclei of infected cells. Protein localization prediction algorithms failed to identify a nuclear localization signal (NLS) in PYDV nucleocapsid (N) protein, although PYDV-N has been shown to localize exclusively to the nucleus when expressed as a green fluorescent protein (GFP):N fusion in plant cells. Deletion analysis and alanine-scanning mutagenesis identified two amino acid motifs, 419QKR421 and 432KR433, that were shown to be essential for nuclear import and interaction with …


Ether Bridge Formation And Chemical Diversification In Loline Alkaloid Biosynthesis, Juan Pan Jan 2014

Ether Bridge Formation And Chemical Diversification In Loline Alkaloid Biosynthesis, Juan Pan

Theses and Dissertations--Plant Pathology

Loline alkaloids, found in many grass-Epichloë symbiota, are toxic or feeding deterrent to invertebrates. The loline alkaloids all share a saturated pyrrolizidine ring with a 1-amine group and an ether bridge linking C2 and C7. The steps in biosynthesis of loline alkaloids are catalyzed by enzymes encoded by a gene cluster, designated LOL, in the Epichloë genome. This dissertation addresses the enzymatic, genetic and evolutionary basis for diversification of these alkaloids, focusing on ether bridge formation and the subsequent modifications of the 1-amine to form different loline alkaloids.

Through gene complementation of a natural lolO mutant and comparison …


Self-Reported Attitudes And Behaviours Of Medical Students In Pakistan Regarding Academic Misconduct: A Cross-Sectional Study, Kulsoom Ghias, Ghulam Rehmani Lakho, Hamna Asim, Iqbal Syed Azam, Sheikh Abdul Saeed Jan 2014

Self-Reported Attitudes And Behaviours Of Medical Students In Pakistan Regarding Academic Misconduct: A Cross-Sectional Study, Kulsoom Ghias, Ghulam Rehmani Lakho, Hamna Asim, Iqbal Syed Azam, Sheikh Abdul Saeed

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Background: Honesty and integrity are key attributes of an ethically competent physician. However, academic misconduct, which includes but is not limited to plagiarism, cheating, and falsifying documentation, is common in medical colleges across the world. The purpose of this study is to describe differences in the self-reported attitudes and behaviours of medical students regarding academic misconduct depending on gender, year of study and type of medical institution in Pakistan.
Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted with medical students from one private and one public sector medical college. A pre-coded questionnaire about attitudes and behaviours regarding plagiarism, lying, cheating and …


Interactions Of Neuropathogenic Escherichia Coli K1 (Rs218) And Its Derivatives Lacking Genomic Islands With Phagocytic Acanthamoeba Castellanii And Nonphagocytic Brain Endothelial Cells, Farzana Abubakar Yousuf, Zuhair Yousuf, Junaid Iqbal, Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui, Hafsa Khan, Naveed Ahmed Khan Jan 2014

Interactions Of Neuropathogenic Escherichia Coli K1 (Rs218) And Its Derivatives Lacking Genomic Islands With Phagocytic Acanthamoeba Castellanii And Nonphagocytic Brain Endothelial Cells, Farzana Abubakar Yousuf, Zuhair Yousuf, Junaid Iqbal, Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui, Hafsa Khan, Naveed Ahmed Khan

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Here we determined the role of various genomic islands in E. coli K1 interactions with phagocytic A. castellanii and nonphagocytic brain microvascular endothelial cells. The findings revealed that the genomic islands deletion mutants of RS218 related to toxins (peptide toxin, alpha -hemolysin), adhesins (P fimbriae, F17-like fimbriae, nonfimbrial adhesins, Hek, and hemagglutinin), protein secretion system (T1SS for hemolysin), invasins (IbeA, CNF1), metabolism (D-serine catabolism, dihydroxyacetone, glycerol, and glyoxylate metabolism) showed reduced interactions with both A. castellanii and brain microvascular endothelial cells. Interestingly, the deletion of RS218-derived genomic island 21 containing adhesins (P fimbriae, F17-like fimbriae, nonfimbrial adhesins, Hek, and hemagglutinin), …


Cholesterol-Cholate-Butterfat Diet Offers Multi-Organ Dysfunction In Rats, Humaira Jamshed, Jamshed Arslan, Anwar-Ul-Hassan Gilani Jan 2014

Cholesterol-Cholate-Butterfat Diet Offers Multi-Organ Dysfunction In Rats, Humaira Jamshed, Jamshed Arslan, Anwar-Ul-Hassan Gilani

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Background: Comparable to commercial expensive high-fat diets, cholesterol-cholate-butterfat (CCB) diet has also been used to induce hyperlipidemia in rats. Our objective was to explore its influence on multiple organs. Consequence of fasting was also analysed.
Methods: Rats in groups 1 and 2 received normal diet (ND) whereas groups 3 and 4 received CCB-diet. Food was withdrawn daily for two hours from groups 2 (ND-F) and 4 (CCB-F). Blood was collected at fourth and sixth week for biochemical estimation; Morris water maze was done in the sixth week for learning ability and memory; after which aortae were isolated for vascular reactivity. …


A Novel Function For 12-Lipoxygenase In C-Met And Integrin Β4 Axis Crosstalk, Elizabeth Tovar Jan 2014

A Novel Function For 12-Lipoxygenase In C-Met And Integrin Β4 Axis Crosstalk, Elizabeth Tovar

Wayne State University Dissertations

Cancer cell metastasis is the single most threatening occurrence of tumor progression and predicts patient prognosis as well as survival. Invasion can be regulated by the Met receptor tyrosine kinase (c-Met), integrin beta4, and the lipid enzyme, 12-Lipoxygenase (12-LOX). Therefore we sought to determine if beta4, c-MET and 12-LOX comprise a signaling axis. c-Met is implicated in cancer cell dissemination through regulation of invasion in EMT where cell-cell junctions are disturbed to allow motility. Furthermore, beta4 promotes cellular adhesion to the extracellular matrix through hemidesmosomes. However, the homeostatic signaling functions of beta4's cytoplasmic tail can be hijacked by growth factor …


Leptin Regulates Cd16 Expression On Human Monocytes In A Sex-Specific Manner, Joseph G. Cannon, Gyanendra Sharma, Gloria Sloan, Christiana Dimitropoulou, R. Randall Baker, Andrew Mazzoli, Barbara Kraj, Anthony Mulloy, Miriam Cortez-Cooper Jan 2014

Leptin Regulates Cd16 Expression On Human Monocytes In A Sex-Specific Manner, Joseph G. Cannon, Gyanendra Sharma, Gloria Sloan, Christiana Dimitropoulou, R. Randall Baker, Andrew Mazzoli, Barbara Kraj, Anthony Mulloy, Miriam Cortez-Cooper

School of Medical Diagnostics & Translational Sciences Publications

Fat mass is linked mechanistically to the cardiovascular system through leptin, a 16 kDa protein produced primarily by adipocytes. In addition to increasing blood pressure via hypothalamic-sympathetic pathways, leptin stimulates monocyte migration, cytokine secretion, and other functions that contribute to atherosclerotic plaque development. These functions are also characteristics of CD16-positive monocytes that have been implicated in the clinical progression of atherosclerosis. This investigation sought to determine if leptin promoted the development of such CD16-positive monocytes. Cells from 45 healthy men and women with age ranging from 20 to 59 years were analyzed. Circulating numbers of CD14++16++ monocytes, which are primary …


Evaluation Of Three Herbicide Resistance Genes For Use In Genetic Transformations And For Potential Crop Protection In Algae Production, Andrew J. Bruggeman, Daniel Kuehler, Donald P. Weeks Jan 2014

Evaluation Of Three Herbicide Resistance Genes For Use In Genetic Transformations And For Potential Crop Protection In Algae Production, Andrew J. Bruggeman, Daniel Kuehler, Donald P. Weeks

Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications

Genes conferring resistance to the herbicides glyphosate, oxyfluorfen and norflurazon were developed and tested for use as dominant selectable markers in genetic transformation of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and as potential tools for the protection of commercial-scale algal production facilities against contamination by organisms sensitive to these broad-spectrum herbicides. A synthetic glyphosate acetyltransferase (GAT) gene, when fitted with a strong Chlamydomonas promoter, conferred a 2.79-fold increase in tolerance to the EPSPS inhibitor, glyphosate, in transgenic cells compared with progenitor WT cells. A mutant Chlamydomonas protoporphyrinogen oxidase (protox, PPO) gene previously shown to produce an enzyme insensitive to PPO-inhibiting herbicides, when genetically engineered, …


Molecular Phylogenetic Relationships Of North American Dermacentor Ticks Using Mitochondrial Gene Sequences, Kayla L. Perry Jan 2014

Molecular Phylogenetic Relationships Of North American Dermacentor Ticks Using Mitochondrial Gene Sequences, Kayla L. Perry

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Dermacentor is a recently evolved genus of hard ticks (Family Ixodiae) that includes 36 known species worldwide. Despite the importance of Dermacentor species as vectors of human and animal disease, the systematics of the genus remain largely unresolved. This study focuses on phylogenetic relationships of the eight North American Nearctic Dermacentor species: D. albipictus, D. variabilis, D. occidentalis, D. halli, D. parumapertus, D. hunteri, and D. andersoni, and the recently re-established species D. kamshadalus, as well as two of the Neotropical Dermacentor species D. nitens and D. dissimilis (both formerly Anocentor). We sequenced portions of the mitochondrial …


Dielectric Characterization Of Coastal Cartilage Chondrocytes, Michael W. Stacey, Ahmet C. Sabuncu, Ali Beskok Jan 2014

Dielectric Characterization Of Coastal Cartilage Chondrocytes, Michael W. Stacey, Ahmet C. Sabuncu, Ali Beskok

Bioelectrics Publications

BACKGROUND: Chondrocytes respond to biomechanical and bioelectrochemical stimuli by secreting appropriate extracellular matrix proteins that enable the tissue to withstand the large forces it experiences. Although biomechanical aspects of cartilage are well described, little is known of the bioelectrochemical responses. The focus of this study is to identify bioelectrical characteristics of human costal cartilage cells using dielectric spectroscopy.

METHODS: Dielectric spectroscopy allows non-invasive probing of biological cells. An in house computer program is developed to extract dielectric properties of human costal cartilage cells from raw cell suspension impedance data measured by a microfluidic device. The dielectric properties of chondrocytes are …