Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology Commons^™

Utilizing Nanodiamond For Antiretroviral Drug Delivery To Hiv Infected Microglial Cells, Ebenezer Owusu

Theses and Dissertations

Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) is widely used to treat HIV infection, but it fails to eradicate viral reservoirs, such as microglia in the brain, leading to HIV-associated neurological disorders (HAND). Advances in nanomedicine have enabled the development of targeted drug delivery systems, and nanodiamonds (NDs) and fluorescent nanodiamonds (FNDs) have emerged as a potential solution due to their biocompatibility, non-toxic nature, and efficiency as drug carriers. Our study builds on previous findings that NDs can cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), aiming to utilize NDs and FNDs for their added traceability. We propose a multifunctional nanodrug platform that leverages NDs and …

Effects Of Nitrogen Or Phosphorus Depletion On Lipid Production In Bracteacoccus Sp. And Tetrastrum Sp., Cassandra J. Po

Theses and Dissertations

As global energy demands have risen in the past decades, various species of microalgae have been chosen and used as sources of lipids for third-generation biofuel. I selected two species of green microalgae, Bracteacoccus sp. and Tetrastrum sp., from isolates from South Texas to determine their potential as sources of biofuel. For comparison, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was used as a model organism. To evaluate lipid productivity under different nutrient regimens, the microalgae were grown in nutrient-replete growth media until the population had reached the end of the logarithmic phase (roughly 14 days), and then transferred into growth media depleted of nitrogen …

Role Of Interferon-Induced Protein With Tetratricopeptide Repeats 3 (Ifit3) In Hiv-1 Associated Neurodegenerative Disorder And Alzheimer’S Disease, Ranjit Kumar Das

Theses and Dissertations

The advent of cART has revolutionized the management of HIV-1 infection and saved the lives of millions of people worldwide. Yet, HAND continues to be clinically relevant with aging people with HIV-1 (PWH). The underlying mechanism of HAND remains poorly understood. In this regard. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 1(STAT1) and IFIT3 genes have been shown to induce neuroinflammation and neuronal cell death. However, the role of IFIT3 in HAND pathology has not been well established. Therefore, the present work investigated the significant role of IFIT3 gene in development of HAND. In the current study, …

Altered Myocardial Lipid Regulation In Junctophilin-2-Associated Familial Cardiomyopathies, Satadru K Lahiri, Feng Jin, Yue Zhou, Ann P Quick, Carlos F Kramm, Meng C Wang, Xander Ht Wehrens

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Myocardial lipid metabolism is critical to normal heart function, whereas altered lipid regulation has been linked to cardiac diseases including cardiomyopathies. Genetic variants in the JPH2 gene can cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and, in some cases, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). In this study, we tested the hypothesis that JPH2 variants identified in patients with HCM and DCM, respectively, cause distinct alterations in myocardial lipid profiles. Echocardiography revealed clinically significant cardiac dysfunction in both knock-in mouse models of cardiomyopathy. Unbiased myocardial lipidomic analysis demonstrated significantly reduced levels of total unsaturated fatty acids, ceramides, and various phospholipids in both mice with HCM and …

Predictors And Impact Of Prolonged Vasoplegia After Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation, Harveen K Lamba, Mary Kim, Meng Li, Andrew B Civitello, Ajith P Nair, Leo Simpson, J Patrick Herlihy, O H Frazier, Joseph G Rogers, Gabriel Loor, Kenneth K Liao, Alexis E Shafii, Subhasis Chatterjee

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Vasoplegia after cardiac surgery is associated with adverse outcomes. However, the clinical effects of vasoplegia and the significance of its duration after continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) implantation are less known.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify predictors of and outcomes from transient vs prolonged vasoplegia after CF-LVAD implantation.

METHODS: The study was a retrospective review of consecutive patients who underwent CF-LVAD implantation between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2017. Vasoplegia was defined as the presence of all of the following: mean arterial pressure ≤65 mm Hg, vasopressor (epinephrine, norepinephrine, vasopressin, or dopamine) use for >6 hours …

Impact Of Obesity And Age On Mouse Corneal Innervation At The Epithelial-Stromal Interface, Justin A Courson, Rolando E Rumbaut, Alan R Burns

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

PURPOSE: The corneal epithelium is the most highly innervated structure in the body. Previously, we reported a novel event whereby stromal axons fuse with basal epithelial cells, limiting nerve penetration into the epithelium. Although corneal-epithelial nerves undergo changes in sensitivity and distribution throughout life and in response to an obesogenic diet, it is unknown if neuronal-epithelial cell fusion is altered. Here, we sought to determine if neuronal-epithelial cell fusion frequency correlates with obesogenic diet consumption and age.

METHODS: Corneas were collected from C57BL/6 mice and evaluated for neuronal-epithelial cell fusion frequency using serial block-face scanning electron microscopy. To assess the …

An Investigation Into The Structural Features That Control Factor Xiii Stability And Substrate Specificity., Rameesa Darul Amne Syed Mohammed

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Factor XIII (FXIII) is a transglutaminase enzyme with multiple physiological roles that is found in plasma and cells of bone marrow origin. The catalytic A subunit (FXIII-A) is made of an N-terminal activation peptide (AP), β-sandwich, catalytic core, and two β-barrel domains. FXIII crosslinks the sidechains of glutamine (Q) and lysine (K) residues across plasmatic and cellular substrates. Because of its involvement in clot stabilization and determining fibrin clot size, FXIII-A is regarded as a target for developing new anticoagulants with minimal bleeding risks. However, the FXIII-A structural features that control its stability and substrate specificity largely remain unknown. Plasma …

Epigenetic Modification As A Therapeutic Target In Brafv600e-Mutated Metastatic Colorectal Cancer, Hey Min Lee

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Patients with BRAF^V600E-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) experience a worse prognosis and demonstrate only a 5% response rate to BRAF inhibitor treatment. In this study, adaptive resistance, and a potential combination of standard therapies in BRAF^V600E CRC were unveiled. Intriguingly, a robust association of BRAF^V600E mutation and DNA hypermethylation suggests this is a unique subgroup harboring aberrant epigenetic phenotype. Firstly, DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitor treatment induced profound DNA hypomethylation in vivo, but minimal change in gene expression due to adaptive elevation of the repressive histone methylation, H3K27me3, leading to compensatory suppression of key tumor suppressor genes, …

Structural And Functional Studies Of Ascc1 In Dna And Rna Alkylation Damage Response, Naga Babu Chinnam

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Alkylating agents from environmental, endogenous, and certain chemotherapeutic sources constantly challenge cellular nucleic acids. Repairing the damage caused by alkylation is necessary for maintaining genomic stability. ALKB family Human Homolog ALKBH3 plays a key in repairing alkylated damages in DNA and RNA molecules. Activating signal co-integrator complex 1 (ASCC1) acts with ASCC-ALKBH3 complex in alkylation damage responses. ASCC1 uniquely combines two evolutionarily ancient domains: nucleotide-binding K-Homology (KH) (associated with splicing, transcriptional regulation, and translational control) and two-histidine phosphodiesterase (PDE) (associated with hydrolysis of cyclic nucleotide phosphate bonds). Germline mutations link ASCC1 loss of function to spinal muscular atrophy with congenital …

Cellular Mechanisms Of Embryonic Eye Regrowth In Xenopus Laevis, Randolph L. Grell

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The African Clawed Frog, Xenopus laevis, has been an indispensable model organism for over 100 years in the study of embryogenesis and development. In recent years, this vertebrate model has emerged as a robust tool for deciphering the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying various modes of tissue, limb, and organ regeneration. In the context of eye repair, Xenopus offers a unique model, where the adult frog eye has limited regenerative capacity compared to its pre-metamorphic embryonic and tadpole forms, which exhibit a robust capacity for regrowth. Understanding the intricate molecular mechanisms that underlie this developmental shift in regrowth ability …

Testing Resilience Of Microalgae Biofilms When Exposed To Hydrothermal Liquefaction Aqueous Phase, Davis Riley Haag

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

There are a multitude of experimental and processing techniques in the bioenergy field that produce sustainable and carbon negative to carbon neutral methods of converting renewable resources into biologically based hydrocarbons. One example of a process is hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) which specializes in converting wet biomass into biocrude oil. One reason that these processes are not used outside experimental testing is due to the high cost of performing these processes. There is potential to move these processes to larger scale testing and eventually industrial adaptation if breakthroughs are made to offset the process expenses. There is a waste product produced …

Exploring Novel Nutrient Acquisition Mechanisms For Maintaining Energy Metabolism In Toxoplasma Gondii, Melanie Key

All Dissertations

Toxoplasma gondii is an infectious intracellular parasite that establishes infection within various mammalian hosts, including humans. Toxoplasma infects approximately one-third of the global population, making it an impactful pathogen of study. T. gondii is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, an opportunistic infection that causes severe illness or fatality in immunocompromised individuals or pregnant women. The parasite possesses a very effective invasion strategy, allowing it to cross different tissue types to disseminate infection across the placental and blood-brain barrier. Although there are a few treatments for acute toxoplasmosis, these drugs can produce adverse side effects. These options are not effective against …

Exploring The Effects Of N,N-Dimethylbiguanide And Ω-3 Pufas On Muscle Stem Cell Differentiation, Enayah Alhshim

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The impacts of omega-3 (ω-3) fatty acid and metformin hydrochloride (Met-HCl) on muscle stem cells differentiation, mimicking the fetal muscle development under gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), were investigated. ω-3 fatty acids have been known for their ability to regulate adipogenic transcription factors such as Sterol Regulatory Element-Binding Protien (SREBPs) and Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPARs). This regulation resulted in gene expression modification for lipid metabolism and adipocyte differentiation, thus preventing excessive fat accumulation. Additionally, emerging evidence suggested that ω-3 fatty acids may also exert direct effects on myogenic processes that influence muscle stem cells proliferation, differentiation, and maturation. Meanwhile, Met-HCl, an …

Comparing The Regulatory Effects Of Overexpressed Micrornas And Xenobiotic Drugs On Cell Cycle And Apoptotic Regulators In Pc-3 Cells, Tommie Johnson

Dissertations (2016-Present)

MicroRNA was first discovered in C. elegans as small temporal RNA (stRNA) that does not code for protein. Since being discovered they have played a significant role in regulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. miRNAs are found in various organisms, and they bind to the 3' untranslated regions to inhibit translation and cause mRNA degradation. Some drugs are involved in cell cycle regulation such as Palbociclib, Ribociclib (LEE011), and Abemaciclib (LY2835219), that causes G1 arrest impeding cell proliferation. Cyclin D1 (CCND1) is supported by the cell cycle making it into a functional product. When undergoing a chemical reaction, the …

The Expression Of Recombinant Cas9 Proteins In E. Coli Bl21(De3) Strains, Morgan Reese

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Abstract Extensively used for genome editing, CRISPR-Cas9 is a relatively new tool that has made a major impact in the genomic engineering landscape. Due to this, the production of CRISPR proteins that are not commercially available can limit research applications. Here, we present methods for optimizing laboratory scale production of CRISPR proteins including Cas9. The method uses IPTG to induce gene expression of the specified Cas9 and nickel column purification to isolate proteins. CRISPR proteins are validated for purity by SDS-PAGE gel, western blot, and for activity by in vitro digestion. We thoroughly validate and compare the effectiveness of BL21(DE3) …

Simvastatin Induces Autophaghy-Mediated Cell Death In Metastatic Breast Cancer Cells, Jessica Allagoa

Theses (2016-Present)

Breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer deaths among women. Due to the limited effectiveness of current anticancer drugs, ongoing research has extended towards alternative drug categories for potential treatments. Recent findings indicate that statins possess the ability to suppress tumors across various cell types. Traditionally, statins are known as a class of cholesterol-lowering agents and function by inhibiting 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, a key enzyme in the mevalonate pathway. However, statins can also suppress cell proliferation and ultimately lead to cell death, which includes Type I apoptosis-induced cell death or Type II autophagy-induced cell death. Autophagy is …

Foxo1 Inhibitor, As1842856, Induces Cell Cycle Arrest And Reverses Anticancer Drug-Induced Cytotoxicity In Osteosarcoma Cells, Antanay Hall

Theses (2016-Present)

Forkhead box class O (FOXO)-1 transcription factor controls cell proliferation, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and other cellular activities; FOXO1 has also been implicated in cell cycle regulation. This research project aims to determine the contribution of FOXO1 to cell cycle regulation and response to anticancer drug treatment in osteosarcoma. Osteosarcoma is the most common bone cancer, with most cases occurring in people younger than 30 years old. The study explores the impact of FOXO1 inhibitor AS1842856 on the cytotoxic effects of anticancer drugs in CCHOSD, Hos, and LM7 osteosarcoma (OGS) cell lines. Following chemical inhibition of FOXO1 and anticancer drug treatment, …

A Combination Of Generated Hydrogen Sulfide And Nitric Oxide Activity Has A Potentiated Protectant Effect Against Cisplatin Induced Nephrotoxicity, Faria Khurshid, Javeid Iqbal, Fiaz Ud Din Ahmad, Arslan Hussain Lodhi, Abdul Malik, Suhail Akhtar, Azmat Ali Khan, Marvi Imam Bux, Mohammed Younis

Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

Aim: Hydrogen sulfide and nitricoxide possess cytoprotective activity and in vivo, they are generated from exogenous sodium hydrosulfide and L-arginine respectively. Cisplatin is a major chemotherapeutic agent used to treat cancer and has a high incidence of nephrotoxicity as a side effect. The study aim was to explore the effects of NaHS and L-arginine or their combination on cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Methods: Wistar Kyoto rats were given a single intraperitoneal dose of cisplatin (5 mg/kg) followed either by NaHS (56 μmol/kg, i. p.), L-arginine (1.25 g/L in drinking water) or their combination daily for 28-days. Post-mortem plasma, urine …

Molecular Insights Of Paraoxonase 2 In Advanced Glycation End Product Induced Endothelial Dysfunction, Ramya R

Theses and Dissertations

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder associated with various vascular complications and affects the function of the endothelial cells. Elevated blood glucose levels accelerate the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) by Amadori rearrangement and bind to their Receptor for the advanced glycation end product (RAGE) and evoke release of key pro-inflammatory cytokine proteins leading to endothelial dysfunction. Paraoxonase 2 (PON2) is an endogenous intracellular enzyme, localised in mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and nuclear membrane with numerous properties, like anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidant.

Our present study aims to ascertain the effect of AGEs on PON2 activity and expression, …

Overexpression Of Fatty Acid Synthase Upregulates Glutamine–Fructose-6-Phosphate Transaminase 1 And O-Linked N-Acetylglucosamine Transferase To Increase O-Glcnac Protein Glycosylation And Promote Colorectal Cancer Growth, James Drury, Mariah E. Geisen, Josiane Weber Tessmann, Piotr G. Rychahou, Courtney O. Kelson

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Fatty acid synthesis has been extensively investigated as a therapeutic target in cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Fatty acid synthase (FASN), a key enzyme of de novo lipid synthesis, is significantly upregulated in CRC, and therapeutic approaches of targeting this enzyme are currently being tested in multiple clinical trials. However, the mechanisms behind the pro- oncogenic action of FASN are still not completely understood. Here, for the first time, we show that overexpression of FASN increases the expression of glutamine–fructose-6-phosphate transaminase 1 (GFPT1) and O-linked N-acetylglucosamine transferase (OGT), enzymes involved in hexosamine metabolism, and the level of O-GlcNAcylation in vitro …

The Purification And Thermal Stability Of The Peroxidase Enzyme In Cucurbita Moschata, Garen Hamner

Senior Honors Theses

Peroxidases are enzymes that catalyze the reduction of hydrogen peroxide to water while oxidizing organic substrates and are valuable in spheres like industrial and medical applications and histochemistry. Limitations still exist in the use of the well-studied horseradish peroxidase for certain activities due to limitations like poor thermal stability, thus the search for novel peroxidases that can overcome these limitations is an active area of research. Butternut squash peroxidase (Cucurbita moschata) (BSP) shows promise due to significant activity being found in the skin and apparent enhanced thermal stability, but an efficient purification scheme for it is lacking, as well as …

Using Edna To Assess Impacts Of Oyster Restoration On Ecosystem Biodiversity At A Heavily Impacted Coastal Lagoon, Dominique Di Domenico, Emily Bonacchi, Elizabeth Suter

Molloy Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Conference

The Great South Bay (GSB), a bar-built, temperate, coastal lagoon on the south shore of Long Island, New York, USA, is a highly modified estuary due to heavy urbanization and suburbanization in the last century. GSB historically provided up to 50% of the nation’s hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria) harvest, and is the legal home of the “Blue Point” oyster (eastern oyster; Crassostrea virginica). However, due to overexploitation as well as persistent stress from ongoing nitrogen pollution and harmful algal blooms, shellfish populations are fractions of their original abundances. Restoration efforts in GSB, driven both by community efforts …

Trna Anticodon Cleavage By Target-Activated Crispr-Cas13a Effector, Ishita Jain, Matvey Kolesnik, Konstantin Kuznedelov, Leonid Minakhin, Natalia Morozova, Anna Shiriaeva, Alexandr Kirillov, Sofia Medvedeva, Alexei Livenskyi, Laura Kazieva, Kira S Makarova, Eugene V Koonin, Sergei Borukhov, Konstantin Severinov, Ekaterina Semenova

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Type VI CRISPR-Cas systems are among the few CRISPR varieties that target exclusively RNA. The CRISPR RNA–guided, sequence-specific binding of target RNAs, such as phage transcripts, activates the type VI effector, Cas13. Once activated, Cas13 causes collateral RNA cleavage, which induces bacterial cell dormancy, thus protecting the host population from the phage spread. We show here that the principal form of collateral RNA degradation elicited by Leptotrichia shahii Cas13a expressed in Escherichia coli cells is the cleavage of anticodons in a subset of transfer RNAs (tRNAs) with uridine-rich anticodons. This tRNA cleavage is accompanied by inhibition of protein synthesis, thus …

Structural Homology Of Mite Profilins To Plant Profilins Is Not Indicative Of Allergic Cross-Reactivity, Andrea O'Malley, Sahana Sankaran, Avery Carriuolo, Kriti Khatri, Krzysztof Kowal, Maksymilian Chruszcz Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Structural and allergenic characterization of mite profilins has not been previously pursued to a similar extent as plant profilins. Here, we describe structures of profilins originating from Tyrophagus putrescentiae (registered allergen Tyr p 36.0101) and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (here termed Der p profilin), which are the first structures of profilins from Arachnida. Additionally, the thermal stabilities of mite and plant profilins are compared, suggesting that the high number of cysteine residues in mite profilins may play a role in their increased stability. We also examine the cross-reactivity of plant and mite profilins as well as investigate the relevance of these profilins …

Investigating The Role Of Tryptophan In The Native Photo-Crosslinking Of A Cys-Containing Transmembrane Helix To A Membrane Lipid Double Bond, Michael Jay Telehany

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Our research group has previously discovered that a Cys residue within a transmembrane (TM) helix can directly photo-crosslink to a membrane lipid via an oxythiolation addition reaction to the double bond within the lipid, with a reaction yield of 10-20%. The pH-low Insertion Peptide (pHLIP) serves as our model TM helix, while the POPC lipid bilayer is our model membrane. We had long believed that the Trp residues within the sequence of pHLIP served as the key chromophore for this reaction, and thus they were essential for the formation of the TM helix-lipid adduct. To test this hypothesis, I synthesized …

Modeling And Synthesis Of 3-(2,6-Disubstituted 5-Pyrimidyl) Propionic Acids As Inhibitors Of Low Molecular Weight Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase (Lmw-Ptp), Kennedy Bueno, Madisen Carter

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

Low molecular weight protein tyrosine phosphatase (LMW-PTP) is an enzyme and a known signal pathway for growth factors and cellular transformation in eukaryotic cells. Our research aims to synthesize 12 new potential inhibitors of LMW-PTP and analyze their inhibitory activity and binding affinity. The inhibition of both isoforms of LMW-PTP has been the primary focus of research due to their potential role in breast, colon, and other cancers as well as type II diabetes. One known inhibitor, pyridoxal 5’- phosphate (PLP), is essential for various enzymatic reactions within the body, such as the synthesis of neurotransmitters, and is therefore impractical …

Mycobacteriophage Lberry, An A3 Cluster Phage Infecting Mycobacterium Smegmatis, Nathan Berry '25

Chemistry & Biochemistry Student Scholarship

Nathan Berry ’25, Biochemistry major
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kathleen Cornely, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Synthesis Of 2-Substituted Beta-Carbolines From N-Oxides, Alma Martinez '26

Chemistry & Biochemistry Student Scholarship

Alma Martinez ’26, Biochemistry major
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Seann Mulcahy, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Mycobacteriophage Maravista, An F1 Cluster Phage Infecting Mycobacterium Smegmatis, Charles Pelagalli '25

Chemistry & Biochemistry Student Scholarship

Charles Pelagalli ’25, Biochemistry major
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kathleen Cornely, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Mycobacteriophage Rita, Anna Fakhri '24

Chemistry & Biochemistry Student Scholarship

Anna Fakhri ’24, Biochemistry major
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kathleen Cornely, Chemistry and Biochemistry