Biochemistry Commons^™

Role Of The Polyadenylation Factor Cstf-50 In Regulating The Brca1/Bard1 E3 Ubiquitin (Ub) Ligase Activity, Danae Fonseca

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The cellular response to DNA damage is an intricate mechanism that involves the interplay among several pathways. The studies presented in this dissertation focus on the determination and characterization of the role of mRNA processing factor CstF-50 and escort protein p97 in the regulation of the BRCA1/BARD1 E3 ubiquitin (Ub) ligase activity during the DNA damage response (DDR).

As part of the studies presented in Chapter II, I determined that the polyadenylation factor CstF plays a direct role in DDR, specifically in transcription-coupled repair (TCR), and that it localizes with RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) and BARD1 to sites of …

Metabolic Checkpoints In Cancer Cell Cycle, Mahesh Saqcena

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Growth factors (GFs) as well as nutrient sufficiency regulate cell division in metazoans. The vast majority of mutations that contribute to cancer are in genes that regulate progression through the G1 phase of the cell cycle. A key regulatory site in G1 is the growth factor-dependent Restriction Point (R), where cells get permissive signals to divide. In the absence of GF instructions, cells enter the quiescent G0 state. Despite fundamental differences between GF signaling and nutrient sensing, they both have been confusingly referred to as R and therefore by definition considered to be a singular event in G1. Autonomy from …

Identification And Characterization Of Protein Phopshatases Regulating The Sma/Mab Pathway In C. Elegans, Sheng Xiong

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

TGF-beta signaling is a conserved signaling pathway among eukaryotes, which controls various normal cellular responses from cell proliferation to cell death. The mutations in its components are found in developmental disorders and cancer. Therefore, this signaling pathway is extensively investigated so that new therapeutic targets could be discovered and novel drugs could be developed. Previous studies suggested the involvement of phosphatases in regulation of TGF-beta signaling, but these studies were performed in cell culture rather than intact organisms. C. elegans is a tractable organism in which to study signaling in vivo. In C. elegans, growth is controled by a conserved …

Lipid Dependence In Ras-Driven Tumors, Darin Salloum

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Over past decade, metabolic alterations in cancer cells have received a substantial amount of interest. It had been established that cancer cells undergo a significant amount of metabolic alterations, and some of these alterations are similar to those in normal highly proliferative cells. However, it is becoming more apparent that many of the metabolic alterations are specific to particular oncogenic signaling pathways. Although altered metabolic machinery makes cancer cells more efficient at promoting growth when nutrients are supplied at the sufficient amounts, the dependency of cancer cells on particular metabolic reprogramming deems cancer cells susceptible to disruptions within metabolic network. …