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Full-Text Articles in Biochemistry

Investigating The Link Between Mrna Binding To Hts1/Tys1 Trna Synthetases And Charcot Marie Tooth Neuropathy, Hallie G. Ryan, Sarah Mitchell May 2020

Investigating The Link Between Mrna Binding To Hts1/Tys1 Trna Synthetases And Charcot Marie Tooth Neuropathy, Hallie G. Ryan, Sarah Mitchell

Honors Thesis

RNA binding proteins (RBPs) are critical in regulating gene expression and many cellular functions. Recent proteome-wide studies have revealed hundreds of novel RBPs showing new modes of binding. A subset of RBPs known as aminoacyl tRNA synthetases (aaRS) catalyze the covalent ligation of an amino acid with its corresponding tRNA in the synthesis of aminoacyl-tRNAs. A recent study found a significant number of novel mRNA-binding proteins to be cytosolic aaRS. The novel functions of RBPs and aaRS are important to consider for their potential relationships to human disease pathology. Dominant intermediate Charcot Marie Tooth type C, also known as DI-CMTC, …


Investigation Of A Mycobacteriophage Transcription Repressor, Kathryn Orban May 2016

Investigation Of A Mycobacteriophage Transcription Repressor, Kathryn Orban

Honors Thesis

Mycobacteriophage HelDan is a lysogenic, or temperate, phage (virus) of the bacterium Mycobacterium smegmatis, which is a fast-growing, close relative of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis. The phage replication cycle is dependent on time-coordinated gene expression events. In order to study the regulation of gene expression during phage replication, HelDan protein gp73, a putative transcriptional repressor, was studied. Characterization of gp73 structure and function, such as DNA binding activity and affinity, was done using both bioinformatics and biochemical analyses. To this end, the gene encoding gp73 was cloned and the ability of the recombinant gp73 protein …


Zn(Ii), Cu(Ii), Sn(Ii), And Ni(Ii) And Other Metal Cations Do Not Prevent The Aggregation Of Hiapp, Charles Hoying May 2016

Zn(Ii), Cu(Ii), Sn(Ii), And Ni(Ii) And Other Metal Cations Do Not Prevent The Aggregation Of Hiapp, Charles Hoying

Honors Thesis

The Zn(II) metal ion has been shown to interact with Islet Amyloid Polypeptide (IAPP), a protein implicated in the progression of Type II Diabetes Mellitus, in such a way as to prevent the protein from aggregating into toxic fibers. We set out to find whether other metal ions might similarly prevent IAPP aggregation. Using Thioflavin T (ThT) spectroscopic assays, which measure fluorescence of ThT upon binding to aggregated IAPP, we observed a decrease in aggregation when incubated with Zn(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), and Sn(II). Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), which can visualize fibril formation, revealed that the metals were not inhibiting IAPP …


Aggregation Characterization Of Wild-Type P53 And Six Common P53 Mutants, Taylor A. Arhar Dec 2015

Aggregation Characterization Of Wild-Type P53 And Six Common P53 Mutants, Taylor A. Arhar

Honors Thesis

P53 is a tumor suppressor protein, which functions in maintaining the cell cycle. When p53 loses its function, cells may multiply at an uncontrolled rate and form tumors. This loss of function is linked to over fifty percent of human cancers. This investigation aims to explore the possible link between p53 aggregation and tumorigenesis. There is a possibility that p53, especially in mutant form, will aggregate beyond its normal tetrameric conformation and lose its function, leading to tumor formation. Wild-type p53 and six mutants, R175H, R175C, R248Q, R248W, R273C, and R273H (six of the most common mutations found in human …