Biochemistry Commons^™

Choline Acetyltransferase And Carnitine Acetyltransferase Activity In Human Spermatozoa During Capacitation, Lisa A. Eccles

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

The regional distribution of ChAT activity in human spermatozoa is altered during in vitro capacitation and it correlates with the fertilizing potential of sperm.

Regional immunoreactivity in human spermatozoa as assessed by fluorescent immunocytochemistry was compared with ChAT and CaAT activity determined by enzymatic methodologies. Increasing proportions of sperm exhibited ChAT immunoreactivity along the equatorial region with a concomitant decrease in ChAT reactivity in the midpiece. Also, competitive studies with unlabeled ChAT blocked the equatorial region labeling; the unlabeled CaAT blocked staining along the midpiece region of the tail, suggesting some cross-reactivity of the ChAT antiserum with the CaAT enzyme. …

Abnormalities In Post-Translational Processing Of Platelet Rap 1b In Niddm: A Possible Cause Of Platelet Hyperactivity And Cardiovascular Disease In Diabetes, Elizabeth Ann Hall

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Post-translational processing is critical for the appropriate subcellular localization and function of platelet G-proteins. The majority of the platelet responses to agonists are mediated through specific receptor/G-protein complexes. Therefore, G-protein activity is central to "normal" platelet activity (i.e. aggregation). We have shown that Simvastatin, the in vivo inhibitor of HMG CoA Reductase and therefore isoprenoid synthesis, inhibits the post-translational processing of specific platelet G-proteins and alters platelet responses to agonists. These results show the importance of post-translational processing of G-proteins to platelet activity. Altered post-translational processing of specific G-proteins may explain platelet hyperactivity and the increased incidence of cardiovascular disease …

The Measurement Of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme In Human Serum, Andrew P. Kenny

Theses

The measurement of angiotensin converting enzyme using the substrate FAPGG was investigated with a view to optimising its performance. It was found that a 100 mnol/l triethanolamine-HCl buffer gave a significantly higher absorbance change then the existing TRIS-HCl in the method. As this buffer has not been previously described in the measurement of ACE it was decided to introduce this buffer into a kinetic procedure and evaluate the modified method. The reference interval for the triethanolamine Method was determined by measuring the ACE activity on 200 serum from blood donors and a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the SACE activity of male and female donors was observed.

The modified method was found …

A Study Of Biochemical And Haematological Variables With Performance In Showjumping Horses, Darren B. Simmons

Theses : Honours

This honours project examined the biochemical and haematological changes induced by exercise in the showjumping horse to determine whether a relationship exists between these values and performance. To complete this study 7 geldings and 1 stallion who were considered competition fit by their trainers were subjected to 2 forms of exercise. The first phase of this study involved an incremental exercise test performed at the Byford City Council horse training facility. The horses were cantered/galloped around a 1300m all weather training track at velocities of 6, 8, 10, and 12 m/sec for a duration of 2 minutes for each workload. …

The Drosophila Melanogaster Rad54 Homolog, Dmrad54, Is Involved In The Repair Of Radiation Damage And Recombination, Rolf Kooistra, José B. M. Zonneveld, Anja De Jong, Jan C. J. Eeken, Chris J. Osgood, Jean-Marie Buerstedde, Paul H. M. Lohman, Albert Pastink

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The RAD54 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae plays a crucial role in recombinational repair of double-strand breaks in DNA. Here the isolation and functional characterization of the RAD54 homolog of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, DmRAD54, are described. The putative Dmrad54 protein displays 46 to 57% identity to its homologs from yeast and mammals. DmRAD54 RNA was detected at all stages of fly development, but an increased level was observed in early embryos and ovarian tissue. To determine the function of DmRAD54, a null mutant was isolated by random mutagenesis. DmRAD54-deficient flies develop normally, but the females …

Singlet-Oxygen-Mediated Inactivation Of Acetylcholinesterase: A Comparison Of Purified Enzyme In Solution And Enzyme Bound To K562 Leukemia Cells, Gail D. Deadwyler

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Molecular Cloning And Analysis Of The Promoter For Rat Hepatic Neutral Cholesterol Ester Hydrolase, Ramesh Natarajan

Theses and Dissertations

Neutral cholesterol ester hydrolase (CEH) is a key enzyme in regulating hepatic free cholesterol. Using the CEH specific cDNA sequence in the 5'-untranslated region as a primer, 1.3 kb of sequence upstream of the ATG initiation codon was amplified and cloned. Primer extension analysis with total RNA from rat primary hepatocytes identified a transcription initiation site, 60 bases upstream from the initiation codon. No typical TATA-box sequences were found upstream from the transcription start site. However, a consensus GC-box, which can bind the positive transcription factor SP1, was found 35 bases upstream from the transcription start site. In addition the …