Biochemistry Commons^™

Molecular Characterization And Tissue-Specific Gene Expression Of Dermacentor Variabilis Α-Catenin In Response To Rickettsial Infection, Piyanate Sunyakumthorn, Natthida Petchampai, Michael T. Kearney, Daniel E. Sonenshine, Kevin R. Macaluso

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Alpha catenin is a cytoskeleton protein that acts as a regulator of actin rearrangement by forming an E-cadherin adhesion complex. In Dermacentor variabilis, a putative α-catenin (Dvα-catenin) was previously identified as differentially regulated in ovaries of ticks chronically infected with Rickettsia montanensis. To begin characterizing the role(s) of Dvα-catenin during rickettsial infection, the full-length Dvα-catenin cDNA was cloned and analysed. Comparative sequence analysis demonstrates a 3069-bp cDNA with a 2718-bp open reading frame with a sequence similar to Ixodes scapularis α-catenin. A portion of Dvα-catenin is homologous to the vinculin-conserved domain containing a putative …

Development Of An In-Cell Förster Resonance Energy Transfer Technique To Study Protein Structure Inside Living Cells, Victoria Lynn Murray

Wayne State University Dissertations

The goal of my thesis is to develop an in-cell fluorescence technique that allows for measurement of the distances between fluorescence acceptors and donors within a protein or between two proteins inside the correct intracellular compartment of living cells. The successful achievement of this goal will allow us to obtain high-resolution structural information from a protein, one key step towards high-resolution structural biology of proteins inside the living cell.

To achieve this goal, we will apply the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) technique to the specifically labeled proteins inside the cells. Our rationale is to specifically label the protein(s) of …

Rapid And Noncontaminating Sampling System For Trace Elements In Global Ocean Surveys, Gregory A. Cutter, Kenneth W. Bruland

OES Faculty Publications

A system for the rapid and noncontaminating sampling of trace elements with volumes of up to 36 L per depth and including the dissolved and particulate phases has been developed for ocean sections that are a crucial part of programs such as International GEOTRACES. The system uses commercially available components, including an aluminum Seabird Carousel with all titanium pressure housings for electronics and sensors to eliminate zinc sacrificial anodes and holding twenty-four 12 L GO-FLO bottles, and a 7500 m, 14 mm Vectran conducting cable (passing over an A-frame with nonmetallic sheave) spooled onto a traction winch. The GO-FLO bottles …

Lipid Raft Formation And Peptide-Lipid Interactions In Myelin Model Membranes, Ashtina R. Appadu

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Multiple sclerosis (MS), a demyelinating disease affecting 75,000 Canadians and almost 400,000 Americans, is one of the most prevalent diseases in young adults. Unfortunately, there exist no known cures to date and the pathways involved in the progression of the disease remain relatively obscure. The demyelination process triggered by the onset of MS, affects the lipid composition of the myelin membrane and causes a loss in viable myelin which can in turn greatly impact the proper functioning of the central nervous system (CNS). The cholesterol content of myelin fluctuates during MS and consequently this could affect the fluidity as well …

Proteomic Analysis Of The Highly Detergent Resistant Radial Component Of Myelin, Vatsal M. Patel

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The wrapping of multiple layers of myelin membrane sheets around an axon plays an important role in normal neuronal function. In the central nervous system (CNS), oligodendrocytes are responsible for forming multiple myelin internodes which consist of lipids and proteins. Within these regions, there are various membrane microdomains including the radial component/tight junctions. The radial component is a junctional complex believed to stabilize the myelin membranes in the CNS myelin. In this study, the radial component from bovine and mouse myelin was isolated using differential detergent extraction. A highly detergent resistant fraction, containing previously identified proteins of the radial component …

Stable Carbon Isotope Discrimination By Rubisco Enzymes Relevant To The Global Carbon Cycle, Amanda J. Boller

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Five different forms of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO; IA, IB, IC, ID, II), the carboxylase of the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle (CBB), are utilized by plants, algae and autotrophic bacteria for carbon fixation. Discrimination against ¹³C by RubisCO is a major factor dictating the stable carbon isotopic composition (δ¹³C = {[¹³C/¹²C sample/¹³C/¹²C standard] - 1} X 1000) of biomass. To date, isotope discrimination, expressed as ε values (={[¹²k/¹³k] - 1} X 1000; ¹²k and ¹³k …