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Full-Text Articles in Biology

Detection And Verification Of Mammalian Mirtrons By Northern Blotting, Mohammad Farid Zia, Alex S. Flynt Jun 2018

Detection And Verification Of Mammalian Mirtrons By Northern Blotting, Mohammad Farid Zia, Alex S. Flynt

Faculty Publications

microRNAs (miRNAs) have vital roles in regulating gene expression—contributing to major diseases like cancer and heart disease. Over the last decade, thousands of miRNAs have been discovered through high throughput sequencing-based annotation. Different classes have been described, as well as a great dynamic range of expression levels. While sequencing approaches provide insight into biogenesis and allow confident identification, there is a need for additional methods for validation and characterization. Northern blotting was one of the first techniques used for studying miRNAs, and remains one of the most valuable as it avoids enzymatic manipulation of miRNA transcripts. Blotting can also provide …


The Evolution Of Molecular Compatibility Between Bacteriophage Φx174 And Its Host, Alexander Kula, Joseph Saelens, Alyxandria M. Schubert, Michael Travisano, Catherine Putonti May 2018

The Evolution Of Molecular Compatibility Between Bacteriophage Φx174 And Its Host, Alexander Kula, Joseph Saelens, Alyxandria M. Schubert, Michael Travisano, Catherine Putonti

Bioinformatics Faculty Publications

Viruses rely upon their hosts for biosynthesis of viral RNA, DNA and protein. This dependency frequently engenders strong selection for virus genome compatibility with potential hosts, appropriate gene regulation and expression necessary for a successful infection. While bioinformatic studies have shown strong correlations between codon usage in viral and host genomes, the selective factors by which this compatibility evolves remain a matter of conjecture. Engineered to include codons with a lesser usage and/or tRNA abundance within the host, three different attenuated strains of the bacterial virus ФX174 were created and propagated via serial transfers. Molecular sequence data indicate that biosynthetic …


Detection Of Local Steroidogenic Enzyme Gene Expression In Brown Anoles, Ada Spahija Jan 2018

Detection Of Local Steroidogenic Enzyme Gene Expression In Brown Anoles, Ada Spahija

Honors Program Theses

The endocrine system in vertebrates responds to stress by releasing steroid hormones, mainly glucocorticoids (GC), which increase blood glucose levels to supply key organs and muscles with energy needed for survival. Steroid hormones are synthesized via an enzymatic pathway that converts cholesterol into either GCs, androgens, or estrogens in a step-wise manner. The adrenal cortex is known to produce GCs, but evidence suggests that individual organs can also produce steroid hormones de novo in response to stress. This study aims to quantify gene expression of four steroidogenic enzymes, encoded by CYP19A1, CYP17A1, StAR, and HSD17ß3 genes, via qRT-PCR to determine …


Split Deoxyribozyme Probe For Efficient Detection Of Highly Structured Rna Targets, Sheila Raquel Solarez Jan 2018

Split Deoxyribozyme Probe For Efficient Detection Of Highly Structured Rna Targets, Sheila Raquel Solarez

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are known for their role as adaptors during translation of the genetic information and as regulators for gene expression; uncharged tRNAs regulate global gene expression in response to changes in amino acid pools in the cell. Aminoacylated tRNAs play a role in non-ribosomal peptide bond formation, post-translational protein labeling, modification of phospholipids in the cell membrane, and antibiotic biosynthesis. [1] tRNAs have a highly stable structure that can present a challenge for their detection using conventional techniques. [2] To enable signal amplification and lower detection limits, a split probe - split deoxyribozyme (sDz or BiDz) probe, which …


Genome-Wide Screening Of Potential Rnase Y-Processed Mrnas In The M49 Serotype Streptococcus Pyogenes Nz131, Zhiyun Chen, Rahul Raghavan, Fengxia Qi, Justin Merritt, Jens Kreth Jan 2018

Genome-Wide Screening Of Potential Rnase Y-Processed Mrnas In The M49 Serotype Streptococcus Pyogenes Nz131, Zhiyun Chen, Rahul Raghavan, Fengxia Qi, Justin Merritt, Jens Kreth

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

RNase Y is a major endoribonuclease in Group A streptococcus (GAS) and other Gram‐positive bacteria. Our previous study showed that RNase Y was involved in mRNA degradation and processing in GAS. We hypothesized that mRNA processing regulated the expression of important GAS virulence factors via altering their mRNA stabilities and that RNase Y mediated at least some of the mRNA‐processing events. The aims of this study were to (1) identify mRNAs that were processed by RNase Y and (2) confirm the mRNA‐processing events. The transcriptomes of Streptococcus pyogenes NZ131 wild type and its RNase Y mutant (Δrny) were …