Cell Biology Commons^™

Kinetics Of Notch Signaling During Osteoclastogenesis, Amber Larissa Framstad

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Bone remodeling, the process of removing and replacing damaged bone matrix, is a dynamic physiological process essential to maintaining bone composition and integrity. Improper coordination of resorption and formation can lead to pathologic changes in bone composition and quality, as is seen in osteoporosis, a bone disorder most seen in post-metapausal women attributed to decreased estrogen levels. The Notch signal pathway is a highly conserved direct cell communication pathway known to regulate cell proliferation, differentiation and survival in many cell types including the differentiation of osteoclasts from bone marrow macrophages (BMMs). Osteoclastogenesis is initiated in BMMs by receptor activator of …

Essential Concepts And Learning Outcomes For Cell And Molecular Biology, Laura L. Newcomb Phd, Mike Chao Phd, Dan Nickerson Phd, Paul Orwin Phd, Jeremy Dodsworth Phd, David Rhoads Phd

Q2S Enhancing Pedagogy

In the new, transformed Biology BS program for conversion from quarter to semester, multiple faculty will teach varied courses under the “Cell and Molecular” requirement for our program. Our old program required multiple core courses, leading to bottlenecks as students could not get seats in needed classes. We have designed our new program to provide students with options under core categories, providing students more flexibility which should improve time to graduation. Students must take at least ONE of the courses, although students who chose to focus on Cell and Molecular Biology should be able to learn new material in ALL …

Combination Of Investigational Cell-Based Therapy And Deep Brain Stimulation To Alter The Progression Of Parkinson’S Disease, Nader El Seblani

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder and the motor symptoms are caused by progressive loss of midbrain dopamine neurons. There is no current treatment that can slow or reverse PD. Our current “DBS-Plus” clinical trial (NCT02369003) features the implantation in vivo of autologous Schwann cells (SCs) derived from a patient’s sural nerve into the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) in combination with Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) therapy for treating patients with advanced PD.

The central hypothesis of our research is that transdifferentiated SCs within conditioned nerve tissue will deliver pro-regenerative factors to enhance the survival of …

Donor Age Effects On The Proliferative And Chondrogenic/Osteogenic Differentiation Performance Of Equine Bone Marrow- And Adipose Tissue Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells In Culture, Jasmin Bagge

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Orthopedic injuries are a major cause of lameness and morbidity in horses. Bone marrow (BM)- and adipose tissue (AT) derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown potential to facilitate the repair of orthopedic injuries and are being used increasingly in veterinary clinics. Presently, the use of MSCs as a therapy for equine patients is most commonly applied as autologous transplants, using BM- and AT-MSCs harvested from the patient shortly after the time of injury. Cell-based therapies are therefore delayed to enable primary cell numbers to be expanded in culture. Of concern, however, are human and rodent studies that have shown …

Identification Of Imiquimod As A Potential Combination For Anti-Cd47 Antibodies In Cancer Therapy, Nicole Brittaney Pang

Scripps Senior Theses

The avenues of targeted immunotherapy offers a promise of less toxic treatment options for those battling different forms of cancer. Specifically, the process of hijacking a patient’s own immune system to fight cancer from within versus using external treatments like chemotherapy which is extremely damaging to the patient. One such avenue includes the usage of monoclonal antibodies as an effective modality for immunotherapy. Cluster of Differentiation 47 (CD47), also known as the ‘don’t eat me signal’, aids in cell proliferation and evasion of phagocytosis and has been found to be a target for stopping tumorigenesis. Previous research has been successful …

Investigation Of The Phenotypic Effect Of Mutating A Highly-Conserved Cysteine Residue In The Rna Polymerase Beta Prime Subunit Of E. Coli Rna Polymerase, Meg Dillingham

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

All bacteria contain a multi-subunit RNA polymerase (RNAPs) that is essential for gene expression. Because of the centrality of these enzymes in cellular life, the structure and function of the various subunits is intensely studied. The primary sequence of the RNAP β’ subunit contains five cysteine residues that are highly conserved. Four of the cysteines coordinate a zinc atom and form the beta prime subunit zinc binding domain (ZBD). Mutation of any one of the ZBD cysteines is lethal to the cell. However, the role of the fifth residue (C58), which is located upstream of the ZBD cysteines, has not …

Characterisation Of Carbapenem-Resistant Gram-Negative Organisms From Clinical Specimens In Yola, Nigeria, Shuwaram A. Shettima, Isabella A. Tickler, Caitlin M. Dela Cruz, Fred C. Tenover

Biology Faculty Publications

Objectives: This study aimed to identify carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria from clinical specimens of patients in Yola, Nigeria.

Methods: Routine clinical specimens were screened for the presence of carbapenem-resistant Gramnegative bacteria using chromogenic agar plates. Susceptibility of all presumptive isolates to carbapenems was tested by MIC and disk diffusion methods. Real-time PCR was used to test for the presence of carbapenemase genes.

Results: Screening of 1741 clinical specimens yielded 119 (6.8%) presumptive carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing confirmed carbapenem resistance in 105 of these isolates. New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (blaNDM) gene was detected in 26 isolates and Verona integron-encoded metallo-β-lactamase (bla …

The Effects Of Induced Polycystic Ovary Syndrome In Nag-1 Transgenic Mice, Nicholas Werner

All Master's Theses

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the leading cause of infertility among women in the US and the most common endocrine disorder among women. PCOS is characterized by cystic ovaries, hyperandrogenism (heightened levels of male sex hormones), altered menstrual cycles and various metabolic dysfunctions. The metabolic symptoms associated with PCOS are difficult to treat, as they are a result of hormonal imbalances, rather than diet. The human Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Activated Gene (NAG-1) been shown to prevent diet-induced metabolic disorders and weight gain in mice. We hypothesized that the expression of NAG-1 may also prevent hormonal-induced metabolic disorders. To test this …

Therapeutic Dna: Delivery And As A Delivery Vehicle, Natalie J. Holl

Masters Theses

"A review of gene delivery methods and gene editing methods, as well as original research utilizing DNA as a delivery vehicle is presented in the following thesis. Thousands of diseases have been linked to genes. Gene therapy, either delivering therapeutic genes or editing DNA bases, has arisen as a treatment option with the potential to cure diseases, rather than just ease symptoms. Genes and editing tools need to be delivered to cells for these therapies to be effective and many techniques have been developed to address the issue of delivery. Nonviral and viral methods have been used to deliver nucleic …

Characterizing The Requirements For The Matricellular Protein, Dccn, In Nervous System Function, Elizabeth L. Catudio Garrett

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

The brain is organized as a complex network of specialized neurons that communicate via a combination of electrical and chemical signals. Our brains function to generate movement, control organ function, or direct complex behaviors; all of which requires the ability to regulate the flow of communication between circuits and networks. Work in this thesis addresses two areas of neuron communication: first, how does the release of more than one neurotransmitter from a single neuron impact behavior, and second, are matricellular proteins (MCPs) key contributors to synaptic transmission and neuron function? The conserved CCN family of MCPs have a …

Modeling Gene Expression With Differential Equations, Madison Kuduk

Capstone Showcase

Gene expression is the process by which the information stored in DNA is convertedinto a functional gene product, such as protein. The two main functions that makeup the process of gene expression are transcription and translation. Transcriptionand translation are controlled by the number of mRNA and protein in the cell. Geneexpression can be represented as a system of first order differential equations for the rateof change of mRNA and proteins. These equations involve transcription, translation,degradation and feedback loops. In this paper, I investigate a system of first orderdifferential equations to model gene expression proposed by Hunt, Laplace, Miller andPham in …

Novel Insights Into The Critical Role Of Cardiolipin In Cellular Metabolism And Mitochondrial Physiology, Jiajia Ji

Wayne State University Dissertations

Cardiolipin (CL) is the signature phospholipid of mitochondria. CL and its remodeling exert critical roles in biological processes both inside and outside of mitochondria. CL abnormalities have been associated with various mitochondrial disorders and aging. Understanding the role of CL in mitochondrial physiology and cellular metabolism could provide valuable insights into cell biology and human health. Several metabolic alterations have been reported in CL-deficient cells, including accumulated lactate, decreased PDH activity, and decreased TCA cycle function. This dissertation connected these findings by showing abnormal NAD+ metabolism in various models lacking CL. Importantly, it shows that NAD+ supplementation improves mitochondrial function …

Non-Invasive Method For Leptin Supplementation In Zebrafish (Danio Rerio), Regan Mcnamara

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

I tested the hypothesis that recombinant leptin protein can be introduced to zebrafish in vivo through non-invasive soaking in a solution containing the protein. One way to study various molecules’ effects in vivo is through intraperitoneal or intracerebroventricular injections during the embryonic or larval stage, which is invasive, difficult to administer, and can have a high mortality rate. 48 hours post fertilization (hpf) zebrafish were soaked in a His-tagged recombinant leptin protein solution at 10 nM and 100 nM concentrations (produced by Genscript). After soaking, zebrafish larvae were washed extensively to remove all recombinant protein on their exterior before homogenization. …

Disruption Of The Dream Complex Results In Cell Cycle Deregulation, Hayley C. Walston

Theses and Dissertations

The Dimerization Partner, Rb-like, E2F, And MuvB (DREAM) complex was identified in humans due to homology of the genes involved in the D. melanogaster dREAM complex. It assembles during cellular arrest, or G0, to function as a transcriptional repressor of cell cycle genes. It is known that phosphorylation of LIN52 at serine 28 is necessary for the critical DREAM forming interaction between LIN52 and the pocket protein p130. Our laboratory has previously shown that gene editing of LIN52 to replace serine 28 with alanine (S28A) prevents phosphorylation by the kinase DYRK1A and inhibits DREAM formation. Here we have confirmed this …

Analysis Of Adult Neural Retina Extracellular Vesicle Release, Rna Transport And Proteomic Cargo, Jason Mighty, Jing Zhou, Alberto Benito-Martin, Sami Sauma, Samer Hanna, Onyekwere Onwumere, Cui Shi, Martin Muntzel, Moira Sauane, Michael Young, Henrik Molina, Dianne Cox, Stephen Redenti

Publications and Research

PURPOSE. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) contain RNA and protein cargo reflective of the genotype and phenotype of the releasing cell of origin. Adult neural retina EV release, RNA transfer, and proteomic cargo are the focus of this study.

METHODS. Adult wild-type mouse retinae were cultured and released EV diameters and concentrations quantified using Nanosight. Immunogold transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to image EV ultrastructure and marker protein localization. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to analyze retinal cell transcripts present in EVs. Super-resolution microscopy was used to image fluorescent (green) RNA and (red) lipid membrane labeled EVs, released …

The Effect Of Ph On Synaptic Transmission At The Neuromuscular Junction In Drosophila Melanogaster, Catherine Elizabeth Stanley

Theses and Dissertations--Biology

Synaptic transmission is the main avenue of neuronal communication and can be affected by a multitude of factors, both intracellularly and extracellularly. The effects of pH changes on synaptic transmission have been studied for many years across many different models. Intracellular acidification at the presynaptic terminal is known to occur with increased neuronal activity and can also occur in pathological conditions. The effects of these pH alterations are therefore an important area of study. Here, intracellular acidification using either propionic acid or the ammonium chloride pre-pulse technique was examined for the effects on both spontaneous and evoked synaptic transmission at …

The Roles Of Polar Cell Extensions In Drosophila Micropyle Formation, Bradford Hull

Theses and Dissertations--Biology

The Drosophila micropyle is a conserved formation utilized to allow sperm passage past the robust eggshell structure for fertilization. Micropyle formation follows a unique acellular tubulogenesis method where it is secreted and shaped by specialized follicle cells including the border cells and polar cells. In late oogenesis, the polar cells form extensions that are necessary to create the micropyle pore through which sperm enters. Previous work established that polar cell extension presence is required for micropyle pore formation. We investigated temporal requirements of extensions throughout chorion deposition and found extensions are required during the beginning and middle of choriogenesis, but …

Lps, A Tlr-4 Agonist And Viper A Tlr-4 Inhibitor Upregulate Phagocytosis Of Zymosan In Bv2 Cells, Sherouk Alzeory

Dissertations and Theses

Microglia cells are the first line of innate immunity defense in the central nervous system (CNS). They play a critical role in maintaining CNS homeostasis by having an active but yet balanced phagocytic activity. However, in various CNS related diseases, microglia cells have been shown to malfunction. In Alzheimer's Disease (AD), hyperactive microglia with impaired phagocytic activity is the main hallmark of this disease, along with the accumulation of amyloid-beta aggregates. Additionally, emerging new studies have suggested a fungal infection etiology to AD, specifically in relation to Candida albicans (C.albicans). Thus, understanding the mechanism of fungal clearance in the …

The Exploration Of Nanotoxicological Copper And Interspecific Saccharomyces Hybrids, Matthew Joseph Winans Phd

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Nanotechnology takes advantage of cellular biology’s natural nanoscale operations by interacting with biomolecules differently than soluble or bulk materials, often altering normal cellular processes such as metabolism or growth. To gain a better understanding of how copper nanoparticles hybridized on cellulose fibers called carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) affected growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the mechanisms of toxicity were explored. Multiple methodologies covering genetics, proteomics, metallomics, and metabolomics were used during this investigation. The work that lead to this dissertation discovered that these cellulosic copper nanoparticles had a unique toxicity compared to copper. Further investigation suggested a possible ionic or molecular mimicry …

Role Of Ciliary Proteins Adp Ribosylation Factor Like Gtpase 13b (Arl13b) And Bardet-Biedl Syndrome-8 (Bbs8) In Photoreceptor Outer Segment Morphogenesis, Maintenance, And Viability, Tanya L. Dilan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Photoreceptor neurons are modified primary cilia with an extended ciliary compartment known as the outer segment (OS). The mechanisms behind the elaboration of photoreceptor cilia, OS morphogenesis, and maintenance remain poorly understood. In this work, we focused on dissecting the role of two ciliary proteins, the small GTPase ADP-ribosylation factor-like GTPase 13B (ARL13B) and Bardet-Biedl Syndrome-8 (BBS8) in the context of photoreceptor biology. Both BBS8 and ARL13B are linked to defects in ciliogenesis (cilia development) and Retinitis Pigmentosa (vision loss). ARL13B is implicated in regulating ciliary length, and BBS8 is part of the Bardet-Biedl Syndrome complex (BBSome); the BBSome is …

Evidence Of Y Chromosome Long Non-Coding Rnas Involved In The Radiation Response Of Male Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells, Tayvia Brownmiller

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the number one cause of cancer related mortality in the United States and worldwide. Advanced and therapeutically resistant lung tumors contribute to the high rate of mortality from NSCLC, therefore there is a need for new methods of diagnosing and treating this disease. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to be a crucial component of human molecular biology, regulating nearly every cellular pathway from chromatin condensation to transcription and translation. Furthermore, many lncRNAs have been classified as oncogenes or tumor suppressors, highlighting the various molecular mechanisms they are involved in regarding the formation …

Design, Synthesis, And Characterization Of Chemical Tools To Study Peroxisomal Import, Jhalak N. Timilsena

Masters Theses

Peroxisomes are dynamic and interconnected single lipid membrane bound organelles found in the eukaryotic cells which are involved in various biochemical processes including the b-oxidation of very long chain and branched chain fatty acids, metabolism of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, and reduction of hydrogen peroxide among others. These organelles are known to host numerous proteins and enzymes depending on the cellular environment. All of the proteins needed in the peroxisomes are encoded in the nucleus and synthesized in the cytosol which are then transported to the peroxisomes with the help of a sophisticated protein-transport machinery. Pex5 is one of …

Actin Regulation And Furrow Dynamics During Early Drosophila Embryogenesis, Yi Xie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Drosophila embryogenesis starts with a single nucleus undergo 13 rounds of nuclear divisions called syncytial cycles. Staring at cycle 10 when nuclei migrate to the surface of the embryo, massive and dynamic cortical actin structures and cleavage furrow formations occur. How actin regulators coordinate into an organized network directing three-dimension actin structures in the developing organisms is an unsolved question. Here, I present an in-depth characterization of actin cap dynamics: the actin caps go through expansion, stabilization, elongation and fragmentation phases in each cycle. Arp2/3 is the major contributor to actin cap formation. The functions of 7 different actin and …

Higher Tensile Forces Across Cellular Junctions And An Intact Nuclear Linc Complex Is Required For Epithelial Function And Stability, Fnu Vani Narayanan

Theses and Dissertations

Recent advances in three-dimensional (3D) cell culture systems have provided key insights into the understanding of biochemical and physiological states of native tissue. A significant progress in the field of mechanobiology involves measuring cellular traction forces in a more native 3D environment. However, the effects of mechanical forces exerted across cellular junctions and the nuclear LINC complex, in an organized 3D system has not been investigated thus far. Epithelial cells spontaneously form acini (also known as cysts or spheroids) with a single, fluid-filled central lumen, when grown in 3D matrices. The size of the lumen is dependent on apical secretion …

The Impact Of Aging And Mechanical Injury On Alveolar Epithelial And Macrophage Responses In Acute Lung Injury And Inflammation, Michael S. Valentine

Theses and Dissertations

Patients with severe lung pathologies, such as Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), often require mechanical ventilation as a clinical intervention; however, this procedure frequently exacerbates the original pulmonary issue and produces an exaggerated inflammatory response that potentially leads to sepsis, multisystem organ failure, and mortality. This acute lung injury (ALI) condition has been termed Ventilator-Induced Lung Injury (VILI). Alveolar overdistension, cyclic atelectasis, and biotrauma are the primary injury mechanisms in VILI that lead to the loss of alveolar barrier integrity and pulmonary inflammation. Stress and strains during mechanical ventilation are believed to initiate alveolar epithelial mechanotransduction signaling mechanisms that contribute …

Sphingolipids In Cancer Health Disparities And As Prospective Targets For Cancer Therapy, April E. Boyd

Theses and Dissertations

Lung cancer is the deadliest cancer both in the United States and worldwide. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 85% of all lung cancers. However, lung cancer disparities are not shared equally across racial groups, with large differences between African American and Caucasian populations. Advances in research have revealed roles of lipid mediators in cancer biology and disease progression, but sphingolipid alterations in tissues should be explored further. To address this, using mass spectrometry (MS), extensive sphingolipidomic characterization of NSCLC tumors and adjacent uninvolved tissues from African American and Caucasian patients were performed. This study revealed that NSCLC …

Granulosa Cell Proliferation Is Inhibited By Pge2 In The Primate Ovulatory Follicle, Patric S. Lundberg, Gil J. Moskowitz, Carmel Bellacose, Esra Demirel, Heidi A. Trau, Diane M. Duffy

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a key paracrine mediator of ovulation. Few specific PGE2-regulated gene products have been identified, so we hypothesized that PGE2 may regulate the expression and/or activity of a network of proteins to promote ovulation. To test this concept, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) was used to predict PGE2-regulated functionalities in the primate ovulatory follicle. Cynomolgus macaques underwent ovarian stimulation. Follicular granulosa cells were obtained before (0 h) or 36 h after an ovulatory dose of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), with ovulation anticipated 37-40 h after hCG. Granulosa cells were obtained from additional monkeys 36 h after treatment with …

Investigation Of Rna Interference (Rnai)-Mediated Gene Silencing In Rainbow Trout, Sarah Au

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

RNA interference (RNAi) was first characterized in plants and invertebrates as an antiviral innate immune response. It is a natural antiviral defence mechanism to degrade viral RNA by virus-induced gene silencing. Studies showed synthetic long double-stranded RNA (dsRNA; >30bp) degraded Caenorhabditis elegans messenger RNA (mRNA) transcripts, resulting in sequence-dependent gene silencing. Currently, there is only limited research on RNAi in fish, particularly the use of long dsRNA to trigger sequence-specific gene silencing. This is because studies have shown long dsRNAs trigger interferon response that could mask gene-specific RNAi effects. This thesis explored long dsRNA-mediated RNAi pathways in rainbow trout cells …