Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Discipline
-
- Cell and Developmental Biology (86)
- Cellular and Molecular Physiology (34)
- Medicine and Health Sciences (26)
- Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology (15)
- Neuroscience and Neurobiology (13)
-
- Diseases (9)
- Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience (9)
- Other Physiology (9)
- Animal Sciences (8)
- Biophysics (8)
- Exercise Physiology (8)
- Medical Sciences (8)
- Kinesiology (7)
- Medical Specialties (7)
- Biology (6)
- Cardiovascular Diseases (6)
- Cell Biology (6)
- Endocrinology (6)
- Molecular Biology (6)
- Pharmacology, Toxicology and Environmental Health (6)
- Research Methods in Life Sciences (6)
- Animal Experimentation and Research (5)
- Laboratory and Basic Science Research (5)
- Nutrition (4)
- Behavioral Neurobiology (3)
- Chemicals and Drugs (3)
- Exercise Science (3)
- Genetics and Genomics (3)
- Institution
- Keyword
-
- AMPK (14)
- Mitochondria (11)
- Electrophysiology (9)
- GABA (8)
- RAGE (8)
-
- Apoptosis (7)
- Hypertension (7)
- Metabolism (7)
- Ceramide (6)
- Development (6)
- Ischemia (6)
- LKB1 (6)
- Nitric oxide (6)
- Skeletal muscle (6)
- Cancer (5)
- Dopamine (5)
- Ethanol (5)
- Exercise (5)
- Hippocampus (5)
- Lung (5)
- Oxygen consumption (5)
- Pax3 (5)
- VTA (5)
- AMPKK (4)
- Alzheimer's disease (4)
- Diabetes (4)
- Doxorubicin (4)
- Hemoglobin (4)
- Hypoxia (4)
- Inflammation (4)
- Publication Year
Articles 151 - 180 of 308
Full-Text Articles in Physiology
Novel Strategies To Improve Metabolic Parameters And Precondition Diabetic Hearts Against Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury, Amit Varma
Theses and Dissertations
Insulin resistance and chronic hyperglycemia promote vascular damage, increase circulating levels of inflammatory cytokines and lead to increased morbidity and mortality. MicroRNAs (miRs) -103/107 have been shown to negatively regulate insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis. Based on complimentary binding profiles, the downstream target gene of miR-103/107 is caveolin-1 (Cav-1). We hypothesized that daily administration of the phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor tadalafil (TAD) ± the curcumin analogue (HO-3867) will attenuate inflammation, improve metabolic parameters and reduce infarct size after ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI). Furthermore, we propose that TAD therapy will reduce myocardial expression of miR-103/107 and increase mRNA and protein levels of its target …
Regulation Of Sensory Neurogenesis In The Trigeminal Placode: Notch Pathway Genes, Pax3 Isoforms, And Wnt Ligands, Jason Samuel Adams
Regulation Of Sensory Neurogenesis In The Trigeminal Placode: Notch Pathway Genes, Pax3 Isoforms, And Wnt Ligands, Jason Samuel Adams
Theses and Dissertations
This dissertation is divided into three chapters, each discussing the study of different regulatory molecules involved in sensory neurogenesis occurring in the trigeminal placode. Chapter one is a spatiotemporal description of Notch pathway genes in chick opV placode by stage-specific expression analysis, showing expression of many Notch pathway genes and effectors in the opV placode. Notch pathway gene expression is primarily confined to the ectoderm with highest expression of these genes at the beginning stages of peak neuronal differentiation. This information preceded studies of the functional roles that Notch signaling has in the opV placode and how it may affect …
Regulation Of Excitation-Contraction And Excitation-Transcription Coupling In Gastrointestinal Smooth Muscle By Caveolin-1, Sayak Bhattacharya
Regulation Of Excitation-Contraction And Excitation-Transcription Coupling In Gastrointestinal Smooth Muscle By Caveolin-1, Sayak Bhattacharya
Theses and Dissertations
Caveolae are integral part of the smooth muscle membrane and caveolins, the defining proteins of caveolae, act as scaffolding proteins for several G protein-coupled receptor signaling molecules and regulate cellular signaling through direct and indirect interactions with signaling proteins. Caveolin-1 is the predominant isoform in the smooth muscle and drives the formation of caveolae. However, little is known about the role of caveolin-1 in the regulation of excitation-contraction and excitation-transcription coupling in gastrointestinal smooth muscle. In the present study we have characterized muscarinic m2 and m3 receptor signaling in gastric smooth muscle and tested the hypothesis that caveolin-1 positively regulates …
Mutant P53 Regulation Of Cxc-Chemokine Expression In Head And Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Brittany Field
Mutant P53 Regulation Of Cxc-Chemokine Expression In Head And Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Brittany Field
Theses and Dissertations
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the 6th most common type of cancer in the western hemisphere with a five-year survival rate of only 50% for patients with a localized tumor, which decreases significantly to as low as 5% for those patients with tumors that have metastasized to distant sites of the body. It has been found that both mutant p53 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathways function to increase the expression of CXCL5, which has been identified as a key mediator in the process of tumor metastasis. Previous data from our lab suggested that the …
Gβγ Acts At An Inter-Subunit Cleft To Activate Girk1 Channels, Rahul Mahajan
Gβγ Acts At An Inter-Subunit Cleft To Activate Girk1 Channels, Rahul Mahajan
Theses and Dissertations
Heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G-proteins) consist of an alpha subunit (Gα) and the dimeric beta-gamma subunit (Gβγ). The first example of direct cell signaling by Gβγ was the discovery of its role in activating G-protein regulated inwardly rectifying K+ (GIRK) channels which underlie the acetylcholine-induced K+ current responsible for vagal inhibition of heart rate. Published crystal structures have provided important insights into the structures of the G-protein subunits and GIRK channels separately, but co-crystals of the channel and Gβγ together remain elusive and no specific reciprocal residue interactions between the two proteins are currently known. Given the absence of direct …
Membrane Properties Involved In Calcium-Stimulated Microparticle Release From The Plasma Membranes Of S49 Lymphoma Cells, Lauryl Elizabeth Campbell
Membrane Properties Involved In Calcium-Stimulated Microparticle Release From The Plasma Membranes Of S49 Lymphoma Cells, Lauryl Elizabeth Campbell
Theses and Dissertations
The mechanism of microparticle shedding from the plasma membrane of calcium-loaded cells has been investigated in erythrocytes and platelets. Recent studies have revealed the physiological and clinical importance of microparticle release from nucleated cells such as lymphocytes and endothelium. The experiments of this study were designed to address whether simple mechanisms discovered in platelets and erythrocytes also apply to the more complex nucleated cells. Four such mechanisms were addressed: potassium efflux, transbilayer phosphatidylserine migration, cytoskeleton degradation, and membrane lipid order. The rate and amount of microparticle release in the presence of a calcium ionophore, ionomycin, was assayed by light scatter …
Purification And Reconstitution Into Planar Bilayers Of The Human Dopamine Transporter, Yoori Kim
Purification And Reconstitution Into Planar Bilayers Of The Human Dopamine Transporter, Yoori Kim
Theses and Dissertations
The human dopamine transporter (hDAT) provides the primary mechanism for dopamine clearance in synapses and thus facilitates the regulation of dopaminergic functions in cognition and reward. It is the molecular target of many centrally-active agents including amphetamines and cocaine. Therefore, an understanding of hDAT function and its modulation by these therapeutic drugs and drugs of abuse can provide insight into the mechanisms of abuse and addiction. In the presented studies, hDAT is tagged with a hexahistidine construct and heterologously expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. The plasma membranes are isolated, solubilized, and applied to a Nickel affinity column to obtain purified …
Signal Transduction Effects Induced By Erythropoietin In A Hnscc Model System, Shreya Desai
Signal Transduction Effects Induced By Erythropoietin In A Hnscc Model System, Shreya Desai
Theses and Dissertations
Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) is an epithelial skin cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract, and is the sixth most common malignancy in the U.S. HNSCC patients undergoing chemotherapy commonly develop anemia, a condition in which the body lacks mature red blood cells (RBCs). Erythropoietin (EPO) is a systemically circulating hormone in the body that regulates the production of RBCs and is applied to treat anemia. Recently, several studies implicated shortened life expectancy of cancer patients by EPO administration. It may be due to an unexpected activation of survival and proliferation pathways of cancer cells by EPO because …
Tissue Specific Porcupine Deletion Reveals A Novel Role For Ectodermal Wnts In Musculotendon Development, Aaron P. Smith
Tissue Specific Porcupine Deletion Reveals A Novel Role For Ectodermal Wnts In Musculotendon Development, Aaron P. Smith
Theses and Dissertations
The Wnt family of secreted proteins consists of 19 family members (in the mouse) and is known to signal through multiple pathways that regulate crucial processes in the development of almost all tissues. Dissecting the roles of individual Wnts has been hampered due to functional redundancy that exists between family members. We made use of a conditional allele of the acyltransferase, Porcupine (Porcn), that is required for the secretion of all Wnt ligands, and the Msx2Cre deleter to eliminate the secretion of all Wnt ligands from the ventral limb ectoderm, ventral abdominal ectoderm, and urogenital ectoderm. Phenotypically the …
The Pro-Inflammatory Contributions Of Receptors For Advanced Glycation End-Products (Rage) In Alveolar Macrophages Following Cigarette Smoke Exposure, Adam Benjamin Robinson
The Pro-Inflammatory Contributions Of Receptors For Advanced Glycation End-Products (Rage) In Alveolar Macrophages Following Cigarette Smoke Exposure, Adam Benjamin Robinson
Theses and Dissertations
Receptors for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) are multi-ligand cell surface receptors of the immunoglobin family expressed by epithelium and macrophages. RAGE expression increases following ligand binding and when diverse cells are exposed to a variety of insults including cigarette smoke extract (CSE). The current research sought to characterize the pro-inflammatory contributions of RAGE expressed by alveolar macrophages (AMs) following CSE exposure. Acute exposure of mice to CSE via nasal instillation revealed diminished bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cellularity and fewer AMs in RAGE null mice compared to controls. Primary AMs were obtained from BAL, exposed to CSE in vitro, and RNA, DNA, …
The Effect Of Various Chemical Factors On Angiogenesis In The Chick Chorio-Allantoic Membrane, Heather Hammond
The Effect Of Various Chemical Factors On Angiogenesis In The Chick Chorio-Allantoic Membrane, Heather Hammond
Theses and Dissertations
The chick chorio-allantoic membrane (CAM) contains a complex vascular network commonly used to study angiogenesis. The application of chemical factors and oxygen barrier films onto this tissue can easily influence the process of angiogenesis. In this study, oxygen barrier film patches (Krehalon, polyvinylidene chloride, 12 μm thick, O2 transmission rate = 2.19 cm3•ml/100 in2•day•atm) were applied to areas of the CAM. Holes were made in the film and alginate beads incubated in various chemical factors were placed in the holes. After 24 and 48 hours of exposure to the alginate beads, images were taken of the tissue using a stereomicroscope …
Characterization Of Altered Epithelial Cell Turnover And Differentiation In Embryonic Murine Lungs That Over-Express Receptors For Advanced Glycation End-Products (Rage), Jeffrey Alan Stogsdill
Characterization Of Altered Epithelial Cell Turnover And Differentiation In Embryonic Murine Lungs That Over-Express Receptors For Advanced Glycation End-Products (Rage), Jeffrey Alan Stogsdill
Theses and Dissertations
Receptors for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) are multi-ligand cell surface receptors highly expressed in the lung that modulate pulmonary inflammation during disease. However, the contributions of RAGE signaling are unknown during pulmonary organogenesis. In order to test the hypothesis that RAGE misexpression adversely affects lung morphogenesis, conditional transgenic mice were generated that over-express RAGE in alveolar type II cells of the lung. When RAGE is over-expressed throughout embryogenesis, severe lung hypoplasia ensues, culminating in perinatal lethality. Flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry employing cell-specific markers for various distal cell types demonstrated anomalies in key epithelial cell populations resulting from RAGE up-regulation through …
Iron Deficiency Causes A Shift In Amp-Activated Protein Kinase (Ampk) Catalytic Subunit Composition In Rat Skeletal Muscle, John Merrill
Iron Deficiency Causes A Shift In Amp-Activated Protein Kinase (Ampk) Catalytic Subunit Composition In Rat Skeletal Muscle, John Merrill
Theses and Dissertations
To determine effects of iron deficiency on AMPK activation and signaling, as well as the AMPKα subunit composition in skeletal muscle, rats were fed a control (C=50-58 mg/kg Fe) or iron deficient (ID=2-6 mg/kg Fe) diet for 6-8 wks. Their respective hematocrits were 47.5% ± 1.0 and 16.5% ± 0.6. Iron deficiency resulted in 28.3% greater muscle fatigue (p<0.01) in response to 10 min of stimulation (1 twitch/sec) and was associated with a greater reduction in phosphocreatine (C: Resting 24.1 ± 0.9 micromol/g, Stim 13.1 ± 1.5 micromol/g; ID: Resting 22.7 ± 1.0 micromol/g, Stim 3.2 ± 0.7 micromol/g; p<0.01) and ATP levels (C: Resting 5.89 ± 0.48 micromol/g, Stim 6.03 ± 0.35 micromol/g; ID: Resting 5.51 ± 0.20 micromol/g, Stim 4.19 ± 0.47 micromol/g; p<0.05). AMPK activation increased with stimulation in muscles of C and ID animals. A reduction in Cytochrome c and other iron-dependent mitochondrial proteins was observed in ID animals (p<0.01). The AMPK catalytic subunit (alpha) was also examined because both isoforms are known to play different roles in responding to energy challenges. In ID animals, AMPK alpha2 subunit protein content was reduced to 71.6% of C (p<0.05), however this did not result in a significant difference in resting AMPK alpha2 activity. AMPK alpha1 protein was unchanged, however an overall increase in AMPK alpha1 activity was observed (C: 0.91 pmol/mg/min; ID: 1.63 pmol/mg/min; p<0.05). Resting phospho Acetyl CoA Carboxylase (pACC) was unchanged. This study indicates that chronic iron deficiency causes a shift in the expression of AMPK alpha subunit composition and potentially altered sensitivity to cellular energy challenges.
Spatial Distribution And Modulation Of Nitric Oxide Synthase In A Hypertensive Rat Model, Andrew Yannaccone
Spatial Distribution And Modulation Of Nitric Oxide Synthase In A Hypertensive Rat Model, Andrew Yannaccone
Theses and Dissertations
There are gaps in the fundamental understanding of the expression of nitric oxide synthases (NOS) in the microvasculature. We examined co-localization of NOS1 (nNOS), NOS2 (iNOS) and NOS3 (eNOS) in the spinotrapezius muscle of young adult male Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and Spontaneously Hypertensive (SHR) rats according to fiber type using immunohistochemistry and brightfield microscopy. Data regarding fiber distribution, population and morphology data were collected. Alkaline phosphatase staining was used to determine capillary density and average number of capillaries around a fiber. Gel electrophoresis and Western blot techniques were used to compare myosin heavy chain (MHC) protein expression with fiber type population …
Epigenetic Regulation Of Genes Involved In Vascular Dysfunction In Preeclamptic Women, Ahmad Mousa
Epigenetic Regulation Of Genes Involved In Vascular Dysfunction In Preeclamptic Women, Ahmad Mousa
Theses and Dissertations
DNA methylation is the most recognizable epigenetic mechanism. In general, DNA hypomethylation is associated with increased gene expression whereas DNA hypermethylation is associated with decreased gene expression. To date, little is known about the role of DNA methylation in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. In this study, we examined the differences in DNA methylation in omental arteries of normal pregnant and preeclamptic women using the high throughput Illumina HumanMethylation27 BeadChip assay. We found 1,685 genes with a significant difference in DNA methylation at a false discovery rate of < 10% with many inflammatory genes having reduced methylation. The thromboxane synthase gene was the most hypomethylated gene in preeclamptic women as compared to normal pregnant women. When we examined the expression of thromboxane synthase in omental arteries of normal pregnant and preeclamptic women we found it to be significantly increased in preeclamptic women. The increased expression was observed in vascular smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells and infiltrating neutrophils. Experimentally induced DNA hypomethylation increased the expression of thromboxane synthase in the neutrophil-like HL-60 cell line, whereas tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), a neutrophil product, increased its expression in cultured human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). These finding suggest that DNA methylation and release of TNFα by infiltrating neutrophils could contribute to the increased expression of thromboxane synthase in systemic blood vessels of preeclamptic women, contributing to the hypertension and coagulation abnormalities. We also explored the possible contribution of DNA methylation to the altered expression of genes involved in collagen metabolism in preeclampsia. Several matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) genes, including MMP1 and MMP8, were significantly less methylated in preeclamptic women, whereas TIMP and COL genes were either significantly more methylated or had no significant change in their DNA methylation status. Experimentally induced DNA hypomethylation increased the expression of MMP-1, but not TIMP-1 or COL1A1, in cultured VSMCs and increased the expression of MMP-1 and MMP-8 in HL-60 cells. These findings suggest that DNA methylation contributes to the imbalance in genes involved in collagen metabolism in blood vessels of preeclamptic women.
C-Met Initiates Epithelial Scattering Through Transient Calcium Influxes And Nfat-Dependent Gene Transcription, Peter R. Langford
C-Met Initiates Epithelial Scattering Through Transient Calcium Influxes And Nfat-Dependent Gene Transcription, Peter R. Langford
Theses and Dissertations
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) signaling drives epithelial cells to scatter by breaking cell-cell adhesions and migrating as solitary cells, a process that parallels epithelial-mesenchymal transition. HGF binds and activates the c-Met receptor tyrosine kinase, but downstream signaling required for scattering remains poorly defined. This study addresses this shortcoming in a number of ways.A high-throughput in vitro drug screen was employed to identify proteins necessary in this HGF-induced signaling. Cells were tested for reactivity to HGF stimulation in a Boyden chamber assay. This tactic yielded several small molecules that block HGF-induced scattering, including a calcium channel blocker. Patch clamping was used …
Association Between T Cells-Related Gene Expression And Fibrosis Progression In Hcv Recurrence Disease., Alexander Philip
Association Between T Cells-Related Gene Expression And Fibrosis Progression In Hcv Recurrence Disease., Alexander Philip
Theses and Dissertations
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the major cause of chronic hepatitis worldwide and a leading cause for liver transplant. Unfortunately, graft HCV infection is a universal phenomenon despite of pre-transplant prophylactic strategies. Acute HCV infection and innate immune responses elicit an inflammatory scenario that triggers the recruitment of adaptive immune response cells. Of those chronically infected, 30% experience accelerated fibrosis with concomitant cirrhosis development within 5 years post-LT and require re-transplant. With many patients responding unfavorably to antivirals and ineffective vaccines, much attention is now placed on T cell immunity in controlling HCV infection. This study represents a retrospective analysis …
Molecular Pathways Involved In Calcineurin Inhibitor Nephrotoxicity In Kidney Allograft Transplants, Huong Nguyen
Molecular Pathways Involved In Calcineurin Inhibitor Nephrotoxicity In Kidney Allograft Transplants, Huong Nguyen
Theses and Dissertations
ABSTRACT MOLECULAR MECHANISMS AND GENE SIGNATURES INVOVLED IN CALCINEURIN INHIBITOR NEPHROTOXICITY IN KIDNEY ALLOGRAFT By Huong Le Diem Nguyen, M.S. A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Physiology at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2011. Major Director: Valeria Mas, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Department of Surgery and Pathology Director of Molecular Transplant Research Laboratory, Division of Transplant Calcineurin inhibitors (CNI), cyclosporin A and tacrolimus, are potent immunosuppressive agents but induce toxicities causing damages and graft dysfunction, and have been suggested to contribute to late-term loss of graft in kidney transplant …
Mechanisms Of Prenatal High-Salt "Fetal Programming" Resulting In Stress Hyperresponsiveness In The Adult Female Offspring In The Sprague Dawley Rat., Clinton L. Johnson
Mechanisms Of Prenatal High-Salt "Fetal Programming" Resulting In Stress Hyperresponsiveness In The Adult Female Offspring In The Sprague Dawley Rat., Clinton L. Johnson
Theses and Dissertations
Female offspring of Sprague-Dawley rats fed a high-salt diet (HS) during pregnancy show an enhancement of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) response to acute stress in adulthood compared to offspring whose mothers were fed a normal-salt diet (NS) [1]. In the present study, we first examined the expression of soluble epoxide hydrolase (SEH) protein in brain tissue. Whole brains were collected and SEH gene (EPHX2) mRNA and SEH protein expression were analyzed using RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. mRNA levels were relatively decreased in high-salt rats (1.0 ± 0.32 NS vs 0.39 ± 0.07 HS, n=6). However, …
Opioid Addiction Treatments During Pregnancy And Their Effects On Axonal Growth And Myelination In The Developing Central Nervous System, Manisha Magar
Theses and Dissertations
Treatment with buprenorphine represents a promising alternative for pregnant opioid addicts but there is a need to understand potential effects on nervous system development. We previously showed effects of perinatal exposure to buprenorphine on axonal caliber and myelination in 26-day-old rat corpus callosum. These changes, detected at the end of rapid brain myelination and accompanied by earlier oligodendrocyte maturation, suggested interference with mechanisms coordinating axonal growth and myelination. To better understand buprenorphine actions and to establish whether these effects extend to the spinal cord, we analyzed the corpus callosum and corticospinal tract at 16 days of age, just before the …
Quantitative Analysis Of Contactin-Associated Protein And Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Isoform 1.6 Following Experimental Diffuse Traumatic Brain Injury, Daniel Gardiner
Quantitative Analysis Of Contactin-Associated Protein And Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Isoform 1.6 Following Experimental Diffuse Traumatic Brain Injury, Daniel Gardiner
Theses and Dissertations
Traumatic axonal injury (TAI) contributes to the mortality and morbidity following diffuse traumatic brain injury (TBI). Previous work has shown that following TBI, alterations in the molecular domains of axons result in TAI. It is currently posited that injury induced ionic flux is responsible for activating deleterious proteolytic cascades, resulting in altered distributions of axonal components. However, the underlying mechanism of this progressive pathology remains elusive. This study further explores the hypothesis that altered molecular domains contributes to the progressive intra-axonal changes that characterize TAI. Using a rodent model of impact acceleration TBI we examined the expression of nodal and …
Calcineurin Is Required For Trpv1-Induced Ltd Of Ca1 Stratum Radiatum Interneurons, Tyron Deray Jensen
Calcineurin Is Required For Trpv1-Induced Ltd Of Ca1 Stratum Radiatum Interneurons, Tyron Deray Jensen
Theses and Dissertations
Learning and memory in the brain are thought to be dependent on synaptic plasticity. In response to sensory input, synapses can be strengthened or weakened, known as long-term potentiation or long-term depression (LTD), respectively. Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) has been shown to mediate a novel form of presynaptic LTD in hippocampal interneurons. TRPV1 is currently being heavily studied in the PNS and being targeted by pharmaceuticals for its anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties. However, much less is known regarding TRPV1 function in the CNS, including the signal mechanism mediating hippocampal LTD despite its obvious importance. Here we performed whole-cell …
Receptor Influences In Girk Current Activation And Desensitization, Gyu Park
Receptor Influences In Girk Current Activation And Desensitization, Gyu Park
Theses and Dissertations
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are seven-transmembrane domain receptors that sense extracellular signal and activate intracellular signaling pathways. Metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGluR2) is one of the GPCRs coupled to Gi/o proteins whose Gβγ subunits stimulate G protein-gated inwardly rectifying K+ channels (GIRKs). Previous experiments demonstrated that in planar lipid bilayer both active forms of G proteins [Gα (GTPγS-stimulated) and Gβγ subunits] were required to activate GIRK channels in the absence of the receptor, but surprisingly, the Gβγ subunit alone could activate GIRK channel in the presence of GPCR. Currently, it is not clear whether GPCRs play a role beyond catalyzing …
The Effects Of Β-Amyloid On Α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Expressed In Xenopus Oocytes, Malia L. Anderson
The Effects Of Β-Amyloid On Α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Expressed In Xenopus Oocytes, Malia L. Anderson
Theses and Dissertations
The exact mechanism and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) at present is not fully understood. In patients suffering from AD, damage to the hippocampal region and impairment of learning and memory is present. It is also known that a buildup of β-amyloid plaques occur in AD patients and that β-amyloid interacts with some subtypes of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (neuronal nAChRs). These receptors are composed of five subunits. The most prevalent nAChR subunit composition through the brain as a whole is α7. Previous data produced from our lab suggests that α7 nAChRs are also one of the most prevalent subunits …
Possible Molecular Mechanism To Account For Wavelength Dependence Of Equilibration Rates Of Patman And Laurdan In Phosphatidylcholine Bilayers, Hannabeth A. Franchino
Possible Molecular Mechanism To Account For Wavelength Dependence Of Equilibration Rates Of Patman And Laurdan In Phosphatidylcholine Bilayers, Hannabeth A. Franchino
Theses and Dissertations
Patman is a fluorescent membrane probe related to Laurdan. The structural distinctions between the two probes are the lengths of the aliphatic tails (eleven carbons in Laurdan and fifteen in Patman) and the presence of a trimethylammonium group on Patman that produces a positively-charged head. Preliminary studies exploring Patman as a probe to detect membrane properties during apoptosis revealed that the fluorescence intensity of two edges of the emission spectrum (435 and 500 nm) stabilizes at different rates as the probe binds to the cell membrane. To test whether these differences represent dissimilarities in probe binding to ordered and disordered …
Kinase Pathways Underlying Muscarinic Activation Of Colonic Longitudinal Muscle, Charles Dudley Anderson Jr.
Kinase Pathways Underlying Muscarinic Activation Of Colonic Longitudinal Muscle, Charles Dudley Anderson Jr.
Theses and Dissertations
The longitudinal muscle layer in gut is the functional opponent to the circular muscle layer during the peristalsis reflex. Differences in innervation of the layers allow for the contraction of one layer that corresponds with the simultaneous relaxation of the other, enabling the passage of gut contents in a controlled fashion. Differences in development have given the cells of the two layers differences in receptor populations, membrane lipid handling, and calcium handling profiles/behaviors. The kinase signaling differences between the two layers is not as well characterized. Upon activation of cells from the circular muscle layer, it is known that Rho …
Differential Regulation Of Mlc20 Phosphorylation In Tonic And Phasic Smooth Muscles Of The Stomach, Othman Al-Shboul
Differential Regulation Of Mlc20 Phosphorylation In Tonic And Phasic Smooth Muscles Of The Stomach, Othman Al-Shboul
Theses and Dissertations
Gastrointestinal (GI) smooth muscle possesses distinct regional and functional properties that distinguish it from other types of visceral and vascular smooth muscle. On the basis of electrical properties and contractile phenotype, GI smooth muscles have been classified into phasic (non-sphinteric) and tonic (sphinteric) smooth muscles. The biochemical basis of phasic and tonic phenotypes of smooth muscle is not clear and is the major question of inquiry of the present study. Phosphorylation of Ser19 on the 20 kDa myosin light chain (MLC) is essential for acto-myosin interaction and contraction in both phasic and tonic muscles. The levels of MLC20 phosphorylation are …
Role Of Wnt5a And Possible Pathway Of Action Through Ror2 In Proximodistal Outgrowth Of The Limb, Tiffanie M. Dahl
Role Of Wnt5a And Possible Pathway Of Action Through Ror2 In Proximodistal Outgrowth Of The Limb, Tiffanie M. Dahl
Theses and Dissertations
Despite over 60 years of study, the molecular pathways and mechanisms governing limb outgrowth and patterning remain poorly understood. Fgfs expressed in the AER are known to be necessary and sufficient for proximodistal limb outgrowth and have been proposed to have a chemoattractive role. Wnt5a is a secreted factor which is expressed in a gradient in the distal limb with the highest concentration next to the AER. The presence of the AER is necessary to establish this gradient. Expression of Wnt5a in a concentration dependant manner can be induced in the limb through the implantation of a bead soaked in …
Characterization Of The Expression Of Bdnf And Cgrp And Their Regulatory Pathways In Dorsal Root Ganglion During Cystitis., Sharon Yu
Theses and Dissertations
Interstitial cystitis is a chronic debilitating disease that causes pain and increased frequency of micturition, amongst other symptoms, without any identifiable cause. This disease affects a large number of the population, yet the etiology is still unknown. The present study aimed to characterize BDNF and CGRP—two neuropeptides that have both been proven to play an important role in the transmission of pain as well as in hypersensitivity. The signaling pathways regulating the expression of the two neuropeptides were also examined. Results revealed that BDNF protein expression levels increased in both L1 and L6 DRG following 48 hours post CYP-induced cystitis. …
The Characterization Of Pg0228 In Porphyromonas Gingivalis W83, Courtney Schlenker
The Characterization Of Pg0228 In Porphyromonas Gingivalis W83, Courtney Schlenker
Theses and Dissertations
Periodontitis affects 10 to 15 percent of most adult populations and can contribute to numerous systemic diseases. Porphyromonas gingivalis, a gram-negative anaerobic bacterium, is a recognized prime causative agent in periodontitis. Studies have shown a number of small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs) have been related to bacterial virulence. Many of these sRNAs require the facilitation of the bacterial Sm-like protein, Hfq, for optimum function. Hfq is a RNA chaperone involved in RNA stability, sRNA function, and polyadenylation. Mutants lacking in Hfq often show pleiotropic phenotypes, although the extent and severity of hfq null phenotypes is often species-specific. Hfq has been encoded …