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Articles 1 - 9 of 9

Full-Text Articles in Biochemical Phenomena, Metabolism, and Nutrition

Overexpression And Biophysical And Functional Characterization Of A Recombinant Fgf21, Phuc Phan, Jason Hoang, Thallapuranam Krishnaswamy Suresh Kumar Mar 2025

Overexpression And Biophysical And Functional Characterization Of A Recombinant Fgf21, Phuc Phan, Jason Hoang, Thallapuranam Krishnaswamy Suresh Kumar

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is an endocrine FGF that plays a vital role in regulating essential metabolic pathways. FGF21 increases glucose uptake by cells, promotes fatty acid oxidation, reduces blood glucose levels, and alleviates metabolic diseases. However, detailed studies on its stability and biophysical characteristics have not been reported. Herein, we present the overexpression, biophysical characterization, and metabolic activity of a soluble recombinant FGF21 (rFGF21). The far-UV circular dichroism spectra of rFGF21 show a negative trough at 215 nm, indicating that the protein’s backbone predominantly adopts a β sheet conformation. rFGF21 shows intrinsic tyrosine fluorescence at 305 nm. Thermal …


Exploring The Metabolic And Mitogenic Potential Of A Hyper-Stable Variant Of Fgf1, Emma Starr, Oshadi Edirisinghe, Thallapuranam Krishnaswamy Suresh Kumar Jan 2024

Exploring The Metabolic And Mitogenic Potential Of A Hyper-Stable Variant Of Fgf1, Emma Starr, Oshadi Edirisinghe, Thallapuranam Krishnaswamy Suresh Kumar

Inquiry: The University of Arkansas Undergraduate Research Journal

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are a family of 22 human cytokines involved in critical cellular processes, such as proliferation, differentiation, metabolism, angiogenesis, tumor metastasis, and wound healing. Among these, fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) possesses a powerful mitogenic potential as it can nonspecifically bind to all four FGF receptors. However, the therapeutic applications of FGF1 are hindered by its inherent thermal and proteolytic instability, especially at physiological temperatures. This is believed to be attributed to the heparin-binding pocket at the C-terminus, which contains numerous positively charged residues that repel each other. To combat this instability, FGF1 binds to a negatively …


The Acute Effect Of Water Intake On Glucose Regulation In Low Drinkers, Adam David Seal Dec 2019

The Acute Effect Of Water Intake On Glucose Regulation In Low Drinkers, Adam David Seal

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Previous evidence suggests the hormone arginine vasopressin (AVP) may be a modifiable factor contributing to hyperglycemia. Significant differences in urine concentration and copeptin, a marker for AVP, have been observed between low and high water drinkers. Purpose: The purpose was to investigate the acute effect of adequate water intake on glucose regulation in low drinkers. Methods: 7 healthy (5 males, 2 female) low drinkers were recruited using a water frequency questionnaire (WFQ), spot and 24-h urine sample (age 43±6 y, BMI 30.9±3, WFQ volume 823±403 mL∙d-1, 24 h Uosm 961±105 mmol∙kg-1, copeptin 8.17±3.05 pmol∙L-1). During two experimental protocols, participants remained …


The Effects Of Eicosapentaenoic Acid (Epa) And Docosahexaenoic Acid (Dha) On Brown Adipogenesis In Stem Cell Culture, Darynne A. Dahlem, Yan Huang Jan 2019

The Effects Of Eicosapentaenoic Acid (Epa) And Docosahexaenoic Acid (Dha) On Brown Adipogenesis In Stem Cell Culture, Darynne A. Dahlem, Yan Huang

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are major maternal dietary supplements due to their positive benefits on neurological tissue growth during the first 12 weeks of gestation. Previous studies show that EPA and DHA inhibit muscle formation but promote adipogenesis. However, no research has addressed the question whether high intake of EPA and DHA affects brown fat development during gestation. The objective of this study was to measure the effect of EPA and DHA supplement on brown adipogenesis and potential pathways related to mitochondrial biosynthesis using fibroblasts as in vitro model. Using Oil-Red-O staining …


The Effects Of Habitual Protein Consumption On Vasodilation In Young Adults, Natalie O'Neal, Jordan Rezac Dec 2018

The Effects Of Habitual Protein Consumption On Vasodilation In Young Adults, Natalie O'Neal, Jordan Rezac

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Introduction: Blood pressure is a critical indicator for a number of health risks and conditions, such as hypertension (high blood pressure), heart failure, and stroke. Decreasing blood pressure occurs by vasodilation (relaxation) of blood vessels. The consumption of high amounts of protein is hypothesized to have a correlation with the vasodilation of vessels, thus creating a decrease in blood pressure. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to relate blood vessel diameter to habitual protein consumption. Our findings have the power to make individuals more aware of the effect their habitual protein intake can have on cardiovascular health. Methods: This …


Optical Imaging Of Metabolic Adaptability As A Biomarker For Metastatic Potential In Breast Cancer Cells, Mason G. Harper May 2017

Optical Imaging Of Metabolic Adaptability As A Biomarker For Metastatic Potential In Breast Cancer Cells, Mason G. Harper

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Breast cancer metastasis is the main cause for mortality in breast cancer patients. However, knowledge of metastatic recurrence is limited, and there is a need to understand metastatic recurrence in order to treat breast cancer patients more effectively. Highly invasive metastatic breast cancer has shown to exhibit metabolic adaptability, transitioning from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation in the presence of microenvironmental stress. NADH and FAD are naturally occurring cofactor products during glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation, respectively, and they are of particular importance during these metabolic processes due to their endogenous fluorescence. Measuring the ratio of fluorescence intensities of these cofactors through …


Validation Of The Use Of Doubly Labeled Water For Measuring Metabolic Rate In Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus Horridus), Caitlin Hirsh May 2016

Validation Of The Use Of Doubly Labeled Water For Measuring Metabolic Rate In Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus Horridus), Caitlin Hirsh

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

The doubly labeled water method is an isotopic technique for measuring field metabolic rate and water flux rates of free-living animals. We present a validation of the use doubly labeled water for measuring metabolic rate and water loss in Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus). For this study seven animals of varying body size were used with masses ranging from 148 to 650 grams. Prior to dosing, blood samples were taken to establish background isotope levels for each animal. Snakes were injected with water enriched with isotopes of oxygen (18O) and hydrogen (2H, deuterium). The injected isotopes were then allowed to equilibrate …


A Comparison Of Nebulized Vitamin B12 Versus Oral Vitamin B12 Supplementation, Terry L. Williams Jr. Dec 2013

A Comparison Of Nebulized Vitamin B12 Versus Oral Vitamin B12 Supplementation, Terry L. Williams Jr.

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Vitamin B12 is important for various processes in the human body including DNA synthesis, red blood cell production, energy production, fatty acid synthesis, and for the conversion of homocysteine into methionine. Vitamin B12 deficiency is becoming more prevalent. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if a different route of administration, i.e. nebulization, was a viable option for increasing serum levels of vitamin B12 in both exercisers and non-exercisers. The increasing number of people that are vitamin B12 deficient is due to several factors including medication use, elective gastric bypass surgery, and an increasing elderly population. There are currently …


Effectiveness Of Weight Control Through Weight Watch Programs, V. A. Black, P. Boumtje Jan 2010

Effectiveness Of Weight Control Through Weight Watch Programs, V. A. Black, P. Boumtje

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Linear probability estimation and survey data are employed to quantify the influence of the lifestyles of individuals on the change in their body mass index (BMI). The analysis also explores the effects of demographic characteristics (age, gender, and ethnicity) in weight management. Results suggest evidence of association between changes in lifestyle and changes in the BMI of individuals.