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Full-Text Articles in Biological and Chemical Physics
Dynamics In Designed Elastins And Enzymes, Jonathan M. Preston
Dynamics In Designed Elastins And Enzymes, Jonathan M. Preston
Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
In this dissertation I present experimental results on the structure and dynamics of elastin, an elastomeric extracellular component in vertebrates that, in mammals, provides structure and elasticity to the circulatory system, lungs, skin and joints. These experiments, using a set of designed elastin like proteins with properties analogous to the natural protein, show that elastin is highly disordered and connect this disorder to its mechanism of assembly and elasticity. In addition, I also present preliminary work on imparting flexibility into a set of computationally designed metalloenzymes to broaden the range of catalytic activities they perform.
Pregnancy Induced Alterations Of Reproductive Tract Collagen And Elastin In A Murine Model, Basant K. Dhital
Pregnancy Induced Alterations Of Reproductive Tract Collagen And Elastin In A Murine Model, Basant K. Dhital
Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
This thesis reports on structural and dynamical modifications of reproductive tract elastin and collagen as a function of parity. Pelvic floor dysfunction, including pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a major concern affecting female health worldwide, leading to surgeries costing billions of dollars annually. Collagen, elastic fibers, and proteoglycans are major extracellular matrix (ECM) components found in connective tissues. Vaginal child birth, advancing age, and disruption or dysfunction of connective tissue are major risk factors of POP. In the female reproductive tract, the assembly of elastic fibers is crucial for the pelvic floor support. Any disturbance in the synthesis, assembly, and …