Synthesis And Biophysical Analysis Of Modified Cell-Penetrating Peptides,
2024
Wilfrid Laurier University
Synthesis And Biophysical Analysis Of Modified Cell-Penetrating Peptides, Joel Mitchell
Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)
Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are a family of peptides that have the ability to penetrate biological membranes. They were discovered in the late 1980s and have been the topic of many studies. Much of the interest in CPPs has been due to their ability to translocate biological membranes, and the possibility that they could offer a novel drug delivery method by conjugation to biologically active molecules. Linear CPPs can be modified to form cyclic structures. This change in structure has been observed to enhance the stability and penetrative ability of the CPPs which have been studied. The current thesis focuses on …
Assessing Lipid Composition Of Cell Membrane In Escherichia Coli Under Aerobic And Anaerobic Conditions,
2024
University of Montana
Assessing Lipid Composition Of Cell Membrane In Escherichia Coli Under Aerobic And Anaerobic Conditions, Isabelle Johnson
Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts
Escherichia coli is a highly studied model organism that is tightly tied to the mammalian gastrointestinal system. This microorganism has the capability to be a beneficial gut microbe or a life-threatening pathogen. In this study, the lipid membrane of Escherichia coli was investigated using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) to observe the change in its composition in aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Evidence of desaturation was discovered in the spectra, though more investigation is needed to understand the metabolic processes and drives that result in this change. Elucidation of these pathways in the future could result in …
Synthesis Of Bacterial Glycerophospholipids For Biomembrane Model Studies: A Means To Advanced Biofuels,
2023
East Tennessee State University
Synthesis Of Bacterial Glycerophospholipids For Biomembrane Model Studies: A Means To Advanced Biofuels, Felix Adulley
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
To reduce reliance on fossil fuels, sustainable biofuels are being pursued, especially advanced biofuels like 1-butanol that have higher energy content and greater compatibility with existing infrastructure than ethanol. A persistent challenge is the yield-limiting toxicity of biofuels and process solvents, such as tetrahydrofuran, to the microbes that ferment biomass into biofuel. The cell membrane is a focal point of toxicity, and understanding how it interacts with fuels and solvents is key to improving yield. Phospholipid bilayers are the core of biomembranes, and model biomembranes of defined composition provide the ideal platform for biophysical studies. To this end, glycerophospholipids characteristic …
Analyzing Functional Interactions Of Designed Peptides By Nmr Spectroscopy,
2023
Chapman University
Analyzing Functional Interactions Of Designed Peptides By Nmr Spectroscopy, Wonsuk Choi
Pharmaceutical Sciences (MS) Theses
The development of small peptide-based therapeutics can be accelerated by the knowledge of relationships between the peptide structure and its functional interactions. Here, we report the analysis of two groups of synthetic peptides designed for two applications – broad bactericidal action and inhibition of protein-protein interactions in human cells. Novel amphiphilic peptides designed for antibacterial application incorporated arginine as cationic amino acids and non-natural amino acids that have aromatic side chains with similar hydrophobic properties as tryptophan. The interaction of lead cyclic peptides and their linear analogs with a phospholipid bilayer mimicking a bacterial membrane was studied using nuclear magnetic …
Elucidating The Priming Mechanism Of Clpxp Protease By Single-Domain Response Regulator Cpdr In Caulobacter Crescentus,
2023
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Elucidating The Priming Mechanism Of Clpxp Protease By Single-Domain Response Regulator Cpdr In Caulobacter Crescentus, Kimberly E. Barker
Masters Theses
In Caulobacter crescentus, progression through the cell cycle is regulated by the AAA+ protease ClpXP, and there are several classes of cell-cycle substrates that require adaptors in order to be degraded. CpdR, a single domain-response regulator, binds the N-terminal domain of ClpXP and primes the protease for degradation of downstream factors (Lau et al., 2015). The ability of CpdR to bind ClpX is regulated by its phosphorylation state. In the unphosphorylated state, CpdR binds ClpXP and guides its localization to the cell pole during the swarmer to stalked transition, where CpdR is mediates degradation of substrates such as PdeA. …
Caulobacter Clpxp Adaptor Popa’S Domain Interactions In The Adaptor Hierarchy Of Ctra Degradation,
2023
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Caulobacter Clpxp Adaptor Popa’S Domain Interactions In The Adaptor Hierarchy Of Ctra Degradation, Thomas P. Scudder
Masters Theses
The degradation and recycling of protein is a process essential for the maintenance and regulation of cellular function. More specifically, in Caulobacter crescentus, the ClpXP protease is responsible for driving progression through the cell cycle and protein quality control. This protease utilizes three known adaptors to selectively degrade proteins that initiate different stages of development. This thesis will elaborate on the specific binding interface on one of these adaptors, PopA, with another, RcdA, and focus in on specific residues on PopA and investigate their roles in adaptor binding and delivery of CtrA, the master regulator of Caulobacter. Finally, I …
Combining Simulation And The Mspa Nanopore To Study P53 Dynamics And Interactions,
2023
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Combining Simulation And The Mspa Nanopore To Study P53 Dynamics And Interactions, Samantha A. Schultz
Masters Theses
p53 is a transcription factor and an important tumor suppressor protein that becomes activated due to DNA damage. Because of its role as a tumor suppressor, mutations in the gene that encodes it are found in over 50% of human cancers. The N-terminal transactivation domain (NTAD) of p53 is intrinsically disordered and modulates the function and interactions of p53 in the cell. Its disordered structure allows it to be controlled closely by post-translation modifications that regulate p53’s ability to bind DNA and interact with regulatory binding partners. p53 is an attractive target for developing cancer therapeutics, but its intrinsically disordered …
Atomistic Simulations Of Intrinsically Disordered Protein Folding And Dynamics,
2023
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Atomistic Simulations Of Intrinsically Disordered Protein Folding And Dynamics, Xiping Gong
Doctoral Dissertations
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are crucial in biology and human diseases, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of their structure, dynamics, and interactions. Atomistic simulations have emerged as a key tool for unraveling the molecular intricacies and establishing mechanistic insights into how these proteins facilitate diverse biological functions. However, achieving accurate simulations requires both an appropriate protein force field capable of describing the energy landscape of functionally relevant IDP conformations and sufficient conformational sampling to capture the free energy landscape of IDP dynamics. These factors are fundamental in comprehending potential IDP structures, dynamics, and interactions.
I first conducted explicit solvent simulations to …
Relation Between Halogen Bond Strength And Ir And Nmr Spectroscopic Markers,
2023
Samarkand State University
Relation Between Halogen Bond Strength And Ir And Nmr Spectroscopic Markers, Akhtam Amonov, Steve Scheiner
Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications
The relationship between the strength of a halogen bond (XB) and various IR and NMR spectroscopic quantities is assessed through DFT calculations. Three different Lewis acids place a Br or I atom on a phenyl ring; each is paired with a collection of N and O bases of varying electron donor power. The weakest of the XBs display a C–X bond contraction coupled with a blue shift in the associated frequency, whereas the reverse trends occur for the stronger bonds. The best correlations with the XB interaction energy are observed with the NMR shielding of the C atom directly bonded …
Langevin Dynamic Models For Smfret Dynamic Shift,
2023
Clemson University
Langevin Dynamic Models For Smfret Dynamic Shift, David Frost, Keisha Cook Dr, Hugo Sanabria Dr
Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research
No abstract provided.
An Insight Into The Physicochemical, Drug-Likeness, Pharmacokinetics And Toxicity Profile Of Kigelia Africana (Lam) Bioactive Compounds,
2023
Department of Industrial Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
An Insight Into The Physicochemical, Drug-Likeness, Pharmacokinetics And Toxicity Profile Of Kigelia Africana (Lam) Bioactive Compounds, Sulyman Olalekan Ibrahim, Halimat Yusuf Lukman, Marili Funmilayo Zubair, Oluwagbemiga Tayo Amusan, Fatimah Ronke Abdulkadri, Bashir Lawal, Lateefat Bello Abdulfatah, Olubunmi Atolani
Al-Bahir Journal for Engineering and Pure Sciences
Kigelia africana plant is multipurpose plant whose therapeutic potential has been thoroughly investigated. The physicochemical, solubilities, ADMET, pharmacological, and drug-like properties of this plant have not been reported in details. This study makes use of the information that is currently known on the chemical make-up of the plant to forecast its overall toxicity as well as the potential for the phytochemicals it contains to be employed in medication discovery. The study also employed free web servers for the lipophilicity, water solubility, drug-likness, bioavailability score, medicinal chemistry and toxicological profiling of the compounds of K. africana. Artemether, a known antimalaria …
Microcystin Aids In Cold Temperature Acclimation: Differences Between A Toxic Microcystis Wildtype And Non-Toxic Mutant,
2023
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Microcystin Aids In Cold Temperature Acclimation: Differences Between A Toxic Microcystis Wildtype And Non-Toxic Mutant, Gwendolyn F. Stark, Robbie M. Martin, Laura E. Smith, Bofan Wei, Ferdi L. Hellweger, George S. Bullerjahn, R. Michael L. Mckay, Gregory L. Boyer, Steven W. Wilhelm
Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research Publications
For Microcystis aeruginosa PCC 7806, temperature decreases from 26 °C to 19 °C double the microcystin quota per cell during growth in continuous culture. Here we tested whether this increase in microcystin provided M. aeruginosa PCC 7806 with a fitness advantage during colder-temperature growth by comparing cell concentration, cellular physiology, reactive oxygen species damage, and the transcriptomics-inferred metabolism to a non-toxigenic mutant strain M. aeruginosa PCC 7806 ΔmcyB. Photo-physiological data combined with transcriptomic data revealed metabolic changes in the mutant strain during growth at 19 °C, which included increased electron sinks and non-photochemical quenching. Increased gene expression was observed for …
Acetylation Regulates Thioredoxin Reductase Activity And Oligomerization,
2023
Western University
Acetylation Regulates Thioredoxin Reductase Activity And Oligomerization, David E. Wright
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository
The Thioredoxin (Trx) system provides the cell with robust defense against oxidative stress and regulates the function of nearly every cellular process through the reduction-oxidation (redox) regulation of proteins. The Trx system is involved in the development of many diseases ranging from cancer to cardiovascular disorders. Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) is the key enzyme in the Trx system and contains the 21st genetically encoded amino acid, selenocysteine (Sec). There were multiple experimentally identified TrxR acetylation sites with an unknown effect on TrxR activity. My thesis tested the hypothesis that programmed protein acetylation will enhance the activity of TrxR1. I used …
The Effects Of Vaping Coil Temperature On The Viability Of Veillonella Parvula And Streptococcus Mutans,
2023
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
The Effects Of Vaping Coil Temperature On The Viability Of Veillonella Parvula And Streptococcus Mutans, Marvelous O. Aluko
Harrisburg University Research Symposium: Highlighting Research, Innovation, & Creativity
No abstract provided.
Using Hyperosmotic Shock To Study The Cell Wall Of Myxococcus Xanthus,
2023
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
Using Hyperosmotic Shock To Study The Cell Wall Of Myxococcus Xanthus, Ian Sabol
Harrisburg University Research Symposium: Highlighting Research, Innovation, & Creativity
No abstract provided.
Effects Of Growth Rate On Peptidoglycan Crosslink Density Of E. Coli Using Fluorescent Labeling,
2023
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
Effects Of Growth Rate On Peptidoglycan Crosslink Density Of E. Coli Using Fluorescent Labeling, Morgan Olszewski
Harrisburg University Research Symposium: Highlighting Research, Innovation, & Creativity
Peptidoglycan (PG) is a polymer composed of polysaccharides and crosslinked peptide chains found in bacterial cell walls. It helps to protect the cell from environmental stress and maintain cell morphology throughout its life cycle and further generations. The PG is made up of two sugars, N-acetyl muramic acid (NAM) and N-acetyl glucosamine (NAG). NAM and NAG are connected by glycosidic linkages to form repeated chains. The chains are formed in layers, which are interconnected via a polypeptide stem linked by a peptide bridge. During cell growth, continuous turnover of existing PG occurs by severing existing crosslinks, inserting new PG into …
On The Origins Of Life — Modelling The Initial Stages Of Complex Coacervate Droplet Formation,
2023
Western University, London, ON
On The Origins Of Life — Modelling The Initial Stages Of Complex Coacervate Droplet Formation, Yixuan Wu
Western Libraries Undergraduate Research Awards (WLURAs)
Coacervate droplets are considered a plausible model for protocells due to their spontaneous formation and ability to compartmentalize macromolecules such as nucleic acid and peptides. Although experimental studies have observed and synthesized coacervates under different laboratory conditions, little is known about their structure. Here we present atomistic molecular dynamic simulations of the interactions between water and oppositely charged proteins that cluster together in a salt-dependent process. Observing such liquid-liquid phase separation on an atomic level would serve as a model for the initial stages of complex coacervate formation. Molecular Dynamics was used to compute diagnostics of the structure at different …
Short-Term Versus Long-Term Effects Of Nitrogen Addition And Warming On Ecosystem N Dynamics In A Grass-Dominated Temperate Old Field,
2023
Western University
Short-Term Versus Long-Term Effects Of Nitrogen Addition And Warming On Ecosystem N Dynamics In A Grass-Dominated Temperate Old Field, Benjamin F. A. Souriol
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository
Increased atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition and climate warming are both anticipated to influence the ecosystem N dynamics of northern temperate ecosystems substantially over the next century. Nevertheless, in field experiments with N addition and warming treatments, temporal scale can play an important role in determining the extent of treatment effects on N dynamics, and it is unclear to what extent the results of short-term studies can be extrapolated to responses over longer time scales. I compared the short-term versus long-term effects of N addition and warming on net N mineralization, N leaching, and N retention in a grass-dominated old field. …
Molecular Event In Hrp Apoptosis,
2023
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Molecular Event In Hrp Apoptosis, Laura Valdez
Research Colloquium
Background: Human retinal pericytes (HRP) are contractile cells providing support for endothelial cells of capillaries, essential in the regulation of retinal vasculature. Early stages of DR are characterized by the loss of HRP, leading to angiogenesis. Our preliminary studies identified monocyte-derived macrophages secrete TGF-β1, inducing the expression and secretion of a TGFβ1-Induced, pro-apoptotic BIGH3 protein leading to apoptosis of HRP. Based on a preliminary study in renal cells (unpublished data), CTP with an RGD domain is released from BIGH3 by proteolysis leading to renal cell apoptosis. In the present study, we employed Western Blots to determine if a similar molecular …
Irbp In Diabetic Retinopathy – Cell Culture & Ophthalmic Pathology Studies,
2023
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Irbp In Diabetic Retinopathy – Cell Culture & Ophthalmic Pathology Studies, Laura Valdez
Research Colloquium
Background: Interphotoreceptor-Retinoid-Binding-Protein (IRBP) is restricted to the subretinal space by the external limiting membrane and RPE zonulae occludens. Its expression is reduced in diabetic retinopathy (DR) and increased expression is protective. Hypoxia decreases viable conelike photoreceptors (661W) but increased VEGF, suggesting a role of photoreceptors in proliferative DR (PDR) (Rodriguez et al, Arch Clin Exp. Ophthal 3:23,2021). Here, we investigated the effects of high glucose and VEGF on IRBP expression by 661W and rod-like Y79 cells and distribution of IRBP and albumin in human globes with PDR and NPDR.
Methods: 661W and Y79 cells were cultured in DMEM or RPMI …
