Use Of Site-Directed Mutagenesis To Probe The Cystine Binding Site Within System Xc-,
2019
Hope College
Use Of Site-Directed Mutagenesis To Probe The Cystine Binding Site Within System Xc-, Kevin Catalfano
18th Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2019)
The Chase lab studies System xc-, which is a heterodimeric transporter that functions as a Na+-independent antiporter exchanging extracellular cystine for intracellular glutamate. The transporter functions as an obligate heterodimer and is comprised of two proteins, xCT, which functions specifically in amino acid exchange, and 4F2HC, which appears to play a role in transporter stability. System xc- belongs to the SLC7 family of transporters, which is further subdivided into the cationic amino acid transporters (CAT) and the L-type amino acid transporters (LAT), the latter of which is the subfamily which includes System xc-. In recent years, there have been advances …
Analysis Of Dl-Amino Acid Ratios In Eggshells Using Reverse Phase-High Pressure Liquid Chromatography,
2019
Andrews University
Analysis Of Dl-Amino Acid Ratios In Eggshells Using Reverse Phase-High Pressure Liquid Chromatography, Gergana Milkova
Honors Theses
HPLC methodology was developed to determine the concentrations and ratios of D to L amino acids in emu and ostrich eggshells treated with heat at different temperatures . We aimed to determine an internal standard and how ratios were affected under different conditions. An HPLC method was determined that gave consistent retention times and satisfactory enantioseparation . Calibration curves for each amino acid were developed from single and multi-amino acid containing dilution series producing a model that most closely replicates the eggshell-extracted amino acids.
Effects Of Electrical Stimulation On Glioma Cells In Vitro With Implications For Treating Chronic Pain: Development Of A Model System,
2019
Illinois State University
Effects Of Electrical Stimulation On Glioma Cells In Vitro With Implications For Treating Chronic Pain: Development Of A Model System, David C. Platt
Theses and Dissertations
Glial cells comprise over 70% of the central nervous system cells and exhibit diverse functions including regulation of synaptic transmission, neuron protection/repair, maintenance of neuronal metabolism, and are implicated in the development of persistent neuropathic pain. In addition, a perturbation in the concentration of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) has likewise been associated with the development of a chronic pain state. This perturbation in ROS/RNS creates an environment of oxidative stress. However, the mechanism by which the pain signal transmission is modulated, and the roles ROS play in the perpetuation of the pain state are …
A Simplified Led-Driven Switch For Fast-Scan Controlled-Adsorption Voltammetry Instrumentation,
2019
University of South Carolina
A Simplified Led-Driven Switch For Fast-Scan Controlled-Adsorption Voltammetry Instrumentation, Rhiannon Robke, Parastoo Hashemi, Eric Ramsson
Peer Reviewed Articles
Fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) is an analytical tool used to probe neurochemical processes in real-time. A major drawback for specialized applications of FSCV is that instrumentation must be constructed or modified in-house by those with expertise in electronics. One such specialized application is the newly developed fast-scan controlled-adsorption voltammetry (FSCAV) that measures basal (tonic) in vivo dopamine and serotonin concentrations. FSCAV requires additional software and equipment (an operational amplifier coupled to a transistor-transistor logic) allowing the system to switch between applying a FSCV waveform and a constant potential to the working electrode. Herein we describe a novel, simplified switching component …
Developing Tale Proteins As A Biosensor For Detecting Pathogen Specific Double-Stranded Dna,
2019
Western Kentucky University
Developing Tale Proteins As A Biosensor For Detecting Pathogen Specific Double-Stranded Dna, Kathrine Gaiko
Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects
Transcription activator-like effector (TALE) proteins are important for DNA binding. They bind to specific nucleotide sequences by the use of two residues in each repeat allowing them to target specific DNA sequences. Their modular structure makes TALEs advantageous over other DNA binding proteins such as zinc finger proteins. Zinc finger proteins (ZFP) use a finger like projection to bind 3-4 subsequence base pairs while TALE proteins use two amino acid residues in each repeat to bind one nucleotide. ZFP can use SEER-Lac system for colorimetric detection, while TALE proteins can use fluorescence labeling with Alexa for detection of binding to …
Characterization Of Psychromonas Aquimarina, A New Model Organism For Climate Change,
2019
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
Characterization Of Psychromonas Aquimarina, A New Model Organism For Climate Change, Carrie Carpenter
Experiential Learning Projects
The current increase of average global temperature puts 25 to 35 percent of plant and animal species at an increased risk of extinction (Climate Change, 2018). Changing any environmental factor, such as increasing growth temperature, can significantly impact any organisms’ ability to survive. Because of the diversity of organisms on the planet, it is not feasible to study how each individually might adapt, but rather it is more efficient to study select organisms. This research focuses on a psychrophilic bacterium, Psychromonas aquimarina, which can survive in colder regions where most bacteria would not. This bacterium was chosen because climate change …
Characterization Of Iron-Sulfur Cluster Proteins From Methanococcus Maripaludis,
2019
Louisiana State University
Characterization Of Iron-Sulfur Cluster Proteins From Methanococcus Maripaludis, Melody Salmanian
Honors Capstones
No abstract provided.
Design And Synthesis Of Ceragenins–Cationic Steroid Antimicrobial Compounds, Structural Improvement And Synthesis Of Cyclopentenone Prostaglandins And Modification And Synthesis Of Derivatives Of Ribityllumazines: Potential Antigens For Activation Of Mait Cells,
2019
Brigham Young University
Design And Synthesis Of Ceragenins–Cationic Steroid Antimicrobial Compounds, Structural Improvement And Synthesis Of Cyclopentenone Prostaglandins And Modification And Synthesis Of Derivatives Of Ribityllumazines: Potential Antigens For Activation Of Mait Cells, Yubo Li
Theses and Dissertations
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are ubiquitous and display broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity that can control bacterial colonization of surfaces. Ceragenins are small-molecule mimics of AMPs and have several advantages over AMPs, including cost of manufacture and stability. A ceragenin, CSA-120, modified with an acrylamide group was directly incorporated into fluoropolymer coatings as a means of inhibiting bacterial biofilm formation. The ceragenin-containing coatings displayed improved performance. By conjugating a copper chelating group to the ceragenin, chelation of 64Cu by the conjugate was effective and provided a stable complex that allowed in vivo imaging. This conjugate may provide a means of identifying infection sites …
How A Cell Knows Where To Divide: Oscillation Of Mind In Vivo,
2019
University of Rhode Island
How A Cell Knows Where To Divide: Oscillation Of Mind In Vivo, Colby Ferreira
Senior Honors Projects
Over two-million people in the United States are infected by antibiotic resistant bacteria each year. Of this number 23,000 die from these infections and other complications. Due to this, novel antibiotic targets are constantly being investigated. One process in prokaryotes that holds promise is cellular division. Bacterial cells grow and reproduce using a series of proteins known as the cell division machinery. This machinery enables the division of the parental cell into two identical daughter cells. The cell division machinery is similar between bacterial taxa, making it an ideal target for new classes of antibiotics. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms …
Protein-Protein Interactions In Perilpin 5,
2019
Otterbein University
Protein-Protein Interactions In Perilpin 5, Erin K. Hughes
Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects
Many metabolic diseases contribute to a major part of the health crisis in the US. Type II diabetes mellitus and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are two examples of metabolic diseases that are contributing to the current health crisis. Key to understanding these diseases and their progression is an understanding of neutral lipid metabolism. Perilipins are a class of five conserved proteins that are key regulators of lipid metabolism and are potentially involved in lipid trafficking within cells. The most recently discovered member of the family is perilipin 5, which is expressed most strongly in tissues that are highly oxidative such …
Characterizing Aft1/2-Grx3/4 Interaction And The Role Of Bol2 During Iron Regulation In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae,
2019
University of South Carolina - Columbia
Characterizing Aft1/2-Grx3/4 Interaction And The Role Of Bol2 During Iron Regulation In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, William Rivers
Senior Theses
Iron dysregulation has been linked to a variety of human diseases, such as anemia, Friedreich’s ataxia, X-linked sideroblastic anemia, sideroblastic-like microcytic anemia, and myopathy. Thus, it is vitally important to understand the mechanisms for regulating intracellular iron. Here, we use fluorescence microscopy techniques in live cells to study interactions of the yeast proteins Grx3/4, Aft1/2, and Bol2, which have been shown to be involved in turning off iron import when the cell has adequate iron. Modified versions of genes encoding these proteins have been incorporated into several yeast backgrounds to use fluorescence to monitor interactions under varying iron levels.
Elucidation Of The Amino-Terminal Structure And Characteristics Of Perilpin 5,
2019
Otterbein Univ
Elucidation Of The Amino-Terminal Structure And Characteristics Of Perilpin 5, Derek T. Wei
Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects
The United States of America, among many other countries around the world, is suffering from lipid-related disorders. Developing treatment options for these disorders that impact the lives of billions of individuals is an imperative task for scientists. In order to develop treatments and therapeutics, it is first necessary to understand the etiologies of these disorders and their molecular mechanisms. The perilipins are a heavily studied family of proteins found on the surface of lipid droplets that have an integral relevance in regulating lipolysis. Understanding the proteins involved in lipolysis can not only lead to a more complete understanding of the …
Study Of The Effects Of Silver Ions And Silver Nanoparticles On Embryonic Development,
2019
Old Dominion University
Study Of The Effects Of Silver Ions And Silver Nanoparticles On Embryonic Development, Martha Sharisha Johnson
Biomedical Sciences Theses & Dissertations
This dissertation focuses on the study of the toxicity of metal nanoparticles (NPs) and their ions on the development of zebrafish embryos, aiming to understand unique biological effects of NPs and ions, and design new in vivo assays to characterize the toxicity of these metal NPs and metal ions. Currently, the underlying molecular mechanisms of biological effects of nanomaterials are partially understood. Some studies assume that the toxic effects of NPs can be attributed to the release of their ions. We investigate the effects of silver NPs (Ag NPs) and silver ions (Ag+ ions) on the embryonic development of zebrafish …
Purification Of Ara6, Ara7, And Hopaa1-1 For Enzymatic Activity Study,
2019
University of South Carolina
Purification Of Ara6, Ara7, And Hopaa1-1 For Enzymatic Activity Study, Alexandra M. Koberlein
Senior Theses
This thesis project details the purification of proteins HopAA1-1, ARA6, and ARA7 for enzymatic analysis via the use of a phosphate detection assay. The results of the purification process and phosphate assay suggest that HopAA1-1 is a novel GAP protein found in plant models that may exhibit GAP activity on RAB GTPase protein ARA6.
Naatm1: Examining The Mechanism Of A Heavy-Metal Abc Exporter,
2019
University of San Francisco
Naatm1: Examining The Mechanism Of A Heavy-Metal Abc Exporter, Dennis Hicks
Master's Theses
ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC) Transporters are a superfamily of integral membrane proteins that have been found embedded in both the cellular membranes and internal organelles of all species yet analyzed (1). This extreme conservation throughout the tree of life is due to their vitally critical and broad task of transporting all manner of things into and out of the cell and related organelles. This broadness of responsibility has led to an abundant diversity of this family, which in turn, has allowed life to adapt to the many environments found on Earth. While the importance and variability of this family is abundantly …
Role Of Oncogenic Protein Kinase C-Iota In Melanoma Progression; A Study Based On Atypical Protein Kinase-C Inhibitors,
2019
University of South Florida
Role Of Oncogenic Protein Kinase C-Iota In Melanoma Progression; A Study Based On Atypical Protein Kinase-C Inhibitors, Wishrawana Sarathi Bandara Ratnayake
USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations
Irrespective of plentiful efforts to enhance primary prevention and early detection, the number of melanoma cases in the United States has increased steadily over the past 30 years, thus greatly affecting public health and the economy. We have investigated the effects of five novel aPKC inhibitors; 2-acetyl-1,3-cyclopentanedione (ACPD), 3,4-Diaminonaphthalene-2,7-disulfonic acid (DNDA), [4-(5-amino-4-carbamoylimidazol-1-yl)-2,3-dihydroxycyclopentyl] methyl dihydrogen phosphate (ICA-1T) along with its nucleoside analog 5-amino-1-((1R,2S,3S,4R)-2,3-dihydroxy-4-methylcyclopentyl)-1H-imidazole-4-carboxamide (ICA-1S) and 8-hydroxy-1,3,6-naphthalenetrisulfonic acid (ζ-Stat) on cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion of two malignant melanoma cell lines compared to normal melanocyte cell lines. Molecular docking data suggested that both ACPD and DNDA specifically bind to protein kinase …
Production Of Secondary Organic Aerosol During Aging Of Biomass Burning Smoke From Fresh Fuels And Its Relationship To Voc Precursors,
2019
Carnegie Mellon University
Production Of Secondary Organic Aerosol During Aging Of Biomass Burning Smoke From Fresh Fuels And Its Relationship To Voc Precursors, A. T. Ahern, E. S. Robinson, D. S. Tkacik, R. Saleh, L. E. Hatch, K. C. Barsanti, C. E. Stockwell, R. J. Yokelson, A. A. Presto, A. L. Robinson, R. C. Sullivan, N. M. Donahue
Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications
After smoke from burning biomass is emitted into the atmosphere, chemical and physical processes change the composition and amount of organic aerosol present in the aged, diluted plume. During the fourth Fire Lab at Missoula Experiment, we performed smog-chamber experiments to investigate formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) and multiphase oxidation of primary organic aerosol (POA). We simulated atmospheric aging of diluted smoke from a variety of biomass fuels while measuring particle composition using high-resolution aerosol mass spectrometry. We quantified SOA formation using a tracer ion for low-volatility POA as a reference standard (akin to a naturally occurring internal standard). …
In Situ Measurements Of Trace Gases, Pm, And Aerosol Optical Properties During The 2017 Nw Us Wildfire Smoke Event,
2019
University of Montana
In Situ Measurements Of Trace Gases, Pm, And Aerosol Optical Properties During The 2017 Nw Us Wildfire Smoke Event, Vanessa Selimovic, Robert J. Yokelson, Gavin R. Mcmeeking, Sarah Coefield
Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications
In mid-August through mid-September of 2017 a major wildfire smoke and haze episode strongly impacted most of the NW US and SW Canada. During this period our ground-based site in Missoula, Montana, experienced heavy smoke impacts for ∼ 500h (up to 471μ-3 hourly average PM2.5). We measured wildfire trace gases, PM2.5 (particulate matter ≤2.5μm in diameter), and black carbon and submicron aerosol scattering and absorption at 870 and 401nm. This may be the most extensive real-time data for these wildfire smoke properties to date. Our range of trace gas ratios for δNH3 δCO and δC2H4 δCO confirmed that the smoke …
Identification Of Novel Autoinducer-2 Receptors In Clostridia Reveals Plasticity In The Binding Site Of The Lsrb Receptor Family,
2019
Swarthmore College
Identification Of Novel Autoinducer-2 Receptors In Clostridia Reveals Plasticity In The Binding Site Of The Lsrb Receptor Family, I. M. Torcato, M. R. Kasal, P. H. Brito, Stephen T. Miller, K. B. Xavier
Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Works
Autoinducer-2 (AI-2) is unique among quorum-sensing signaling molecules, as it is produced and recognized by a wide variety of bacteria and thus facilitates interspecies communication. To date, two classes of AI-2 receptors have been identified: the LuxP-type, present in the Vibrionales, and the LsrB-type, found in a number of phylogenetically distinct bacterial families. Recently, AI-2 was shown to affect the colonization levels of a variety of bacteria in the microbiome of the mouse gut, including members of the genus Clostridium, but no AI-2 receptor had been identified in this genus. Here, we identify a noncanonical, functional LsrB-type receptor in Clostridium …
Environmental Controls On Dissolved Carbon Export And River Geochemistry - A Case Study In The Mississippi-Atchafalaya System,
2019
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College
Environmental Controls On Dissolved Carbon Export And River Geochemistry - A Case Study In The Mississippi-Atchafalaya System, Jeremy Reiman
LSU Master's Theses
Rivers serve as an important medium for the exchange of elements between land, ocean, and atmosphere. This thesis consists of three interconnected studies with the overarching goal of analyzing the environmental factors influencing dissolved carbon dynamics and river geochemistry in large rivers. These studies utilized river water samples and in-stream measurements collected from the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers at hourly to monthly intervals between 2013 to 2018, along with ambient river and meteorological data downloaded from public-access databases. Results indicate substantially higher dissolved organic carbon concentrations (DOC, 611 ±181 µmol L-1) but lower concentrations of dissolved inorganic carbon …
