Structural And Biochemical Characterization Of The Frequency-Interacting Rna Helicase Frh,
2016
Utah State University
Structural And Biochemical Characterization Of The Frequency-Interacting Rna Helicase Frh, Jacqueline M. Johnson
All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023
Cells function through a variety of regulatory pathways intricately communicating with one another. These pathways ensure that cellular functions happen at the appropriate times and keep the natural balance within the cell. When pathways do not communicate appropriately, this can lead to disease states and cell death. Two such connected pathways in Neurospora crassa involve the regulation of RNA levels and the circadian rhythms essential for these cells to maintain homeostasis. These pathways are connected by a unique helicase called the Frequency-interacting RNA Helicase (FRH), named for its discovery with the frequency protein involved in the circadian oscillation of the …
Quantum Mechanical Studies Of Charge Assisted Hydrogen And Halogen Bonds,
2016
Utah State University
Quantum Mechanical Studies Of Charge Assisted Hydrogen And Halogen Bonds, Binod Nepal
All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023
Like cement bridges one brick to another, noncovalent forces also bridge two or more molecules together to form a molecular crystal or molecular cluster. Although weaker than the covalent bond, the existence of noncovalent forces can be seen everywhere from liquid water to construction of complex biomolecules like DNA, RNA, proteins etc. An introduction of suitable charge; positive or negative, on the binding units can increase the strength of noncovalent interaction by several orders of magnitude. The primary aim of this dissertation is to explore some fundamental properties of such charge assisted noncovalent interactions which will be helpful for the …
Role Of Microrna-21 In Atherogenesis.,
2016
University of Louisville
Role Of Microrna-21 In Atherogenesis., Rihab Hamed-Berair
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
MicroRNA-21 (miR-21) is an evolutionarily conserved microRNA, abundant in most cardiovascular tissues. It has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several cardiovascular diseases including restenosis, myocardial infarction, and heart failure. However, little is known about the contribution of miR-21 in atherosclerosis. My data show that expression of miR-21 is increased by >1.5-fold in murine atherosclerotic lesions and by 1.5-2.0-fold in the macrophages of Western diet (WD)-fed LDLR-KO mice (for 12-20 weeks). In vitro, LDL, oxidized LDL, acetylated LDL and LPS induced miR-21 by 2-4-fold and down-regulated its target protein, PDCD4, in bone marrow-derived macrophages. Basally, macrophages isolated from miR-21-KO …
Effects Of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes On Gene And Protein Expression In Sinoatrial Node Of Rat Heart,
2016
United Arab Emirates University
Effects Of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes On Gene And Protein Expression In Sinoatrial Node Of Rat Heart, Zannatul Ferdous
Theses
Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common endocrine disorders and its global prevalence is increasing at an alarming rate. Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of morbidity and mortality among diabetic patients. In addition to defects in contraction, the diabetic heart also frequently suffers from disturbances to the electrical conduction system. This study investigates the effects of diabetes on the sinoatrial node (SAN) of the rat heart. Previous in vivo and in vitro experiments have demonstrated reduced heart rate, longer SAN action potential duration, prolonged pacemaker cycle length and Sino-atrial conduction time in streptozotocin (STZ) - induced diabetic rat …
Engineering A Mutation In The Heparin Binding Pocket Of The Human Fibroblast Growth Factor,
2016
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Engineering A Mutation In The Heparin Binding Pocket Of The Human Fibroblast Growth Factor, Roshni Patel
Chemistry & Biochemistry Undergraduate Honors Theses
Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are family of proteins that belong to a group of growth factors that are found in mammals and play an important role in angiogenesis, differentiation, organogenesis, and tissue repair. In summary, their main functionality is involved in cell division and proliferation. Because FGFs plays such a vital role in cell proliferation, they are mainly involved in the process of wound healing and injuries. FGF binds to its ligand, heparin—a heavily sulfated glycosaminoglycan. The binding of heparin to FGF occurs through electrostatic interactions, specifically between the negatively charged sulfate groups on heparin and positively charged residues such …
In Vitro Investigation Of The Effect Of Exogenous Ubiquitin On Processes Associated With Atherosclerosis,
2016
East Tennessee State University
In Vitro Investigation Of The Effect Of Exogenous Ubiquitin On Processes Associated With Atherosclerosis, Chase W. Mussard
Undergraduate Honors Theses
Atherosclerosis, characterized by the build-up of cholesterol, immune cells and cellular debris within arterial walls, is accelerated following myocardial infarction by poorly understood mechanisms. Ubiquitin, a small, well-studied intracellular protein involved in protein turnover via the proteasome pathway, has recently been shown to exert extracellular effects on cardiac myocytes, in vitro, and in mice undergoing myocardial remodeling. This study investigates the potential role of extracellular ubiquitin in atherosclerosis by determining its effects on two critical atherosclerotic processes: the migration of vascular smooth muscles cells and the uptake of modified LDL by monocyte/macrophages in foam cell formation. In the presence …
Developing A Deletion Construct Of The Halothiobacillus Neapolitanus Csos1c Gene,
2016
University of Southern Mississippi
Developing A Deletion Construct Of The Halothiobacillus Neapolitanus Csos1c Gene, Ellyn K. Dunbar
Honors Theses
The purpose of this research was to develop a deletion construct for the chemoautotrophic bacterium Halothiobacillus neapolitanus, which will be used to generate a mutant lacking a carboxysome shell protein gene. The carboxysome is the location of carbon dioxide fixation. The operon that encodes the carboxysome contains three genes for CsoS1 proteins, the major components of the carboxysome shell. The small CsoS1 proteins self-assemble into hexamers with small central pores. The hexamers arrange into the facets of the icosahedral carboxysome shell. The pores are believed to be involved in selective diffusion of materials necessary for carbon dioxide fixation across the …
Investigation Of Parasympathetic Effects Of Lavender Essential Oil In Humans,
2016
Liberty University
Investigation Of Parasympathetic Effects Of Lavender Essential Oil In Humans, Haakon Robert Nelson, Rachel Ann Burkhart, Daniel Morin, Nicole Grace Weissenfluh, Michael R. Korn
Montview Journal of Research & Scholarship
The purpose of this study will be to investigate the claim that administration of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oil (topically, orally, and/or respiratorily) produces a relaxative effect in human subjects. This investigation will theoretically be conducted in two stages. Stage one will focus primarily on determining the presence of therapeutic effects and the relative effectiveness of lavender in several application modalities. Stage two will proceed based on findings from stage one. If significant parasympathetic effects are observed in relation to one or more of the lavender oil modalities described above, a more focused investigation will be conducted in stage two …
Characterization And Target Identification Of Ak301: A Novel Mitotic Arrest Agent,
2016
University of Connecticut
Characterization And Target Identification Of Ak301: A Novel Mitotic Arrest Agent, Michael J. Bond, Avijeet S. Chopra, Marina Bleiler, Michelle Yeagley, Eric Scocchera
University Scholar Projects
The Giardina Laboratory has recently identified AK301 as a novel mitotic arrest agent. This work aimed to characterize the arrest state induced by AK301 (EC50 ~ 150nM) and identify the cellar targets responsible for the arrest. It was found that AK301 arrest is readily reversible upon withdrawal of AK301. Cells that slip from mitosis after removal of AK301 are sensitized to apoptosis. This was found to be unique for AK301 when compared to other mitotic arrest agents like colchicine, vincristine, and BI2536. Arrested cells were found to have increased ATM activity as well as an upregulation of p53 and …
Alternative Pathway For Provision Of Acyl Coa Precursors For Fatty Acid Biosynthesis: Purification And Kinetic Characterization Of Phosphotransbutyrylase And Butyrate Kinase From Listeria Monocytogenes,
2016
Illinois State University
Alternative Pathway For Provision Of Acyl Coa Precursors For Fatty Acid Biosynthesis: Purification And Kinetic Characterization Of Phosphotransbutyrylase And Butyrate Kinase From Listeria Monocytogenes, Sirisha Sirobhushanam
Theses and Dissertations
Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen that causes listeriosis, a disease characterized by gastroenteritis, meningitis, spontaneous miscarriages and high mortality rate among infected individuals. L. monocytogenes is a major concern in the food industry, due to its ability to grow at refrigeration temperatures and the zero tolerance policy of the FDA, resulting in expensive food recalls. Growth at low temperatures is aided in part by the high membrane content of branched-chain fatty acids (BCFAs) which imparts greater fluidity to the membrane. Mutants of L. monocytogenes impaired in BCFA biosynthesis display diminished growth at normal and low temperatures, exhibit lower tolerance …
Binding Of Oxygen To Human Hemoglobin Within The Erythrocyte Using Icam Spectrophotometry,
2016
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Binding Of Oxygen To Human Hemoglobin Within The Erythrocyte Using Icam Spectrophotometry, Kyle K. Hill
Department of Chemistry: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
Many of the spectrophotometric techniques used to determine the properties of intracellular human hemoglobin cannot be utilized due to the turbidity of erythrocyte suspensions. An Integrating Cavity Absorption Meter, or ICAM, allows for absorption measurements of strongly scattering samples in the visible-light region of the spectrum. The spectrum of oxygenated hemoglobin within erythrocytes is significantly different from the absorption spectrum of oxygenated hemoglobin in solution. Studies of the oxygen binding to hemoglobin in erythrocytes allowed the four sequential binding constants (Adair constants) to be determined and compared with those of hemoglobin in solution. The Adair constants for hemoglobin in solution …
Effects Of Creatine, Leucine, And Ethanol On Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor In C2c12 Skeletal Muscle Cells,
2016
Western Michigan University
Effects Of Creatine, Leucine, And Ethanol On Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor In C2c12 Skeletal Muscle Cells, Daniel Waters
Honors Theses
Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (GDNF) is a protein expressed throughout the mammalian nervous system that serves several protective functions. Originally discovered in the brain, where it supports the survival of dopaminergic neurons, GDNF has since been shown to be expressed in skeletal muscle and is vital for the maintenance of motor neurons. The relationship between muscle hypertrophy, and GDNF is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between hypertrophy and GDNF by inducing hypertrophy in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells using leucine and creatine, inhibiting hypertrophy using ethanol and measuring GDNF content. As measured …
A Guided Inquiry To The Bromination Of Alkenes: An Effort To Foster Student Understanding Of Thin Layer Chromatography In The Organic Chemistry Laboratory,
2016
Western Michigan University
A Guided Inquiry To The Bromination Of Alkenes: An Effort To Foster Student Understanding Of Thin Layer Chromatography In The Organic Chemistry Laboratory, Casey Wright
Honors Theses
Many of the chemistry laboratories taught at Western Michigan University are “cookbook” labs, meaning that students are given an instruction manual with a prescribed set of instructions and a predicted outcome. Therein we present an introductory organic chemistry laboratory experiment to reinforce the student understanding of Thin Layer Chromatography which utilizes a guided inquiry format as part of an effort to move toward discovery based learning in our organic chemistry curriculum. Educational research was performed on classroom artifacts collected from the laboratory. We were able to gain an understanding of the struggles students face in applying general chemistry content knowledge …
The Pcna-Associated Protein Pari Negatively Regulates Homologous Recombination Via The Inhibition Of Dna Repair Synthesis,
2016
New York Medical College
The Pcna-Associated Protein Pari Negatively Regulates Homologous Recombination Via The Inhibition Of Dna Repair Synthesis, Peter Burkovics, Lili Dome, Szilvia Juhasz, Veronika Altmannova, Marek Sebesta, Martin Pacesa, Kasper Fugger, Claus Storgaard Sorensen, Marietta Y W T Lee, Lajos Haracska, Lumir Krejci
NYMC Faculty Publications
Successful and accurate completion of the replication of damage-containing DNA requires mainly recombination and RAD18-dependent DNA damage tolerance pathways. RAD18 governs at least two distinct mechanisms: translesion synthesis (TLS) and template switching (TS)-dependent pathways. Whereas TS is mainly error-free, TLS can work in an error-prone manner and, as such, the regulation of these pathways requires tight control to prevent DNA errors and potentially oncogenic transformation and tumorigenesis. In humans, the PCNA-associated recombination inhibitor (PARI) protein has recently been shown to inhibit homologous recombination (HR) events. Here, we describe a biochemical mechanism in which PARI functions as an HR regulator after …
Novel Compound Heterozygous Mutations Expand The Recognized Phenotypes Of Fars2-Linked Disease,
2016
Massachusetts General Hospital
Novel Compound Heterozygous Mutations Expand The Recognized Phenotypes Of Fars2-Linked Disease, Melissa A. Walker, Kyle Mohler, Kyle W. Hopkins, Derek H. Oakley, David A. Sweetser, Michael Ibba, Matthew P. Frosch, Ronald L. Thibert
Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research
Mutations in mitochondrial aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are an increasingly recognized cause of human diseases, often arising in individuals with compound heterozygous mutations and presenting with system-specific phenotypes, frequently neurologic. FARS2 encodes mitochondrial phenylalanyl transfer ribonucleic acid (RNA) synthetase (mtPheRS), perturbations of which have been reported in 6 cases of an infantile, lethal disease with refractory epilepsy and progressive myoclonus. Here the authors report the case of juvenile onset refractory epilepsy and progressive myoclonus with compound heterozygous FARS2 mutations. The authors describe the clinical course over 6 years of care at their institution and diagnostic studies including electroencephalogram (EEG), brain magnetic resonance …
Doxycycline Resistance In Plasmodium Falciparum Linked To Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms In The Plasmodium Falciparum Apicoplast Small Subunit Ribosomal Rna (Pfssrrna) Gene,
2016
Dominican University of California
Doxycycline Resistance In Plasmodium Falciparum Linked To Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms In The Plasmodium Falciparum Apicoplast Small Subunit Ribosomal Rna (Pfssrrna) Gene, Amanda Wasko
Scholarly and Creative Works Conference (2015 - 2021)
Plasmodium falciparum, a protozoan parasite known as malaria, widely impacts human health; thus antimalarial drug investigations are critical. Doxycycline is a commonly used antimalarial prophylactic, but its mechanism of action is unclear. In prokaryotes, doxycycline works as an antibacterial by disrupting protein translation via the small subunit ribosome. Interestingly, P. falciparum has a small subunit ribosome of prokaryotic origins in the apicoplast, a plastid-like organelle. Therefore, we hypothesized that doxycycline works in P. falciparum by inhibiting protein synthesis via the small subunit ribosomal RNA and that mutations in the gene encoding the P. falciparum apicoplast small subunit ribosomal RNA …
Consensus On Consensus: A Synthesis Of Consensus Estimates On Human-Caused Global Warming,
2016
Global Change Institute
Consensus On Consensus: A Synthesis Of Consensus Estimates On Human-Caused Global Warming, John Cook, Naomi Oreskes, Peter T. Doran, William R L Anderegg, Bart Verheggen, Ed W. Maibach, J Stuart Carlton, Stephan Lewandowsky, Andrew G. Skuce, Sarah A. Green, Dana Nuccitelli, Peter Jacobs, Mark Richardson, Bärbel Winkler, Rob Painting, Ken Rice
Department of Chemistry Publications
The consensus that humans are causing recent global warming is shared by 90%–100% of publishing climate scientists according to six independent studies by co-authors of this paper. Those results are consistent with the 97% consensus reported by Cook et al(Environ. Res. Lett. 8 024024) based on 11 944 abstracts of research papers, of which 4014 took a position on the cause of recent global warming. A survey of authors of those papers (N = 2412 papers) also supported a 97% consensus. Tol (2016 Environ. Res. Lett.11 048001) comes to a different conclusion using …
Cell Permeability Studies Of Aapeptides And Novel Molecular Probes For Ad,
2016
University of South Florida
Cell Permeability Studies Of Aapeptides And Novel Molecular Probes For Ad, Ge Bai
USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations
Alzheimer's diseases(AD) has been discovered and under research for more than 70 years, However there is no cure for these progressive and devastating diseases. Based on the following hypothsis: Aß metabolite problem/over production result in the accumulation, and lead to aggregation is the cause of Alzheimer’s disease. AApeptide and Melatonin derivatives can bind to Aß and block the aggregation of β amyloid monomers, decrease the toxicity of Aß to neurons and slow the progressive of Alzheimer’s diseases. In addition, AApeptide which mimic transmembrane peptide Tat will have similar transmembrane function. We have set up our goals as follows: 1) Using …
Photocatalytic Reduction Of Fumarate To Succinate On Zns Mineral Surfaces,
2016
University of Kentucky
Photocatalytic Reduction Of Fumarate To Succinate On Zns Mineral Surfaces, Ruixin Zhou, Marcelo I. Guzman
Chemistry Faculty Publications
The reductive tricarboxylic acid (rTCA) cycle is an important central biosynthetic pathway that fixes CO2 into carboxylic acids. Among the five reductive steps in the rTCA cycle, the two-electron reduction of fumarate to succinate proceeds nonenzymatically on the surface of photoexcited sphalerite (ZnS) colloids suspended in water. This model reaction is chosen to systematically study the surface photoprocess occurring on ZnS in the presence of [Na2S] (1–10 mM) hole scavenger at 15 °C. Experiments at variable pH (5–10) indicate that monodissociated fumaric acid is the primary electron acceptor forming the monoprotic form of succinic acid. The following …
Stabilin-Mediated Cellular Internalization Of Phosphorothioate-Modified Antisense Oligonucleotides (Asos),
2016
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Stabilin-Mediated Cellular Internalization Of Phosphorothioate-Modified Antisense Oligonucleotides (Asos), Colton M. Miller, Aaron J. Donner, Emma K. Blank, Andrew W. Egger, Brianna M. Kellar, Punit P. Seth, Edward N. Harris
UCARE: Research Products
Introduction: Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are short chemically modified oligonucleotides (5-7.4 kDa) that can produce a pharmacological effect by binding to RNA and affecting intermediary metabolism. Over 35 phosphorothioate (PS) ASOs are at various stages of clinical development for use as therapeutic agents and pharmacological tools. Antisense therapy is a progressing area of research, as these small strands of nucleotide oligomers can be produced to silence genes that aggravate chronic disorders or infections. An important distinction for ASOs compared to DNA is the substitution of the phosphodiester (PO) backbone with the PS modification. This sulfur substitution allows for these polar polyanionic …
