Insights Into The Biotechnology
Potential Of Methanosarcina,
2022
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Insights Into The Biotechnology Potential Of Methanosarcina, Sean Carr, Nicole R. Buan
Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications
Methanogens are anaerobic archaea which conserve energy by producing methane. Found in nearly every anaerobic environment on earth, methanogens serve important roles in ecology as key organisms of the global carbon cycle, and in industry as a source of renewable biofuels. Environmentally, methanogenic archaea play an essential role in the reintroducing unavailable carbon to the carbon cycle by anaerobically converting low-energy, terminal metabolic degradation products such as one and two-carbon molecules into methane which then returns to the aerobic portion of the carbon cycle. In industry, methanogens are commonly used as an inexpensive source of renewable biofuels as well as …
Nanoparticle Conjugated Photosensitizer For Targeted Photodynamic Inactivation Of Cancer Cells,
2022
Georgia Southern University
Nanoparticle Conjugated Photosensitizer For Targeted Photodynamic Inactivation Of Cancer Cells, Symone D. Crowder
Honors College Theses
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is considered to be a potential replacement for traditional methods of chemotherapy. It includes the administration of photosensitizing agents (PS), which generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon excitation at a specific wavelength. With new outlooks and techniques, cancer research is advancing each day. It has allowed the progress of several theranostic drug delivery systems (DDS) exploring the area of nanomedicine.2 In the present work, a Rhodamine derivative, Rhodamine 6G (R6G) was used as the PS. In general, rhodamine compounds undergo cytotoxic reactions on photoexcitation by electron transfer reactions with folic acid within cells, making them a favorable …
Enhanced Structural Control Of Soft-Templated Mesoporous Inorganic Thin Films By Inert Processing Conditions,
2022
University of South Carolina
Enhanced Structural Control Of Soft-Templated Mesoporous Inorganic Thin Films By Inert Processing Conditions, Maximilliano Jesus Jara Fornerod, Alberto Alvarez-Fernandez, Eric R. Williams, Miximillian W.A. Skoda, Beatriz Prieto-Simon, Nicolas H. Voelcker, Morgan Stefik, Marc-Oliver Coppens, Stefan Guldin
Faculty Publications
Mesoporous thin films are widely used for applications in need of high surface area and efficient mass and charge transport properties. A well-established fabrication process involves the supramolecular assembly of organic molecules (e.g., block copolymers and surfactants) with inorganic materials obtained by sol-gel chemistry. Typically, subsequent calcination in air removes the organic template and reveals the porous inorganic network. A significant challenge for such coatings is the anisotropic shrinkage due to the volume contraction related to solvent evaporation, inorganic condensation, and template removal, affecting the final porosity as well as pore shape, size, arrangement, and accessibility. Here, we show that …
Bis-Indolyl Compounds And The Induction Of Apoptosis In T98g Glioblastoma Multiforme Cells,
2022
Seton Hall University
Bis-Indolyl Compounds And The Induction Of Apoptosis In T98g Glioblastoma Multiforme Cells, Margot C. Brown
Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)
1,1-bis(3’idolyl)-1(aryl)methane compounds (BIM compounds) have been shown to have anti-cancer properties in colon cancer, bladder cancer, and leukemia cells. The purpose of this work was to determine if BIM compounds could be an effective treatment of glioblastoma multiforme. Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assays showed that 20µM of the BIM compounds could inhibit cellular proliferation of the T98G glioblastoma multiforme cell line over 72 hours. Then immunoblotting was used to analyze the molecular pathway induced by BIM compounds. An increase in the expression of both BAX and cleaved caspase 3 suggest BIM compounds activate programmed cell death, or apoptosis in glioblastoma cells. …
Molecular Basis Of Viroid Rna-Templated Transcription,
2022
Mississippi State University
Molecular Basis Of Viroid Rna-Templated Transcription, Shachinthaka D. Dissanayaka Mudiyanselage
Theses and Dissertations
Transcription is a fundamental process catalyzed by DNA-dependent RNA polymerases (DdRPs). Interestingly, some DdRPs can use both DNA and RNA as templates for transcription. This RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) activity of DdRPs is used by RNA-based pathogens such as viroids and hepatitis delta virus for replication. In addition, RdRP activity of DdRPs widely occurs in various organisms to regulate gene transcription. Despite the importance of this intrinsic RdRP activity of DdRPs, associated factors and mechanisms are in their infancy stage. We employed potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) as a model to study RNA-templated transcription. Here, we present evidence showing that …
Dynamics Of Redox-Driven Molecular Processes In Local And Systemic Plant Immunity,
2022
Mississippi State University
Dynamics Of Redox-Driven Molecular Processes In Local And Systemic Plant Immunity, Philip Berg
Theses and Dissertations
The work here presents two main parts. In the first part, chapters 1 – 3 focus on dynamical systems modeling in plant immunity, whereas chapters 4 – 6 describe contributions to computational modeling and analysis of proteomics and genomics data. Chapter 1 investigates dynamical and biochemical patterns of reversibly oxidized cysteines (RevOxCys) during effector-triggered immunity (ETI) in Arabidopsis, examines the regulatory patterns associated with Arabidopsis thimet oligopeptidase 1 and 2’s (TOP1 and TOP2), roles in the RevOxCys events during ETI, and analyzes the redox phenotype of the top1top2 mutant. The second chapter investigates the peptidome dynamics during ETI …
Screening Anti-Pd-L2 Peptides As Antitumor Ligands Using Phage Display,
2022
Bowling Green State University
Screening Anti-Pd-L2 Peptides As Antitumor Ligands Using Phage Display, Chien Tran Phuoc
Honors Projects
Cancer still remains one of the top leading causes of death in America. Recently, programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) blockades have been demonstrated to be highly effective against various types of cancer. By blocking PD-1 from binding with their ligands (PD-L1 and PD-L2), the “off” signal to the immune system is inhibited, hence reinvigorating the immune cells to kill tumor cells. To date, despite PD-L1 and PD-L2 both interacting with PD-1, research efforts have only been focused on developing anti-PD-L1 inhibitors. Therefore, the work of this honor project has focused on finding anti-PD-L2 peptides by phage display, with the …
Designing And Synthesizing A Warhead-Fragment Inhibitory Ligand For Ivyp1 Through Fragment-Based Drug Discovery,
2022
Kennesaw State University
Designing And Synthesizing A Warhead-Fragment Inhibitory Ligand For Ivyp1 Through Fragment-Based Drug Discovery, Samuel Moore
Symposium of Student Scholars
Fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) is a powerful tool for developing anticancer and antimicrobial agents. Within this, magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) provides a comprehensive qualitative and quantitative approach to screening and validating weak and robust binders with targeted proteins, making NMR among the most attractive strategies in FBDD. Inhibitor of vertebrate lysozyme (Ivyp1) of P. aeruginosa serves as an excellent target because of its active cellular location and implications in clinical prognosis for cystic fibrosis and immunocompromised patients. This study uses current NMR and biophysical techniques to develop a covalent, fragment-linked warhead inhibitor for Ivyp1 through synthetic methods, warhead linking, and …
Chemical Control And Understanding Of Horizontal Gene Transfers, Drug-Resistance Development, And Filament And Biofilm Formation,
2022
Syracuse University
Chemical Control And Understanding Of Horizontal Gene Transfers, Drug-Resistance Development, And Filament And Biofilm Formation, Yuchen Jin
Dissertations - ALL
Biofilms formed by microbes on surfaces are the sources for persistent infectious diseases and environmental problems. The mechanism and details of how antibiotics promote biofilm formation is largely unknown. For instance, it not clear what stages of biofilm growth are promoted to proceed faster than without antibiotics, what phenotypes of bacteria form in an antibiotic-promoted biofilm, and what different biofilm compositions and structures are caused by the presence of antibiotics. Among other effects, antibiotics can cause bacteria to form filaments of living bacteria. Here, we conduct a real-time study of the adherence of bacteria and antibiotic-induced filamentous bacteria on surfaces …
Metabolic Foundations Of Exercise-Induced Cardiac Growth.,
2022
University of Louisville
Metabolic Foundations Of Exercise-Induced Cardiac Growth., Kyle Fulghum
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Regular aerobic exercise promotes physiological cardiac growth, which is an adaptive response thought to enable the heart to meet higher physical demands. Cardiac growth involves coordination of catabolic and anabolic activities to support ATP generation, macromolecule biosynthesis, and myocyte hypertrophy. Although previous studies suggest that exercise-induced reductions in cardiac glycolysis are critical for physiological myocyte hypertrophy, it remains unclear how exercise influences the many interlinked pathways of metabolism that support adaptive remodeling of the heart. In this thesis project, we tested the general hypothesis that aerobic exercise promotes physiological cardiac growth by coordinating myocardial metabolism to promote glucose-supported anabolic pathway …
Development Of Nucleic Acid Diagnostics For Targeted And Non-Targeted Biosensing,
2022
University at Albany, State University of New York
Development Of Nucleic Acid Diagnostics For Targeted And Non-Targeted Biosensing, Christopher William Smith
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
The field of nucleic acid technology is rapidly expanding with new impactful discoveriesbeing made each year. Starting from the discovery of the double-helix structure, cloning, gene editing, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), CRISPR technology, and even the late mRNA vaccines; nucleic acid technology is at the forefront of improving medicine. Nucleic acid technology is extremely versatile due to its easy programmability, automated cheap synthesis, and even its catalog for numerous chemical modifications that can be used to alter structure stability. For example, the number of permutations that can be made with DNA just by altering the code for adenine (A), cytosine …
Characterizing And Epitope Mapping Single-Domain Antibodies On Borrelia Burgdorferi Protein Ospa,
2022
University at Albany, State University of New York
Characterizing And Epitope Mapping Single-Domain Antibodies On Borrelia Burgdorferi Protein Ospa, Saiful Basir
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Epitope mapping a protein that enables pathogenesis is crucial for the development of therapies and prophylactics that can inhibit the pathogen’s function and its transmission of disease. The lipoprotein OspA enables Lyme Disease etiologic pathogen, Borrelia burgdorferi, to inhabit the tick midgut until transmission occurs. Anti-OspA mAbs and their smaller VHH counterparts are highly specific and tailored to bind proteins such as OspA, reproducibly, at established binding sites or epitopes. Previous studies found an array of mAbs that successfully bound OspA and have already been used in epitope mapping. To our knowledge, this is the first use of VHHs in …
Ankyrin Dependent Mitochondrial Function And Bioenergetics In The Heart,
2022
The Texas Medical Center Library
Ankyrin Dependent Mitochondrial Function And Bioenergetics In The Heart, Janani Subramaniam, Janani Subramaniam
Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)
ANK2 mutations in patients are associated with numerous arrhythmias, cardiomyopathies, and other heart defects. In the heart, AnkB, the protein encoded by ANK2, clusters relevant ion channels and cell adhesion molecules in several important domains; however, its role at Mitochondria Associated ER/SR Membranes (MAMs) has yet to be investigated. MAMs are crucial to mitochondrial function and metabolism and are signaling hubs implicated in various cardiac pathologies. Among several functions, these sites mediate the direct transfer of calcium from the ER/SR to the mitochondria to modulate ATP synthesis. Given that mitochondrial function and energy production are paramount to cardiovascular heath, …
The Role Of Fatty Acid Metabolism In The Pathogenesis Of Trypanosoma Brucei,
2022
Clemson University
The Role Of Fatty Acid Metabolism In The Pathogenesis Of Trypanosoma Brucei, Nava Poudyal
All Dissertations
Trypanosoma brucei is the protozoan parasite that causes African Sleeping Sickness in humans and nagana, a wasting disease in cattle. T. brucei completes its life cycle in two hosts, mammals and the tsetse fly insect vector. Due to the geographical restriction of the tsetse fly, the disease is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa. Both the insect and mammalian forms of the parasite need fatty acids to anchor their surface proteins. We worked on three projects on fatty acid metabolism and its role in immune evasion strategies of T. brucei. First, we assessed the role of T. brucei surface proteins in …
Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations To Decipher Mechanistic Details Of Biomolecular Processes Of Biology And Biotechnology Oriented Applications,
2022
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations To Decipher Mechanistic Details Of Biomolecular Processes Of Biology And Biotechnology Oriented Applications, Adithya Polasa
Graduate Theses and Dissertations
Researchers in chemistry and biology often utilize computer simulations, in conjunction with experimental data, to model and predict the structures, energies, kinetics, processes, and functions of the systems that are their focus of study, ranging from single molecules to whole viruses. Here, we use molecular dynamics (MD) techniques to gain a deeper understanding of biomolecular processes in biology and biotechnology-oriented applications. Using a mixture of equilibrium and non-equilibrium MD simulations, this work describes the insertion process of YidC at the atomic level. In order to better comprehend the insertion process, several docking models of YidC-Pf3 in the lipid bilayer were …
Molecular Characterization Of Nitrogenase Regulation In Methanosarcina Acetivorans,
2022
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Molecular Characterization Of Nitrogenase Regulation In Methanosarcina Acetivorans, Melissa Chanderban
Graduate Theses and Dissertations
Nitrogenase is the metalloenzyme only found in bacteria and archaea that is essential for biological nitrogen fixation (diazotrophy), but it can also serve as a catalyst in biofuel production. All diazotrophs contain a molybdenum (Mo) nitrogenase, while some species contain additional alternative nitrogenases where either vanadium (V) or iron (Fe) replace Mo in the active site cofactor. Nitrogen fixation by bacteria has been extensively studied. The limited investigation of nitrogen fixation in methanogenic archaea (methanogens) indicates production of nitrogenase is simpler than in bacteria and methanogen nitrogenase has different biochemical properties. Thus, methanogen nitrogenases provide a promising alternative for genetic …
Characterization Of The Isothermal Titration Calorimetry Single Injection Method Using T4 Polynucleotide Kinase As A Model System For Kinases,
2022
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Characterization Of The Isothermal Titration Calorimetry Single Injection Method Using T4 Polynucleotide Kinase As A Model System For Kinases, Rebecca Chaehee Lim
UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones
Kinases are an important class of enzymes involved in the regulation of different cellular processes. The dysfunctional activity, either hyperactivity or inactivity, of kinases has been associated with many types of diseases, making kinases a major therapeutic target. As of 2020, more than 80 kinase inhibitors have been FDA-approved and have revolutionized the treatment for progressive disorders such as cancers and Alzheimer's diseases. However, there is always the possibility of developing severe side effects or resistance to drugs so the search for new therapeutics must continue with efficiency and accuracy.Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) is a state-of-the-art technique specialized in detecting …
The Binding Of The Micronutrient Transition Metals To The Alkylation Products Of Chemical Warfare Agent, Sulfur Mustard, And Thiols, Potentially Giving New Understanding To Physiological Effects Of Exposure And Increased Toxicity,
2022
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
The Binding Of The Micronutrient Transition Metals To The Alkylation Products Of Chemical Warfare Agent, Sulfur Mustard, And Thiols, Potentially Giving New Understanding To Physiological Effects Of Exposure And Increased Toxicity, Colin O'Donnell
Graduate Theses and Dissertations
Model compounds, 3,6,9-trithaiundecane-1,11-dicarboxylic acid (TTDPA), 2,5,8-trithianonane-1,9-dicarboxylic acid (TTDAA), and 1,11-diamide-3,6,9-trithiaundecane (TTDAce), closely related to the adducts formed by cysteine alkylation of the chemical weapon, sulfur mustard, were synthesized. It is shown that TTDPA forms complexes with key metal micronutrients: copper, nickel, cobalt, manganese, and zinc. Though the strength of binding to TTDPA varies, the complexes in many cases precipitate from solution. All metals produced a visible precipitate upon interaction with TTDPA under the conditions tested, however only Cu2+, Mn2+, and Zn2+ produced enough to be measured. The mass of formed precipitate seemed to peak at an equimolar ratio of TTDPA …
Fiber-Based Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting As A Method For Investigating Metabolism During Tetanic Contraction Of Skeletal Muscle,
2022
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Fiber-Based Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting As A Method For Investigating Metabolism During Tetanic Contraction Of Skeletal Muscle, Kathryn Miller Priest
Graduate Theses and Dissertations
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is a cofactor that serves to shuttle electrons during metabolic processes such as glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) [1-5]. The reduced form of NAD, NADH, is autofluorescent, making it a measurable characteristic in the investigation of metabolic changes. The fluorescence lifetime of NADH is dependent on the state of protein binding, specifically free or bound NADH, allowing for detection of metabolic shifts between glycolysis (free NADH) and OXPHOS (bound NADH) [6-16]. Fiber-coupled time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) equipped with an implantable needle probe can be used to measure NADH lifetime in vivo …
Functional Characterization Of The Newly Discovered Type V Crispr-Cas Protein Cas12a2,
2022
Utah State University
Functional Characterization Of The Newly Discovered Type V Crispr-Cas Protein Cas12a2, Dylan J. Keiser
All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023
Similarly to people, bacteria are under the treat of infection by viruses. To circumvent these threats, bacteria evolve complex immune systems. Our understanding of some of these immune systems has led to many advancements in the field of Biotechnology including tools that made expressing proteins for study in a lab easier, tools that revolutionized the feasibility of gene editing, and tools that could change the way we think about viral diagnostics and cancer therapeutics. A certain type of immune system that bacteria use to fight virus is called a CRISPR system. Presented here is work to understand the function of …
