Targeting Bcl-2 Family Proteins In Therapy Induced Senescent Cancer Cell Models,
2022
Virginia Commonwealth University
Targeting Bcl-2 Family Proteins In Therapy Induced Senescent Cancer Cell Models, Wade Cook
Theses and Dissertations
Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) originates from numerous different cell types in the lungs and is among the deadliest of cancers. Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas (HNSCC) are derived from the mucosal membranes of the oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx. Both NSCLC and HNSCC are predominately caused by tobacco smoke inhalation and as such mutations in the tumor suppressor gene TP53 are common. Since similarities exist in the root cause of NSCLC and HNSCC, they may also share similarities in treatment methods. Cisplatin is a platinum-based DNA damaging agent that has been used as a cancer chemotherapy for decades. …
The Impact Of Plant Secondary Metabolites On Auxin And Cytokinin Signaling,
2022
University of Kentucky
The Impact Of Plant Secondary Metabolites On Auxin And Cytokinin Signaling, Timothy E. Shull
Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences
Secondary metabolites are a broad class of specialized compounds that mediate plant-environment interactions and mitigate stress. It is increasingly clear that many phenylalanine-derived secondary metabolites are nearly indispensable for plant survival and that plants adjust their growth according to their secondary metabolic outputs. Consequently, many phenylalanine-derived secondary metabolites have influence over hormone activity. For instance, multiple phenylpropanoid intermediates and catecholamines alter the sensitivity of plants to the central hormone auxin, which in concert with cytokinin directs most aspects of plant growth and development. This dissertation reviews previous research on the influence of phenylpropanoid intermediates and catecholamines on plants, with a …
Investigation Of A Carbon Monoxide Dehydrogenase From An Uncultured Archaeon,
2022
Michigan Technological University
Investigation Of A Carbon Monoxide Dehydrogenase From An Uncultured Archaeon, Luke Moore
Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports
The Nickel based Carbon Monoxide Dehydrogenase (CODH) is an anaerobic metalloenzyme responsible for the reversible conversion of CO and water into CO2 and 2 protons and 2 electrons. This enzyme has importance in the environment as one of Earth’s first carbon fixation pathways, and for human uses as a potential source of biofuels and other commodity chemicals. CODH enzymes are present in a wide array of taxa, many of which are uncultured. In this study we express and purify the catalytic subunit (CooS) of the anaerobic CODH from an uncultured Hydrothermarchaeota JdFR-17 co-expressed with the nickel insertion accessory protein (CooC) …
The Role Of Charge On Dna Packaging And Integrity Within Reconstituted Peptide-Dna Assemblies,
2022
University of Kentucky
The Role Of Charge On Dna Packaging And Integrity Within Reconstituted Peptide-Dna Assemblies, Ehigbai Oikeh
Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry
In nature, DNA exists primarily in a highly compacted form. The compaction of DNA in vivo is mediated by cationic proteins; histone in somatic nuclei and arginine-rich peptides called protamines in sperm chromatin. The packaging in the sperm nucleus is significantly higher than somatic nuclei resulting in a final volume roughly 1/20th that of a somatic nucleus. This tight packaging results in a near crystalline packaging of the DNA helices. While the dense packaging of DNA in sperm nuclei is considered essential for both efficient genetic delivery as well as DNA protection against damage by mutagens and oxidative species, …
Structural Basis Of Bacterial Flagellin For Naip5 Binding And Nlrc4 Inflammasome Activation And The Mechanism Of Flagellin Induced Release Of Cytokines In Vivo,
2022
University of Kentucky
Structural Basis Of Bacterial Flagellin For Naip5 Binding And Nlrc4 Inflammasome Activation And The Mechanism Of Flagellin Induced Release Of Cytokines In Vivo, Jian Cui
Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry
The bacterial flagellum is a whip-like structure that protrudes from the cell membrane and is one of the most complex and dynamic biological molecular machines that propels bacteria to swim toward beneficial environments and the sites of infection. It is composed of a basal body, a hook, and a long filament. The flagellar filament contains thousands of copies of the protein flagellin (FliC) monomer arranged helically and ending with a filament cap composed of oligomer protein FliD. The overall structure of the filament core is preserved across bacterial species, while the outer domains exhibit high variability, and in some cases …
Optimization And Standardization Of Dms Chemical Mapping Experiments For Probing Rna 3d Structure,
2022
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Optimization And Standardization Of Dms Chemical Mapping Experiments For Probing Rna 3d Structure, Sarah Brady
Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)
RNA plays a significant and crucial role in biological processes. The properties of RNA are ultimately responsible for each molecule’s unique function. The configuration and structural integrity of RNA is important for its functionality. Chemical mapping detailed in this thesis can be used to analyze the 3D structure of an RNA sequence. RNA is modified via methylation of adenine and cytosine bases using dimethyl sulfate, then reverse transcribed to DNA, then sequenced. The sites where the bases were methylated become mutations in the DNA sequence, allowing for identification of these locations when analyzing sequencing data. Conditions for modification can be …
Characterizing The Relationship Of Lgl1 And Akt In Migration Of Murine Neural Stem And Progenitor Cells,
2022
Humboldt State University
Characterizing The Relationship Of Lgl1 And Akt In Migration Of Murine Neural Stem And Progenitor Cells, Natalie Pedicino
Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects
Asymmetric cell division and migration are critical for neural stem cell differentiation and brain development. When these processes are dysregulated in neural progenitor cells (NPCs), developmental defects and diseases like glioma can result. Lgl1 is a tumor suppressor gene that was first characterized in Drosophila neuroblasts (Strand et al., 1994). It is best known for its regulation of asymmetric cell division through its association with the Par complex. The PI3K/AKT signaling cascade is involved in cellular migration and is also regulated by Par signaling. Unpublished data from the Sprowles laboratory suggests a potential role of Lgl1 in migration and other …
The Promise And Perils Of Molecular Combing,
2022
Eastern Michigan University
The Promise And Perils Of Molecular Combing, Jeanmarie Mishler
Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations
Dynamic Molecular Combing (DMC) is a method of making visible single molecules of DNA. The method stretches the molecules, attaching them to a glass coverslip; labels them with an intercalating dye or fluorescent antibodies; and images the molecules with fluorescent microscopy. After combing, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) can be used to inspect regions on the DNA molecule. DMC is especially technically challenging for undergraduate research laboratories. To make the technique accessible to an undergraduate laboratory this project addresses three challenges: pH of buffer solution, NaOH exposure time, and halogenated thymidine exposure time in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). A serial pH …
Vaginal Microbiota Of Recurrent Bacterial Vaginosis Patients Under Oral Metronidazole Therapy: Prognosis Based On Specific Species Of Gardnerella And Other Bacterial Vaginosis Associated Species In Association With The Vaginal Microbiome,
2022
Wayne State University
Vaginal Microbiota Of Recurrent Bacterial Vaginosis Patients Under Oral Metronidazole Therapy: Prognosis Based On Specific Species Of Gardnerella And Other Bacterial Vaginosis Associated Species In Association With The Vaginal Microbiome, Ashomathi Ashok Sudhamathi Mollin
Wayne State University Theses
Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) is a state of vaginal dysbiosis in which BV-associated species displace the typically dominant species of Lactobacillus. This urogenital disease elevates the risk for complications such as pre-term birth, STDs and HIV. Currently, there is no consensus on the etiology of BV. Standard of care treatment is oral metronidazole; however, therapy has high rates of recurrence. Our previous qPCR study of recurrent BV patients (3+ episodes/year) found strong associations of Gardnerella_Gsp07, G. swidsinksii, and G. leopoldii with refractory and recurrent responses, and a robust recovery of Lactobacillus in remission patients. However, these findings were not applicable across …
Toward A Topology-Based Therapeutic Design Of Membrane Proteins: Validation Of Napi2b Topology In Live Ovarian Cancer Cells,
2022
The Texas Medical Center Library
Toward A Topology-Based Therapeutic Design Of Membrane Proteins: Validation Of Napi2b Topology In Live Ovarian Cancer Cells, Leisan Bulatova, Daria Savenkova, Alsina Nurgalieva, Daria Reshetnikova, Arina Timonina, Vera Skripova, Mikhail Bogdanov, Ramziya Kiyamova
Faculty, Staff and Student Publications
NaPi2b is a sodium-dependent phosphate transporter that belongs to the SLC34 family of transporters which is mainly responsible for phosphate homeostasis in humans. Although NaPi2b is widely expressed in normal tissues, its overexpression has been demonstrated in ovarian, lung, and other cancers. A valuable set of antibodies, including L2 (20/3) and MX35, and its humanized versions react strongly with an antigen on the surface of ovarian and other carcinoma cells. Although the topology of NaPi2b was predicted
Characterization Of L-Malic Acid-Capped Cds Quantum Dots And Examination Of The Nanoncrystal's Biosensor Ability,
2022
University of New Hampshire, Durham
Characterization Of L-Malic Acid-Capped Cds Quantum Dots And Examination Of The Nanoncrystal's Biosensor Ability, Andrei A. Potapenko
Honors Theses and Capstones
Ligand-capped quantum dots are microscopic semiconductors commonly used in biomedical research and therapy for cell imaging and drug delivery. Despite the abundance of in vivo applications, the nature of interactions between the nanocrystals and the amino acids comprising human proteins remains insufficiently investigated. In this work, we report on the synthesis, ligand exchange, and characterization of the L-malic acid-capped CdS quantum dots via various spectroscopic techniques. We also assess the ligand-capped nanocrystals as potential probes for some amino acids. We determine that in the presence of L-cysteine, the L-malic acid-capped CdS quantum dots fluorescence signal quenches drastically, thus indicating a …
Microbial Community Analysis: Biofilm Inhibition & Algae Associated Community Structure,
2022
University of the Pacific
Microbial Community Analysis: Biofilm Inhibition & Algae Associated Community Structure, Michelle V. Fong
University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations
Natural products chemistry is the pursuit of bioactive small molecules from living organisms. These can be classified as primary metabolites if they are essential to survival, and secondary metabolites if they are accessory, playing a role in communication, defense, recruitment, etc.. Natural products have made a significant contribution to society – of 1,881 FDA-approved drugs from 1981 to 2019, 4% were pure natural products, 19% were natural products derived, and 3% were synthetic drugs with a natural products pharmacophore targeting a wide range of diseases and infections (Newman & Cragg, 2020). Pharmacophores are structural components of drugs that are responsible …
Epigenetic Buffering In Introduced House Sparrows,
2022
Georgia Southern University
Epigenetic Buffering In Introduced House Sparrows, M. Ellesse Lauer
College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations
Epigenetic buffering, as an environmentally induced increase in variance of epigenetic states that increases phenotypic variation to buffer populations against decreased fitness, may be a factor that resolves the genetic paradox of introduced species. DNA methylation is a molecular mechanism that could facilitate epigenetic buffering by changing in response to environmental stress. Therefore, epigenetic buffering can be detected through increased variance in DNA methylation in novel or heterogeneous environments. Introduced house sparrows (Passer domesticus) have well-documented phenotypic changes with low genetic diversity, high epigenetic diversity, and high variance in DNA methylation that provide a characteristic signature of epigenetic buffering. …
Sources And Therapeutic Strategies Of Mesenchymal Stem Cells In Regenerative Medicine,
2022
The British University in Egypt
Sources And Therapeutic Strategies Of Mesenchymal Stem Cells In Regenerative Medicine, Mohamed M. Kamal, Dina H. Kassem
Pharmacy
During the past decade, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have made their mark as a potential weapon in regenerative medicine. Since their first isolation by Friedenstein in the late 1970s of the last century, MSCs have opened new avenues in the field of regenerative medicine. The main fascination about MSCs lies in their ease of isolation and large ex vivo expansion capacity, as well as demonstrated multipotency and immunomodulatory activities. Basically, several reports have proved that MSCs isolated from different sources possess different characteristics and potentials. In addition, the mechanisms by which these cells can help regenerate tissues and treat several …
Cancer And Quiescence: Investigating How The Dream Complex And Retinoblastoma Regulate The Cell Cycle,
2022
Michigan Technological University
Cancer And Quiescence: Investigating How The Dream Complex And Retinoblastoma Regulate The Cell Cycle, Lydia Rotman
Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports
An estimated 1.9 million people in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer in 2022. Cancer is characterized by uncontrolled cell growth, resulting from loss-of-function of key cell cycle regulatory proteins. The retinoblastoma protein (pRb) and p130, are two proteins that regulate cellular entry into the cell cycle. Both pRb and p130 repress expression of cell cycle genes, with pRb interacting with and suppressing E2F-DP transcriptional activators and p130 assembling in the DREAM transcriptional repressor complex. When normal cells receive signals to enter the cell cycle, cyclin and cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) complexes phosphorylate pRb and p130, causing both to …
Characterization Of Cofilin And Its Potential Role In The Epha4 Pathway,
2022
Eastern Michigan University
Characterization Of Cofilin And Its Potential Role In The Epha4 Pathway, Brian Donald Condron
Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations
EphA4 is a receptor tyrosine kinase that is responsible for cellular adhesion and locomotion using repulsion signaling in early development of Xenopus laevis. EphA4 regulates cellular locomotion by controlling proteins within its signal transduction pathway, which may include the protein cofilin. Cofilin actively severs and removes actin monomers, thus altering the actin cytoskeleton, leading to the cessation of cellular crawl. During the gastrulation phase of embryonic development, individual cells are relocating to create the three primary germ layers of the organism. Failure of this process to occur results in attrition of the embryos, frequently by way of embryonic exogastrulation. …
Alternative Splicing Regulates The Innate Immune Response To Viral Infection,
2022
University of Montana, Missoula
Alternative Splicing Regulates The Innate Immune Response To Viral Infection, Luke A. White
Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a mosquito-borne RNA virus that infects humans and livestock in sub-Saharan Africa and the Arabian peninsula, causing disease ranging from a mild flu-like illness to liver damage, blindness, hemorrhagic fever, death, and, especially in livestock animals, high rates of abortive pregnancies. There is no approved vaccine for RVFV, and as a disease with a high rate of spread that causes severe illness, it is listed as a Category A pathogen by the USA CDC. A better understanding of RVFV’s molecular virology will be instrumental to combating RVFV as climate change causes its mosquito host …
An Integrative Investigation Of The Synechococcus A/B Clade During Adaptive Radiation At The Upper Thermal Limit Of Phototrophy,
2022
University of Montana, Missoula
An Integrative Investigation Of The Synechococcus A/B Clade During Adaptive Radiation At The Upper Thermal Limit Of Phototrophy, Christopher L. Pierpont
Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers
Thermophilic microorganisms have been scientifically observed since the early nineteenth century and have spurred many questions about the limits of life and the capacity of organisms to survive extreme conditions. Decades of research on thermophile proteins and genomes have yielded several proposed correlates of temperature that may contribute to adaptation of bacteria and archaea to high temperature. However, many of the generalizations reported are drawn from analyses of deeply divergent taxa or from individual case studies in isolation from mesophilic relatives. Members of the Synechococcus A/B (SynAB) group are the only cyanobacteria with members able to grow above 65 °C …
Exosomal-Long Non-Coding Rnas Journey In Colorectal Cancer: Evil And Goodness Faces Of Key Players,
2022
Heliopolis University
Exosomal-Long Non-Coding Rnas Journey In Colorectal Cancer: Evil And Goodness Faces Of Key Players, Nehal I. Rizk, Ahmed I. Abulsoud, Mohamed M. Kamal, Dina H. Kassem, Nadia M. Hamdy
Pharmacy
Exosomes are nano-vesicles (NVs) secreted by cells and take part in cell-cell communications. Lately, these exosomes were proved to have dual faces in cancer. Actually, they can contribute to carcinogenesis through epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), angiogenesis, metastasis and tumor microenvironment (TME) of various cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). On the other hand, they can be potential targets for cancer treatment. CRC is one of the most frequent tumors worldwide, with incidence rates rising in the recent decades. In its early stage, CRC is asymptomatic with poor treatment outcomes. Therefore, finding a non-invasive, early diagnostic biomarker tool and/or suitable defender to combat …
Capsaicinoids From Capsicum Annuum As An Alternative Fabh Inhibitor Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis: In Silico Study,
2021
Biotechnology Program, School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bang Khun Thian 10150, Thailand
Capsaicinoids From Capsicum Annuum As An Alternative Fabh Inhibitor Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis: In Silico Study, Gabriella Chandrakirana Krisnamurti, Dewi Ratih Tirto Sari, Yohanes Bare
Makara Journal of Science
The number of tuberculosis (TB) cases worldwide reached 1.5 million in 2018; thus, TB is considered a deadly disease. TB is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and involves lipid synthesis. Considering the importance of lipid metabolism in bacteria, FabH may be an essential protein target for repressing lipid synthesis. Capsaicinoids from Capsicum annuum demonstrate potent antibacterial activity. This study predicted the ability of capsaicinoid compounds to inhibit FabH. In silico analysis was performed by retrieving the structure of FabH from PDB and those of selected capsaicinoid derivatives from PubChem. The compounds were docked using AutoDock Vina in PyRx 0.8 software. The …
