Creating An In-Vitro Co-Culture Model Of Human Megakaryocytic-Erythroid Progenitors And Endothelial Cells,
2023
University of Connecticut
Creating An In-Vitro Co-Culture Model Of Human Megakaryocytic-Erythroid Progenitors And Endothelial Cells, Clerin John
Holster Scholar Projects
Previous studies have suggested that endothelial cells promote red blood cell (RBC) production in human bone marrow, which has implications for improved treatments for anemia, cancer, and reproduction. However, investigation of this phenomenon is hindered by a dearth of studies that have successfully isolated primary endothelial cells from human bone marrow. Using flow cytometry, magnetic cell separation, and primary cell culture techniques we tested the hypothesis that adult bone marrow-derived endothelial cells can be isolated from previously frozen bone marrow samples by selecting for CD144+ expressing cells and culturing them in vitro. Magnetic cell separation utilizing the marker CD144 to …
Investigating The Effects Of Paraquat On Kidney Disease Biomarkers In Hek293 Cells,
2023
University of Central Florida
Investigating The Effects Of Paraquat On Kidney Disease Biomarkers In Hek293 Cells, Zounaira Shahzad
Honors Undergraduate Theses
Farmworkers in Apopka, FL, have been subjected to overhead pesticide exposure since the 1940s. Pesticides including Paraquat (PQ), Metribuzin and Aldicarb were sprayed onto the field while farmworkers worked. In "Fed Up: The High Cost of Cheap Food," farmworkers recalled the physical toll these conditions took on their bodies, blaming pesticides for their diseases, such as chronic kidney disease (CKD). While established that pesticides, specifically PQ, may be involved in some forms of Parkinson's disease, no explicit connection has been identified for SLE, CKD, and other diseases experienced by farm workers. This study evaluated whether pesticides could contribute to kidney …
Dcaf14 Regulates Cdt2 To Promote Set8-Dependent Replication Fork Protection,
2023
University of South Florida
Dcaf14 Regulates Cdt2 To Promote Set8-Dependent Replication Fork Protection, Neysha Tirado-Class, Caitlin Hathaway, Anthony Nelligan, Huzefa Dungrawala
Molecular Biosciences Faculty Publications
DDB1- and CUL4-associated factors (DCAFs) CDT2 and DCAF14 are substrate receptors for Cullin4–RING E3 ubiquitin ligase (CRL4) complexes. CDT2 is responsible for PCNA-coupled proteolysis of substrates CDT1, p21, and SET8 during S-phase of cell cycle. DCAF14 functions at stalled replication forks to promote genome stability, but the mechanism is unknown. We find that DCAF14 mediates replication fork protection by regulating CRL4CDT2 activity. Absence of DCAF14 causes increased proteasomal degradation of CDT2 substrates. When forks are challenged with replication stress, increased CDT2 function causes stalled fork collapse and impairs fork recovery in DCAF14-deficient conditions. We further show that stalled fork protection …
Otud5 Limits Replication Fork Instability By Organizing Chromatin Remodelers,
2023
University of South Florida
Otud5 Limits Replication Fork Instability By Organizing Chromatin Remodelers, Angelo De Vivo, Hongseon Song, Yujin Lee, Neysha Tirado-Class, Anthony Sanchez, Sandy D. Westerheide, Huzefa Dungrawala, Younghoon Kee
Molecular Biosciences Faculty Publications
Proper regulation of replication fork progression is important for genomic maintenance. Subverting the transcription-induced conflicts is crucial in preserving the integrity of replication forks. Various chromatin remodelers, such as histone chaperone and histone deacetylases are known to modulate replication stress, but how these factors are organized or collaborate are not well understood. Here we found a new role of the OTUD5 deubiquitinase in limiting replication stress. We found that OTUD5 is recruited to replication forks, and its depletion causes replication fork stress. Through its C-terminal disordered tail, OTUD5 assembles a complex containing FACT, HDAC1 and HDAC2 at replication forks. A …
The Identification Of Two M20b Family Peptidases Required For Full Virulence In Staphylococcus Aureus,
2023
University of South Florida
The Identification Of Two M20b Family Peptidases Required For Full Virulence In Staphylococcus Aureus, Nathanial James Torres, Devon Rizzo, Maria A. Reinberg, Mary-Elizabeth Jobson, Brendan C. Totzke, Jessica K. Jackson, Wenqi Yu, Lindsey Neil Shaw
Molecular Biosciences Faculty Publications
We have previously demonstrated that deletion of an intracellular leucine aminopeptidase results in attenuated virulence of S. aureus. Herein we explore the role of 10 other aminopeptidases in S. aureus pathogenesis. Using a human blood survival assay we identified mutations in two enzymes from the M20B family (PepT1 and PepT2) as having markedly decreased survival compared to the parent. We further reveal that pepT1, pepT2 and pepT1/2 mutant strains are impaired in their ability to resist phagocytosis by, and engender survival within, human macrophages. Using a co-infection model of murine sepsis, we demonstrate impairment of dissemination and survival …
S-Acylation Is A Key Regulator Of Orai1/Stim1-Mediated Store-Operated Calcium Entry In T Cells,
2023
The Texas Medical Center Library
S-Acylation Is A Key Regulator Of Orai1/Stim1-Mediated Store-Operated Calcium Entry In T Cells, Savannah J. West Diaz
Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)
Orai1 and STIM1 proteins are the essential components of the Ca2+ release activated Ca2+ (CRAC) channel which is required for store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) in T cells and subsequent signaling events leading to T cell activation, proliferation, and differentiation. Plasma membrane (PM)-localized Orai1 is the pore-forming subunit of the CRAC channel, and STIM1 is the Ca2+ sensor localized to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane in quiescent T cells. T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation leads to depletion of ER Ca2+ stores resulting in Ca2+ no longer being bound to STIM1. This activates STIM1 by triggering …
Investigating Smooth Muscle Myosin Dynamics And Assembly In Physiology And Pathology,
2023
Loyola University Chicago
Investigating Smooth Muscle Myosin Dynamics And Assembly In Physiology And Pathology, Maggie Bennett
Dissertations
Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) surround many blood vessels throughout the body,where they dynamically alter vessel diameter to regulate blood pressure, provide structural integrity, and absorb shock on a beat-to-beat timescale. As smooth muscle function fails, profound vascular disease ensues, often with tragic results- even death. Smooth muscle myosin 2 (SM2) is the dominant motor protein that actuates contractility and allows SMCs to perform these vital functions. To function, SM2 monomers dynamically assemble into filaments, which upon SMC activation, associate with filamentous actin to drive contractility. Despite the critical contribution of SM2 to SMC function, foundational aspects of SM2 assembly …
Assessing The Roles Of Myc And Egr1 In Endoderm Differentiation,
2023
Belmont University
Assessing The Roles Of Myc And Egr1 In Endoderm Differentiation, Sadaf R. Shahebrahimi, Joseph Nguyen, Kyra Skye Thomas, Erick Spears
Science University Research Symposium (SURS)
The Wnt signaling pathway is evolutionarily conserved from fruit flies to humans. Strongly associated with development and embryonic morphogenesis, it is known to be required for early endoderm and later hindgut development in mammals. In adults, the Wnt signaling pathway is required for the proper maintenance of the intestinal epithelium and mutations in critical Wnt signaling pathway components are initiating events in the development of essentially all colorectal cancers. An important target gene whose expression is upregulated by Wnt signaling pathway activation is the oncogene MYC. This gene produces a transcription factor whose typical cellular role is to stimulate …
Testing Ssa4:Ade3 Reporters For Mcs Screening,
2023
Belmont University
Testing Ssa4:Ade3 Reporters For Mcs Screening, Karah Edmonds, Rebecca Adams
Science University Research Symposium (SURS)
In eukaryotic cells, after transcription, mRNA is escorted from the nucleus to the cytoplasm to be translated. This process, called mRNA export, is essential for gene expression. However, when the cell exists in stressful conditions, mRNA export becomes regulated, and only select transcripts, including the stress-responsive SSA4 mRNA, can be exported. This project aims to uncover the mechanism of selective SSA4 mRNA export by generating a reporter that enables phenotypically visible expression under stressful conditions. Specifically, the ADE3 ORF was placed under the regulatory sequence of SSA4, which was anticipated to induce a red color for colonies only following stress. …
Epigenetic Regulation Of Insect Development,
2023
University of Kentucky
Epigenetic Regulation Of Insect Development, Yaoyu Jiao
Theses and Dissertations--Entomology
Insects undergo a series of distinct life stages such as egg, larva and pupa to develop into mature adults capable of reproduction throughout their life cycle. In the larval stage, insects experience the fastest growth with voracious feeding and multiple cuticle shedding resulting in hundreds-of-fold increasing of size. During metamorphosis, insects stop increasing body size but go through dramatic tissue transformation, developing wings and other adult features. The characteristic mode of insect development, especially the metamorphosis, makes insects the most successful group of animals on the earth. However, the epigenetic mechanisms behind insect development remain elusive. Studying the epigenetic regulation …
Parental Instincts: The Neurological And Biological Factors Associated With Parenthood,
2023
Gardner-Webb University
Parental Instincts: The Neurological And Biological Factors Associated With Parenthood, Jared Reeder
Undergraduate Honors Theses
The following project involves a systematic review of the scientific literature on neural and biological changes of mothers and fathers in parenthood. Until very recently, little scientific research was devoted to studying how bearing children affects a man or woman’s long-term biology. Over the last twenty years, studies of neuroplastic changes in new mothers show specific neural mechanisms responsible for altering the behaviors of mothers during and after pregnancy. These changes in neuroplasticity alter behavior in such a way that led to mothers requiring less sleep and being more prone to hearing the cries of their children. In addition to …
The Effect Of E-Cigarette Vape On Oral Cell Proliferation Using 3d Spheroids As A Preclinical Model,
2023
University of Central Florida
The Effect Of E-Cigarette Vape On Oral Cell Proliferation Using 3d Spheroids As A Preclinical Model, Vikram Chinnaiyan
Honors Undergraduate Theses
E-cigarettes have recently become increasingly popular, especially amongst middle and high school students. Although they are marketed as safer alternatives to tobacco cigarettes, they produce toxic metals and carcinogenic nitrosamines. This thesis studies the effects of e-cigarette aerosol on the growth and proliferation of oral epithelial cells because the consequences of vaping, including a potential risk for aberrant growth leading to cancer, are not well understood. Cells were grown in matrigel, causing the formation of three-dimensional spheroids modeling the physiological architecture of the oral epithelium. Those spheroids were chronically exposed to vape with different treatment conditions to study the functional …
Dna Methylation And The Response To Infection In Introduced House Sparrows,
2023
Georgia Southern University
Dna Methylation And The Response To Infection In Introduced House Sparrows, Melanie Gibson
College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations
Epigenetics is the study of molecular modification of a genome without changing its base pairs. The most studied type of epigenetic mechanism is DNA methylation, which is capable of turning a gene “on” or “off.” Epigenetic potential is the capacity to which an individual can have methylation on its genome. The more CpGs available, the greater the epigenetic potential. In invasive species, genetic variation has been observed to be paradoxical: not much of it exists on a genomic level, but epigenetically, phenotypic variation can occur. The focus on shift in gene expression in this study is on Toll-Like Receptor 4 …
Combined 3d Bioprinting And Tissue-Specific Ecm System Reveals The Influence Of Brain Matrix On Stem Cell Differentiation,
2023
Old Dominion University
Combined 3d Bioprinting And Tissue-Specific Ecm System Reveals The Influence Of Brain Matrix On Stem Cell Differentiation, Martina Zamponi, Peter A. Mollica, Yara Khodour, Julie S. Bjerring, Robert D. Bruno, Patrick C. Sachs
School of Medical Diagnostics & Translational Sciences Publications
We have previously shown that human and murine breast extracellular matrix (ECM) can significantly impact cellular behavior, including stem cell fate determination. It has been established that tissue-specific extracellular matrix from the central nervous system has the capacity to support neuronal survival. However, the characterization of its influence on stem cell differentiation and its adaptation to robust 3D culture models is underdeveloped. To address these issues, we combined our 3D bioprinter with hydrogels containing porcine brain extracellular matrix (BMX) to test the influence of the extracellular matrix on stem cell differentiation. Our 3D bioprinting system generated reproducible 3D neural structures …
Gene Expression Under Combined Hypoxia And Acidosis In Chondrosarcoma,
2023
Old Dominion University
Gene Expression Under Combined Hypoxia And Acidosis In Chondrosarcoma, Michael Stacey, Kostika Vangjeli, Christopher Osgood
Bioelectrics Publications
Chondrosarcomas are the second most common cause of bone cancer and are removed surgically with wide margins. On recurrence, they are resistant to chemo and radiation therapy and new treatment options are critically required. This tumor type produces hyaline cartilage, a cartilage normally formed under hypoxic and acidic environment due to lack of vasculature in cartilage. Paradoxically, chondrosarcomas arise in the well vascularized, oxygen rich environment of the bone. Hypoxia and acidosis are two stressors where the cellular effects are typically reported separately even though cells experience combined effects of hypoxia and acidosis. Given the mechanistic links between hypoxia and …
The Role Of Myocardin In The Progression Of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer,
2023
University of Texas at Tyler
The Role Of Myocardin In The Progression Of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Soromidayo Akinsiku
Biotechnology Theses
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the world and NSCLC accounts for 85% of all lung cancer cases. The mainstay of treatment for patients with stage I, II and IIIA NSCLC is surgery, followed by post-operative cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Additional adjuvant therapy involving targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors has been in use, however even for the targeted therapy, resistance eventually develops. Therefore, there is a need for identifying novel targets for this life-threatening disease. Given that preliminary studies in Ikebe lab revealed that myocardin knockdown significantly promoted caspase-3 degradation, in this study, using myocardin siRNA, we investigated the …
Development And Biological Evaluation Of Selective Small-Molecule Inhibitors Of The Human Cytochrome P450 1b1,
2023
University of Kentucky
Development And Biological Evaluation Of Selective Small-Molecule Inhibitors Of The Human Cytochrome P450 1b1, Austin Hachey
Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry
The human cytochrome P450 1B1 (CYP1B1) is an emerging target for small- molecule therapeutics. Several solid tumors overexpress CYP1B1 to the degree that it has been referred to as a universal tumor antigen. Conversely, its expression is low in healthy tissues. CYP1B1 may drive tumorigenesis through promoting the formation of reactive toxins from environmental pollutants or from endogenous hormone substrates. Additionally, the expression of CYP1B1 in tumors is associated with resistance to several common chemotherapies and with poor prognoses in cancer patients. However, inhibiting CYP1B1 with small molecules has been demonstrated in cellular and murine model systems to reverse this …
Characterization Of Parp1-Dependent Poly-Adp-Ribosylation Of Sprtn,
2023
South Dakota State University
Characterization Of Parp1-Dependent Poly-Adp-Ribosylation Of Sprtn, Quincee Simonson
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
DNA-protein crosslinks (DPCs) are a type of DNA lesion that form when proteins become covalently linked to DNA. It is estimated that replicating cells experience approximately 6,000 DPCs per day per genome during exponential growth (Ruggiano & Ramadan, 2021). If left unrepaired, DPCs can be lethal to cells. For this reason, cells have evolved multiple pathways to repair or bypass DPCs to survive. One such pathway involves SPRTN, a nuclear metalloprotease that plays a key role in the repair of DPCs through direct proteolysis (Lopez-Mosqueda et al., 2016; Vaz et al., 2016). Once SPRTN degrades the bulky protein component of …
Revolutionary Advances In The Treatment Of Genetic Disease,
2023
University of New Hampshire, Durham
Revolutionary Advances In The Treatment Of Genetic Disease, Emma Kaitlyn Carrigan
Honors Theses and Capstones
No abstract provided.
Targeting Stat3 In Triple Negative Breast Cancer Using Gsk3Ꞵ And Integrin Inhibitors,
2023
University of New Hampshire, Durham
Targeting Stat3 In Triple Negative Breast Cancer Using Gsk3Ꞵ And Integrin Inhibitors, Emily A. Pratt
Honors Theses and Capstones
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer and is known for its chemoresistance and high rate of recurrence. TNBC lacks the hormone receptors that are found in other types of breast cancer, and therefore cannot be treated with hormonal therapies. Although the initial response to chemotherapy is favorable, many TNBC patients experience a recurrence of this cancer at a secondary location and this recurrence is often more lethal than the original tumor. The Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT) pathway is a major contributor to cancer growth and metastasis, and STAT3 is constitutively …
