Molecular Genetics Commons^™

Fetal Programming By Nicotine Increases Cardiac Susceptibility To Ischemic Injury, Jennifer Charlotte Alexie Lawrence

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Fetal programming is the area of study that focuses on the prenatal origins of adult onset disorders. Previous studies have associated an adverse prenatal environment with the onset of physiologic and metabolic diseases during adulthood. Fetal malnutrition, hypoxia, and exposure to drugs - such as cocaine and nicotine - have been associated with adult disease states. Cigarette smoking is the number one cause of preventable death in the developed world. Among the many dangerous chemicals found in tobacco products is nicotine, the compound responsible for the addictive nature of tobacco use. Nicotine use during pregnancy is a known cause of …

Regulation Of Pim1 Under Hypoxia In Prostate Cancer, Eva Sahakian

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

A defining characteristic of solid tumors is the capacity to divide and spread under conditions of nutrient deprivation and limited oxygen availability. These microenvironmental stresses arise from structural abnormalities in tumor vessels that lead to aberrant microcirculation. Hypoxia acts as a physiological “selection pressure” in the progression of cancer by activating pathways and enhancing the expression of specific genes in tumor cells which eventually diminish their apoptotic potential. Ultimately, hypoxic microenvironment functions as a “stress factor”, selecting cells with the ability to survive and divide under anoxic conditions. The members of the PIM family of cytoplasmic serine threonine kinases are …

Development Of Representative Species-Level Molecular Markers And Morphological Character Analysis Of Leucothoid Amphipods (Crustacea: Amphipoda), Kristine Nicolle White

Dissertations

Leucothoid amphipods were investigated using morphology and molecular rDNA gene sequence fragments. The morphological diagnostic characters for traditional taxonomy have been clarified, a molecular marker for representative species has been developed, and one of the current anamorph-leucomorph connections has been confirmed with molecular sequence data. Ultimately this study has combined traditional morphological and modern molecular methods to clarify the taxonomy and to propose a preliminary phylogeny of the Leucothoidae. Analysis of 18S rDNA gene fragments from 13 species in two genera supported the current morphological species designations and the separation of the family into two clades. Combined analysis of 18S …

Molecular Analysis Of Trypanosoma Cruzi Isolates Obtained From Raccoons (Procyon Lotor) In Warren And Barren Counties Of Kentucky, Lipeng Bi

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, infects a variety of wild mammals in the southern United States, but it has only recently been isolated from raccoons trapped in the state of Kentucky. The purpose of the present study was to use a molecular genotyping approach, followed by DNA sequencing to determine the genotypes (type I, or types IIa-IIe) of 15 of the Kentucky isolates. DNA samples were prepared from 15 T. cruzi- isolates using a Qiagen mini kit, and PCR amplification was performed using published primers for the 24S α rDNA sequence (D71 and D72), the …

Xenobiotic Metabolism Genes And Clubfoot, Amy M. Sommer

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Idiopathic or isolated clubfoot is a common orthopedic birth defect that affects approximately 135,000 children worldwide. It is characterized by equinus, varus and adductus deformities of the ankle and foot. Correction of clubfoot involves months of serial manipulations, castings and bracing, with surgical correction needed in forty percent of cases. Multifactorial etiology has been suggested in numerous studies with both environmental and genetic factors playing an etiologic role. Maternal smoking during pregnancy is the only common environmental factor that has consistently been shown to increase the risk for clubfoot. Moreover, a positive family history of clubfoot and maternal smoking increases …

Validation Of The Activation Of Aurora B Kinase By Caenorhabditis Elegans To Usled-Like Kinase And The Identification Of Cyclin B3 As A Phospho-Specific Tlk-1 Interactor, Gary Michael Deyter

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

A hallmark of tumorigenesis and certain birth defect syndromes is the loss of ploidy that can result from incorrect chromosome segregation. Chromosomes that are not partitioned properly during mitosis are often fragmented, changing the genetic makeup of daughter cells. Inheriting extrachromosomal fragments that contain cell survival genes or losing chromosomal loci that encode tumor suppressors can promote tumor development. Thus, it is essential to elucidate molecular mechanisms required for correct chromosome segregation. Chromosomes are connected to mitotic spindle microtubules by way of a proteinacous, chromosome-bound organelle called the kinetochore. Two decades of research have confirmed that the conserved Aurora B/AIR-2 …

The Role Of Ecdysone Signaling In Fat-Body Tissue Remodeling And Pupal Metabolism, Nichole Dinell Bond

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Holometabolous insects undergo an astonishing transition during their development. During metamorphosis, the larva dramatically changes form and becomes an adult fly. During this process obsolete larval tissues must be eliminated, while tissues required for further development are retained and often remodeled to meet the needs of the adult fly. Tissue remodeling is characterized by morphological changes of the cells in a tissue mass. In many cases, remodeling is characterized by dissociation of the tissue mass, releasing cells to move freely around the body cavity. This process is also common in wound healing and is a key feature of human disease …

Analysis Of Variation In Clubfoot Candidate Genes, Audrey R. Ester

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Isolated clubfoot, a common birth defect occurring in more than 135,000 livebirths worldwide each year, is associated with significant health care and financial burdens. Clubfoot is defined by forefoot adduction, hindfoot varus, midfoot cavus and hindfoot equinus. Isolated clubfoot, which is the focus of these studies, is distinct from syndromic clubfoot because there are no other associated malformations. Population, family, twin and segregation analysis studies provide evidence that genetic and environmental factors play an etiologic role in isolated clubfoot. The studies described in this thesis were performed to define the role of genetic variation in isolated clubfoot. Interrogation of a …

Molecular Analysis Of B3galtl In A Patient With Peters' Plus Syndrome, Taiyabah Naeem

Undergraduate University Honors Capstones

Chromosomal rearrangement such as microdeletions or microduplications, which can alter the dosage of one or more genes, are commonly seen in patients with multiple congenital anomalies (MCA). Alternatively, the discovery of a microdeletion may sometimes uncover an autosomal recessive disorder if the gene on the non-deleted allele carries a mutation. This study reports molecular analysis of a patient with MCAs, including an enlarged head, developmental delay, clouding of the corneas, and short stature. Peters Plus Syndrome (PPS) is characterized as an autosomal recessive disorder. Phenotypical symptoms include various eye abnormalities and structural organ defects. The B3GGALTL has been found to …

The Rho Family Gtpase: Determining Gef Specificity Through Recombinant Expression, Farrah Steinke

Honors Capstones

Capstone submitted as a graduation requirement for the BSU Honors Program.

Quasispecies-Like Behavior Observed In Catalytic Rna Populations Evolving In A Test Tube, Carolina Diaz Arenas, Niles Lehman

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: During the RNA World, molecular populations were probably very small and highly susceptible to the force of strong random drift. In conjunction with Muller's Ratchet, this would have imposed difficulties for the preservation of the genetic information and the survival of the populations. Mechanisms that allowed these nascent populations to overcome this problem must have been advantageous.

Results: Using continuous in vitro evolution experimentation with an increased mutation rate imposed by MnCl2, it was found that clonal 100-molecule populations of ribozymes clearly exhibit certain characteristics of a quasispecies. This is the first time this has been seen …

Structural Dynamics And Signaling Roles Of The Aer Pas And F1 Regions, Asharie J. Campbell

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The Aer aerotaxis receptor in Escherichia coli mounts such a rapid response to redox that E. coli changes its swimming behavior within 100 ms after an oxygen pulse. This receptor is a membrane-bound homodimer, and it monitors internal energy (redox) via an FAD cofactor bound to a cytoplasmic N-terminal PAS domain. Understanding PAS sensing is important, as PAS domains comprise a superfamily of more than 25,000 members from all kingdoms. This study focused on the Aer N-terminal PAS sensor, as well as the region tethering it to the membrane anchor, known as the F1. Previous genetic studies on these regions …

Proteomic Analysis Of Iron Acquisition, Metabolic And Regulatory Responses Of Yersinia Pestis To Iron Starvation, Rembert Pieper, Shih-Ting Huang, Prashanth P. Parmar, David J. Clark, Hamid Alami, Robert D. Fleischmann, Robert D. Perry, Scott N. Peterson

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: The Gram-negative bacterium Yersinia pestis is the causative agent of the bubonic plague. Efficient iron acquisition systems are critical to the ability of Y. pestis to infect, spread and grow in mammalian hosts, because iron is sequestered and is considered part of the innate host immune defence against invading pathogens. We used a proteomic approach to determine expression changes of iron uptake systems and intracellular consequences of iron deficiency in the Y. pestis strain KIM6+ at two physiologically relevant temperatures (26°C and 37°C).

RESULTS: Differential protein display was performed for three Y. pestis subcellular fractions. Five characterized Y. pestis …

Implications Of The Plastid Genome Sequence Of Typha (Typhaceae, Poales) For Understanding Genome Evolution In Poaceae, Mary M. Guisinger, Timothy W. Chumley, Jennifer V. Kuehl, Jeffrey L. Boore, Robert K. Jansen

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of the Sciences

Plastid genomes of the grasses (Poaceae) are unusual in their organization and rates of sequence evolution. There has been a recent surge in the availability of grass plastid genome sequences, but a comprehensive comparative analysis of genome evolution has not been performed that includes any related families in the Poales. We report on the plastid genome of Typha latifolia, the first non-grass Poales sequenced to date, and we present comparisons of genome organization and sequence evolution within Poales. Our results confirm that grass plastid genomes exhibit acceleration in both genomic rearrangements and nucleotide substitutions. Poaceae have multiple structural rearrangements, including …

Development Of Protocols For Tissue Culture And Mutagenesis In Two Variegated Sansevieria Sp., Irmawati Akma Abdul Hapiz

Student Works (2010-2019)

Studies were conducted to develop the tissue culture protocol and mutagenesis through Gamma ray irradiation for two variegated Sansevieria species known as Sansevieria trifasciata var. Laurentii (goldband Sansevieria) and Sansevieria trifasciata var. Hahnii (birdnest Sansevieria). Seven combinations of BAP and NAA were chosen which are represented by letter A= 1.00 mg/I BAP, B = 1.00 mg/I BAP + 0.25 mg/I NAA, C = 2.00 mg/I BAP + 0.50 mg/I NAA, D = 2.00 mg/I BAP + 1.00 mg/I NAA, E = 3.00 mg/I BAP + 1.00 mg/I NAA, F = 4.00 mg/I BAP + 1.00 mg/I NAA and G = …

Molecular Identification Of Arowana Species Based On Cytochrome B And Cytochrome C Oxidase I (Coi) / Maryam Zahedi Fard, Maryam Zahedi Fard

Student Works (2010-2019)

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers has been widely used to better resolve the taxonomic identification as well as display the genetic relatedness of different species and closely related fish. The highly cost ornamental fish, Asian arowana (Scleropages formosus) of family Osteoglossidae has different colored strains that are geographically distributed in different regions around Southeast Asia. The taxonomic classification of these different strains still remains unclear and disputable. The partial sequences of the cytochrome b and the DNA barcoding gene, cytochrome C oxidase were analyzed and assessed for molecular identification; to differentiate the colored varieties of this species. The results of this …

Molecular Characterization And Expression Analysis Of Putative Rpk1 And Putative Clv1 In Malaysian Indica Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) Cv.Mr219 And Malaysian Wild Rice (Oryza Rufipogon) Irgc105491., Law Yee Song

Student Works (2010-2019)

Two candidate yield-related genes, putative Receptor-like Protein Kinase 1 (putative RPK1) and putative CLAVATA1 Receptor Kinase (putative CLV1), were selected for molecular characterization and expression analysis. This was carried out using in four rice lines comprising the parents and two BC₂F₇ lines from a local rice breeding program, with Malaysian rice variety, Oryza sativa ssp. indica cv. MR219 as recurrent parent, and Oryza rufipogon (IRGC105491) as donor parent. Approximately 2.8 kb and 2.6 kb putative RPK1 cDNA nucleotide sequences were obtained from Oryza rufipogon and Oryza sativa ssp. indica cv. MR219 respectively. However, only 402 …

Characterization Of Microrna172 And Its Potential Target In Oil Palm (Elaeis Guineensis Jaq.), Fatemeh Mehrpooyan

Student Works (2010-2019)

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) is the world’s major perennial monocot crop and contributes highly to the economies of South East Asia. As the oil palm fruit is the source of the main economic output for this crop, floral development is a critical process related to oil palm productivity. miR172 has been shown to be an important regulator of the AP2 family transcription factors involved in floral timing in a number of plants and belongs to a group of highly conserved miRNA that can be identified based on sequence homology. Six oil palm miR172 paralogs, representing two distinct mature miR172 sequences, …

Phylogeographical Patterns Of Neobalanocarpus Heimii (Dipterocarpaceae) For The Evolutionary History And Chain Of Custody Certification., Tnah Lee Hong

Student Works (2010-2019)

Tectonic movement and climatic oscillations during the Cenozoic have had dramatic effect on the biota of the tropical rain forest. This study aims to reveal the phylogeography and evolutionary history of a Peninsular Malaysian endemic tropical timber, Neobalanocarpus heimii (Dipterocarpaceae), based on chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) variation. Fifteen haplotypes were identified from 10 intraspecific variable sites of five non-coding cpDNA regions: trnL intron, trnS-trnG spacer, trnG intron, trnK intron and psbK-trnS spacer. Two major genealogical cpDNA lineages of N. heimii were elucidated: a widespread southern and a northern region. The species is predicted to survive in multiple refugia during climatic oscillation: …

Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus-Pcr (Eric-Pcr) Analysis Among Raw Vegetables Isolates Of Campylobacter Jejuni., Tuan Suraya Tuan Soh

Student Works (2010-2019)

A total of 20 (n=20) raw vegetable isolates of Campylobacter jejuni were examined for the presence of virulence genes and genetic diversity using enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus-polymerase chain reaction (ERIC-PCR) analysis. All C. jejuni isolates were obtained from the laboratory of Food Science and Biotechnology, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor. When specific PCR amplification were determined, all raw vegetables isolates of Campylobacter jejuni contained cadF and ceuE genes. Whereas, 12 (12/20) isolates were positive cdtB and 6 (6/20) were positive cdtC. None of the C. jejuni isolates was cdtA positive. Using ERIC-PCR analysis, all 20 isolates of C. jejuni were …