P53 Dimers Elicit Unique Tumor Suppressive Activities Through An Altered Metabolic Program,
2023
The Texas Medical Center Library
P53 Dimers Elicit Unique Tumor Suppressive Activities Through An Altered Metabolic Program, Jovanka Gencel-Augusto
Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)
p53 is the most frequently mutated tumor suppressor in human cancer. As a tetrameric transcription factor, mutation of the p53 Tetramerization Domain (TD) is a mechanism by which cancers abrogate wild-type (WT) p53 function. p53 TD mutations result in a protein that preferentially forms monomers or dimers. These are also normal p53 states under basal cellular conditions. Although it is accepted that tetrameric p53 is required for full tumor suppressive activities, the physiological relevance of monomeric and dimeric states of p53 is not well understood. We have established in vivo models for monomeric and dimeric p53 which model Li-Fraumeni Syndrome …
Past And Present Patterns Of Neutral And Adaptive Genetic Diversity In Wild Mandrills (Mandrillus Sphinx),
2023
University of New Orleans
Past And Present Patterns Of Neutral And Adaptive Genetic Diversity In Wild Mandrills (Mandrillus Sphinx), Anna Weber
University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations
Although primates have fascinated researchers and the public alike for generations, one species that has remained enigmatic is the mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx), a large Cercopithecine monkey endemic to Central Africa. Mandrills are currently in decline due to bushmeat hunting, urbanization, and habitat loss. Neutral and adaptive genetic diversity are important tools for understanding evolutionary history and future viability, since diversity influences a species’ ability to adapt to a changing environment. However, thus far, minimal genetic information has been available for wild mandrills. Because of the dense vegetation in their tropical forest habitat, studying wild mandrills has proven to …
Integrating Omim And Intact Data For The Analysis Of Gene-Phenotype Interactions In Complex Diseases: A Linux-Based Computational Tool For Network Analysis,
2023
Clemson University
Integrating Omim And Intact Data For The Analysis Of Gene-Phenotype Interactions In Complex Diseases: A Linux-Based Computational Tool For Network Analysis, Devin Keane
All Theses
The field of genetics is constantly evolving. New advances in bioinformatics and computational approaches are leading to exciting new developments in our ability to treat and prevent diseases. Computational genetics provides valuable insights into the complex mechanisms and layers of biological communication that shape an organism's phenotype. Understanding these mechanisms is critical to advancing human health.
The study of diseases in genetics requires a comprehensive understanding of the interactions between various biological processes, including gene expression, protein synthesis, RNA, metabolism, and cell-cell communication. To effectively address the root causes of such diseases, multi-disciplinary approaches that integrate information from different levels …
Clustering And Analysis Of G Quadruplex Sequences.,
2023
University of Louisville
Clustering And Analysis Of G Quadruplex Sequences., Aryan Neupane
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
G quadruplex structures are secondary structures located throughout the genome of various organisms with involvement in regulatory functions in different transcription, translation, genome stability, epigenetic regulation as well as cell division. Even with the diverse acknowledgement of G4 structure in vivo, there are no current search tools for G quadruplexes based on already identified G quadruplexes and identified families across different genomes based on sequence diversity. Construction of families of G4 sequences and identifying their polymorphisms within disease and disorders will lead to a better understanding of their functional roles and will further research into the biophysical modeling of interactions …
Methyltransferase, Glucose Adaptation, And Import Complex In Trypanosoma Brucei,
2023
Clemson University
Methyltransferase, Glucose Adaptation, And Import Complex In Trypanosoma Brucei, Emily Knight
All Dissertations
Trypanosoma brucei is a kinetoplastid parasite responsible for human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) and nagana, a livestock wasting disease, which both endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. Unique to kinetoplastids are the specialized peroxisomes, named glycosomes, which compartmentalize the first several steps of glycolysis and gluconeogenesis, nucleotide sugar biosynthesis, and many other metabolic processes. Kinetoplastids are unique in that they have a single mitochondrion. In this work, I present the first study into SET domain proteins in any kinetoplastid parasites. We have characterized a predicted SET domain protein, TbSETD3, that localizes to the mitochondrion and a depletion of the protein results in growth …
Acetate Metabolism In The Fungal Pathogen Cryptococcus Neoformans,
2023
Clemson University
Acetate Metabolism In The Fungal Pathogen Cryptococcus Neoformans, Oly Ahmed
All Dissertations
Cryptococcus neoformans is an environmental basidiomycetous fungus with a worldwide distribution and a wide range of habitats. Inhalation of the desiccated yeasts or spores of C. neoformans often leads to opportunistic pulmonary infections in immunocompromised individuals, and in severe cases causes lethal meningitis following hematogenous dissemination. During infection, depending on the tissue and disease state, the invading fungi experience a range of nutrient microenvironments within the host body. As a result, rapid metabolic adaptations geared towards efficient utilization of carbon sources alternative to glucose become one of the prime determinants of survival and growth for the pathogen. Incidentally, cryptococcal infection …
Development Of A Novel Environmental Dna (Edna) Tool For Monitoring Vulnerable Freckled Guitarfish, Pseudobatos Lentiginosus, In The Western Central Atlantic,
2023
The University of Southern Mississippi
Development Of A Novel Environmental Dna (Edna) Tool For Monitoring Vulnerable Freckled Guitarfish, Pseudobatos Lentiginosus, In The Western Central Atlantic, Sarah Toepfer
Honors Theses
Rhino-rays are the most threatened group of elasmobranchs, having experienced widespread declines due to mortalities in fisheries and habitat degradation. Within the Western Central Atlantic, there are two extant species of Rhino-rays, the Critically Endangered Smalltooth Sawfish, Pristis pectinata, and the Vulnerable Freckled Guitarfish, Pseudobatos lentiginosus. Although there is research committed to P. pectinata in this region, less is known about the distribution status of P. lentiginosus. Over the past 50 years, P. lentiginosus have undergone a presumed range contraction in U.S. waters; once found from North Carolina to Texas, and historically common in the north central …
Pirna Expression In Regenerative Tissue Of Octopus Bimaculoides,
2023
The University of Southern Mississippi
Pirna Expression In Regenerative Tissue Of Octopus Bimaculoides, Bailey Ervin
Honors Theses
Tissue regeneration is present in varying capacities across the animal kingdom. Animals such as Hydra and planarians have the capacity to regenerate entire bodies from extremely small sections of amputated tissue. Others, such as humans, have restricted capacities of regeneration, especially in terms of full appendages and specialized tissues such as cardiac and nervous tissue. One of the primary goals of studying regeneration in other organisms is to achieve the development of regenerative medicine. Interaction of P-element induced WImpy testis (PIWI) proteins and PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) have been implicated in germline genome maintenance, as well as transposable element silencing. Research …
Reconstructing Mutational Lineages In Breast Cancer By Multi-Patient-Targeted Single Cell Dna Sequencing,
2023
The Texas Medical Center Library
Reconstructing Mutational Lineages In Breast Cancer By Multi-Patient-Targeted Single Cell Dna Sequencing, Jake Leighton
Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer with high rates of metastasis and recurrence, where TNBC patients have a poor 5-year survival and ~50% are non-responsive to chemotherapy. Aneuploidy is a cancer hallmark that is pervasive in over 90% of breast cancer patients and is indicative of complex genomic rearrangements that are acquired during tumor initiation. Although copy number aberrations have been extensively studied in relation to aneuploidy and TNBC initiation, little is currently known regarding the timing and impact of single nucleotide variants (SNVs) contributing to these early transformative genomic events. Paramount to novel …
Urbanization Affects Web Abundance And Aggregation Of A Funnel‑Weaving Spider, Agelenopsis Pennsylvanica (Agelenidae),
2023
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Urbanization Affects Web Abundance And Aggregation Of A Funnel‑Weaving Spider, Agelenopsis Pennsylvanica (Agelenidae), Brandi J. Pessman, Madison Hays, Earl Agpawa, Eileen Hebets
Eileen Hebets Publications
Animals distribute themselves within habitats based on a variety of environmental conditions, including those impacted by urbanization. Suspected global declines in urban arthropod biodiversity have required that we examine how urban conditions affect the distribution of this ecologically important group. Throughout North America, funnel-weaving spiders (Agelenidae) are prevalent across urban habitats and actively choose sites to build webs. We compared Agelenopsis pennsylvanica abundance and distribution between two distinct urban habitats: an urban center (university campus) and an urban forest (city park). These urban habitats differed significantly in features like plant diversity and proximity to roads and highways. We searched along …
Pirna Expression In The Tube Feet Of Lytechinus Variegatus,
2023
The University of Southern Mississippi
Pirna Expression In The Tube Feet Of Lytechinus Variegatus, Reagan Milliet
Honors Theses
Tissue regeneration is an area of research with implications for medicine and animal health. While nearly all living multi-cellular organisms are capable of regeneration, there are major differences in the animal kingdom. Some organisms are capable of regenerating virtually every cell in their bodies. In hopes of engineering tissue regeneration for medical applications, the mechanisms by which organisms regenerate are being widely investigated. To better understand regeneration, the role of P-element Induced WImpy testis (PIWI) proteins are being evaluated. In collaboration with PIWIinteracting RNAs (piRNAs), PIWI proteins have been proven instrumental to transposon silencing and maintenance of the genome in …
Investigating The Role Of Spatial Compartmentalization And Genomic Translocations In Metastatic Cancer: A Multi-Omic Analysis,
2023
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Investigating The Role Of Spatial Compartmentalization And Genomic Translocations In Metastatic Cancer: A Multi-Omic Analysis, Joshua Harris Garretson
Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects
No abstract provided.
Development Of Three Novel Edna Assays For Detecting Coastal Sharks,
2023
Coastal Carolina University
Development Of Three Novel Edna Assays For Detecting Coastal Sharks, Kristina Dawn Flanigan
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis is an emerging, non-invasive community monitoring tool. This study aimed to determine if eDNA methods can be reliably used in a large brackish, partially mixed estuary by developing and testing three novel eDNA primers, for Sandbar Sharks (Carcharhinus plumbeus), Blacknose Sharks (Carcharhinus acronotus), and Bonnetheads (Sphyrna tiburo). These primers were designed to target 109, 156, and 120 base pair (bp) fragments, respectively, of the highly conserved NAD2 gene in the mitochondrial genome of each species. Primer function was validated through testing against 102 known genomic source samples and 25 filtered water samples from aquaria in which …
A Dna-Peptide Crosslink (Dpc) Increases Mutagenicity In Sos-Induced Escherichia Coli,
2023
University of Connecticut
A Dna-Peptide Crosslink (Dpc) Increases Mutagenicity In Sos-Induced Escherichia Coli, Alessandra Bassani
Honors Scholar Theses
Bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, have an inducible system in response to DNA damage termed the SOS response. This system is activated when the replicative DNA polymerase (Pol) III encounters a lesion, uncouples from DNA helicase, and single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) accumulates at the replication fork. In this study, we investigated DNA-peptide crosslink (DpC), a common lesion that results from cross-linking of proteins or peptides, UV irradiation, and alkylating agents. To increase survival following formation of a lesion, the SOS response can utilize homologous recombination, translesion synthesis (TLS), or excision repair. With TLS, the levels of DNA Pol II, IV, …
Understanding The Relationship Between B Chromosomes And Nondisjunction In Drosophila Melanogaster,
2023
University of Connecticut
Understanding The Relationship Between B Chromosomes And Nondisjunction In Drosophila Melanogaster, Ayushi Patel
Honors Scholar Theses
B chromosomes are supernumerary, heterochromatic genetic elements that are found in hundreds of different plant and animal species. Recently, B chromosomes were discovered in a stock of Drosophila melanogaster and are carried at a high copy number of 10-12 B chromosomes per cell. B chromosomes are not known to carry any active genes, but when placed in a wild-type genetic background, they cause a significant increase in the frequency of chromosome 4 missegregation during meiosis. This project aimed to understand the relationship between a female’s B chromosome copy number and how often she passes on too many (or too few) …
Molar Macrowear As A Proxy For Age In A Captive Sample Of Papio Hamadryas,
2023
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Molar Macrowear As A Proxy For Age In A Captive Sample Of Papio Hamadryas, Lauren Conrad
Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses
This study is methods-focused, centering around molar crown macrowear and its performance as a proxy for age in a sample of pedigreed, non-human primates. It analyzes the correlation between age-structured variables and molar wear among both males and females in a captive group of baboons. Here, I examined whether wear is significantly correlated with age-related variables (i.e., generations/cohorts) and whether the structure of the “age” dataset differed across wear categories. Because chronological age is unknown, I used documented pedigrees and parent-offspring relationships to group individuals into possible generations. I then used dental development charts to group individuals into cohorts based …
Dynamic Transcriptomic Responses Of Circulating Immune Cells In Response To Subsequent Days Of Exercise Heat Stress,
2023
University of Connecticut
Dynamic Transcriptomic Responses Of Circulating Immune Cells In Response To Subsequent Days Of Exercise Heat Stress, Soohyun Oh
University Scholar Projects
Acute exercise and chronic training have diverse effects on immune function that are still not well understood. There are remaining questions about how an acute bout of exercise, competition, or repeated training over a period affects an individual’s immune defense system. In a related study, there is evidence that acute exercise may serve as an adjuvant to enhance response to immune function as well as contradicting evidence, including our preliminary data (unpublished). Understanding the fundamental function and gene expression of circulating immune cells in response to acute exercise and in various contexts such as heat stress is critical in understanding …
Assesment Of Structure, Function, And Microevolutionary Dynamics Of Extrachromosomal Circular Dna In Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells,
2023
Clemson University
Assesment Of Structure, Function, And Microevolutionary Dynamics Of Extrachromosomal Circular Dna In Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells, Dylan Chitwood
All Dissertations
Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines are among the most popular expression hosts used in biopharmaceutical manufacturing due to relative ease of culture, capacity to perform human-like post-translational modifications, and non-susceptibility to viruses. However, the intrinsic plasticity of the CHO genome can lead to undesired genetic rearrangements, phenotypic shifts, reduced product quality, and early culture termination that prevents continuous biomanufacturing. A characteristic of plastic and unstable genomes that is poorly understood in CHO cells is extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA). EccDNAs are focal amplifications of the genome that reside in the extranuclear space. These plasmid-like entities are structurally complex and are …
Validating A New In Vivo Model To Study Als,
2023
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
Validating A New In Vivo Model To Study Als, Izabela J. Cimachowska
Student Theses and Dissertations
Buildup of oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are well known characteristics of both sporadic and hereditary amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). While both forms of the disease seem to arise from common cellular dysfunction, the genetic disease is studied to a much greater extent. Engineering novel animal models of the sporadic form of the disease is crucial for development of druggable targets to treat ALS and understand the underlying mechanisms. Interestingly, accumulation of oxidative stress by exacerbated emission of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from presynaptic mitochondria is a hallmark of both hereditary and sporadic ALS. Previous work by our laboratory showed …
Application Of Machine Learning Approaches To Empower Drug Development,
2023
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Application Of Machine Learning Approaches To Empower Drug Development, Yue Shen
Doctoral Dissertations
Human health, one of the major topics in Life Science, is facing intensified challenges, including cancer, pandemic outbreaks, and antimicrobial resistance. Thus, new medicines with unique advantages, including peptide-based vaccines and permeable small molecule antimicrobials, are in urgent need. However, the drug development process is long, complex, and risky with no guarantee of success. Also, the improvements in techniques applied in genomics, proteomics, computational biology, and clinical trials significantly increase the data complexity and volume, which imposes higher requirements on the drug development pipeline. In recent years, machine learning (ML) methods were employed to support drug development in various aspects …
