Molecular Biosciences Dissertations and Theses: Recent submissions
Now showing items 181-200 of 270
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Protein structure prediction and structure-based protein function annotation
(University of Kansas, 2011-12-31)Nature tends to modify rather than invent function of protein molecules, and the log of the modifications is encrypted in the gene sequence. Analysis of these modification events in evolutionarily related genes is important ... -
STRUCTURAL MODELING OF PROTEIN-PROTEIN INTERACTIONS USING MULTIPLE-CHAIN THREADING AND FRAGMENT ASSEMBLY
(University of Kansas, 2011-12-31)Since its birth, the study of protein structures has made progress with leaps and bounds. However, owing to the expenses and difficulties involved, the number of protein structures has not been able to catch up with the ... -
THE DYNAMIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LANGERHANS CELLS AND INTRAEPIDERMAL NERVE FIBERS IN THE MOUSE AND RAT FOOTPAD
(University of Kansas, 2011-12-31)Skin disorders are often associated with immune and nervous system dysfunction. Intraepidermal nerve fibers (IENFs) detect mechanical, thermal, and noxious stimuli. Although immune cells such as mast and T cells can alter ... -
The Escherichia coli RhaS Transcriptional Activator: Transcriptional Activation by the DNA-Binding Domain, The Interdomain Effector Response, and Negative Autoregulation
(University of Kansas, 2012-05-31)The chapters herein are the accepted manuscript versions of articles that were published independently in scholarly research journals. They have been combined and submitted in fulfillment of the thesis requirement for a ... -
The interaction of ICAM-1 with LFA-1: intercellular signaling and implication in type I diabetes
(University of Kansas, 2012-05-31)T lymphocytes are cells that play an essential role in both the regulation and activation of an immune response. The T cells role is two-fold: they migrate to an inflammatory site by interacting with endothelial cells ... -
CORTICO-MUSCLE ENCODING: EVOKING PRINCIPLES OF CORTICO-MUSCLE CONNECTIVITY WITH RL-ICMS
(University of Kansas, 2011-12-31)The specific aims of this study focus on three interrelated issues utilizing long-duration intracortical microstimulation (RL-ICMS) to elicit the organization and function of the rhesus macaque primary motor cortex (M1). ... -
Structural, Functional and Computational Characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Siderophore Biosynthetic Pathway Accessory Proteins PchB and PvdA
(University of Kansas, 2012-05-31)To survive and establish infections in host tissues, pathogens must compete with the host organism for iron. One strategy for iron acquisition is to excrete iron-chelators, called siderophores, with very high affinity to ... -
MUTACIN IV PRODUCTION IN STREPTOCOCCUS MUTANS UA159: CHARACTERIZATION, REGULATION, AND MECHANISM OF SELF-IMMUNITY
(University of Kansas, 2012-05-31)Streptococcus mutans, an oral pathogen, is considered as a principle etiological agent of dental caries. To colonize successfully in the oral cavity, this organism encounters fierce competition with other oral microbiota ... -
Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 in T cell differentiation and as a target for peptide therapy of type 1 diabetes
(University of Kansas, 2012-05-31)CD4+ T cells are essential for proper function of the immune system. Many facets of an immune response are dependent on help from CD4+ T cells to become activated and exhibit effector function. Memory CD4+ T cells are a ... -
Evolutionary divergence in proteins: experimental and theoretical studies on the stability and electrochemical properties of cytochrome b5
(University of Kansas, 2012-05-31)Cytochrome b5 (CYB5) is a small ubiquitous heme binding protein whose biochemical function is electron transfer. Two isoforms of CYB5 are found in mammals, which are named based on their specific subcellular localization. ... -
SUMOylation in cell death: SUMO E3 ligase PIAS1 plays a critical role in determining cell survival following UV stress
(University of Kansas, 2012-08-31)SUMO modification of proteins plays an important role in many cellular processes such as DNA replication, DNA repair, stress response, transcriptional regulation, signal transduction, cell cycle regulation, differentiation ... -
Quantitative Genetic Mapping of Life History Traits in Drosophila melanogaster
(University of Kansas, 2012-08-31)While it has long been established that populations of animals harbor substantial natural genetic variation for life history traits, an understanding of the location, effect, and frequency of naturally occurring alleles ... -
EXERCISE-INDUCED ORGAN PROTECTION IN A MURINE MODEL OF CARDIAC ARREST AND RESUSCITATION
(University of Kansas, 2012-08-31)Cardiac arrest causes whole-body ischemic injury and cell death. Successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation paradoxically confounds recovery by increasing the rate of cellular death and tissue damage through global reperfusion ... -
MODULATION OF THE NF-KAPPA B SIGNALING PATHWAY BY THE BACTERIAL TYPE III SECRETION SYSTEM EFFECTORS
(University of Kansas, 2012-08-31)The type III secretion system (T3SS) is a bacterial injection system expressed by many Gram-negative bacteria. During the last two decades, the repertoire of T3SS effectors has been greatly explored, and several mechanisms ... -
MIND-DEPENDENT CONFORMATIONAL CHANGES IN MINE REGULATE THE MIN OSCILLATION
(University of Kansas, 2012-05-31)The min system comprised of MinC, MinD, and MinE in Escherichia coli ensures that cell division occurs at the midcell position by preventing the assembly of FtsZ into a Z-ring at the poles. MinD is a member of the deviant ... -
PROBING THE LIPOPROTEIN SECRETION PATHWAY IN BORRELIA BURGDORFERI
(University of Kansas, 2012-05-31)The bacterial agent Borrelia burgdorferi causes Lyme disease, a debilitating inflammatory disease and a major public health issue in the United States and around the world. Early studies of B. burgdorferi pathogenesis ... -
ROLE OF AN ABC TRANSPORTER COMPLEX IN VIOLOGEN TOLERANCE IN STREPTOCOCCUS MUTANS
(University of Kansas, 2011-05-31)The gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus mutans is the primary causative agent in the formation of dental caries in humans. To persist in the oral cavity, S. mutans must be able to tolerate rapid and substantial environmental ... -
Genetic Contributions of desatF and eloF to Courtship Mating Behavior and Cuticular Hydrocarbon Production in Drosophila simulans and D. sechellia
(University of Kansas, 2011-12-31)Sexual isolation occurs between Drosophila simulans and D. sechellia due to differences in cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) productions. A wide variety of hydrocarbons are produced, but D. simulans males and females predominantly ... -
Exploring Novel Properties of Adenomatous Polyposis Coli: Msi1-Knockout Mice Display Alterations in APC and Intestinal Cell Homeostasis; Topoisomerase IIa Binds to Truncated APC in Human Colon Cancer Cells
(University of Kansas, 2011-12-31)Abstract Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) is the initiating mutation in 80% of all colorectal cancers. Our lab is focused on ... -
The Influence of Hydrophobic Mismatch on Structure and Dynamics of Transmembrane Helices and Lipid Bilayers
(University of Kansas, 2011-12-31)Membrane proteins with one or a few transmembrane (TM) helices are abundant and often involved in important TM-included signaling and regulation through formation of hetero- and homo-oligomers. Especially, solid-state NMR ...