Biochemistry Honors Theses and Research Papers
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Biochemistry is the basic science which has as its goal an explanation of life processes in physical and chemical terms. Founded in 1883, today's Department of Biochemistry emphasizes cellular regulation, molecular genetics, protein structure, hormone action, virology, and developmental biology. The undergraduate biochemistry major fits the needs of both the student who wishes to terminate training at the B.S. level, and the student planning on graduate or professional school study. It serves as an excellent background for medical or veterinary school, and for graduate study in such fields as biochemistry, biology, bacteriology, genetics, molecular biology and oncology.
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Recent Submissions
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Analysis of StAR RNA Splicing and Lipid Droplets Composition in MA10 Cells Under Different Stimuli
(2023)Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) is a transport protein which plays a key role in steroidogenesis. Different pathways can activate StAR transcription. cAMP activates PKA which phosphorylates CREB. PKA also ... -
Determining the requirement for viral DNA amplification in mediating the reorganization of cellular chromatin during the Epstein-Barr virus lytic cycle
(2023)We have uncovered how Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) induces the reorganization of cellular chromatin (ROCC), where host chromatin is compacted and marginated within the nucleus. We tested the role of EBV lytic DNA amplification ... -
Investigating Fyv6’s role in splicing through RNA sequencing and selective protein depletion
(2023)Splicing of pre-mRNAs is an essential process for regulation of eukaryotic gene expression. Splicing is carried out by the spliceosome, a highly dynamic complex. Mutations within the spliceosome are responsible for various ... -
EGFR Signaling Promotes Invadosome-Mediated 3-D Axon Outgrowth
(2021)During development, axons and dendrites (collectively known as neurites) extend from neuron cell bodies to form appropriate synaptic connections, using secreted and cellsurface ligands as guides (Lowery & Vactor, 2009). ... -
Essential Amino Acids have Additive Effects on TORC1 in Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cells (MAC-T)
(2021)Milk proteins are produced in mammary epithelial cells from amino acids (AA). Excess AA that are not used for protein synthesis are excreted by the cow as nitrogenous (N) waste products through urine. Excretion of N waste ... -
The Apoptotic Role of Cpeb1 in INS-1 Cells
(2022)The dedifferentiation of pancreatic (3-cells commonly occurs in the pathogenesis of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The (3-cell identity undergoes unique changes depending on the diabetogenic stress that is encountered. ... -
Testicular degeneration in a rat model expressing p.R106C TFG
(2021)Despite a majority of proteins depending on the early secretory pathway for export, the precise role of this machinery in development and maintenance of tissue architecture is largely unknown. The p.R106C mutation in ... -
Minicircle-Derived scn8ab Kock-In Reporter Line Provides a Model to Study Neuronal Regulation of Zebrafish Fin Regeneration
(2022)Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of regenerative zebrafish will advance fundamental knowledge of tissue regeneration. Our previous study identified scn8ab, which encodes a voltage-gated sodium channel, ... -
Angiopoietin-2 Levels increase following Oxygen Glucose Deprivation (OGD) and Reperfusion in Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells
(2022-02)Stroke is a leading cause of death, as onset induces an innate immune response using Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), which promotes inflammation and blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability. TLR4 is a receptor for high-mobility ... -
Defining the molecular determinants required for RNA binding functions of the Bicaudal-C (Bicc1) translational repressor protein
(2020-05)Bicaudal-C (Bicc1) is an RNA binding protein that functions as translational repressor in all animal species. Its repression activities are required for a multitude of biological processes such as guiding the earliest steps ... -
Improving the Production of Terpenes by Recombination of 1-Deoxy-D-Xylulose 5-Ph
(2020-05)None provided -
Novel insight into the patterns of in vitro short abortive RNA release by Escherichia coli RNA polymerase
(2020-05)E. coli RNA polymerase (RNAP) catalyzes prokaryotic transcription with the σ70 specificity factor, which directs the binding of RNAP to promoter DNA. RNAP operates on the promoter to form an open complex. In transcription ... -
Investigation of the Genome-Wide Distribution of Histone Variant H3.3
(2020-05)Epigenetic regulation via loci-specific deposition of variant histone proteins is important for genome stability and regulation of gene expression. Replication-independent histone variant H3.3 has been implicated in ... -
Functional changes in gut microbiota across the hibernation cycle of Ictidomys tridecemlineatus examined by stable isotope-assisted labeling
(2018-06-12)The hibernation cycle of the 13-lined ground squirrel, which includes fasting during winter months, drives changes in taxonomic composition of the gut microbiota. This study employs stable isotope-assisted labeling (SlAL) ... -
Effects of Manganese on (p)ppGpp Homeostasis in Bacillus subtilis
(2018-06-12)The bacterial nucleotide signal (p )ppGpp is an important signal for stress survival, antibiotic tolerance, and virulence in common pathogens. In addition, the group 7 metal manganese has been implicated in having critical ... -
Neuronal Ensemble Reactivation in the CA3 Hippocampal Region in Memory Formation due to Pattern Completion
(2017-06-13)The hippocampus functions in many memory processes; not only is it essential to the storage of new memories, but the retrieval of associated memories as well. A postulate of memory recollection called pattern completion, ... -
Predicting and Interpreting the Hofmeister Effects of Different Salts with Nucleic Bases and Aromatic Compounds Using Solubility Assay
(2017-06-13)The interaction between salts and nucleic acid bases or aromatic compounds plays an important role in noncovalent biopolymer assembly processes such as DNA and RNA helix formation and protein-nucleic acid interactions. The ...