Browsing Biochemistry Graduate Theses (July 2007 - Sept 2016) by Publish Date
Now showing items 1-20 of 82
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Structural determination and functional annotation of ChuS and ChuX, two members of the heme utilization operon in pathogenic Escherichia coli O157:H7
(2007-07-05)For pathogenic microorganisms, heme uptake and degradation is a critical mechanism for iron acquisition that enables multiplication and survival within hosts they invade. While the bacterial proteins involved in heme ... -
Regulation of inflammation by the Fps/Fes protein tyrosine kinase
(2007-09-17)Fps/Fes and Fer are members of a distinct subfamily of cytoplasmic protein tyrosine kinases that have recently been implicated in the regulation of innate immunity. Previous studies showed that mice lacking Fps/Fes are ... -
The Influence of Copper Binding on the Stability of the SCO Protein from Bacillus subtilis
(2007-09-25)Every aerobic organism expresses cytochrome c oxidase to catalyze reduction of molecular oxygen to water, and takes advantage of this energy releasing reaction to produce an electrochemical gradient used in cellular energy ... -
NMR and Biophysical Studies of Modular Protein Structure and Function
(2007-09-28)Proteins modularity enhances the multi-functionality and versatility of proteins by providing such properties as multiple and various ligand-binding sites, increased ligand affinity through the avidity effect, and the ... -
A novel TAFIa assay and its use to measure TAFI activation in vivo in primate models and the determination of the kinetics of TAFIa-catalyzed release of bound plasminogen from soluble fibrin degradation products
(2007-10-11)Thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI), also called procarboxypeptidase U (proCPU), is a plasma zymogen that can be activated by thrombin, the thrombin-thrombomodulin complex, or plasmin. The activated form ... -
A Study of the Roles of Selected Arginine and Lysine Residues of TAFI in Its Activation to TAFIa by the Thrombin-Thrombomodulin Complex
(2008-02-01)Thrombin-activatable Fibrinolysis Inhibitor (TAFI) is a 60 kDa plasma protein that can be activated to the enzyme, TAFIa, by thrombin, plasmin or trypsin. TAFIa is a carboxypeptidase B-like enzyme that attenuates fibrinolysis. ... -
A Quantitative Investigation of Selected Reactions in the Fibrinolytic Cascade
(2008-02-01)Previous work has shown that thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) was unable to prolong lysis of purified clots in the presence of Lys-plasminogen (Lys-Pg), indicating a possible mechanism for fibrinolysis ... -
The Calpain Protease Active Site: A Target for Inhibitor and Activity-Based Probe Design
(2008-09-04)The calpain family of intracellular Ca2+-dependent cysteine proteases is involved in a number of intracellular signaling processes. Calpain hyperactivity has also been implicated in ischemic injury, neurodegenerative ... -
CALPAIN: TRANSITIONING FROM THE USE OF THE PROTEASE CORE TO THE FULL-LENGTH ENZYME FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIFIC SUBSTRATES AND INHIBITORS
(2008-09-27)Calpains are a family of calcium-dependent cysteine proteases involved in intracellular signaling. They participate in many normal cellular processes such as cell motility and apoptosis but when over-activated they contribute ... -
A Novel Role for Calpain 4 in Podosome Assembly
(2008-09-27)Podosomes are adhesive and invasive structures which may play an important role in numerous physiological and pathological conditions including angiogenesis, atherosclerosis, and cancer metastasis. Recently, the cysteine ... -
Structural and functional studies of bacterial protein tyrosine kinases
(2008-09-27)While protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) have been extensively characterized in eukaryotes, far less is known about their emerging counterparts in prokaryotes. Studies of close to 20 homologs of bacterial protein tyrosine ... -
COVALENT LIPOPROTEIN(A) ASSEMBLY: Characterization of Oxidase Activity Responsible for Catalyzing Covalent Lipoprotein(a) Assembly
(2008-12-02)Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) has been identified as an emerging risk factor for the development of vascular diseases. The Lp(a) particle is assembled in a 2-step process upon secretion of the LDL and apo(a) components from ... -
Fps/Fes Kinase Regulates Cytoskeletal Reorganization and Migration of Mast Cells
(2009-01-29)Mast cells are granulocytes that require signaling from the receptor protein-tyrosine kinase Kit and its ligand stem cell factor (SCF) for their maturation and function. In addition to providing growth and survival signals, ... -
The type I antifreeze protein gene family in Pleuronectidae
(2009-02-02)Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) protect marine teleosts from freezing in icy seawater by binding to nascent ice crystals and preventing their growth. It has been suggested that the gene dosage for AFPs in fish reflects the ... -
Functional Characterization of TAFI mutants Resistant to Activation by Thrombin, Thrombin-Thrombomodulin or Plasmin
(2009-02-03)Thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) is a human plasma zymogen that acts as a molecular link between the coagulation and fibrinolytic cascades. TAFI can be activated by thrombin and plasmin but the reaction ... -
Studies of Coagulation and Fibrinolysis
(2009-09-04)The mechanism and regulation of prothrombinase function in the activation of prothrombin and prethrombin-1 were studied. In addition, the kinetics of plasmin-mediated fibrin degredation were determined. First, the mechanism ... -
Size Matters: The Influence of Isoform Size on the Intracellular Processing of Apolipoprotein(a)
(2009-09-23)High plasma concentrations of Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) have been identified as a risk factor for a variety of atherogenic disorders such as cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, and coronary heart disease. ... -
THE ROLE OF LIPOPROTEIN(a)/APOLIPOPROTEIN(a) IN ENDOTHELIAL DYSFUNCTION: MECHANISTIC STUDIES IN VASCULAR ENDOTHELIUM
(2009-09-24)Multiple lines of evidence suggest that elevated plasma lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) concentrations are a significant risk factor for the development of a number of vascular diseases including coronary heart disease and stroke. ... -
EFFECTS OF Apolipoprotein(a) ON VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL CELL FUNCTION: INSIGHTS INTO POSSIBLE PHYSIOLOGICAL AND/OR PATHOLOGICAL ROLES FOR Lipoprotein(a)
(2009-09-25)Numerous studies have identified that elevated plasma concentrations of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] are an emerging risk factor for a variety of atherothrombotic disorders. Apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)], the unique glycoprotein ... -
Secretion and Antifibrinolytic Function of TAFI from Human Platelets
(2009-09-26)Thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) is a human plasma-derived zymogen that is activated through proteolytic cleavage by thrombin, thrombin in complex with thrombomodulin, or plasmin. Active TAFI attenuates ...