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Structure/Function Analysis of Type IIa Receptor Tyrosine Phosphatases on Drosophila Muscle Integrity
(University of Missouri -- Kansas City, 2018)
The Lar-family of receptor protein tyrosine phosphatases (RPTPs); including
Lar, RPTPσ and RPTPδ, are utilized in signal transduction pathways during neural
development. Fundamentally, the processes of axon guidance ...
A Genetic Screen for Tribbles Suppressors Identifies the E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Neuralized as a Novel Target
(University of Missouri -- Kansas City, 2017)
In this dissertation, I used the Drosophila wing as a model tissue for a genetic screen
to identify novel targets of Tribbles. Drosophila Tribbles is the founding member of a family
of pseudokinases conserved between ...
Hyper-Plastic Structural Evolution Of The PEX Domain - A Model Of Evolutionary Exaptation And Neofunctionalization At The Molecular Level
(University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2017)
With the advent of sophisticated genetic, biophysical and in silico technology an
enormous amount of information is being generated regarding the structural, biochemical and
physiological aspects of proteins. Tertiary ...
Modulation of calcium signaling through direct and indirect actions of polyphenolic phytostilbenes on neuronal calcium channels
(University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2017)
Today in the United States there are 6.5 million people affected by a
neurodegenerative disease. Recent findings hypothesize that calcium dyshomeostasis and
reactive oxygen species contribute to the progression of many ...
Structural Basis for the Regulation of the Ceramide Transfer Protein
(University of Missouri -- Kansas City, 2017)
Ceramide, a central intermediate in sphingolipid metabolism, is synthesized at the
endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and transferred to the Golgi by the ceramide transfer (CERT)
protein for conversion to sphingomyelin (SM). ...
An Investigation into the Effects of Alterations in Ribosomal Proteins S4 and S5 on Translational Accuracy, Ribosomal RNA Processing, and Ribosome Assembly
(University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2016)
Accurate translation of genetic message is an essential step in gene expression and is carried out by the ribosome. Ribosomal proteins S4 and S5 are critical for the decoding and the assembly processes on the ribosome. The ...
Regulation of Antimicrobial Peptide Genes in Insects by the Toll Pathway and NF-kB Transcription Factors
(University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2017)
Insects lack adaptive immunity and solely rely on innate immunity to combat
pathogens. Innate immunity in dipteran and lepidopteran insects mainly depends on two
canonical pathways, the Toll pathway that provides ...
The herpes simplex virus virion host shutoff protein is targeted to mRNA cleavage sites through interactions with components of the host translational apparatus
(University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2011-01-20)
The virion host shutoff protein (Vhs) is a herpes simplex virus (HSV) protein involved in early shutoff of the host cell. It is a component of the infecting virion, located in the tegument region, that works by rapidly ...
3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A lyase: investigation of cysteines mediating intersubunit disulfide formation and regulation by thiol/disulfide exchange and discovery of an extramitochondrial homolog
(University of Missouri -- Kansas City, 2012-01-18)
3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-Coenzyme A lyase catalyzes the cleavage of 3-hydroxy-
3-methylglutaryl-Coenzyme A into acetoacetate and acetyl-Coenzyme A, a key reaction
in ketogenesis and leucine catabolism. Previous work ...
The role of drosophila protein kinase doubletime in circadian period determination, morning and evening oscillators and tauopathy
(University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2012-10-01)
In this dissertation, I used the GAL4-UAS binary expression method to overexpress mutant and wild type forms of the circadian protein kinase DBT in order to address several basic questions about DBT's biological functions. ...
A proteomic approach for studying LTR retrotransposon host factors in saccharomyces cerevisae
(University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2012-01-20)
The Ty retrotransposons of S. cerevisiae are mobile elements that resemble retroviruses, both in their genetic structures and replication cycles. Ty retrotransposition begins in the nucleus with the transcription of Ty ...
Involvement of a specific ubiquitin ligase in the assembly of the dynein motor in the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa
(University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2012-08-27)
Eukaryotic cells utilize multiple molecular motor proteins to accomplish
intracellular transport. The two microtubule based motors, kinesin and cytoplasmic
dynein, work in concert to move cargoes outward and inward, ...
Structural and functional studies of type three secretion virulence factors from gram-negative pathogenic bacteria
(University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2011-12-21)
Many pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria utilize type III secretion systems (TTSS) to alter the normal functions of target host epithelial cells. Of the 1.1 million deaths that are caused by Shigella each year, nearly a third ...
Mating Type Specific Roles During The Sexual Cycle Of Phycomyces Blakesleeanus
(2014)
Phycomyces blakesleeanus is a filamentous fungus that belongs in the order Mucorales. It can propagate through both sexual and asexual reproduction. The asexual structures of Phycomyces called sporangiophores have served ...
Disconnecting a Role for DNA Repair in the Pathogenicity of the Human pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans
(2014)
C. neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen causing fatal meningitis and lung infections. Worldwide every year around 625,000 deaths occur due to Cryptococcosis. A basic understanding of Cryptococcus virulence ...
Determining the differential roles of the dock family of GEFs in drosophila development
(2015-05-19)
The evolutionarily conserved Dock proteins function as unconventional guanine
nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs). Upon binding to ELMO (Engulfment and cell
motility) proteins, Dock-ELMO complexes activate the Rho family ...
Modulation of neuronal ryanodine receptor-mediated calcium signaling by calsenilin
(2013)
Calsenilin is calcium (Ca2+) ion Ca2+ binding protein found in the nucleus, plasma membrane, and endoplasmic reticulum of neuronal cells. Calsenilin was first found to interact with two proteins involved in early-onset ...
The Roles of the Drosophila Protein Tribbles in Oogenesis and Insulin Signaling Pathway
(2015-06-02)
In this dissertation, I examined the molecular mechanism of function of the
Drosophila melanogaster protein Tribbles (Trbl) during oogenesis and larval
development. Trbl is the founding member of an evolutionarily conserved ...
Regulation of Gene Expression by Non-coding RNAs in Arabidopsis and Brachypodium
(2014)
Expansion of high-throughput sequencing technology has increased our understanding
in the importance of pervasive transcription and the resulting indispensable molecules, noncoding
RNAs (ncRNAs). A significant effort has ...
Independent Functions Of Clueless In Differential Integrin Secretion And Mitochondrial Quality Control In Drosophila Muscle
(2015)
Drosophila Clueless (Clu) and its conserved orthologs are known for their role in the prevention of mitochondrial clustering. Here, we uncover its independent roles in the delivery of integrin subunits and the regulation ...