proteins in mammalian PC12
The behaviour of long polyglutamine-containing proteins in mammalian PC12 cells Project report in partial fulfilment for the degree of MSc in Neuroscience August 2008 Janahi Visakan Supervised by Dr Angela Hodges Department Of Neuroscience Institute of Psychiatry King's College London University Of London The behaviour of long polyglutamine-containing proteins in mammalian PC12 cells Abstract Huntington's disease is an autosomal dominant, inherited neurodegenerative disorder induced by a glutamine expansion repeat at the N-terminal end of the huintingtin protein. These N-terminal fragments of huntingtin aggregate in the nucleus and destroy cells. This genetic disorder is accompanied by motor, cognitive, personality changes and psychiatric symptoms. If the number of glutamine residues increase to more than 37, then this induces an adult, onset gradual progressive neurodegeneration known as HD.The genome of D.discoideum, a social amoeba consists of polyglutamine fragments longer than 40 residues. These long polyglutamine fragments do not confer any toxic effects .In addition the genome sequencing of D.discoideum has demonstrated that this organism is able to withstand a large number of proteins containing long polyglutamine stretches. A synthetically generated CAAX repeat construct was clone d into a mammalian expression vector using the gateway system (Invitrogen) to
This experiment was carried out to characterize an enzyme, -amylase by extracting it from the corn. The factors affecting the enzymatic activity of -amylase such as substrate concentration, temperature, pH, ionic strength and inhibitors were inves
Title: Characterization of an enzyme Introduction: Enzyme is a protein molecule that acts as the biological catalyst of chemical reaction where the substrates are converted into products. With the aids of enzyme, the rate of reaction will be increased since the enzyme provides an alternative pathway for reaction by lowering the activation energy needed (Taylor et al., 1997). An enzyme is a tertiary protein with 3 dimensional structure maintained by ionic bonds, hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic interactions and disulphide bridge (Copeland, 2000). It is highly specific as only one type of substrates can bind and catalyze by one type of enzymes. The substrates will bind to a restricted region which is known as the active site which is formed by amino acids with a framework that configures the active site (Campbell & Reece, 2008). For the lock-and-key hypothesis, only substrates which have shapes that are compatible fit to the shape of the active site can be catalyzed by the enzyme while for the induced-fit mechanism, the active site of the enzyme changed its shape to suit the shape of the substrates since the amino acid that determine the shape of the enzyme can mould into a precise shape (Taylor et al., 1997). When the substrates enter the enzyme's active site, they are held together to form a enzyme-substrate complex by hydrogen bonds and ionic bonds. The active site then lowers
Food Science -Experiments to Determine the Properties and Uses of Enzymes in Food Preperation.
I. Introduction Enzymes are protein molecules with a special function. Produced by living cells, they act as catalysts to change the rate of a chemical reaction without actually being used up in the reaction itself. Enzymes catalyze a wide range of reactions in living matter, from the digestion of foods in the digestive tract of animals to most of the complex processes occurring in plant and animal metabolism. Enzymes in plant and animal tissues do not stop functioning when the animal is slaughtered or the plant tissue is harvested. Thus we must deal with enzymatic activity when we handle foods from these sources (Bennion & Scheule, Introductory Foods, 2010). In connection to this, the experiment was conducted with the following objectives: . To demonstrate the influence of temperature on activity of enzymes 2. To know the characteristics of catalases, polyphenoloxidase, peroxidases, and invertase 3. To enumerate the functions of catalases, polyphenoloxidase, peroxidases, and invertase 4. To explain the principle of catalase test, polyphenoloxidase test, peroxidase test, and invertase test 5. To assess the behavior of pectin methyl esterase during processing 6. To explain the implications of PME activity in thermal processing of tomato juice 7. To illustrate the action of proteases on myofibrillar proteins, egg albumin, and gelatin II. Review of Related Literature
Changes in the GRK2 Expressions during Heart Failure
Hasmitaben Patel Student ID: 260114948 EXMD 506: Advanced Applied Cardiovascular Physiology Professor: Terry Hebert Co-Professor: Adel Giaid December 3, 2007 Changes in the GRK2 Expressions during Heart Failure Heart failure (HF) is on the increase as a cause of morbidity and mortality today.1,2,3,4,5 It often co-exists with other etiologies such as hypertension, coronary artery disease and viral cardiomyopathy.1 The heightened activation of the sympathetic neuroendocrine system (SNES) and adrenergic signaling pathway is a conspicuous characteristic, which is reflected by increasing levels of catecholamine (CA), epinephrine (E), and norepinephrine (NE).1,6 In normal physiological conditions, the SNES becomes a crucial regulator of cardiac function during episodes of acute stress or injury.1,6,7 This adaptive process is initiated in order to compensate for decreased contractility.1 In that case the CAs, E, and NE further bind to the myocardial adrenergic receptors (ARs).1,6,8 This process becomes maladaptive, leading to disease progression because cardiac reserves decrease over time.6,9,10 Furthermore, the heart is unable to respond to stress and injury via CAs binding to ARs.1 Therefore, adverse implications are associated with the chronic activation of the SNES in the human heart, which further accelerate cardiac pathology. 6,9,11 In the heart, NE binds to the??1B and
POMC cell function
The Prohormone 'Proopiomelanocortin' (POMC) is involved in several important cell functions. Critically review this statement in terms of its involvement in human pigmentation. A dissertation presented by Rekha Balakrishnan For the BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Sciences In the University of Bradford Division of Biomedical Sciences School of Life Sciences University of Bradford Bradford DATE of SUBMISSION 3rd April 2009 WORD COUNT 4788 TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract 3 Introduction 4 Cell Functions of POMC 8 POMC Derived Peptides 12 The Importance of POMC- derived Peptide............................................... 15 POMC and Pigmentation 17 POMC and Pathology 20 Conclusion 22 Bibliography 25 Abstract This work reviews several important cellular-based functions of proopiomelanocortin (POMC), with emphasis on human skin pigmentation. As melanocortin peptides, PMOC regulates several physiological functions, including skin pigmentation, adrenal and cardiovascular functions, inflammation, energy homeostasis, and exocrine secretion. It also produces an array of biologically active peptides, by means of an extensive, tissue-specific posttranslational process. The skin is a target organ for the actions of POMC and its derived neuropeptides, including ?-melanocyte stimulating hormone (?-MCH), ß-endorphin, and ACTH. This study also surveys diseases associated with
Sameness of Twins
The Sameness of Twins: A Critique of Literature The root word of twinning is twine, suggesting a double thread. This is acknowledged as global human trait and is intrinsically part of what is inherited. The incidence of twinning differs, ranging from 1 out of 30 births among Nigerians, to as rare as 1 in 150 births among Japanese. The distinction between monozygous and dizygous twins lies in the fact that monozygous twins arise from the same ovum, while dizygous twins hail from separate ova (Medawar & Medawar, 1983; Thompson & Thompson, 1980). Figure 1. Formation of identical and fraternal twins. Source: http://www.pennhealth.com/health_info/pregnancy/graphics/images/en/19745.jpg It has been widely acknowledged in biological sciences (Medawar & Medawar, 1983), genetics (King, 1968), and immunology (Humphrey & White, 1970) that monozygous twins are "genetically identical". However, the current paper now comes to question where this identicality ceases. Their differences are attested to by the physical and pathologic distinctions found across empirical studies (Milne, 1976; Osborne & De George, 1959; Schimke, 1978; Stern,1973). Schimke (1978) asserts that these distinctions come from "environmental differences, cytoplasmic differences, equations of heritability versus variability, non-penetrance of the heritable mutant gene, gonadal mutation, and premutation."
Placentals are better adapted to terrestrial life than marsupials and monotremes because they show a greater diversity of locomotory types. Discuss.
Placentals are better adapted to terrestrial life than marsupials and monotremes because they show a greater diversity of locomotory types.
ETHICAL DISCUSSION OF PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS
THE MISSING ETHICAL DISCUSSION IN THE PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH AFRICA'S 1997 LAWSUIT AGAINST THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT Kurt L. Davis Jr. PLCP 581: Final Essay Professor Robert Fatton April 25, 2005 CONTENTS I. Introduction...................................................................2 II. Background and History to the Case....................................5 III. The Ethical Discussion Underlining the Lawsuit.....................13 IV. Conclusion....................................................................19 V. Works Cited..................................................................22 Introduction According to most historians and health researchers, it is generally accepted that the first case of Acquired Immo-Deficiency Syndrome universally known as AIDS was first reported in the United States in 1981. AIDS has been conclusively found to be the result of or alternatively induced by the virus called Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus universally known as HIV. HIV progressively destroys the body's ability to fight infections through the continual annihilation of the body's immune system. Essentially, this means that those HIV infected individuals are placed at risk to a range of cancers and diseases including tuberculosis. HIV/AIDS has gone beyond the bane of relatively small groups such as intravenous drug users and
Bi technology and food security: The clue for a new green revolution?
BITECHNOLOGY AND FOOD SECURITY: THE CLUE FOR A NEW GREEN REVOLUTION? RURAL PRODUCTION SYSTEMS TANIA MARTIN CRUZ APRIL 2002 INTRODUCTION Biotechnology is a new revolution; it has the power to modify DNA in living organisms in order to achieve the required results. With biotechnology genetic engineering has reached a powerful status, it means that human beings can adapt living organisms to their necessities or desires. My goal has been to analyse biotechnology and specifically Genetic Modified Crops (GM crops), to know if they can be the tool for a New Green Revolution. A revolution that will be able to provide food security to the poor in developing countries, to use the potential benefits of biotechnology to prevent hunger and poverty, to improve the nutritional status of food or make them adaptable to specific weather conditions among other properties. To achieve this I have analysed the principal points of view about biotechnology, their objectives, benefits and risks and from this I have developed my own arguments about biotechnology and food security. My assumption and the arguments given are addressed to demonstrate that biotechnology could be a potential tool to improve food security but the actual companies being managed to develop researches on biotechnology are not considering food security as one of the main goals, on the contrary, they are adapting
Restoration Ecology
TABLE OF CONTENTS . INTRODUCTION ........................................................................... 2 2. WHAT IS RESTORATION ECOLOGY ................................................ 3 2.1 Overview .................................................................................... 3 2.2 Restoration ecology definition ............................................................. 4 2.3 Present state .................................................................................. 5 2.4 The need to create a conceptual framework .............................................7 3. RESTORATION ECOLOGY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ........... 8 3.1 How can restoration ecology effectively contribute towards sustainable development? .................................................................. 8 3.2 Projections ................................................................................... 10 4. CASE STUDY: Converting a dairy farm back to a rainforest water catchment .......................... 12 5. RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................... 15 6. CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................. 17 7. LIST OF REFERENCES ................................................................... 18 . INTRODUCTION The problem of ecosystem damage is global nowadays, and probably
