Properties of Disordered Regions of Proteins in RNA Granules

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Description
RNA granules are assemblies of RNA and proteins inside cells that serve multiple roles and functions. Some of the functions they serve in include a variety of organelles such as germ cell P granules, stress granules, and neuronal granules with

RNA granules are assemblies of RNA and proteins inside cells that serve multiple roles and functions. Some of the functions they serve in include a variety of organelles such as germ cell P granules, stress granules, and neuronal granules with diverse functions. Intrinsically disordered domains are abundant in the proteins responsible for RNA granules, and they have been attributed to the formation and degradation of RNA granules through a liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) process. LLPS is typically a reversible process where a homogenous fluid de- mixes into two distinct liquid phases. Here, 47 RNA granule proteins with such disordered regions have been surveyed. These proteins have been simulated using coarse-grained molecular simulations to determine size dependence on temperature change. Upper critical solution temperature (UCST) and lower critical solution temperature (LCST) are phase behaviors that can be calculated using the data gathered for scaling and phase behaviors of these proteins. We discovered that less charged amino acid contents are present in RNA granules in comparison to general disordered sequences. This is in line with the observation that charged amino acids are less preferred for the sequence to phase separate at physiological-relevant temperatures. More interestingly, there seems to be an even mix of sequences contributing to both UCST, LCST, and no phase behaviors and the average temperature dependent behaviors of all these proteins have a relatively weak temperature dependence within the temperature range 300 and 325K. The average suggest that these proteins might collectively contribute to RNA granules in a way that adapts to small temperature fluctuations.
Date Created
2020-05
Agent

Aspirin: Past, Present, and Future

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Description
"Going back as far as the time of Hippocrates, ancient Egyptians, tribal African nations, and many other early civilizations, humans used herbal remedies to treat their ailments. One such remedy was willow bark, used in tea form, to treat rheumatism

"Going back as far as the time of Hippocrates, ancient Egyptians, tribal African nations, and many other early civilizations, humans used herbal remedies to treat their ailments. One such remedy was willow bark, used in tea form, to treat rheumatism and fevers. This remedy was around for many thousands of years, along with other treatments containing salicylates, although this was not understood at the time. As time has gone on, the willow bark tea has been transformed into aspirin as we know it today. In addition to its medicinal uses, aspirin has become versatile in its uses, including use in homemade facial treatments and in the garden. As beneficial as aspirin has been, there are negative consequences to its use, particularly in young children, and it may have strange effects on gender when used by pregnant women. From such humble beginnings, aspirin has been shown to be more than a simple painkiller." Topics discussed in this paper include: the origins of aspirin and its use as a medical treatment, the beginnings of aspirin as it is known today, how aspirin interacts with the body, the specific chemical reactions that occur when aspirin is taken, aspirin as part of a heart health regimen, the possible uses of aspirin in treating cancer, general information about dosages and typical aspirin use, some side effects of aspirin use, and novel uses of aspirin that are not necessarily medical in nature. The beneficial nature of aspirin and the possibilities it presents are discussed alongside information about its potential limitations and negative effects.
Date Created
2017-05
Agent

Development of Antibody-based Therapeutics from Plants to Treat Dental Disease

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Description
Dental caries also known as tooth decay is a bacterial infection that causes demineralization and destruction of enamel dentin and cementum in the tooth. This bacterium, Streprococcus mutans, feeds on the carbohydrates in the mouth and produces lactic acids that

Dental caries also known as tooth decay is a bacterial infection that causes demineralization and destruction of enamel dentin and cementum in the tooth. This bacterium, Streprococcus mutans, feeds on the carbohydrates in the mouth and produces lactic acids that result in dental caries. This thesis discusses the use of plants to produce antibodies, Guy 13 and anti-GTFB to treat this dental disease. We believe these plant-derived antibodies will be effective to treat dental caries and economical to produce.
Date Created
2014-12
Agent

Nature's Gift for Anti-Aging

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Description
Increasing prices of pharmaceutical grade prescription drugs have caused hospitals, insurance companies, and patients to search for alternative methods of treating illness. The pharmaceutical industry must find ways of lowering the costs associated with prescription drugs to avoid further scrutiny,

Increasing prices of pharmaceutical grade prescription drugs have caused hospitals, insurance companies, and patients to search for alternative methods of treating illness. The pharmaceutical industry must find ways of lowering the costs associated with prescription drugs to avoid further scrutiny, increased regulation, and staggering profits. The use of RFID technology will increase transparency of information flow within the supply chain and reduce costs associated with recalls, counterfeits, and expired products. The failure to reduce costs in pharmaceuticals and decreased profits have introduced natural supplements into the market. Without the need for FDA regulation and clinical trials, the pharmaceutical industry has developed supplements with the potential benefits of increasing lifespan. The organic molecule, resveratrol, and its ability to mimic the effects of caloric restriction increasing lifespan in smaller organisms has translated to its use in humans. With the future of increased lifespan and youthful aging, the study of sirtuin activating compounds (STACS) and telomere lengthening will become the future of anti-aging cosmetics.
Date Created
2015-12
Agent