Research Fellows Theses
Recent Submissions
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Muff, Rebecca A. (August 30, 2008)[more][less]
Abstract: Russia’s women have had a difficult time finding a voice in literature until as recently as the 1980s. With this new voice, many women writers have countered the widespread gender assumptions inherent in patriarchal Russian culture. This essay explores how four contemporary Russian women authors— Ludmilla Petrushevskaya, Nina Sadur, Tatyana Tolstaya, and Ludmila Ulitskaya—challenge binary gender stereotypes, particularly those concerning women. Each author has uniquely rejected a prescribed definition of ‘woman’ in her prose, and together the four authors form a literary rebellion against stereotypical notions of femininity. URI: http://handle.tamu.edu/1969.1/85752 Files in this item: 1
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Tilford, Sarah (August 24, 2008)[more][less]
Abstract: During pregnancy in the mouse, extensive communication takes place between the conceptus (embryo/fetus and associated extraembryonic membranes) and uterus. Our focus centers on the uterine response to the conceptus. In ruminants, the conceptus produces interferon tau that induces interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) which likely regulate uterine receptivity, conceptus implantation, and conceptus growth and development. Our hypothesis is that ISGs are similarly induced in uterus during pregnancy in the mouse. If ISGs have a critical role in pregnancy establishment and maintenance in mammals, it is important to identify these ISGs in order to address fertility issues in human medicine. In this research, in situ hybridization analysis of uteri during gestation in the mouse was conducted to understand cell specific expression of selected ISGs during pregnancy. Of the fifteen ISGs investigated, ten (Irf1, Irf2, Irf6, Irf7, Isg15, Oas2, Plscr1, Stat1, Rsad2, Tlr4) were found to be expressed in the uterus during pregnancy. URI: http://handle.tamu.edu/1969.1/85750 Files in this item: 1
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Chateau, Morgan (August 24, 2008)[more][less]
Abstract: Chromosomal DNA in our cells is wrapped around a histone protein octomer like thread on a spool, forming a structure called a nucleosome. Series of nucleosomes form the nuclear chromosomes found in all eukaryotic organisms. Modifications to histone proteins can change how accessible chromosomal DNA is to protein complexes that act on DNA. DNA sequences that are inaccessible are called silent chromatin and regions that can’t be transcribed are subject to “gene silencing.” Proper gene silencing is necessary for normal cell development and regulation. Incorrect or missing histone modifications can cause the loss of gene silencing and uncontrolled gene expression similar to the situation in cells of patients with cancer or leukemia. My project focuses on a histone modifying complex COMPASS. COMPASS is composed of eight proteins, one of which is the histone H3 methyltransferase Set1. There are seven Set1 homologs in yeast and over 60 Set1-like proteins in humans, including MLL, which is known to be associated with human leukemia. Previous studies have shown that Set1 and most COMPASS proteins are essential for gene silencing at the ribosomal DNA locus (rDNA) in yeast. The SET domain is the active site of the Set1 histone methyltransferase, where methyl groups are covalently attached to the fourth lysine residue (K4) of histone H3. My goal is to investigate the effect of six individual amino acid substitutions in the SET domain of Set1; Y967A, I972A, Y993A, H1017L, Y967F, and G951A, on histone H3 methylation and gene silencing. These altered Set1 proteins are being expressed in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Using Western blots and marker genes, the effect of these mutations are compared to wild type Set1. My data show that there are defects in histone H3 methylation in the amino acid substitution variants of Set1. In five of the mutants there is a complete loss of H3K4 methylation. In the future, we will determine if these altered Set1 proteins are assembled into the COMPASS complex. By characterizing the catalytic domain of Set1 using amino acid substitution variants, we will acquire a better understanding of the related proteins in humans. URI: http://handle.tamu.edu/1969.1/85749 Files in this item: 1
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Owen, Joshua (August 3, 2008)[more][less]
Abstract: The emergence of multidrug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) has intensified efforts to discover novel drugs for tuberculosis (TB) treatment. Targeting the persistent state of Mtb, a condition in which Mtb is resistant to conventional drug therapies, is of particular interest. Persistent bacteria rely on metabolic pathways that are distinct from active infection Mtb as the environmental conditions of the persistent state are different (e.g., low nutrient). Because persistent Mtb are forced to survive in a low nutrient environment, a short, two enzyme pathway that becomes heavily utilized and upregulated is the glyoxylate shunt. Since the glyoxylate shunt enzymes are not present in mammals, they make attractive drug targets. We are studying malate synthase (MS), one of the enzymes in the glyoxylate shunt. We used computational, biochemical, and cellular techniques to identify potential inhibitors of MS. Crystal structures of MS in complex with inhibitors were used to rationally design better MS inhibitors. MS inhibitors validated via an enzyme activity assay, were then tested against whole cells using a non-pathogenic form of mycobacteria, Mycobacterium smegmatis. In this manner, inhibitors against MS have been identified and characterized for further development into potential novel antitubercular drugs. URI: http://handle.tamu.edu/1969.1/85728 Files in this item: 1
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Minarcik, Jennifer (August 3, 2008)[more][less]
Abstract: Previous studies have shown that for many couples, the transition to parenthood is accompanied by a marked decline in relationship satisfaction and individual functioning. However, there is substantial variability in couples’ reactions to the birth of their first baby, with some couples even showing improvements in relationship and individual functioning. Previous research demonstrates that two important risk factors for declines in relationship satisfaction after the birth of the couple’s first child are whether the pregnancy was planned and whether the couple would like to be having a child at this time. Other studies have shown that individual risk factors (e.g., depression) and other relationship predictors (e.g., not being married) can also lead to measurable declines for couples after the transition to parenthood. However, despite the seeming overlap of these risk factors with pregnancy characteristics, previous research has not examined whether having an unplanned/undesired pregnancy is independent of the other individual and relationship risk factors. Therefore, the present study examines whether there is a relation between the type of pregnancy and the individual and relationship risk factors examined in previous literature. Participants included 175 heterosexual couples along with 18 women and 5 men whose partners did not participate. As part of a larger study offering interventions to first-time parents, couples responded to flyers, community boards, and pamphlets placed in doctors’ offices as well as announcements made in childbirth classes. Participants who contacted the study were asked a series of questions over the phone to gather more information about the individual, their relationship, and their pregnancy to see if they were eligible for this larger study; the present study utilizes this data collected over the phone. One-way ANOVAs and Chi Squares were used to analyze the data. The present study will determine whether having an unplanned or undesired pregnancy can be assumed to be a risk factor for subsequent relationship deterioration in its own right or whether it may be confounded with other individual and relationship risk factors. If it is indeed an independent risk factor, interventions could be targeted at this at-risk group. On the other hand, if unplanned and undesired pregnancies are found to be strongly related to other individual and relationship risk factors, then already-developed interventions may be effective in preventing subsequent relationship distress. URI: http://handle.tamu.edu/1969.1/85727 Files in this item: 1
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