Matching Items (143)
Description
Acquisition of fluorescence via autocatalytic processes is unique to few proteins in the natural world. Fluorescent proteins (FPs) have been integral to live-cell imaging techniques for decades; however, mechanistic information is still emerging fifty years after the discovery of the original green fluorescent protein (GFP). Modification of the fluorescence properties of the proteins derived from GFP allows increased complexity of experiments and consequently, information content of the data acquired. The importance of arginine-96 in GFP has been widely discussed. It has been established as vital to the kinetics of chromophore maturation and to the overall fold of GFP before post-translational self-modification. Its value during chromophore maturation has been demonstrated by mutational studies and a hypothesis proposed for its catalytic function. A strategy is described herein to determine its pKa value via NMR to determine whether Arg96 possesses the chemical capacity to function as a general base during GFP chromophore biosynthesis. Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) techniques commonly employ Enhanced Cyan Fluorescent Proteins (ECFPs) and their derivatives as donor fluorophores useful in real-time, live-cell imaging. These proteins have a tryptophan-derived chromophore that emits light in the blue region of the visible spectrum. Most ECFPs suffer from fluorescence instability, which, coupled with their low quantum yield, makes data analysis unreliable. The structural heterogeneity of these proteins also results in undesirable photophysical characteristics. Recently, mCerulean3, a ten amino acid mutant of ECFP, was introduced as an optimized FRET-donor protein (1). The amino acids changed include a mobile residue, Asp148, which has been mutated to a glycine in the new construct, and Thr65 near the chromophore has been mutated to a serine, the wild-type residue at this location. I have solved the x-ray crystal structure of mCerulean3 at low pH and find that the pH-dependent isomerization has been eliminated. The chromophore is in the trans-conformation previously observed in Cerulean at pH 8. The mutations that increase the quantum yield and improve fluorescence brightness result in a stable, bright donor fluorophore well-suited for use in quantitative microscopic imaging.
ContributorsWatkins, Jennifer L (Author) / Wachter, Rebekka M. (Thesis advisor) / Ghirlanda, Giovanna (Committee member) / Allen, James P. (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2012
Description
This thesis discusses the use of mass spectrometry and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), among other methods, to detect biomarkers of microorganisms in the environment. These methods can be used to detect bacteria involved in the degradation of environmental pollutants (bioremediation) or various single-celled pathogens, including those posing potential threats as bioterrorism agents. The first chapter introduces the hurdles in detecting in diverse environmental compartments in which they could be found, a select list of single-celled pathogens representing known or potential bioterrorism agents. These hurdles take the form of substances that interfere either directly or indirectly with the detection method. In the case of mass spectrometry-based detection, many of these substances (interferences) can be removed via effective sample pretreatment. Chapters 2 through 4 highlight specific methods developed to detect bioremediation or bioterrorism agents in environmental matrices. These methods are qualitative mass spectrometry, quantitative PCR, and quantitative mass spectrometry, respectively. The targeted organisms in these methods include several bioremediation agents, e.g. Pseudomonas putida F1 and Sphingomonas wittichii RW1, and bioterrorism agents, e.g. norovirus and Cryptosporidium parvum. In Chapter 2, I identify using qualitative mass spectrometry, biomarkers for three bacterial species involved in bioremediation. In Chapter 3, I report on a new quantitative PCR method suitable for monitoring of a key gene in yet another bioremediation agent, Sphingomonas wittichii RW1; furthermore, I apply this method to track the efficacy of bioremediation in bioaugmented environmental microcosms. In Chapter 4, I report on the development of new quantitative mass spectrometry methods for two organisms, S. wittichii RW1 and Cryptosporidium parvum, and evaluate two previously published methods for their applicability to the analysis of complex environmental samples. In Chapter 5, I review state-of-the-art methods for the detection of emerging biological contaminants, specifically viruses, in environmental samples. While this summary deals exclusively with viral pathogens, the advantages and remaining challenges identified are also applicable to all single-celled organisms in environmental settings. The suggestions I make at the end of this chapter are expected to be valid not only for future needs for emerging viruses but also for bacteria, eukaryotic pathogens, and prions. In general, it is advisable to continue the trend towards quantification and to standardize methods to facilitate comparison of results between studies.
ContributorsHartmann, Erica Marie (Author) / Halden, Rolf U. (Thesis advisor) / Ghirlanda, Giovanna (Committee member) / Nelson, Randall W. (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2012
Description
Hydrogenases, the enzymes that reversibly convert protons and electrons to hydrogen, are used in all three domains of life. [NiFe]-hydrogenases are considered best suited for biotechnological applications because of their reversible inactivation with oxygen. Phylogenetically, there are four groups of [NiFe]-hydrogenases. The best characterized group, "uptake" hydrogenases, are membrane-bound and catalyze hydrogen oxidation in vivo. In contrast, the group 3 [NiFe]-hydrogenases are heteromultimeric, bifunctional enzymes that fulfill various cellular roles. In this dissertation, protein film electrochemistry (PFE) is used to characterize the catalytic properties of two group 3 [NiFe]-hydrogenases: HoxEFUYH from Synechocystsis sp. PCC 6803 and SHI from Pyrococcus furiosus. First, HoxEFUYH is shown to be biased towards hydrogen production. Upon exposure to oxygen, HoxEFUYH inactivates to two states, both of which can be reactivated on the timescale of seconds. Second, we show that PfSHI is the first example of an oxygen tolerant [NiFe]-hydrogenase that produces two inactive states upon exposure to oxygen. Both inactive states are analogous to those characterized for HoxEFUYH, but oxygen exposed PfSHI produces a greater fraction that reactivates at high potentials, enabling hydrogen oxidation in the presence of oxygen. Third, it is shown that removing the NAD(P)-reducing subunits from PfSHI leads to a decrease in bias towards hydrogen oxidation and renders the enzyme oxygen sensitive. Both traits are likely due to impaired intramolecular electron transfer. Mechanistic hypotheseses for these functional differences are considered.
ContributorsMcIntosh, Chelsea Lee (Author) / Jones, Anne K (Thesis advisor) / Ghirlanda, Giovanna (Committee member) / Buttry, Daniel (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2012
Description
Defending against spoofing is an important part of security throughout the internet. With- out the ability to authenticate, within a certain confidence, that a person is in fact who they say are, can allow attackers to go unrecognized after performing an attack. It is much too easy for attackers today to hide their identity or pretend to be someone else through the means of spoof- ing. Researchers must focus their efforts on defenses that are scalable and effective in counter- ing spoofing. This thesis focuses on surveying different types of spoofing as well as attacks that lever- age spoofing with the hopes to hide the attacker's identity or leverage identity theft to perform an attack. It also looks at current defenses that hope to counter attacks that leverage spoofing and evaluates how realistic is to implement the defenses in terms of scalability and effective- ness. By surveying different attacks and defenses, researchers will be able to better focus their efforts on more effective and scalable defenses to spoofing and attacks that leverage spoofing.
ContributorsTorrence, Ryan Michael (Author) / Dasgupta, Partha (Thesis director) / Doupe, Adam (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Computer Science and Engineering Program (Contributor)
Created2015-05
Description
Hydrogen has the potential to be a highly efficient fuel source. Its current production via steam reformation of natural gas, however, consumes a large amount of energy and gives off carbon dioxide. A newer method has since surfaced: using a microorganism's metabolism to drive hydrogen production. In this study, the conditions for maximum hydrogen production in Heliobacterium modesticaldum were identified and assessed. The cells were grown under varying conditions and their headspaces were sampled using a gas chromatogram to measure the amount of accumulated hydrogen during each condition. Two cell batches were grown under nitrogen-fixing conditions (-NH4+), while the other two cell batches were grown under non-nitrogen-fixing conditions (+NH4+). The headspaces were then exchanged with either nitrogen (N2) or argon (Ar2). It was found that the condition for which the most hydrogen was produced was when the cells were grown under nitrogen-fixing conditions and the headspace was exchanged with argon. These results suggest that most of Heliobacteria modesticaldum's hydrogen production is due to nitrogenase activity rather than hydrogenase activity. Further research is recommended to quantify the roles of nitrogenase, [NiFe] hydrogenase, and [FeFe] hydrogenase.
ContributorsMcmahon, Savanah Dior (Author) / Redding, Kevin (Thesis director) / Ghirlanda, Giovanna (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry (Contributor) / School of Music (Contributor)
Created2015-05
Description
As prices for fuel along with the demand for renewable resources grow, it becomes of paramount importance to develop new ways of obtaining the energy needed to carry out the tasks we face daily. Costs of production due to energy and time constraints impose severe limitations on what is viable. Biological systems, on the other hand, are innately efficient both in terms of time and energy by handling tasks at the molecular level. Utilizing this efficiency is at the core of this research. Proper manipulation of even common proteins can render complexes functionalized for specific tasks. In this case, the coupling of a rhenium-based organometallic ligand to a modified myoglobin containing a zinc porphyrin, allow for efficient reduction of carbon dioxide, resulting in energy that can be harnessed and byproducts which can be used for further processing. Additionally, a rhenium based ligand functionalized via biotin is tested in conjunction with streptavidin and ruthenium-bipyridine.
ContributorsAllen, Jason Kenneth (Author) / Ghirlanda, Giovanna (Thesis director) / Francisco, Wilson (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Chemical Engineering Program (Contributor)
Created2014-12
Description
Over the past two decades, a significant amount of research has been conducted investigating cyanovirin-N (CVN), which has been shown to be an effective antiviral agent by inhibiting entry of HIV into the cell. The virucidal activity of CVN is attributed to the tight binding interactions with the glycosylated surfaces of the envelope protein gp120. In this study we investigated how the incorporation of various single point mutations in the glycan binding site would ultimately affect the overall binding affinity of the protein with the glycan. These mutations were predicted through computational methods. Using a BP-docking program and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, the free energy change upon the ligand binding to the each protein was determined. Experimental work and Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC) was used to determine the Kd values for each protein mutant. A total of three different CVN mutants, T57S, S52T, and a double mutant T57S-S52T, or simply TS, were investigated on the background of P51G-m4-CVN. After conducting the experimental work, it was concluded that the overall fold and stability of the protein was conserved for each mutant. ITC data showed that T57S displayed the lowest dissociation constant valued in the micromolar range. In fact, T57S had a much lower Kd value in comparison to P51G-m4. In contrast, the double mutant TS, showed poor binding affinity for the glycan. When comparing experimental data with the data provided by MD simulation and BP-docking, the results were fairly correlated for all mutants, except for that of the double mutant, TS. According to information provided by MD simulation and BP docking, the binding of the sugar to TS is a very exergonic reaction, which is indicative of very negative free energy change (ΔG). However, the experimental Kd, which was very high, contradicts this data and is thus indicative of lower binding affinity for the glycan. This contradiction is currently being investigated.
ContributorsAllen, Denysia Monique (Author) / Ghirlanda, Giovanna (Thesis director) / Ozkan, S. Banu (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry (Contributor) / School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies (Contributor)
Created2015-05
Description
The rampant occurrence of spam telephone calls shows a clear weakness of authentication and security in our telephone systems. The onset of cheap and effective voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology is a major factor in this as our existing telephone ecosystem is virtually defenseless by many features of this technology. Our telephone systems have also suffered tremendously from a lack of a proper Caller ID verification system. Phone call spammers are able to mask their identities with relative ease by quickly editing their Caller ID. It will take a combination of unique innovations in implementing new authentication mechanisms in the telephone ecosystem, novel government regulation, and understanding how the people behind the spam phone calls themselves operate.<br/><br/>This study dives into the robocall ecosystem to find more about the humans behind spam telephone calls and the economic models they use. Understanding how the people behind robocalls work within their environments will allow for more insight into how the ecosystem works. The study looks at the human component of robocalls: what ways they benefit from conducting spam phone calls, patterns in how they identify which phone number to call, and how these people interact with each other within the telephone spam ecosystem. This information will be pivotal to educate consumers on how they should mitigate spam as well as for creating defensive systems. In this qualitative study, we have conducted numerous interviews with call center employees, have had participants fill out surveys, and garnered data through our CallFire integrated voice broadcast system. While the research is still ongoing, initial conclusions in my pilot study interview data point to promising transparency in how the voices behind these calls operate on both a small and large scale.
ContributorsUsman, Ahmed (Author) / Doupe, Adam (Thesis director) / Bazzi, Rida (Committee member) / Computer Science and Engineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2021-05
Description
Enzymes which regulate the metabolic reactions for sustaining all living things, are the engines of life. The discovery of molecules that are able to control enzyme activity is of great interest for therapeutics and the biocatalysis industry. Peptides are promising enzyme modulators due to their large chemical diversity and the existence of well-established methods for library synthesis. Microarrays represent a powerful tool for screening thousands of molecules, on a small chip, for candidates that interact with enzymes and modulate their functions. In this work, a method is presented for screening high-density arrays to discover peptides that bind and modulate enzyme activity. A viscous polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution was applied to array surfaces to limit the diffusion of product molecules released from enzymatic reactions, allowing the simultaneous measurement of enzyme activity and binding at each peptide feature. For proof of concept, it was possible to identify peptides that bound to horseradish peroxidase (HRP), alkaline phosphatase (APase) and â-galactosidase (â-Gal) and substantially alter their activities by comparing the peptide-enzyme binding levels and bound enzyme activity on microarrays. Several peptides, selected from microarrays, were able to inhibit â-Gal in solution, which demonstrates that behaviors selected from surfaces often transfer to solution. A mechanistic study of inhibition revealed that some of the selected peptides inhibited enzyme activity by binding to enzymes and inducing aggregation. PVA-coated peptide slides can be rapidly analyzed, given an appropriate enzyme assay, and they may also be assayed under various conditions (such as temperature, pH and solvent). I have developed a general method to discover molecules that modulate enzyme activity at desired conditions. As demonstrations, some peptides were able to promote the thermal stability of bound enzyme, which were selected by performing the microarray-based enzyme assay at high temperature. For broad applications, selected peptide ligands were used to immobilize enzymes on solid surfaces. Compared to conventional methods, enzymes immobilized on peptide-modified surfaces exhibited higher specific activities and stabilities. Peptide-modified surfaces may prove useful for immobilizing enzymes on surfaces with optimized orientation, location and performance, which are of great interest to the biocatalysis industry.
ContributorsFu, Jinglin (Author) / Woodbury, Neal W (Thesis advisor) / Johnston, Stephen A. (Committee member) / Ghirlanda, Giovanna (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2010
Description
A novel small metal-binding protein (SmbP), with only 93 residues and no similarity to other known proteins, has been isolated from the periplasm of Nitrosomonas europaea. It is characterized by its high percentage (17%) of histidines, a motif of ten repeats of seven residues, a four α-helix bundle structure, and a high binding affinity to about six equivalents of Cu2+. The goal of this study is to investigate the Cu2+ binding sites in SmbP and to understand how Cu2+ stabilizes the protein. Preliminary folding experiments indicated that Cu2+ greatly stabilizes SmbP. In this study, protein folding data from circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy was used to elucidate the role of Cu2+ in stabilizing SmbP structure against unfolding induced by decreased pH, increased temperature, and chemical denaturants. The significant stabilization effects of Cu2+ were demonstrated by the observation that Cu2+-SmbP remained fully folded under extreme environmental conditions, such as acidic pH, 96 °C, and 8 M urea. Also, it was shown that Cu2+ is able to induce the refolding of unfolded SmbP in acidic solutions. These findings imply that the coordination of Cu2+ to histidine residues is responsible for the stabilization effects. The crystal structure of SmbP without Cu2+ has been determined. However, attempts to crystallize Cu2+-SmbP have not been successful. In this study, multidimensional NMR experiments were conducted in order to gain additional information regarding the Cu2+-SmbP structure, in particular its metal binding sites. Unambiguous resonance assignments were successfully made. Cα secondary chemical shifts confirmed that SmbP has a four α-helical structure. A Cu2+-protein titration experiment monitored by NMR indicated a top-to-bottom, sequential metal binding pattern for SmbP. In addition, several bioinformatics tools were used to complement the experimental approach and identity of the ligands in Cu2+-binding sites in SmbP is proposed.
ContributorsYan, Qin (Author) / Francisco, Wilson A (Thesis advisor) / Allen, James (Committee member) / Ghirlanda, Giovanna (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2010