The full text of Senior Independent Study Theses submitted during and after 2012 are available to download only by College of Wooster users. Unless listed as an exemplar, all other theses are restricted.

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Senior Independent Study Theses from 2016

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Stabilizing Redox-Responsive Protein Network Interactions with a Thiol-Reactive Cross-Linker, Kristin M. Allan
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Differential Expression of a Novel lncRNA (Na2) Aids in Arabidopsis thaliana Survival Under High Salinity Stress, Michael D. Andes
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Attempting to Identify the Calcium-Dependent Sodium Channel in Paramecium Tetraurelia, Thomas J. Camp
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Neuroscience

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The Partial Characterization of a Monooxygenase in Bacillus niacini, Morgan A. Dasovich
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Analysis of Bioaccumulation and Sublethal Toxic Effects in Eisenia fetida, Lactuca sativa, and Arabidopsis thaliana Following Antidepressant Exposure, Rachael S. Davis
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Laying the Groundwork for Illuminating the Relationship Between Structure and Catalytic Efficiency in Phz O, a Phenazine Biosynthesis Enzyme, Leslie A. Doone
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Characterization of Long Non-Coding RNA Expression During Low Temperature Stress in Arabidopsis thaliana: Exploring the Implications of Targeting lncRNA for Improved Plant Growth, Ellyn Evans
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Preliminary investigation of Caenorhabditis elegans arginine kinase phosphorylation by AMPK, Andrew H. Greene
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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A Dynamical Systems Approach to Understanding Synergies Between Thyroid Cancer Mutations, Andrew R. Hamel
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Synthetic Progress Towards the Production of Hydroxymethyl and Mercaptomethyl Salicylaldehyde Derivatives for use in Protein Chemical Synthesis, Conner A. Hoelzel
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Investigating the Structural Features that Promote Peroxiredoxin-Sulfiredoxin Interactions in Yeast, Joseph E. Kelly
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Generation of a NicC Bordetella pertussis Mutant: Investigating the Relationship Between Nicotinic Acid Degradation and Virulence Modulation, Melia Kovach
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Attempted Identification of the Calcium-Dependent Sodium Channel Gene in Paramecium tetraurelia using RNAi, Gwendolyn Kuzmishin
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Molecular Basis for Suppression of Genomic Instability by a Conserved Peroxidase, Matthew A. Loberg
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Deciphering the Metal Dependency of Novel Nicotinic Acid Dehydrogenase from Bacillus niacini, Jessica A. Meek
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Examining Evolution of Substrate Specificity Using Taurocyamine Kinase, Huyen Thai Ngoc Nguyen
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Horseradish peroxidase entrapped in organically modified silica for the degradation of endocrine disrupting compounds in drinking water, Jonathan E. Nutt
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Horseradish Peroxidase Entrapped in Organically Modified Silica for the Degradation of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds in Drinking Water, Jonathan E. Nutt
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Identification of Genes Involved in Exoprotease Activity in Pseudomonas chlororaphis (14B11), Jennifer M. Pilat
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Exploring the Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Gene Expression in Drosophila Melanogaster, Kate M. Redding
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Neuroscience

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Requirement of Nab2 RNA Binding in Drosophila melanogaster Nervous System Development, Fatima L. Rodriguez
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Neuroscience

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Investigating the proposed acid-base catalyzed mechanism for 6-hydroxynicotinate 3-monooxygenase (NicC)., Alvi N. Sakib
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Investigating the Targets of Plant Pathogen RXLR Effectors Through Hypersensitivity to Stress Conditions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Colleen Elizabeth Sells
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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The Putative Regulatory Role of Hydrogen Cyanide in Ethylene Signaling and Biosynthesis in Arabidopsis seedlings and tomato fruit, Heather Skinner
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Effects of Arginine Kinase Gene Deletions on Muscle Physiology and Mitochondrial Volume in Caenorhabditis Elegans, Kathryn Timar
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Senior Independent Study Theses from 2015

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Altering amino acid residues at the dimer interface of the yeast peroxiredoxin Ahp1: Effects on quaternary structure and protection against peroxides, Jonathan K. Allotey
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Investigation Into the Role of the Poly(A) Binding and Regulating Protein dNab2 in the Mushroom Bodies of Drosophila Melanogaster, Zachariah A. Brewer
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Virulence Modulation of Bordetella Pertussis via Inhibition of the Nicotinate Degradation Pathway, Lauren Buyan
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Neuroscience

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Elucidating the Degradation Pathway of Venlafaxine(Effexor), Naveeshini Nair Chandran
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Cloning and Expression of the Novel Proteins in the Bacillus niacini Nicotinic Acid Degradation Pathway and an Initial Attempt to Characterize the NicAB Complex, Abigail K. Daniel
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Mechanistic Insights into the Suppression of Mutations by the Yeast Peroxiredoxin Tsa1, Joseph B. David
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Assessment and Comparison of Ornamental Plant Disease Resistance and Plant Growth as Effected by Microbial Inoculants, Tylar Fisk
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Optimization and Characterization of Swellable Organically Modified Silica Particles for the Extraction of Volatile Fatty Acids, Alyssa Gilbert
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Xerogel-Coated Sand for the Adsorption and Enzymatic Degradation of Micropollutants in Drinking Water Treatment Plants, Emily J. Gleason
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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A Molecular Analysis of Root-knot Nematode Nutrient Uptake, Allison B. Grenell
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Investigating the Impact of Monofunctional and Bifunctional Electrophiles on Cellular Proteasome Activity, Brandon L. James
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Exploring the Structural Basis for Negative Cooperativity in the Phosphagen Kinase Superfamily, Gentry Jarrett Kerwood
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Modification of Saccharomyces cerevisiae oxidant defense proteins by the electrophiles N- ethylmaleimide and parthenolide, Karis Kosar
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Inhibition and Kinetic Isotope Effect Studies to Further Characterize the Mechanism of Maleamate Amidohydrolase (NicF), Karan Malani
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Cloning, Purification, and Analysis of an Aromatic Monooxygenase Protein Involved in the Production of Strain-Specific Phenazine Metabolites, Edmund W. Shi
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Preliminary Investigation of Arginine Kinase in Caenorhabditis elegans, Dempsey J. Simonis
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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A Screen for S. cerevisiae Mutants Hypersensitive to the P. sojae effector PsAvh172, Matthew J. Sydor
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Senior Independent Study Theses from 2014

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Transcriptional Response to the Phytophthora Sojae Avh110 Effector Protein Using a Yeast Expression Study, Gabriel J. Abud
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Investigating the Effects of Small Molecule Inhibitors of Potassium Channels on Mortality Rate and Urine Excretion in Female Aedes aegypti, Sheila O. Amoako
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Evolution of Negative Cooperativity in Phosphagen Kinases, Manish Aryal
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Electrophilic Modification of Methionine Sulfoxide Reductases - Mxr1 and Ykg9 from Baker's Yeast, Juliet Chepngeno
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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A Scientific Paradigm Shift from Reductionism to Holism: The Potential Relationship between Nicotinate Degradation and Virulence Modulation in Bordetella pertussis, Pailin Chiaranunt
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Philosophy

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Examining a Role for Thioredoxin in Protecting Against Protein Damage by Isothiocyanate-Containing Electrophiles, Sreyan Chowdhury
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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An Analysis of the Bioremediaiton of Venlafaxine, James B. Claybourne IV
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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LC-MS/MS Analysis of Fluoxetine and Serotonin-Related Compounds in Eisenia Fetida Living in Treated Soil, Maria Dawaher
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Chemistry

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Effect of Growth Selection on Adipogenic Gene Expression in Turkey Breast Muscle, Kory K. George
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Molecular Biology of a Miracle: Conceptualization of Medicine Through the Amish-Religious Lens and Antimicrobial Properties of Burdock Burn Wound Treatment, Caroline H. Gormley
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Religious Studies

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An Investigation of the Inhibition of Phenazine Biosynthesis in Pseudomonas, Holly M. Jacobs
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Assessment of the Biocontrol Activity of Mitsuaria Isolates Through Indole-3-acetic Acid Regulation and Plant Pathogen Inhibition, Christine M. Kasprisin
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Elucidation of Bordetella bronchiseptica Maleamate Amidohydrolase (NicF) Substrate Specificity, Helena M. Kondow
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Using Cultivation-Independent Methods to Investigate Venlafaxine Biodegradation, Zena Lapp
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Exploring a Role for Thioredoxin in the Recognition of Electrophilic Modifications in Substrate Proteins, Matthew Naticchia
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Developing Swellable Organically Modified Silica as a Drug Delivery System for Proteins, Austin Oberlin
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Investigating the In Vitro Binding Interactions of Dbp6 and Two Potential Protein Cofactors in 60S Ribosomal Biogenesis, William P. Pender III
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Identifying a Novel Host Target of the Pytophthora sojae RxLR Effector Protein PsAvh172, Matthew S. Reeder
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Mechanistic Examination of the Mutator Phenotype in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Lacking the Peroxiredoxin Thioredoxin Peroxidase 1, Trevor J. Roston
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Preliminary Investigations into the Essential Region of DEAD-Box Protein 6, Zachary BC Rotter
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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The Development of a Non-Surgical Sterilant for Dogs, Erica Skillman
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Pertusiss, Pellagra, and Poverty: A Historical and Scientific Analysis of Whooping Cough's Associations with Poverty and Pellagra, and the Nicotinate Degradation Pathway in Bordetella Pertussis, Jacob Sprano
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; History

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Developing an Effective Vaccine for Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Virus (PRRSV), John M. Thompson
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Disrupting Dimer Formation in the Baker’s Yeast Alkyl Hydroperoxide Reductase 1 (Ahp1), Susmit Tripathi
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Senior Independent Study Theses from 2013

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Characterization of Two Contiguous-Dimer Taurocyamine Kinases From the Parasitic Trematodes Schistosoma Japonicum and Clonorchis Sinensis, Brittany Begres
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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A Preliminary Analysis of the Differences in Cyclosporin a Resistance Between Amino Acid Residues P538 and P540 of the Hepatitis C Polymerase, Alexandra Kuzmishin
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Protective Role of the Yeast Peroxiredoxin Tsa1 Against Electrophile-Mediated Stress, Andrew Lamade
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Size Selective Dna Purification Using Swellable Organically Modified Silica, Brian Alexander Lupish
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Shedding Light on the DEAD: Preliminary Investigation Into Dbp6, a DEAD-box Protein Required For Ribosome Assembly, Kari Martyniak
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Investigating Cis-Elements of Microtubule-Associated Protein Tau's 3'-Untranslated Region, Daniel Montagna
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Investigation of Functional Roles For Thioredoxins in Protecting Against Reversible Electrophile Induced Protein Damage in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Wesley J. Murphy
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Characterization of a Creatine Kinase Enzyme From Cryptosporidium Muris, Paige Piper
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Protein Cross-Linking As a Mechanism of Cytotoxicity For Bifunctional Electrophiles, Nikolai Radzinski
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Assessing the Ability of Environmental Microbes to Catabolically Degrade the Antidepressant Venlafaxine (Effexor®), Kathryn Clare Sullivan
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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The Impact of Formate on the Physiology of Campylobacter jejuni, Michael T. Terribile
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Neuroscience

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Characterizing the Role of 2-Oh-Pca in P. Chlororaphis Pathogenesis, Abigail Toothman
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Protein Drug Delivery Using Swellable Organically Modified Silica, Stephen Wanner
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Senior Independent Study Theses from 2012

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Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 Regulates DNA Methylation Near Genes Implicated in Bipolar Disorder, Colleen Marie Bartman
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Arginine Kinase of Myxococcus Xanthus Influences Development in a Manner Dependent on the Conditions of Development, Thomas Bohl
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Influence of the Protein Cross-Linker Diethyl Acetylenedicarboxylate on 20S Core Particle Degradation of Candidates for the 26S Proteasome, TeQuion M. Brookins
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Alterations in the Activity of the Yeast Peroxidase Tsa1 Upon Modification By Alkylating Agents, Haley A. Brown
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Isolation of Bacterial Strains in Wastewater Sludge Capable of Degradation of Sertraline, Venlafaxine and Triclocarban, Jonathan Fox
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Burdock Leaves: Cellular and Antimicrobial Effects in Burn Wound Treatment, Kelsie L. Herring
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Evolutionary Study of the Phosphagen Kinase Enzyme Family Probing Substrate Specificity and Cooperativity in Software Derived Ancestral Proteins, Eric Johnson
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Investigation of the Potential Role of 6-Hydroxynicotinate-3-Monooxygenase in the Modulation of Virulence in Bordetella Pertussis, Samantha Justice
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Progress Towards the Characterization of a Novel Substrate-Analog Inhibitor of Udp-3-O-(R-3-Hydroxymyristoyl)-N-Acetylglucosamine Deacetylase, Emily Christine Linville
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Investigation Into the Catalytic Mechanism of Maleamate Amidohydrolase (NicF) from Bordetella Bronchiseptica RB50, Jeffrey Noel
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Generation of Thioredoxin 1 and Thioredoxin 2 Mutants in S. Cerevisiae and a Philosophical Investigation of the Ethical Implications of Human Genetic Engineering, Logan D. Pry
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Philosophy

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Entrapment and Determination of Lipase Embedded in Swellable Organosilica, Modeling Particle Aggregation and Aging of Colloidal Sol-Gels, Kemar Reid
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Probing the Role Cysteine-150 in Maleamate Amidohydrolase (NicF) Catalysis From Bordetella Bronchiseptica RB50 By Site-Directed Mutagenesis, Nicholas Spittle
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Identification and Characterization of HAP1, a YAP1 Homologue, in the Fungus Histoplasma Capsulatum, Blain Tesfaye Fente
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Computational Profiling and Identification of the 3' Untranslated Region Within Paramecium Tetraurela, Tristan Vrolijk
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Computer Science

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Mapping Polyprotein Cleavage Sites in the R78 Region of Maize Chlorotic Dwarf Virus, Yujing Zhao
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Senior Independent Study Theses from 2011

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Investigating the Localization and Function of the Prodomain of Neuronal Interleukin-16 on N1E-115 Cells, Cassondra Agozzino
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Influence of Proteasome Inhibition on the Baker's Yeast Transcription Factor Yap1p Following Its Activation By Organic Electrophiles, Omar Atassi
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Exploring the Synergistic Interactions of Maize Chlorotic Dwarf Virus Isolates in Zea mays and the Possibility of a Post Transcriptional Gene Silencing Suppressor, Tyler Croxall

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Investigation of a Putative Arginine Kinase From Desulfobacterium Autotrophicum: Evolutionary Implications For the Bacterial Arginine Kinases, Christopher DeMoll
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Investigating the Role of Threonine-58 in Creatine Kinase Activity and Active Site Communication, Dmytri Eck
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology