Senior Independent Study Theses from 2018
Investigating the Role of Phytophthora sojae Effector Protein PsAvr3c in the Endoplasmic Reticulum UPR Defense Pathway, Katherine Lyden
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Betta Understanding: Characterization and Sequencing of Genes Putatively Responsible for Red Phenotypic Variation in Betta splendens, Maria Mullin
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Characterization of a Putative TplE Protein in Pseudomonas chlororaphis 14B11, Ankitha Nanjaraj
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Modeling the Effects of P14 and P53 on Common Oncogenic Pathways, Elizabeth Obi
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Impact of Altered Redox Homeostasis and Ribonucleotide Reductase Activity on Mutation Rates in S. cerevisiae, Matthew Pleshinger
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
An Attempt to Sequence Genes Tyrp1a and Mc1r in Black and Red Phenotype Betta splendens, Bryan Robb
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Help! Help! I am Being Repressed! : An In-Depth Analysis of the IclR and its In-Vitro Oligimerization, Derek B. Schwarz
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Leaf Me Alone: Investigating The Effect of Phenazines On The Systemic Resistance of Arabidopsis thaliana, Olivia A. Seale
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Investigation of dNab2 Loss in D. Melanogaster Causing Changes in Sleep/ Circadian Rhythms, Kiandra Smith
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Phenotypic Analysis of a Novel LncRNA (Na2) Expression on Arabidopsis thaliana Salinity Stress Response, Trang M. Trinh
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Monitoring Protein Interactions between Ribonucleotide Reductase and Thioredoxin in Yeast Lacking Key Peroxiredoxins, Nicole West
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Senior Independent Study Theses from 2017
Real-Time PCR Analysis of a Salt Stress Responsive LncRNA in Arabidopsis under Salt Stress Conditions, Peter J. Arts
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Characterizing Ribonucleotide Reductase's Role in Promoting Genomic Instability in tsa1Δ Mutants, Brianna L. Bauer
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Mechanistic Investigation into the Liver Kinase β-1 – AMP-Activated Protein Kinase – Phosphagen Kinase Phosphorylation Cascade, Camille K. Boufford
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Investigating Changes in Protein Markers Following Sleep Deprivation in Drosophila Melanogaster, Petra N. Boutros
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Neuroscience
A genetic approach to examine how the Thioredoxin system influences genomic stability in S. cerevisiae, John Buchan
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Determining the effects of polyadenylation on long noncoding RNA expression and stability in response to stress, Allyson Caselberry
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Evidence of Differential Expression in the Calcineurin Gene Family in Paramecium Tetraurelia And Science in Fiction is not always Science Fiction: An analysis of the German Vergangenheitsbewältigungsliteratur through a Science Fiction Lens as a means to discredit Nazi Racial Science, Alexander G. Day
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; German Studies
Exploring The Molecular Function of cAMP and Phosphodiesterase PDE1C during Axon Pathfinding in Drosophila Melanogaster, Alexandra R. Elchert
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Identification of Catalytic Residues in the 3C-like Protease of Maize chlorotic dwarf virus, Anna Emmick
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Development of a Novel Method of Unrestricted Polypeptide Synthesis Utilizing a Salicylaldehyde Based Auxiliary Molecule, Jake Eshelman
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Assessing the Effects of Recombinant AK Genes on the Growth and Development of Myxococcus xanthus, Mark A. Grady
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Novel Synthesis of Difluorene Bisintercalators via Direct Amidation Using Swellable Organically Modified Silica (SOMS) and Employment of the CAN1 Forward Mutation Assay to Assess Mutagenicity, Hannah M. Hicks
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Environmental Studies
Investigating the Potential Genetic Causes of the Marbled Phenotype in the Betta splendens, Jennifer Hurtig
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
The Drosophila melanogaster polyadenosine RNA binding protein, Nab2, is necessary for survival and neural development, in a model of intellectual disability., Michael Kahl
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Neuroscience
The Effect of a His Tag on IclR Interactions with DNA and Ligands in Escherichia coli, Mara A. Kingscott
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
The Effects of Male-Produced Adipokinetic Hormone I on the Fertility of Female Aedes aegypti, Anna L. McGlade
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Substrate Specificity of Horseradish Peroxidase for the Oxidation of Pharmaceutical Compounds, Lance Metsger
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Chemistry
Allelochemical Extraction from Soil Using Swellable Organically Modified Silica, Adrienne Reding
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Biophysical Characterization of the Cofactors in the NicAB Complex from Bacillus niacini, Laura A. Sherer
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Modeling the Commitment to Senescence Through Mitochondrial Fusion and Chromosomal Restructuring, Herbert Sizek
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Analyzing H7 as a Possible Structural Determinant of Negative Cooperativity within the Phosphagen Kinase Enzyme Family, Katie Stock
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Investigating the Relationship Between Self-Interaction and Function of the Viral Suppressor of RNAi Expressed by Maize Chlorotic Dwarf Virus, Ben R. Stromberg
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Genetic Engineering of the GFP Coding Region for Expression of Fusion Proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Jenna S. Taira
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Characterizing the genetic determinants of the nicotinic acid degradation pathway in Bacillus niacini, Tsun Ki Jerrick To
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Insecticide Fungicide Interaction and Synergistic Toxicity in Honey Bees, Andrea H. Wade
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Investigating The Genetic Basis Of Melanistic Betta splendens, Harrison P. Wooten
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Senior Independent Study Theses from 2016
Stabilizing Redox-Responsive Protein Network Interactions with a Thiol-Reactive Cross-Linker, Kristin M. Allan
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Differential Expression of a Novel lncRNA (Na2) Aids in Arabidopsis thaliana Survival Under High Salinity Stress, Michael D. Andes
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Attempting to Identify the Calcium-Dependent Sodium Channel in Paramecium Tetraurelia, Thomas J. Camp
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Neuroscience
The Partial Characterization of a Monooxygenase in Bacillus niacini, Morgan A. Dasovich
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
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
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
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
Preliminary investigation of Caenorhabditis elegans arginine kinase phosphorylation by AMPK, Andrew H. Greene
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
A Dynamical Systems Approach to Understanding Synergies Between Thyroid Cancer Mutations, Andrew R. Hamel
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
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
Investigating the Structural Features that Promote Peroxiredoxin-Sulfiredoxin Interactions in Yeast, Joseph E. Kelly
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Generation of a NicC Bordetella pertussis Mutant: Investigating the Relationship Between Nicotinic Acid Degradation and Virulence Modulation, Melia Kovach
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Attempted Identification of the Calcium-Dependent Sodium Channel Gene in Paramecium tetraurelia using RNAi, Gwendolyn Kuzmishin
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Molecular Basis for Suppression of Genomic Instability by a Conserved Peroxidase, Matthew A. Loberg
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Deciphering the Metal Dependency of Novel Nicotinic Acid Dehydrogenase from Bacillus niacini, Jessica A. Meek
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Examining Evolution of Substrate Specificity Using Taurocyamine Kinase, Huyen Thai Ngoc Nguyen
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
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
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
Identification of Genes Involved in Exoprotease Activity in Pseudomonas chlororaphis (14B11), Jennifer M. Pilat
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Exploring the Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Gene Expression in Drosophila Melanogaster, Kate M. Redding
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Neuroscience
Requirement of Nab2 RNA Binding in Drosophila melanogaster Nervous System Development, Fatima L. Rodriguez
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Neuroscience
Investigating the proposed acid-base catalyzed mechanism for 6-hydroxynicotinate 3-monooxygenase (NicC)., Alvi N. Sakib
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Investigating the Targets of Plant Pathogen RXLR Effectors Through Hypersensitivity to Stress Conditions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Colleen Elizabeth Sells
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
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
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
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
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
Virulence Modulation of Bordetella Pertussis via Inhibition of the Nicotinate Degradation Pathway, Lauren Buyan
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Neuroscience
Elucidating the Degradation Pathway of Venlafaxine(Effexor), Naveeshini Nair Chandran
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
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
Mechanistic Insights into the Suppression of Mutations by the Yeast Peroxiredoxin Tsa1, Joseph B. David
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Assessment and Comparison of Ornamental Plant Disease Resistance and Plant Growth as Effected by Microbial Inoculants, Tylar Fisk
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Optimization and Characterization of Swellable Organically Modified Silica Particles for the Extraction of Volatile Fatty Acids, Alyssa Gilbert
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Xerogel-Coated Sand for the Adsorption and Enzymatic Degradation of Micropollutants in Drinking Water Treatment Plants, Emily J. Gleason
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
A Molecular Analysis of Root-knot Nematode Nutrient Uptake, Allison B. Grenell
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Investigating the Impact of Monofunctional and Bifunctional Electrophiles on Cellular Proteasome Activity, Brandon L. James
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Exploring the Structural Basis for Negative Cooperativity in the Phosphagen Kinase Superfamily, Gentry Jarrett Kerwood
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Modification of Saccharomyces cerevisiae oxidant defense proteins by the electrophiles N- ethylmaleimide and parthenolide, Karis Kosar
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Inhibition and Kinetic Isotope Effect Studies to Further Characterize the Mechanism of Maleamate Amidohydrolase (NicF), Karan Malani
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
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
Preliminary Investigation of Arginine Kinase in Caenorhabditis elegans, Dempsey J. Simonis
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
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
Transcriptional Response to the Phytophthora Sojae Avh110 Effector Protein Using a Yeast Expression Study, Gabriel J. Abud
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
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
Evolution of Negative Cooperativity in Phosphagen Kinases, Manish Aryal
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Electrophilic Modification of Methionine Sulfoxide Reductases - Mxr1 and Ykg9 from Baker's Yeast, Juliet Chepngeno
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
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
Examining a Role for Thioredoxin in Protecting Against Protein Damage by Isothiocyanate-Containing Electrophiles, Sreyan Chowdhury
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
An Analysis of the Bioremediaiton of Venlafaxine, James B. Claybourne IV
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
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
Effect of Growth Selection on Adipogenic Gene Expression in Turkey Breast Muscle, Kory K. George
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
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
An Investigation of the Inhibition of Phenazine Biosynthesis in Pseudomonas, Holly M. Jacobs
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
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
Elucidation of Bordetella bronchiseptica Maleamate Amidohydrolase (NicF) Substrate Specificity, Helena M. Kondow
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Using Cultivation-Independent Methods to Investigate Venlafaxine Biodegradation, Zena Lapp
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Exploring a Role for Thioredoxin in the Recognition of Electrophilic Modifications in Substrate Proteins, Matthew Naticchia
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Developing Swellable Organically Modified Silica as a Drug Delivery System for Proteins, Austin Oberlin
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
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
Identifying a Novel Host Target of the Pytophthora sojae RxLR Effector Protein PsAvh172, Matthew S. Reeder
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Mechanistic Examination of the Mutator Phenotype in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Lacking the Peroxiredoxin Thioredoxin Peroxidase 1, Trevor J. Roston
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Preliminary Investigations into the Essential Region of DEAD-Box Protein 6, Zachary BC Rotter
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
The Development of a Non-Surgical Sterilant for Dogs, Erica Skillman
Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology