Journal of Undergraduate Research

Joy Williams and Dr. Emily Bates, Biochemistry Department Introduction Birth defects arise because of both genetic and environmental factors. Children with genetic alteration of the inwardly-rectifying potassium ion channel Kir2.1 channel have heart arrhythmias, impaired cognitive function, and facial and limb abnormalities. Children that suffer from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome have cognitive and social development problems, […]

Matthew Whited and Dr. Joshua L. Andersen, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry In cancer patients, a lack of cell apoptosis (programmed cell death) coupled with increased levels of cell proliferation leads to the formation of a tumor. Among the available treatment options, cytotoxic chemotherapy is the most common. The primary purpose of this treatment is […]

Aaron McBride and Dr. Gregory F. Burton, Chemistry and Biochemistry Current Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) treatment is greatly hindered due to viral reservoirs throughout the body prolonging and perpetuating infection.i Large stores of HIV exist in the follicular dendritic cell (FDC) microenvironment, located primarily in the lymph nodes and spleen. Free-floating virus has a half-life […]

Matthew Lelegren Introduction As described in the proposal, my goal was to further understand the mechanisms of mRNA processing of the chicken gene called Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2. There are many mechanisms by which mRNA molecules are modified in order to produce proteins that fulfill the needs of a given cell. The mechanism I chose to study […]

Devon Blake and Dr. Barry Willardson, Chemistry and Biochemistry Introduction and Project Importance Cells detect and respond to a myriad of extracellular signals via seven-transmembrane G protein-coupled receptors and their associated G protein signaling pathways. The pathway is initiated by the binding of a signaling molecule, such as a hormone or neurotransmitter, to its binding […]

Sarah Bahr and Dr. Emily Bates, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Introduction Migraine is a disorder that can include aura, headache, nausea, and hypersensitivity to all sensory modalities. It affects over thirty million people in the US. Migraines affect men and women equally until puberty, but overall migraines affect 3x more women than men. They […]

Diana Valverde and Dr. Allen Buskirk, Chemistry and Biochemistry The ribosome is a macromolecular machine found in all living cells. It catalyzes protein synthesis through a process known as translation. The ribosome reads messenger RNA that carries the blueprint for a protein product and brings in the appropriate amino acids to build a specific protein. […]

Kayleen Thompson and Dr. Merritt Andrus, Chemistry and Biochemistry Englerin A, which comes from an East African plant, Phyllantus englari, has been found to be an impressive anti-renal cancer agent. It is even more promising than another leading natural anticancer agent, Taxol.1 Englerin A has a unique, complex structure, and its exact mode of action […]

Shankar Parajuli and Dr. Allen Buskirk, Chemistry and Biochemistry Ribosomes are molecular machines that synthesize all the proteins for all living cells. Ribosomes sometimes stall and cannot complete the synthesis of a given protein. Some peptides interact with the ribosome during their own translation and induce stalling.1 The SecM and TnaC peptides in E. coli, […]

Tyler Olsen and Dr. Paul Savage, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry The need for novel antibiotic mechanisms is prevalent. Common antimicrobial medicines such as penicillin, ampicillin and vancomycin have started becoming obsolete as resistant strains of bacteria become more widespread. The main problem with antibiotics is the rapid mutations that bacteria undergo. Eventually one cell […]