Graduation date: 1993

The effects of several hormones and inducers of intracellular messengers on plasminogen activator (PA) production and changes in embryonic size by cultured bovine embryos were evaluated. Day 8 embryos were cultured in Ham's F-12 with 1.5 mg/ml bovine serum albumin (BSA) containing different levels of progesterone (P), estradiol -17fl (E₂), dexamethasone (Dex), retinoic acid (RA), dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP), or phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) for 5 days under paraffin oil in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO₂ in air at 37°C. The concentrations of PA in the conditioned media were determined by a caseinolytic assay. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and zymography were used to determine the molecular weight of PA in the medium and in the embryo homogenate. Changes in embryonic size were determined by measuring overall embryo diameter (OD) at 24-h intervals. None of the hormones and agents tested herein had a significant effect on PA production. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) which was used to dissolve PMA significantly inhibited PA production during the first 72 h of culture. Time of culture, however, exerted a significant effect on PA production by cultured embryos. The production of this protease was low during the first 48 h, increased during 72 and 96 h, and either remained high or slightly decreased toward the end of the culture period. Furthermore, the peak production of PA was attained 48 h after hatching. The molecular weight of PA in the conditioned medium and embryo tissues suggested that the bovine embryo at this developmental stage produced an urokinase-type PA. With the exception of dbcAMP and PMA, the hormones tested in this study did not affect embryonic size. While dbcAMP decreased OD later in culture, PMA enhanced OD throughout culture. The mechanism by which dbcAMP and PMA modulated embryonic size is not clear. These results suggest that cultured bovine embryos produce urokinasetype PA in a time dependent manner and the production of this enzyme is independent of exogenous hormonal regulation. / Graduation date: 1990

Living cells keep sensing the changes in their environments, mostly, via cell surface receptors for different ligands. Attachment-dependent cells are sensitive to alterations in extracellular matrix (ECM). ECM is not only required for cell survival, but also prerequisite for epidermal growth factor (EGF) to stimulate cell proliferation. The receptors for the majority of ECM components are integrins and the receptor for EGF is EGF receptor (EGFR). When bound by their ligands, integrins and EGFR induce signal transduction cascades composed of alternative pathways. A quantitative assessment of relative contributions of alternative pathways to one final cell signaling will help understand designing principles of the network. Unfortunately, a methodology for such assessment is still not available, partly because of lack of relatively mature mathematical models. On the other hand, in most biochemical cascades, existence of alternative pathways increases the complexity and thus the robustness of networks. The relationships between the topology and robustness of large-scale biochemical networks have been studied intensively recently. In small-scale networks, while feedback has been revealed as an important contributor for adaptation and robustness, the quantitative correlation between the topology/pathway redundancy of small networks and their robustness remains unknown. / In this thesis, apoptosis of bovine mammary gland epithelial cells was demonstrated to be induced when fibronectin, one of the major components of ECM, was degraded by overexpressed tPA via two potential ways: deprivation of attachment and the effects of fibronectin fragments. Secondly, a mathematical model for EGFR activation of the MAPK cascade, in which alternative pathways exist, was explored and it was found that the Shc-dependent pathway is both redundant and dominant. We hypothesize that the Shc-dependent pathway is important for EGFR to compete with other receptors, which need Shc to transduce cell signals; and this pathway is not aimed to increase the robustness of the EGFR cascade. Finally, for the general importance of alternative pathways to the network topology and robustness, several concepts have been proposed to decompose and quantitatively characterize the networks. We demonstrate that the pathnet score is a better assessment for robustness than the molecular connectivity.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Michigan State University. Dept. of Biochemistry, 2007. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Apr. 16, 2009) Includes bibliographical references. Also issued in print.

No description available.

by Cheung Yuk Yin. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves xx-xxviii). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgements --- p.i / Abstract --- p.ii / 摘要 --- p.iii / Table of Content --- p.iv / Abbreviations / for Amino Acids --- p.viii / for Standard Genetic Code --- p.ix / for Units --- p.x / for Prefixes --- p.xi / for Terms commonly used in the report --- p.xii / List of Figures --- p.xiii / List of Tables --- p.xiv / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- Epidemiology of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Relationship between Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatocellular Carcinoma --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Brief Description of HBV Genome --- p.2 / Chapter 1.4 --- Possible Roles of HBx in Hepatocellular Carcinoma --- p.4 / Chapter 1.5 --- Novel Interacting Partner of HBx - HBx-lnteracting Protein (XIP) --- p.6 / Chapter 1.6 --- Objective --- p.6 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Methodology / Chapter 2.1 --- Information of the HBx and XIP Clones --- p.7 / Chapter 2.2 --- "Information of the Expression Vectors (pRSETA, 6xHis-pRSETA and pET8C)" --- p.7 / Chapter 2.3 --- Sub-Cloning of HBx and XIP into Different Vectors --- p.9 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Design of Primers for Cloning of HBx and XIP into Different Vectors --- p.9 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Protocol --- p.12 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Enzyme Digestion Reaction Protocol --- p.14 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Ligation Protocol --- p.16 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- Preparation of Competent Cells --- p.17 / Chapter 2.3.6 --- Transformation --- p.18 / Chapter 2.3.7 --- Gel Extraction Protocol --- p.19 / Chapter 2.3.7.1 --- Life Technologies CONCERT´ёØ Rapid Gel Extraction System --- p.19 / Chapter 2.3.7.2 --- QIAGEN Gel Extraction Kit --- p.20 / Chapter 2.3.8 --- Plasmid Preparation Protocol --- p.22 / Chapter 2.3.8.1 --- Life Technologies CONCERT´ёØ Rapid Plasmid Minipreps --- p.22 / Chapter 2.3.8.2 --- QIAGEN Plasmid Maxi Kit --- p.23 / Chapter 2.4 --- Expression of HBx and XIP in E. coli Strain C41 (DE3) --- p.25 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Transformation --- p.25 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Expression of HBx and 6xHis-HBx in E. coli Strain C41 (DE3) --- p.26 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Expression of XIP in E. coli Strain C41 (DE3) --- p.27 / Chapter 2.5 --- Preparation of Buffers for Chromatography and Circular Dichroism Spectrum Measurement --- p.28 / Chapter 2.6 --- Purification and Refolding of HBx and His-Tagged HBx --- p.28 / Chapter 2.6.1 --- Washing of HBx and His-Tagged HBx Inclusion Bodies --- p.28 / Chapter 2.6.2 --- His-Tagged HBx Purification by Affinity Chromatography --- p.29 / Chapter 2.6.3 --- HBx Purification by Size Exclusion Chromatography --- p.30 / Chapter 2.6.4 --- Refolding of HBx and His-Tagged HBx by Oxidative Dialysis --- p.30 / Chapter 2.7 --- Purification of XIP --- p.33 / Chapter 2.7.1 --- Screening of Chromatographic Conditions for the Purification of XIP --- p.33 / Chapter 2.7.2 --- XIP 1st Step of Purification by Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography --- p.34 / Chapter 2.7.3 --- XIP 2nd step of Purification by Size Exclusion Chromatography --- p.34 / Chapter 2.8 --- Chemical Denaturation Experiment of HBx and XIP --- p.36 / Chapter 2.8.1 --- Preparation of Urea Buffers for the Chemical Denaturation of HBx --- p.37 / Chapter 2.8.2 --- Preparation of Different GdnHCI Buffer for the Chemical Denaturation of XIP --- p.38 / Chapter 2.8.3 --- Calculation for Chemical Denaturation Experiment --- p.39 / Chapter 2.8.3.1 --- Protein Concentration Calculation --- p.39 / Chapter 2.8.3.2 --- Residual Molar Elipticity Calculation --- p.39 / Chapter 2.8.3.3 --- Free Energy Change (ΔGu) Calculation --- p.40 / Chapter 2.9 --- Two-dimensional Heteronuclear Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Experiment --- p.41 / Chapter 2.10 --- Interaction Confirmation between HBx and XIP --- p.42 / Chapter 2.10.1 --- "Transfection of pEGFP, pEGFP-HBx and pEGFP-XIP into HepG2" --- p.42 / Chapter 2.10.2 --- Yeast Two Hybrid System for Confirmation of HBx and XIP Interaction --- p.44 / Chapter 2.10.2.1 --- Preparation of Y187 Competent Cells --- p.44 / Chapter 2.10.2.2 --- Transformation of pGBKT7-HBx and pACT2-XIP into Y187 --- p.45 / Chapter 2.10.2.3 --- β-galactosidase Colony Lift Assay --- p.46 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- "Expression, Purification and Characterization of Hepatitis B Virus X Protein (HBx)" / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2 --- Construction of Recombinant HBx-pRSETA and 6xHis-HBx-pRSETA Plasmids --- p.48 / Chapter 3.3 --- Expression of 6xHis-HBx in E. coli C41 (DE3) using M9ZB Medium --- p.52 / Chapter 3.4 --- Expression of HBx in E. coli C41 (DE3) using M9ZB Medium --- p.54 / Chapter 3.5 --- Purification and Refolding of 6xHis-HBx Fusion Proteins --- p.56 / Chapter 3.6 --- Purification and Refolding of HBx Proteins --- p.60 / Chapter 3.7 --- Structural Characterization of Refolded HBx --- p.65 / Chapter 3.7.1 --- Introduction --- p.55 / Chapter 3.7.2 --- Experimental Analysis of HBx Secondary Structure --- p.66 / Chapter 3.7.3 --- Chemical Unfolding Experiment of HBx --- p.68 / Chapter 3.8 --- Discussion --- p.70 / Chapter 3.8.1 --- "HBx was Expressed, Purified and Characterized instead of 6xHis-HBx" --- p.71 / Chapter 3.8.2 --- High Concentration of DTT was used to Minimize Formation of HBx Aggregates --- p.72 / Chapter 3.8.3 --- Oxidative Refolding to Ensure Proper Disulfide Bond Formation --- p.73 / Chapter 3.8.4 --- Computational Prediction and Experimental Prediction of Secondary Structure of HBx --- p.75 / Chapter 3.9 --- Concluding Remarks --- p.77 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- "Expression, Purification and Characterization of HBx-lnteracting Protein (XIP)" / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.78 / Chapter 4.2 --- Construction of Recombinant XIP-pET8C --- p.78 / Chapter 4.3 --- Expression of XIP in E. coli C41 (DE3) using M9ZB and M9 Mediums --- p.82 / Chapter 4.4 --- Screening of Chromatographic Conditions for the Purification of XIP --- p.83 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Introduction --- p.83 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Purification Details --- p.83 / Chapter 4.5 --- Purification of XIP by HiTrap Phenyl HP 5-ml Column --- p.87 / Chapter 4.6 --- Purification of XIP by HiLoad 26/60 Superdex 75 Prep Grade --- p.89 / Chapter 4.7 --- Structural Characterization of XIP --- p.92 / Chapter 4.7.1 --- CD Spectrum --- p.92 / Chapter 4.7.2 --- Chemical Denaturation Experiment of XIP --- p.93 / Chapter 4.7.3 --- Two-Dimensional Heteronuclear Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectrum of 15N Labeled XIP --- p.95 / Chapter 4.8 --- Discussion --- p.97 / Chapter 4.8.1 --- Purification Method Development --- p.97 / Chapter 4.8.2 --- "Do Different Protein Cosolutes, Protein Stabilizers and Detergents Help XIP to Adopt a Stable Conformation?" --- p.99 / Chapter 4.9 --- Concluding Remarks --- p.101 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- In vivo Studies of HBx and XIP Interactions / Chapter 5.1 --- Investigation of Sub-Cellular Localization of HBx and XIP in Liver Cells --- p.102 / Chapter 5.1.1 --- Introduction --- p.102 / Chapter 5.1.2 --- "Construction of Recombinant HBx-pECFP-C1, HBx-pEGFP-C1, HBx-pEYFP-C1 and XIP-pECFP-C1, XIP-pEGFP-C1, XIP-pEYFP-C1" --- p.103 / Chapter 5.1.3 --- Transfection of pEGFP-C1 HBx and pEGFP-C1 XIP into HepG2 to Find Out HBx and XIP Sub-Cellular Localization --- p.106 / Chapter 5.1.3.1 --- Introduction --- p.107 / Chapter 5.1.3.2 --- Investigation of EGFP Proteins Expression using the Confocal Microscope and the Leica TCS Software --- p.108 / Chapter 5.1.4 --- Discussion and Future Prospects --- p.111 / Chapter 5.2 --- Interaction of HBx and XIP Studied by Yeast Two-Hybrid System --- p.113 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Introduction --- p.113 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Construction of Recombinant HBx-pGBKT7 and XIP-pACT2 Plasmids --- p.114 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Confirmation of HBx and XIP Interaction by Yeast Two-Hybrid System --- p.117 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- Discussion --- p.121 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Conclusion --- p.123 / Appendix I Sequence of HBx and XIP --- p.I / Chapter II --- Vector Sequences --- p.II / Chapter III --- Vector Maps --- p.VI / Chapter IV --- Electrophoresis Markers --- p.XI / Chapter V --- Agarose Gel Electrophoresis --- p.XII / Chapter VI --- SDS-PAGE Eectrophoresis --- p.XIII / Chapter VII --- Medium for Bacterial Culture --- p.XV / Chapter VIII --- Medium for Cell Culture --- p.XVII / Chapter IX --- Medium for Yeast Culture --- p.XVIII / Chapter X --- Buffers for Yeast Transformation --- p.XIX / Reference --- p.XX

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri--Columbia, 2003. / "August 2003." Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 110-133). Also issued on the Internet.

Chan Ming Lok. / Thesis submitted in: December 1999. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 93-108). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Ackowledgments --- p.i / Abstract in English --- p.ii / Abstract in Chinese --- p.iii / List of Abbreviations --- p.iv / List of Tables --- p.v / List of Figures --- p.vi / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction and Objectives / Chapter 1.1 --- Hepatocellular Carcinoma --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Epidemiology --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Geographical Distribution --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Sex and Age --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.4 --- Etiology --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.5 --- Molecular Basis of HCC --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.6 --- Situation in China and Hong Kong --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2 --- The Hepatitis B Virus --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Morphology --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Structure of the HBV Genome --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Functional Domains of the HBV Genome --- p.9 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- Pathogenesis of HBV Infection --- p.11 / Chapter 1.3 --- HBx --- p.12 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- The HBV x Gene --- p.12 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- The HBX Protein --- p.13 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- "Preferential HBX Expression in Sera, Hepatitis, Cirrhosis and HCC" --- p.13 / Chapter 1.3.4 --- Cellular Localization of HBX --- p.14 / Chapter 1.3.5 --- Animal Studies --- p.15 / Chapter 1.3.6 --- Functional Studies on HBX --- p.15 / Chapter 1.3.7 --- Variations in the HBx Gene --- p.21 / Chapter 1.4 --- Objectives of this Study --- p.24 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Methods and Materials Methods / Chapter 2.1 --- Paraffin Embedding of Patient Tissue Samples --- p.26 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Tissue Processing --- p.26 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Paraffin Embedding of Tissue Samples --- p.26 / Chapter 2.2 --- Sectioning of Paraffin Embedded Tissue Sections --- p.26 / Chapter 2.3 --- Immunohistochemical Staining of Paraffin Embedded Tissue Sections --- p.26 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Dewaxing of Paraffin-Embedded Tissue Sections --- p.26 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Rehydration of Tissue Sections --- p.27 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Antigen Retrieval --- p.27 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Quenching of Endogenous Hydrogen Peroxidase --- p.27 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- Blocking of Endogenous Biotin and Non-Specific Protein Binding --- p.27 / Chapter 2.3.6 --- Antibody Incubation and Color Development --- p.27 / Chapter 2.3.7 --- Counterstaining and Coverslip Mounting --- p.28 / Chapter 2.3.8 --- Interpretation of Immunostaining Results --- p.28 / Chapter 2.4 --- DNA Extraction from HCC Tissues --- p.28 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Sectioning of Frozen HCC Specimens --- p.28 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Proteinase K Digestion and Phenol Chloroform Extraction --- p.29 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Ethanol Precipitation and Re-suspension in Tris-EDTA (TE) Buffer --- p.29 / Chapter 2.5 --- Quantitation and Purity Check of Extracted DNA --- p.29 / Chapter 2.6 --- Quality Check for Extracted Genomic DNA --- p.30 / Chapter 2.6.1 --- Agarose Gel Electrophoresis --- p.30 / Chapter 2.6.2 --- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) of the β-globin Gene --- p.30 / Chapter 2.6.3 --- Analysis of PCR Fragments by Agarose Gel Electrophoresis --- p.30 / Chapter 2.7 --- Polymerase Chain Reaction Amplification of HBs and HBx Genes of the Hepatitis B Virus --- p.31 / Chapter 2.8 --- Southern Blot of HBx PCR Fragments --- p.31 / Chapter 2.8.1 --- Immobilization of DNA onto a Positively Charged Nylon Membrane and Pre-hybridization --- p.31 / Chapter 2.8.2 --- Radio-labeling of an HBV Probe --- p.32 / Chapter 2.8.3 --- Hybridization of a 32P-labeled HBV Probe and Film Exposure --- p.32 / Chapter 2.9 --- Cloning of PCR Fragments into pGEM®-T Vector for Sequencing --- p.33 / Chapter 2.9.1 --- Gel Extraction and Purification --- p.33 / Chapter 2.9.2 --- Ligation --- p.33 / Chapter 2.10 --- Transformation of Competent DH5a cells --- p.34 / Chapter 2.10.1 --- Preparation of Competent DH5α Using Calcium Chloride --- p.34 / Chapter 2.10.2 --- Heat Shock of Competent DH5α Cells --- p.34 / Chapter 2.10.3 --- Plating of Transformed Cells onto LB Agar Plates --- p.34 / Chapter 2.10.4 --- Screening of Transformants for Inserts --- p.35 / Chapter 2.11 --- Miniprep of Plasmid DNA --- p.35 / Chapter 2.11.1 --- Inoculation of Bacterial Clones --- p.35 / Chapter 2.11.2 --- DNA Extraction by Alkaline Lysis and Phenol/Chloroform --- p.35 / Chapter 2.11.3 --- Ethanol Precipitation and Re-suspension in TE Buffer --- p.35 / Chapter 2.11.4 --- Confirmation of Positive Clones --- p.36 / Chapter 2.12 --- Sequencing of pGEM®-T Cloned HBx PCR Fragments --- p.36 / Chapter 2.13 --- Construction of the HBx-GFP Plasmid --- p.36 / Chapter 2.13.1 --- PCR Amplification of HBx Gene Inserts --- p.36 / Chapter 2.13.2 --- Confirmation of HBx Insert Sequence by DNA Sequencing --- p.37 / Chapter 2.13.3 --- Restriction Digest of HBx-pGEM®-T Plasmids to Obtain HBx Inserts --- p.37 / Chapter 2.13.4 --- Restriction Digest of pEGFP-Nl Cloning Vector for Cloning --- p.37 / Chapter 2.13.5 --- Ligation of HBx Inserts into the pEGFP Cloning Vector --- p.37 / Chapter 2.14 --- Large Scale Plasmid DNA Preparation --- p.38 / Chapter 2.15 --- Cell Culture --- p.39 / Chapter 2.16 --- Transfection using LipofectAminéёØ --- p.39 / Chapter 2.16.1 --- Seeding of Cells for Coverslip Growth --- p.39 / Chapter 2.16.2 --- Transfection using LipofecAminéёØ --- p.39 / Chapter 2.17 --- Cell Fixation and DAPI Staining Materials --- p.40 / Chapter 2.18 --- Chemicals --- p.41 / Chapter 2.19 --- Antibodies --- p.41 / Chapter 2.20 --- "Formalin-fixed, Paraffin Embedded Tissues of HCC Tissues from Xiamen" --- p.41 / Chapter 2.21 --- Frozen Liver Tissues --- p.41 / Chapter 2.22 --- PCR Reagents --- p.43 / Chapter 2.23 --- Primers --- p.43 / Chapter 2.24 --- Plasmid --- p.43 / Chapter 2.25 --- Enzymes --- p.43 / Chapter 2.26 --- Ligation Reagents --- p.43 / Chapter 2.27 --- Cloning Vectors --- p.45 / Chapter 2.28 --- Competent Cell --- p.45 / Chapter 2.29 --- Hela and HepG2 Cell Line --- p.45 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Results / Chapter 3.1 --- Hepatitis B Virus Status of HCC Patients from Hong Kong and Xiamen --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2 --- Immunohistochemical Studies of the HBx Protein in Hong Kong and Xiamen HCC --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Cross Reaction of Anti-99 with Cytokeratin 18 (CK18) --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- HBx Expression in HCC Patient Tissue Samples from Hong Kong --- p.50 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- HBxAg Staining in HCC Tissue Samples from Xiamen --- p.50 / Chapter 3.3 --- Agarose Gel Electrophoresis of DNA Extracted from Frozen Liver Tissues --- p.50 / Chapter 3.4 --- PCR Amplification of the β-globin Gene --- p.55 / Chapter 3.5 --- PCR Amplification of the HBs Gene from Liver Samples of HCC Patients from Hong Kong --- p.55 / Chapter 3.6 --- PCR Amplification of the HBx Gene from Liver Samples of HCC Patients from Hong Kong --- p.55 / Chapter 3.7 --- Amplification of the HBx Gene from Serum Samples of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus from Hong Kong Using Nested PCR --- p.61 / Chapter 3.8 --- Southern Blot of HBx PCR Fragments --- p.61 / Chapter 3.9 --- Cloning and Sequencing of the HBx Gene in HCC and Chronic Hepatitis B Patient Samples from Hong Kong --- p.61 / Chapter 3.10 --- Expression Pattern of Wild-type HBx-GFP Fusion Protein in Transiently Transfected HeLa and HepG2 Cells --- p.73 / Chapter 3.11 --- Expression Patterns of HBx-GFP with and without Mutations at Codons 130 and 131 in HeLa and HepG2 Cell Line --- p.78 / Chapter 3.12 --- Growth Kinetics of HeLa Cells Transfected with GFP and Wild-type HBx-GFP with and without Mutations in Codons 130 and131 --- p.81 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Discussion / Chapter 4.1 --- HBxAg Expression in Tumorous and Surrounding Non-tumorous Tissues --- p.83 / Chapter 4.2 --- "Detection of the HBx Gene in Sera, Non-tumorous and Tumorous Tissues" --- p.84 / Chapter 4.3 --- HBx Gene Mutations in Chronic Hepatitis and HCC --- p.85 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Codon 127 (HBV nt 1752-1754) --- p.85 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Codons 130 and 131 (HBV nt 1761-1766) --- p.86 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Lack of Correlation between HBx Gene Mutations and Lack of HBxAg Expression --- p.87 / Chapter 4.4 --- Cellular Localization of HBxAg in Transiently Transfected Cells Lines --- p.88 / Chapter 4.5 --- Functional Difference Between Wild-type and Mutant HBX Protein --- p.89 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Conclusions and Directions for Further Studies / Chapter 5.1 --- Conclusions --- p.91 / Chapter 5.2 --- Directions for Further Studies --- p.92 / References --- p.93 / Appendix / Chapter A1 --- Recipes of Reagents Used in this Study --- p.109 / Chapter A2 --- Schematic Setup of Downward Capillary Transfer of DNA --- p.112 / Chapter A3 --- Circle Map of the pGEM®-T Cloning Vector and Construct of the HBx-pGEM®-T Plasmid --- p.113 / Chapter A4 --- Circle Map of the pEGFP-Nl Cloning Vector and Construct of the HBx-GFP Plasmid --- p.114

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri--Columbia, 2003. / "August 2003." Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 110-133). Also issued on the Internet.