Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2007. / Full text release at OhioLINK's ETD Center delayed at author's request

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri--Columbia, 2004. / "December 2004" Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 208-226). Also issued on the Internet.

A neutral calcium-activated protease of muscle (CAP) has previously been characterised and may play a role in myofibrillar disassembly and turnover. In this study both CAP and endogenous CAP inhibitor from adult and embryonic chicken skeletal muscle have been partially purified by DEAE-cellulose and Sephadex G-150 chromatography. CAP from embryonic muscle shows similar properties to the corresponding enzyme from adult tissue with respect to calcium dependence (maximum activity at 1.0 rnM Ca²⁺), pH optimum (7.2) and sensitivity to proteinase inhibitors (inhibited by leupeptin and chymostatin). Both embryonic and adult enzymes were found to have molecular weights of 112000 daltons by gel filtration on Sephadex G-150. CAP activity was present in cultured skeletal muscle cells and increased with cellular growth and differentiation (five-fold). The presence of an inhibitor of CAP was demonstrated in cell cultures by ion-exchange chromatography, the levels of which decreased with a simultaneous increase in CAP activity. CAP activity showed an increase in developing muscle from 12-day embryos to 7-week chicks in relation to cellular DNA (3.8- fold), although the extent of this increase did not match the extent of accumulation of myofibrillar proteins. High levels of CAP inhibitor were found in early embryonic muscle and these decreased markedly during development. CAP inhibitor from embryonic tissue was fractionated into 3 species using DEAE-cellulose in contrast to inhibitor from adult tissue which exhibited only two species. The results indicate that the levels of CAP greatly increase at a time when myofibrillar content of muscle is rapidly increasing and, in addition, demonstrate that CAP activity may be controlled to a large extent by the levels of an intracellular inhibitor.

by Au Ka Wing. / "June 2004." / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 153-162). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese.

Orientador: Pedro de Magalhães Padilha / Coorientador: Luís Artur Loyola Charduto / Banca: Luciana Francisco Fleury / Banca: Angélica Simone Cravo Pereira / Resumo: O presente trabalho retrata estudo metaloproteômico no tecido muscular de bovinos da raça Nelore (Bos indicus) contrastantes para a característica de maciez da carne baseado em métodos de separação de proteínas por eletroforese bidimensional (2D-PAGE), identificação dos íons cálcio nos spots proteicos por fluorescência de raio-X (SR-XRF) e caracterização das proteínas por espectrometria de massas (ESI-MS). Os animais selecionados para compor o grupo M (carne macia) expressaram valores de força de cisalhamento (FC) entre 3,39 e 3,98 kg, já os animais selecionados para o grupo D (carne dura) expressaram valores de FC entre 7,11 e 7,45 kg. Foi incluído um terceiro grupo (P) de animais da raça Piemontês (Bos taurus) como modelo comparativo do grau de maciez da carne. O número médio de spots proteicos encontrados nas repetições dos géis dos grupos M, D e P foram de 186 ± 20, 146,5 ± 16,5 e 175 ± 15, respectivamente. As correlações obtidas nas repetições dos géis indicaram que os procedimentos de extração da proteína total foram eficientes e preservaram a estrutura metal-proteína. A maior detecção (56%) qualitativa de cálcio por SR-XRF nos spots proteicos de animais com carne macia é um indicativo da ocorrência da atividade proteolítica no tecido muscular durante o período post mortem. A 2D-PAGE foi eficiente no fracionamento das proteínas presentes em amostras de tecido muscular (Longissimus dorsi). As correlações obtidas nas repetições dos géis indicaram que os procedimentos de extração da proteína total foram eficientes e preservaram a estrutura metal-proteína / Abstract: The present article describes a metalloproteomics study of bovine muscle tissue with different grades of meat tenderness from animals of the Nellore breed (Bos indicus) based on protein separation by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE), the identification of calcium ions in protein spots by Synchrotron Radiation X-ray Fluorescence (SR-XRF) and the characterization of proteins by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The meat from the animals selected to form the Te group (tender meat) expressed shear force (SF) values ranging from 3.39 to 3.98 kg, and the meat from the animals selected for the To group (tough meat) expressed values ranging from SF 7.11 to 7.45 kg. A third group (P) of Piedmontese animals (Bos taurus) was included as a comparative model for the level of meat tenderness. The mean number of protein spots found in the gel replicates of the Te, To and P groups were 186 ± 20, 146.5 ± 16.5 and 175 ± 15, respectively. The correlations found in the gel replicates indicated that the total protein extraction procedures were efficient and preserved the metal-protein structure. The higher qualitative detection of calcium (56%) by SR-XRF in the protein spots of animals with tender meat was indicative of the occurrence of proteolytic activity in the muscle tissue during the post mortem period. The 2D-PAGE was efficient fractionation of proteins present in muscle tissue samples (Longissimus dorsi). The correlations obtained in repetitions of the gels indicated that the procedures for extraction of total protein were efficient and preserved the structure metal-protein / Mestre

Calcium regulates many biological processes through interaction with proteins with different conformational, dynamic, and metal binding properties. Previous studies have shown that the electrostatic environment plays a key role in calcium binding affinity. In this research, we aim to dissect the contribution of the electrostatic environment to calcium binding affinity using protein design. Many natural calcium binding proteins undergo large conformational changes upon calcium binding which hampers the study of these proteins. In addition, cooperativity between multiple calcium binding sites makes it difficult to study site-specific binding affinity. The design of a single calcium binding site into a host system eliminates the difficulties that occur in the study of calcium binding affinity. Using a computer algorithm we have rationally designed several calcium binding sites with a pentagonal bipyramidal geometry in the non-calcium dependent cell adhesion protein CD2 (CD2-D1) to better investigate the key factors that affect calcium binding affinity. The first generation proteins are all in varying electrostatic environments. The conformational and metal binding properties of each of these designed proteins were analyzed. The second generation designed protein, CD2.6D79, was designed based on criteria learned from the first generation proteins. This protein contains a novel calcium binding site with ligands all from the â-strands of the non-calcium dependent cell adhesion protein CD2. The resulting protein maintains native secondary and tertiary packing and folding properties. In addition to its selectivity for calcium over other mono and divalent metal ions, it displays strong metal binding affinities for calcium and its analogues terbium and lanthanum. Furthermore, our designed protein binds CD48, the ligand binding partner of CD2, with an affinity three-fold stronger than CD2. The electrostatic potential of the calcium binding site was modified through mutation to facilitate the study of the effect of electrostatic interactions on calcium binding affinity. Several charge distribution mutants display varying metal binding affinities based on their charge, distance to the calcium binding site, and protein stability. This study will provide insight into the key site factors that control calcium binding affinity and calcium dependent biological function.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2002. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xiii, 134 p. : ill. (some col.). Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 119-128).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 86-89).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1998. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 130-135).

Thesis (Ph. D.) -- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 2003. / Vita. Bibliography: 123-149.