PCNA and RPA are required for DNA mismatch repair (MMR), but their rolesin the pathway are not fully understood. Using an affinity pull-down approach, weshow that (1) increased PCNA binding to DNA heteroduplexes is associated withthe appearance and accumulation of excision products; and (2) RPAphosphorylation occurs when DNA polymerase ?? binds to the DNA substrate. Wetherefore hypothesize that PCNA plays an important role in mismatch-provokedexcision and that RPA phosphorylation plays an important role in DNA resynthesis.To determine the role of PCNA in MMR, mismatch-provoked and nick-directedexcision was assayed in a cell-free system in the presence of the PCNA inhibitor,p21CIP1/WAF. We show that whereas PCNA is essential for 3' directed excision, it isdispensable for the 5' directed reaction, suggesting a differential role for PCNA inMMR. We further find that the PCNA-dependent pathway is the only pathway for3' directed excision, but there are at least two pathways for 5' directed excision,one of which is a PCNA-independent 5' excision pathway. To determine if RPAphosphorylation facilitates DNA resynthesis, a gap-filling assay was developedusing both a cell-free system and a purified system, and we demonstrate that RPAphosphorylation stimulates DNA polymerase ??-catalyzed resynthesis in bothsystems. Kinetic studies indicate that phosphorylated RPA has a lower affinity forDNA compared with un-phosphorylated RPA. Therefore, the stimulation ofresynthesis by phosphorylated RPA is likely due to the fact that phosphorylationpromotes the release of RPA from DNA, thereby making DNA template availablefor resynthesis.

Spectrum access protocols have been proposed recently to provide flexible and efficient use of the available bandwidth. Game theory has been applied to the analysis of the problem to determine the most effective allocation of the users’ power over the bandwidth. However, prior analysis has focussed on Shannon capacity as the utility function, even though it is known that real signals do not, in general, meet the Gaussian distribution assumptions of that metric. In a non-cooperative spectrum sharing environment, the Shannon capacity utility function results in a water-filling solution. In this thesis, the suitability of the water-filling solution is evaluated when using non-Gaussian signalling first in a frequency non-selective environment to focus on the resource allocation problem and its outcomes. It is then extended to a frequency selective environment to examine the proposed algorithm in a more realistic wireless environment. It is shown in both scenarios that more effective resource allocation can be achieved when the utility function takes into account the actual signal characteristics. Further, it is demonstrated that higher rates can be achieved with lower transmitted power, resulting in a smaller spectral footprint, which allows more efficient use of the spectrum overall. Finally, future spectrum management is discussed where the waveform adaptation is examined as an additional option to the well-known spectrum agility, rate and transmit power adaptation when performing spectrum sharing.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF file (viewed Feb. 5, 2008). Includes bibliographical references (p. 71-79).

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2008. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 45 p. : ill. (some col.). Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 32-37).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1988.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1957.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1958.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1976.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 1999. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 69 p. : ill. Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 56-60).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1960.