Thesis (M.A. in National Security Affairs) Naval Postgraduate School, Dec. 2000. / Thesis advisor, David S. Yost. Includes bibliographical references. Also available online.

Universiẗat, Diss., 2005--Würzburg.

Techn. University, Diss., 2003--Dresden.

Thesis (Ph.D.) in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology--University of Maine, 2006. / Includes vita. Advisory Committee: Lucy Liaw, Scientist, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Advisor; Carla Mouta-Bellum, Scientist, Maine Medical Center Research Institute; Jeong Yoon, Scientist, Maine Medical Center Research Institute; Dorothy E. Croall, Professor of Biochemistry; Thomas Gridley, Senior Scientist, The Jackson Laboratory. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 97-112 ).

Freie Universiẗat, Diss., 2005--Berlin. / Dateiformat: zip, Dateien im PDF-Format. Erscheinungsjahr an der Haupttitelstelle: 2004.

No description available.

Despite advances breast cancer management, it remains a leading cause of death in women globally. Breast cancer is molecularly heterogeneous with some subtypes that are challenging to therapeutically target. This necessitates identification and validation of novel targets for breast cancer therapy. This study hypothesised that Popeye domain-containing (POPDC) proteins are dysregulated to promote breast malignancy. The study aimed to determine the potential of POPDC proteins as novel targets for inhibiting breast cancer cell migration and proliferation. Western blot and immunofluorescence assays demonstrated that POPDC1 and POPDC2 were significantly suppressed in malignant breast cells relative to non-malignant breast cells. In ductal carcinoma tissues, POPDC1 was significantly suppressed without correlation to clinical progression. In contrast, POPDC2 and POPDC3 were overexpressed in ductal carcinoma tissues and significantly correlated to HER2+ status and high tumour grade. Secondly, cell membrane expression of POPDC1 and POPDC2 were significantly reduced in malignant cells instead shifted to endosomal trafficking vesicles. Thirdly, suppression and gain of function studies showed that POPDC suppression significantly promoted cell migration and proliferation, while gain of POPDC function significantly inhibited cell migration and proliferation. The study also demonstrated that cAMP interacted with POPDC1, regulates POPDC1 expression levels and potentially controls POPDC1-mediated inhibition of cell migration and proliferation in breast cancer. Finally, this study showed for the first time that EGFR negatively regulates POPDC1 expression in breast cancer cells and the overexpression of POPDC1 can reduce EGFR-mediated cell migration and proliferation in breast cancer cells. In conclusion, POPDC protein expression, localisation and functions change in breast cancer. POPDC1 was also identified as a novel therapeutic target for inhibiting breast cancer cell migration and proliferation that could potentially be targeted to inhibit EGFR-driven breast malignancy. The study also demonstrated POPDC2 and POPDC3 are dysregulated in breast cancer, but in a less consistent and more complex manner.

During embryonic development, the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway plays an important role in the growth and patterning of numerous tissues and organs. In the developing retina, Hh signaling regulates the proliferation and differentiation of retinal progenitor cells (RPC) through mechanisms that are not completely understood. The principal downstream mediators of the Hh pathway are the Gli transcription factors (Gli1-3), which regulate the expression of target genes responsible for the effects of the Hh pathway on RPC. The network of genes targeted by this pathway in neural progenitor cells however, remains unknown. The objective of this thesis was to identify and characterize novel targets of Hh/Gli during retinal development. Using a computation approach, 390 genes were identified as having at least one conserved Gli binding motif within the vicinity of the coding sequence between humans and mice. During validation, I demonstrate that 30 of 46 selected targets were modulated in response to Hh pathway activation in either E14.5 and/or P0.5 retinal explants and that the induction of 25 of these were significantly different between the two developmental stages. Included in this list of Hh-modulated genes were Sox8 and Ndp, two highly inducible genes that are direct targets of Gli2. Functionally, I was unable to determine a role for Sox8 during retinal development which could reflect compensation by the closely related Sox9 and Sox10 genes. Ndp on the other hand was found to be sufficient and required for Hh mediated induction in progenitor cell proliferation and cell fate determination. Therefore, in this thesis Hh target genes have been identified which could provide some insight into the mechanisms that are responsible for the cellular outcome of a response to the pathway.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified up to 30 loci that associate with increased risk of coronary artery disease or myocardial infarction. Here, I tested the function of one locus that changed the amino acid sequence of a mitochondrial matrix protease called paraplegin (SPG7) that performs critical quality assurance functions. Loss-of-function mutations in this protease are associated with hereditary spastic paraplegia. Here, I show that this variant that changes an arginine to a glutamine at position 688 within the protease domain is a gain-of-function. Cells bearing this variant have increased mitochondrial fusion and number, produce higher levels of reactive oxygen species and have increased cellular proliferation. Importantly, when expressed in yeast, the Q688 variant of SPG7 rescues the growth arrest caused by a protease-deficient mutation in AFG3L2. My study identifies a novel functional variant of SPG7 and highlights the need to go beyond the GWAS paradigm.

No description available.