Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2009. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 146-178).

Inactive mutants of the ped gene cause two phenotypes in Drosophila melanogaster: male sterility and the early translation of DHODH within spermatogenesis. Investigation of the PED amino acid sequence revealed an OTU domain and an ubiquitin interacting motif, suggesting that it is a member of the otubain sub-family of de-ubiqutinating enzymes. To test this, the putative active cysteine residue was mutated. Results show that this single cysteine residue is required for ped to confer male fertility. Purified wild type PED was also used to carry out in vitro deubiquitinating assays. These assays failed to show any ability for PED to cut ubiquitin chains of varying length or linkage type. Previously, a translational control element was identified in dhod mRNA which is required for its early translation phenotype in ped mutants. In an attempt to identify additional transcripts that have their translational timing affected by PED, the don juan-like 5′ UTR was inserted into a reporter gene and examined in a ped mutant background. No delay of this reporter gene was observed suggesting that don juan-like mRNA is not under the exact control pathway that dhod is.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2007.

Thesis (M.Phil.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 57-66).

Ulm, Univ., Diss., 2007.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1996. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [123]-140).

Cytoplasmic polyadenylation-element binding protein (CPEB) is required for the translational regulation in multiple cell types. CPEB is known to play important roles in early germ cell development, in neuronal synaptic plasticity, and in the process of cellular senescence. CPEB is able to control translation by first interacting with a specific sequence of mRNA known as the CPE site. CPEB recognizes a specific sequence of mRNA, called the cytoplasmic polyadenylation element. This is a uracil rich sequence that is located on the 3' UTR of mRNA. Once CPEB is bound to the CPE site, CPEB can interact with other proteins. CPEB is most notably known for interacting with a cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor (CPSF), with a poly(A)-specific ribonuclease, and with a poly(A) polymerase in the Gld2 family. This complex of proteins controls polyadenylation on the 3' end of mRNA. By controlling the lengthening of the poly(A) tail, translation can be regulated. CPEB is believed to contain two RNA recognition motifs and a zinc binding region on the N-terminus. The zinc binding region contains six cysteine and two histidine residues that bind to two zinc atoms in a tetrahedral geometry. Using NMR spectroscopy, the structure of zinc binding region of CPEB1 was determined. This protein was shown to bind to two zinc ions in a cross-braced topology. The zinc binding region of CPEB was also determined that the correct classification for this zinc finger is a ZZ domain.

Guided imagery, a therapeutic technique in which a healer directs an individual to visualize a scene or sensations, has existed for millennia and is often used within healthcare settings today. A small, though growing number of studies among clinical samples demonstrate that guided imagery produces positive effects such as decreased pain and anxiety. Few studies have dismantled this intervention in order to isolate its active ingredients, and even fewer studies have determined for whom this intervention works. The current study sought to address these gaps in the literature by examining the effects of guided imagery on mood and anxiety among a college sample. The effects of a single session of non-directive guided imagery were examined through a repeated measures, pre-test post-test design with three experimental conditions. Multivariate analysis of data from 107 adults showed that following a distress induction, guided imagery significantly decreased anxiety and negative affect. However, guided imagery did not produce significantly greater changes in mood and anxiety than quiet rest or attention control conditions as hypothesized. Individual difference variables hypothesized as moderators (trait absorption, imagery vividness, imagery control) did not predict outcome; however, self-reported engagement in the experimental conditions predicted magnitude of change in outcome. The discussion outlines potential reasons for these unique findings as well as clinical implications and future directions for research.

Animal models can contribute significantly to our understanding of human gambling behavior. However, no proposed animal models of human gambling have been tested using human subjects. The purpose of the present paper was to validate an animal model of gambling with human subjects. Twenty undergraduate rehabilitation students (all women) were recruited and participated for extra course credit. Participants were presented with a concurrent choice between two different simulated slot machines; one machine with symbols and one machine without symbols. During the first 50 choice trials, the payout of the two machines was equated at 50% overall. For the remaining 50 choice trials, probability of winning on the machine with symbols was systematically decreased by 10% overall every ten trials until there was no probability of winning for the last ten trails. On average, participants showed a preference for the machine with symbols during choice trials when win rate was equated; allocating significantly more than 50% of responding to this machine. A repeated measures ANOVA indicated that response allocation to the symbol machine only significantly decreased in the final two conditions (10% and EXT) and did not decrease significantly across any other conditions. Results were also interpreted through behavioral economic analyses. Results indicate that conditioned reinforcement may affect the subjective value of probabilistic reinforcers in humans. These results are similar to those obtained with pigeons under similar conditions and may imply that animal models are relevant to the study of human gambling behavior.

The study of proteins and their function is key to understanding the intrinsic properties of the cell both in normal and disease states. An important part of this analysis involves the prediction and elucidation of three-dimensional protein structures, and the interactions they undertake, through the use of computational techniques. The majority of work in this thesis focuses on the effects that non-specific charge interactions have on these structures. Firstly, sets of proteins that select a single partner from closely related alternatives were analysed using an empirical binding model in order to identify a determinant for binding specificity. Here, we predicted that charge interactions are more favourable in the majority of cognate pairs, compared to other energetic and geometric properties. In addition to this, charged protein side-chains were found to be important with respect to phosphorylation sites that lie in disordered regions of proteins. The analysis of charge environments around these sites indicated a propensity for a subset of residues to be phosphorylated when surrounded by charged residues. This was especially true for proteins involved in RNA processing.An investigation of protein-mRNA interactions also identified a role for charge interactions that occur within translational control mechanisms. The correlation seen between positively charged disordered regions of specific regulatory proteins and the secondary structure of target mRNAs revealed a potential control mechanism that is partially influenced by polyelectrostatic interactions.