Facial expressions

All genes of living organisms are translated into proteins according to a single genetic code. Eighteen out of the twenty amino acids are encoded by multiple codons, called synonymous codons. If the ultimate goal of protein translation is to produce the encoded amino acid, each synonymous codon should be used equally. Interestingly however, biased usage among synonymous codons occurs in organisms like Escherichia coli and yeast. Codon usage bias refers to the fact that some synonymous codons are…

of renal injury. Objectives: This study aims to determine the association between NF-кB level and renal disease progression among patients with AKI and nephrotic syndrome. Methods: A comparative follow up study was conducted to assess in situ expression of NF- B in renal biopsy of nephrotic syndrome and AKI patients. Kidney samples were obtained by percutaneous renal biopsy. The renal biopsies from 20 patients with nephrotic range proteinuria were studied and compared with 10 patients with AKI…

Epigenetics is the modification of the genome to regulate gene expression. This process is achieved through a variety of different mechanisms including but not limited to, chromatin condensation, acetylation modification, and methylation modification. Gene expression can also be altered through a number of non-epigenetic mechanisms, such as environmental factors, like temperature, and the introduction of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) into the environment. The level of chromatin…

people’s lifestyles, and 5 percent (5%) due to inherited mutations [2] The transcription of a gene begins with transcription elements, mostly protein and RNAs, binding to regulatory sites on DNA. The frequency of this binding affects the level of expression. Experiments have verified that a stronger binding site will increase the effect of a protein on transcription rate. On the other hand, since the DNA sequences is unchanged,…

Figure 5. Rosiglitazone (highlighted in green) forms three salt bridges with neighboring atoms at the hydrophilic end of the LBD. Rosiglitazone binding to PPARγ causes a conformational change within the complex that causes the dissociation of the endogenous ligand and the recruitment of a nuclear receptor coactivator 2, NCoA-2. This similarly occurs in the other half of the complex: RXRα Receptor A type II nuclear receptor as well, RXR-α heterodimerizes with PPARγ. The ligand that…

Staphylococcus aureus is a pathogenic gram-positive cocci bacteria that grows through fermentation and anaerobic respiration. Its growth experiences three stages— a lag phase where infection initiates, an exponential stage S. aureus quickly grows, and a stationary phase where the bacteria alters cellular metabolism for long-term survival. The species is known for its golden-colored colonies, and 50 percent by mass peptidoglycan cell walls (Gordon and Lowy, 2008). S. aureus is the leading cause…

For years I fell under the falsified vision of wanting to become a doctor. I anticipated myself studying for the MCATs, attending medical school interviews, and fretting over my application until it was perfect in every way shape and form. Why a doctor? The answer was simple, I longed to be the person who could make a difference in not only an ailing individual, but to the world of medicine. I hoped to aid in finding cures to the worlds most complex of diseases and genetic mutations. I was…

The free speech in this country is an flexible as the law is. What I mean is, the Constitution is so vague, and so outdated, that it is up to the Supreme Court to interpret and determine what the law really means. But the law can be bent in different ways that will sway for someone else’s favor when it is convenient for them. The same goes for the freedom of speech. Since middle school, it’s been taught that we have the freedom of speech, but it’s limited. Like yelling that there’s a fire in a…

Each Rab specifically targets to a membrane compartment and controls several factors, such as protein and lipid composition of the membrane, fusion between distinct compartments, vesicle motility along microtubules, and interaction with the cytoskeleton. The membrane targeting process, as well as specific binding to GDI, requires post-translational isoprenylation (geranylgeranyl moieties) of the two Cys residues at or near the C-terminus of Rab (Chavrier et al., 1991; Ullrich et al., 1993). √…

of the original hypothesis, is through transcriptional malfunctions during mitosis. The tumor suppressors that are used in cellular division lose their function due to mutations, and the genes that have the ability to become cancerous due to over expression and/or mutations become more highly functioning. This gain and loss of function results in the instability of the chromosomes undergoing the process of cellular division. Some genes and proteins that may be mutated or deregulated include,…