Date Approved
11-2016
Embargo Period
5-24-2023
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
PhD in Cell & Molecular Biology
Department
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
College
School of Osteopathic Medicine
First Advisor
Venkateswar Venkataraman, PhD
Second Advisor
Mikhail Anikin, PhD
Third Advisor
Dmitry Temiakov, PhD
Subject(s)
Neuronal Calcium-Sensor Proteins; Neurocalcin; Hippocalcin; Calcium-Binding Proteins
Disciplines
Cell Biology | Laboratory and Basic Science Research | Medicine and Health Sciences | Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience | Molecular Biology
Abstract
Many neuronal functions, including learning and memory are driven by changes in intracellular Ca2+concentrations. The Neuronal Calcium Sensor (NCS) family of proteins is responsible for mediating the response to calcium. They are typically comprised of 4 EF hands; of which EF 2, 3, and 4 bind calcium.
Hypothesis: NCS proteins carry out unique, non-overlapping functions, and that specific characteristics of the family can be mapped to precise regions of the proteins.
Results: The effect on the following properties were investigated primarily on two highly similar NCS proteins, Neurocalcin Delta (NCALD) and Hippocalcin (HPCA): (1) Response to calcium was determined through two independent methods: change in tryptophan fluorescence and migration on a native polyacrylamide gel (CIMSA); (2) size exclusion chromatography, (3) Calcium binding, (4) Guanylate Cyclase stimulations and (5) sequence analysis. These results lead to the conclusion that specific aa locations are hyper-variable and pivotal in determining how the proteins respond.
Recommended Citation
Viviano, Jeffrey, "Understanding the Differences Between Neuronal Calcium Sensor Proteins: A Comparison of Neurocalcin Delta and Hippocalcin" (2016). Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Theses and Dissertations. 23.
https://rdw.rowan.edu/gsbs_etd/23
Included in
Cell Biology Commons, Laboratory and Basic Science Research Commons, Medicine and Health Sciences Commons, Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience Commons, Molecular Biology Commons
Comments
Additional committee members: Robert Nagele, PhD and Eric Moss, PhD