The ability of cells to respond correctly to signals from their microenvironment is an essential prerequisite of life. Many external signals are detected through G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signalling pathways, which control all aspects of eukaryotic physiology. Ligand-bou…
Ras signalling is vital to many cellular processes. Ras proteins mediate a vast array of cellular signalling networks, and are conserved from humans to unicellular eukaryotes. The study of ras signalling in higher eukaryotes presents a number of technical challenges, due to the …
Many high throughput sequencing protocols for RNA and DNA require that the polynucleic acid is fragmented so that the identity of a limited number of nucleic acids of one or both of the ends of the fragments can be determined by sequencing. The nucleic acid sequence allows the f…
The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is an important cause of respiratory failure in critically ill patients characterised by severe inflammation within the lungs. This inflammation is limited by anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid hormones released from the hypothalamus…
Dementia is a set of incurable, fatal diseases characterised by irreversible degeneration of the brain. One theory of its cause is the failure of intracellular transport in the axons of the neurons that compose the brain. Kinesin is a key motor transporting vital cargo along the…
Introduction In a proof of principle study, we have applied an automated fluorescence toponome imaging system (TIS) in order to examine, whether TIS can find protein network structures distinguishing cancerous from normal colon tissue from same patient. Methods/Materials Cancer …
An interruption of the blood supply to the brain, as occurs during ischemic stroke, results in a rapid decline of ATP levels and a subsequent loss of neuronal function and viability. Under physiological conditions the brain reuses ATP degradation metabolites, such as hypoxanthin…
Mathematical and computer-based models provide the foundation of most methods of engineering design. They are recognised as being especially important in the development of integrated dynamic systems, such as “control-configured” aircraft or in complex robotics applications. The…
The receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE) is a 35-kDa polypeptide of the immunogloblin superfamily that has been implicated as a mediator of both acute and chronic vascular inflammation. RAGE has also recently been implicated in the pathology of pulmonary hypertensi…
The objectives of The Identification and Prevention of Dietary and Lifestyle Induced Health Effects in Children and Infants study (child sample) and the Kenya Adolescent Physical Activity study (adolescent sample) conducted in this thesis was firstly, to assess the impact of met…
Osteoporosis is a disease characterised by reduced bone mass and altered microarchitecture leading to an increased risk of fracture. The consequences of osteoporosis include reduced quality of life and pain, associated with fractures. Its financial burden on health services are …
Nephrops norvegicus is a mid-sized benthic decapod lobster found at depths of between 30-300 metres along the eastern Atlantic coast from Norway to Morocco, and within the Mediterranean sea. They inhabit marine muddy sediments in which they excavate burrow systems and from which…
The aim of this research was to investigate the blood supply to the lower abdomen. This is a commonly used donor site for autologous reconstruction following breast cancer and the flap of tissue used is based on the deep inferior epigastric circulation (DIEP flap) or the superfi…
In this thesis, a method for studying the electrophysiological consequences of acute regional ischaemia in rabbit heart was established using a combination of a novel snare technique and optical mapping. The purpose of this approach was to discover the mechanistic link between a…
Therapeutic antibodies are highly versatile macromolecules that can be engineered to bind and inhibit a target with high specificity. Unfortunately, the cell membrane is impenetrable to antibody reagents, thus limiting their use almost entirely to extracellular targets. Expandin…
The CaBPs are a family of small EF-hand-containing calcium binding proteins with limited homology to calmodulin (CaM). The family comprises seven genes with alternative splicing giving rise to a greater number of protein variants. Two distinct groups exist within the CaBP family…
Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are a major obstacle for the development of new medicines. They are also a leading cause of patient morbidity and mortality. Although ADRs affect many different organs and bodily systems, drug induced liver injury has lead to the withdrawal of sever…
The control of balance and orientation comprises various forms of sensory input, reflexive action and anticipatory mechanisms. An important sensory input is the vestibular system. When a destabilising or disorientating perturbation is sensed by the vestibular apparatus a correct…
Aims: To fully characterise the RGC-5 cell line and determine whether it would be a suitable substitute for primary RGC cell culture. To optimise a CNTF Nogo-P4 inhibitory assay and establish whether (a) CNTF alone is capable of stimulating RGC neurite outgrowth and survival, or…