STRATA
STRATA, the STudent Research, Academic, and Talent Archive, is a collection of selected Fort Lewis College student work, including undergraduate research, senior seminar papers, published works, conference presentations, and other creative and artistic projects. Search by name, subject, title, or academic department.
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- Quantification of Lysine Acetylation in Histones Isolated from Yeast Strains Lacking a Specific HAT or HDAC+B166 Screen reader support enabled
- Histone proteins provide the most basic form of structural organization for eukaryotic chromosomes. The dynamic nature of gene expression is dependent on the complex interaction of histones with both DNA and other proteins. Chromatin remodeling and post translational histone modification occurs via diverse mechanisms including acetylation, phosphorylation, methylation, ADP-ribosylation, and ubiquitination. Histones can be dually tailored by specific enzyme classes called histone acteylases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs). The addition and removal of acetyl groups (acetylation and deacetylation) to and from particular lysine (K) residues within histones provide a curious mechanism for the control of gene silencing and expression. Through in vitro assays and the use of antibodies, Gcn5, a particular HAT, has been shown to acetylate lysine residues K9, K14, K18, and K23 within the amine terminal tail region of histone H3; however, the in vivo histone acetylation targets of Gcn5 remain unknown. Using yeast as a model organism to study endogenous acetylation levels, we performed a multi-step histone purification process on wild-type (WT) and Gcn5 "knockout" strains. To determine in vivo acetylation levels, purified histone H3 was treated with deuterated acetic anhydride, which isotopically labels all unacetylated lysine residues. After protein digestion using the protease trypsin, histone samples were analyzed using electrospray ionization-collision induced dissociation-tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-CID-MS/MS). The ratio of protiated acetyls to deuterated acetyls was then determined. Our results suggest that there is a decrease in endogenous acetylation levels at K14 and K23 in Gcn5 "knockout" strains when compared to WT strains.
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- Quantification of the ADE2-TEL Gene Expression in S. Cervisiae Mutants
- The goal of our work is to develop a method to provide a quantitative analysis of gene transcription. Amelia Burns and Dr. Smith recently found—using a red/white color assay— that mutations at the nucleosome interface between histones H2B and H4 result in altered levels of transcription of a telomeric (TEL) ADE2 gene in yeast. The ADE2-TEL red/white assay can be successfully used to screen for the effects of single amino acid mutations on ADE2-TEL expression, but it fails to answer the question of "how much" with regard to expression level. Toward this end, we evaluated three different yeast genetic variations—the wild-type yeast strain (1371), one mutant (T71S) that possesses a histone H4 mutation that decreases ADE2-TEL expression and one mutant (H75F) that possesses a histone H4 mutation that increases ADE2-TEL expression. We performed a series of quantitative PCR reactions in an attempt to quantify ADE2-TEL expression levels. Although we were not able to achieve quantifiable results, we made significant progress in establishing a PCR protocol that can be used for future work.
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- Quantifying Pollinator Diversity, Abundance, and Seasonal Changes in Pollinators at Low and High Elevations and Differences in Collection Methods, Southwest Colorado
- Bees (Order Hymenoptera) are arguably the most important group of pollinating insects found on the planet, especially because they play an important role in agriculture by pollinating our crops. In the US, over half of the commercially-managed pollinators (mostly honeybees) have disappeared since 1940 with similar declines worldwide and the causes not entirely known (Wenning, 2007). A proposed hypothesis for the decline of these insects has been that of increased global temperatures. Bees are endothermic, and any rise in normal temperatures could be problematic for their thermoregulation. Water loss, droughts and changes in plant phenology would affect bumblebees as well, and heat waves could prematurely wake hibernating queens before adequate flowering resources are available. Honeybees have been extensively researched because they are economically important to us, but very few studies have been performed for pollinators of non-agricultural ecosystems. The intention of this study is to help fill this void in information on other pollinating insects by gathering baseline data on pollinators and specifically bumblebees at low and high elevations in southwestern Colorado.
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- Rack et al - Consent Form
- Consent form for "Development of a Lab Testing Protocol to Assess Ski Mountaineering Performance" by Catherine Rack and Colin O'Gorman
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- Rain Trails
- Poem by Courtney Ott from Fall 2013 - Winter 2014 issue of Images.
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- Recycling Identity
- Poem by D. Linnea Decker in Fall 2008 - Winter 2009 issue of Images.
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- Red
- Artwork by Chrissy Kinslow from Fall 2013 - Winter 2014 issue of Images
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- Red
- Short story by Evan Cheadle, published in the Fall 2013-Winter 2014 issue of Images.
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- Red Fury
- Poem by Carmen Bredeson from Fall 2012 - Winter 2013 issue of Images.
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- Red Red Kaffiya
- Photograph by Alex Pullen from Fall 2012 - Winter 2013 issue of Images
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- Red Tree
- Artwork feature a red tree near a stream or river
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- Reed Library's - Art in the Library Student Art Competition Project: Nesting
- That age old question "What do you want to be when you grow up?" has stalwartly remained to be the same I gave in my original adolescent answer, "I want to be an artist!" Though I create art for myself, my intention is to arouse others inspiration using my knack for unedited imagination. A robust affection for utilizing exploratory techniques by way of whatever materials may be in my hands has developed over time. Methods include raw unorthodox applications of paint, poetry, printmaking, collage, drawing and sculpture. Current predilections involve public art, where a smorgasbord of materials are used to transform spaces by revealing layer-upon-layer of my unfiltered textural introspections. "Nesting" began with a project where I employed a traditional basket coiling technique to create 35 grapefruit sized nests out of rope and yarn. It was during this process that I thought to myself, "Wouldn't it be enjoyable to shrink down small enough to climb inside of one of these nests?" Upon seeing Reed Library's - Art in the Library Student Art Completion I found an opportunity to turn my idea into actuality. The ending result is not only intended to be an enticing space but more importantly a place for individuals to slow down, get comfortable, and recoup the energy needed to get through the day.