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MECHANISMS OF LONG-TERM SURVIVAL IN ESCHERICHIA COLI
by
Evan Pepper
A Dissertation Presented to the
FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
(MOLECULAR BIOLOGY)
May 2007
Copyright 2007 Evan David Pepper
Object Description
| Title | Mechanisms of long-term survival in Escherichia coli |
| Author | Pepper, Evan David |
| Author email | hiwibaba@hotmail.com |
| Degree | Doctor of Philosophy |
| Document type | Dissertation |
| Degree program | Molecular & Computational Biology |
| School | College of Letters, Arts and Sciences |
| Date defended/completed | 2007-06-25 |
| Date submitted | 2007 |
| Restricted until | Unrestricted |
| Date published | 2007-07-16 |
| Advisor (committee chair) | Finkel, Steven |
| Advisor (committee member) |
Goodman, Steven Bradforth, Stephen E. |
| Abstract | The long-term survival of Escherichia coli in both laboratory and natural environments is governed by many factors. Cells are exposed to many stresses, including oxidative stress, pH changes, nutrient deprivation, osmotic shifts, and glycation. Those bacteria that can survive and reproduce must cope with these stressors and the subsequent damage they may cause to their macromolecules, including DNA, proteins, and lipids. I have found that surviving, reproductively viable cells tend to have several things in common. In particular, cells with functioning enzymes to build and maintain their cell wall peptidoglycan and replicate through damaged DNA possess a fitness advantage when competing with other cells. Also, cells with less damage due to the effects of glycation may be more fit in comparison with cells of the same culture that have incurred more damage. Finally, I have found that compounds such as carnosine, folic acid, grape seed extract, aminoguanidine, and aspirin can protect E. coli from potential glycating agents; these may also be of therapeutic value in eukaryotes since the chemical process of glycation is similar to both types of organisms. Thus E. coli may be used as a model organism in which to study both genetic factors and external chemical agents that can contribute to the long-term survival of organisms. |
| Keyword | penicillin binding protein; pbp; glycation; carnosine |
| Language | English |
| Part of collection | University of Southern California dissertations and theses |
| Publisher (of the original version) | University of Southern California |
| Place of publication (of the original version) | Los Angeles, California |
| Publisher (of the digital version) | University of Southern California. Libraries |
| Type | texts |
| Legacy record ID | usctheses-m620 |
| Contributing entity | University of Southern California |
| Rights | Pepper, Evan David |
| Repository name | Libraries, University of Southern California |
| Repository address | Los Angeles, California |
| Repository email | cisadmin@dots.usc.edu |
| Filename | etd-Pepper-20070716 |
| Archival file | uscthesesreloadpub_Volume44/etd-Pepper-20070716.pdf |
Description
| Title | Page 1 |
| Contributing entity | University of Southern California |
| Repository email | cisadmin@dots.usc.edu |
| Full text | MECHANISMS OF LONG-TERM SURVIVAL IN ESCHERICHIA COLI by Evan Pepper A Dissertation Presented to the FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (MOLECULAR BIOLOGY) May 2007 Copyright 2007 Evan David Pepper |
