Catalyzing Clinically Driven Undergraduate Design Projects at the Nexus of Engineering, Medicine, and Business.

Design projects, particularly those related to assistive technology, offer unparalleled educational opportunities for undergraduate students to synthesize engineering knowledge with a clinically driven need to produce a product that can improve quality of life. Such projects are most effective when engineering, clinical, and business perspectives are considered throughout. However, the logistics of successfully implementing such interdisciplinary projects can be challenging.

Thylakoid-integrated recombinant Hcf106 participates in the chloroplast twin arginine transport system.

The chloroplast twin arginine transport (cpTat) system distinguishes itself as a protein transport pathway by translocating fully folded proteins, using the proton-motive force (PMF) as the sole source of energy. The cpTat pathway is evolutionarily conserved with the Tat pathway found in the plasma membrane of many prokaryotes. The cpTat () system uses three proteins, Tha4 (TatA), Hcf106 (TatB), and cpTatC (TatC), to form a transient translocase allowing the passage of precursor proteins.

How miRs and mRNA deadenylases could post-transcriptionally regulate expression of tumor-promoting protein PLD.

Phospholipase D (PLD) plays a key role in both cell membrane lipid reorganization and architecture, as well as a cell signaling protein via the product of its enzymatic reaction, phosphatidic acid (PA). PLD is involved in promoting breast cancer cell growth, proliferation, and metastasis and both gene and protein expression are upregulated in breast carcinoma human samples. In spite of all this, the ultimate reason as to why PLD expression is high in cancer cells vs.

A Phosphatidic Acid (PA) conveyor system of continuous intracellular transport from cell membrane to nucleus maintains EGF receptor homeostasis.

The intracellular concentration of the mitogen phosphatidic acid (PA) must be maintained at low levels until the need arises for cell proliferation. How temporal and spatial trafficking of PA affects its target proteins in the different cellular compartments is not fully understood. We report that in cancer cells, PA cycles back and forth from the cellular membrane to the nucleus, affecting the function of epidermal growth factor (EGF), in a process that involves PPARα/LXRα signaling.

Enhanced detection of respiratory pathogens with nanotrap particles.

The Influenza virus is a leading cause of respiratory disease in the United States each year. While the virus normally causes mild to moderate disease, hospitalization and death can occur in many cases. There are several methodologies that are used for detection; however problems such as decreased sensitivity and high rates of false-negative results may arise.