Category Archives: Biochemistry

The Master of Science in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at Georgetown University is a basic science program that infuses core concepts of biochemistry and molecular biology as applied to biomedical sciences and biotechnology, providing students with a rigorous and challenging curriculum. Graduates from the program excel in various career paths with government agencies, academic institutions, research laboratories, and biotechnology companies. Alumni have also continued their education by pursuing doctoral, medical, and law degrees, using the skills and training at Georgetown University to propel their future academic and research careers.

Core concepts and skills are taught through required core courses, advanced electives, special topics courses, and a 4 credit internship. At least 30 graduate credits with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater are required for the M.S. degree. Our courses expose students to advanced methods in biochemistry, molecular biology, and cell biology, laboratory research, and literature-based research and include a significant number of hands-on lab-based courses that develop research expertise.

Our program offers a well-organized, intensive capstone internship program that culminates in students presenting their research at tri-annual poster presentation sessions. The internships are done with research mentors in various GUMC laboratories on-campus, or off-campus in government agencies such as NIH and FDA or biotechnology companies.

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Masters in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | Georgetown University

What is serum?

When blood clots, it separates into two parts a clear pale yellow liquid called serum and a small solid portion composed of blood cells.

Serum is collected by placing a tube of clotted blood in a machine called a centrifuge, which spins the blood very quickly in a small circle, forcing the cells to the bottom of the tube and allowing the serum to sit on top. The serum is then lifted off the top and placed in a fresh tube for testing.

Serum biochemistry refers to the chemical analysis of serum. There are many substances in serum, including proteins, enzymes, lipids, hormones, etc. Testing for these various substances provides information about the organs and tissues in the body as well as the metabolic state of the animal. If a test result is abnormal, it may indicate that disease is present. Further assessment of the test results may offer clues about which organ system is affected and also the nature and severity of the disorder.

There are too many substances in serum to consider testing all of them each time a pet gets sick, so tests for the various substances are arranged into smaller groups, called serum biochemistry panels or profiles. Each panel or profile is a selected group of biochemistry tests designed to investigate a specific interest or concern.

For example, a general health profile would include a wide range of tests with the aim of assessing a variety of organs, while a kidney profile would include a smaller number of tests related specifically to the kidney, and so on. A profile can be simple or complex and your veterinarian will determine which profile is best suited to the needs of your pet.

Proteins (total protein, albumin, globulin). The two main types of protein found in blood are called albumin and globulin. These proteins can be measured individually, or combined into a single test called total protein, which measures all protein in the sample. Albumin levels can indicate if a pet is dehydrated, and can provide information about the function of the liver, kidneys, and digestive system. Globulin levels reflect underlying inflammation and/or antibody production. Increased levels of globulins are often associated with infectious diseases, immune-mediated disease, and some types of cancer.

Liver Enzymes (ALT, ALP). There are many different liver enzymes, but the two that appear in most profiles are alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The first enzyme is typically found when the cells of the liver are stressed or damaged. The second enzyme is generally increased when bile flow in the liver is reduced.

Bilirubin is a pigment produced primarily in the liver that is associated with the breakdown of hemoglobin from red blood cells. Bilirubin is stored in the gall bladder as a component of bile. Increases in bilirubin are associated with increased red cell destruction or decreased bile flow through the liver.

Kidney Tests (urea, creatinine). The two substances most commonly measured to assess kidney function are urea (also called blood urea nitrogen or BUN) and creatinine. Urea is a by-product of protein breakdown; it is produced in the liver and excreted from the body by the kidney. Increases in BUN may indicate dehydration, gastrointestinal bleeding, cardiac disease, or primary kidney disease. Decreases in BUN are associated with over hydration, liver failure, or reduced protein intake in the diet. Creatinine is a by-product of muscle metabolism and it is excreted entirely by the kidney. Increased levels of creatinine indicate decreased kidney function.

Pancreatic Enzymes (amylase, lipase, pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity). Two commonly measured pancreatic enzymes are amylase and lipase.Increases in these enzymes may occur when the pancreas is inflamed, although they can also be elevated with kidney or intestinal disease, and when certain drugs are used. They are not very reliable indicators of pancreatitis. A newer test for pancreatic inflammation called pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (PLI) is more reliable because it rises only with pancreatic inflammation (see handouts "Pancreatitis in Cats - Pancreas-Specific Lipase" and "Pancreatitis in Dogs - Pancreas-Specific Lipase"). Certain laboratories run variations of this test called spec cPL, fPL or PSL.

Glucose (blood sugar). A persistently high blood sugar is associated with diabetes mellitus, also known as "sugardiabetes." A temporary rise in blood sugar is commonly found in cats associated with the excitement of visiting the veterinarian; this stress response can make it difficult to diagnose diabetes mellitus in some cats.Low blood sugar can be found in newborn animals, some very small breeds of dogs, and high performance dogs, such as hunting dogs, that exercise extensively. Low blood sugar is also associated with some types of cancer, bacterial infections, or insulin overdose in diabetic patients. False low glucose values often occur when a blood sample is not stored correctly after collection.

Calcium and Phosphorus. These minerals are present in tiny amounts in blood and changes, either up or down, may be associated with a variety of diseases or conditions. For example, persistently high calcium levels may indicate the presence of kidney disease, cancer, or disease of the parathyroid glands, while low calcium levels may be due to pancreatitis, antifreeze poisoning, or disease of the parathyroid gland. High phosphorus levels are associated with kidney failure and some nutritional problems. Low phosphorous level can occur with dietary problems, gastrointestinal disease, and kidney disease etc.

Muscle Enzymes (CK, AST, ALT). Creatinine kinase (CK) is the enzyme most frequently measured to assess injury. Of lesser importance are the enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), which are also used to assess liver function. Increased muscle enzyme levels are often found with muscular activity (exercise, exertion, convulsions etc.), as well as trauma and muscle inflammation.

Cholesterol is produced in the liver as part of fat metabolism. Increases in cholesterol are associated with hormonal and metabolic diseases, liver disease, and serious kidney disease.

Electrolytes. The most important electrolytes are potassium, chloride, sodium, and bicarbonate. These substances are present in blood in small quantities, and each electrolyte has a different role to play in the body. Collectively, electrolytes help to maintain blood and tissue fluids in balanced state. Disturbances in electrolytes are often caused by vomiting, diarrhea, and kidney disease, and accompany many serious metabolic disorders.

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Serum Biochemistry | VCA Animal Hospital

The demographic characteristics of the subjects

Table 1 indicates the demographic characteristics for all indices. A total of 22,509 subjects aged 50 years were included in the final analysis. The final dataset consisted of 21,426 subjects without MIAP (men = 8869, women = 12,557) and 1083 subjects with MIAP (men = 583, women = 500). The prevalence of MIAP in Korean adults aged 50 years was 4.81% (6.57% for men and 3.98% for women). All other indices analyzed in this study except for ischemic heart disease (IHD) family history (p = 0.588), systolic blood pressure (SBP, p = 0.146), and BMI (p = 0.721) showed statistically significant differences between men and women. We also analyzed the difference between the non-MIAP and MIAP groups. Among the demographic factors, age, education level, occupation, and household income, but not residential area, showed significant differences between the two groups in both men and women. The average age of the MIAP group (men: 65.88 0.46, women: 68.7 0.42) was older than that of the non-MIAP group (men: 60.84 0.12, women: 61.53 0.11). The MIAP group was significantly more likely to have a lower educational level and household income and a higher unemployment rate than the non-MIAP group. In particular, the difference between the non-MIAP and MIAP groups in these indices tended to be more prominent in women than in men. Among the health behavior factors, stress showed a significant difference only in women. The prevalence of 'slight' was the highest in both the non-MIAP group and the MIAP group, but the percentage of very' tended to be higher in the MIAP group than in the non-MIAP group. In addition, alcohol consumption showed significant differences in both men and women, and the MIAP group was more likely to have lower alcohol consumption than the non-MIAP group. Smoking status showed no significant difference between the two groups in both men and women. Among the preliminary health examination and disease-related indices, IHD family history, hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia showed significant differences between the two groups in men and women, whereas hypertriglyceridemia showed no significant difference in men (p = 0.095) or women (p = 0.181). In particular, the IHD family history in the MIAP group tended to be 63.10% greater in men and 110.60% greater in women than in the non-MIAP group. Among the health examination-related indices, in men, diastolic blood pressure (DBP), height, BMI, WC, WHtR, glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C, hemoglobin, hematocrit, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, white blood cells (WBCs), red blood cells (RBCs), and platelets showed significant differences between the two groups. In women, SBP, DBP, height, BMI, WC, WHtR, glucose, total cholesterol, HDL-C, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), hemoglobin, hematocrit, BUN, creatinine, WBC, RBC, and platelet showed significant differences between the two groups. SBP was significantly different between the two groups only in women, and the MIAP group was higher than the non-MIAP group, whereas DBP was lower in the MIAP group than the non-MIAP group in men and women. The MIAP group tended to be shorter and have higher weight than the non-MIAP group, but there was no substantial difference. On the other hand, WC was more likely to be larger in the MIAP group than in the non-MIAP group. Although most biochemical indices did not differ significantly between the two groups, the MIAP group was more likely to have lower total cholesterol than the non-MIAP group in men and women.

Tables 2 and 3 show the associations between MIAP and blood pressure, anthropometric indices, and biochemical indices in Korean men and women aged 50 years. Of all indices, total cholesterol showed a more strongly negative association with MIAP than all other indices in men (OR = 0.401 [0.3540.453], p < 0.001) and women (OR = 0.472 [0.4130.539], p < 0.001) in the crude analysis. In addition, this association was strongly maintained in men (adjusted OR = 0.436 [0.3840.495], adjusted p < 0.001) and women (adjusted OR = 0.541 [0.4750.618], adjusted p < 0.001) after adjusting for age, residential areas, education, occupation, household incomes, stress, alcohol consumption, smoking status, IHD family history, and BMI. In addition to total cholesterol, creatine and platelets showed significant associations with MIAP in men and women in the crude and adjusted analyses. Nevertheless, except for these three variables, the association between MIAP and all other variables showed sex differences.

Among blood pressure-related variables, in men, only DBP showed a negative association with MIAP in the crude (OR = 0.614 [0.5510.685], p < 0.001) and adjusted analyses (adjusted OR = 0.719 [0.6380.809], adjusted p < 0.001), whereas only SBP showed a significant association with MIAP in the crude (OR = 0.838 [0.7510.933], p < 0.001) and adjusted (adjusted OR = 1.133 [1.0191.259], adjusted p = 0.022) analyses in women. Of the obesity indices, WC and WHtR showed a significant association with MIAP in the crude and adjusted analyses in men. In particular, WHtR (adjusted OR = 1.325 [1.0821.623], adjusted p = 0.007) showed a more significant association with MIAP than WC (adjusted OR = 1.290 [1.0721.553], adjusted p = 0.007). In contrast, in women, all indices showed a significant association in the crude analysis, but there was no association between MIAP and any obesity index in the adjusted analysis. Among biochemical indices, total cholesterol, creatine, and platelets were associated with MIAP in men and women, but other variables except for these variables showed sex differences. In men, hemoglobin (adjusted OR = 0.749 [0.6770.830], adjusted p < 0.001), hematocrit (adjusted OR = 0.777 [0.7040.858], adjusted p < 0.001), BUN (adjusted OR = 1.077 [1.0001.160], adjusted p = 0.049), and RBC (adjusted OR = 0.787 [0.7090.873], adjusted p < 0.001) were associated with MIAP in the crude and adjusted analyses, whereas in women, only AST (adjusted OR = 1.072 [1.0011.149], adjusted p = 0.047) showed an additional association with MIAP in the crude and adjusted analyses.

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Association of myocardial infarction and angina pectoris with obesity and biochemical indices in the South Korean population | Scientific Reports -...

How can we create a diverse network of colleagues? That deceptively simple question sparked an "unforgettable" initiative from the Department of Chemistry:the inaugural Visiting Faculty Research Partnership (VFRP), which wrapped recently with a symposium and poster session that celebrated visiting professors and their undergraduates from Fresno State, Rowan and Valdosta State universities.

The two-month summer program draws faculty from moderate to small research institutions that serve historically underrepresented groups. This inaugural year provided research and stipend funding to three visiting faculty who each brought two undergraduates with them.

Visiting faculty in Princeton Chemistrys two-month Visiting Faculty Research Partnership, at Frick Laboratory. From left: Qiao-Hong Chen, professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at California State University, Fresno; Tolulope Salami, professor in the Department of Chemistry at Valdosta State University; Rashanique Quarels, assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Rowan University; and Princeton Chemistry Department Chair Gregory Scholes, the William S. Tod Professor of Chemistry.

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C. Todd Reichart, Department of Chemistry

The visitors paired up with Princeton faculty and embedded in labs, group meetings and workshops to complete research collaborations.

I am thrilled to see the positive impact Princeton Chemistrys VFRP had for all participating faculty and students, said Shawn Maxam, associate provost for diversity and inclusion. The relationships and collaborations developed seem to be exceptional. We know that talent exists everywhere, and our pursuit of academic excellence requires a robust engagement with diverse groups of scientists and scholars.

My gratitude to the department for launching this program. I am excited by the future opportunities for science and collaboration catalyzed by VFRP, he said.

The three visiting professors were Qiao-Hong Chen, professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at California State University, Fresno; Rashanique Quarels, assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Rowan University; and Tolulope Salami, professor in the Department of Chemistry at Valdosta State University.

VFRP is part of department chair Greg Scholes goal to open Princeton Chemistry to non-traditional routes of collaboration.

What a great response we got for this program. It says a lot that we could make three top-quality appointments that spanned three different labs in our department, said Scholes, the William S. Tod Professor of Chemistry. We imagine that the experience will enhance the visiting students applications for graduate school or employment, and that we have seeded productive, long-term connections with them.

Chen and her two students partnered with Erik Sorensen, the Arthur Allan Patchett Professor in Organic Chemistry, and his research group. After two months, Chen declared the program an exciting, unforgettable summer of research. Its been a great chance for me, for my two students who came with me, and my entire group at Fresno State. We were all so happy to do this.

A first-generation college student herself, Chen chose two undergraduates to accompany her whom she felt would most benefit from the opportunity: Jasmine Hang and first-generation college student Khamyl Cooksey, both of whom traveled to the East Coast for the first time.

Coming here pushed me a little bit more towards doing a Ph.D., said Hang. Im actually a biology major, so chemistry wasnt ever anything I was going to touch other than the classes I need to take. But I really enjoyed the hands-on part of the lab. So now, Im thinking maybe I can do research on campus.

Tolulope Salami (center) and his undergraduates Jayden Thomas (left) and Jodeci Mitchell (right) from Valdosta State University atttend the Summer Symposium Poster Session at Frick Laboratory.

Photo by

C. Todd Reichart, Department of Chemistry

I have loved every moment of it, she added. Being able to work here and be a part of the whole environment where everyone is so research-driven, it just makes it so much more impactful.

Said Cooksey: The Sorensen Lab was very welcoming. We got to talk to the postdocs and graduate students and hear a lot about the paths theyve taken. Its definitely given me the opportunity to explore my options.

Jodeci Mitchell, who visited with Salami from Valdosta, embedded with the Bocarsly Lab, the research group of Professor Andrew Bocarsly. This program has given me access to more diverse experimentation and different equipment. Using that knowledge is definitely going to be useful to my career, no matter what I decide to do, she said. The hands-on activity in the lab is definitely beneficial in that aspect. Just getting used to the lab environment in general has been wonderful.

Salami said he feels its important to continue learning throughout ones professional career, and he found the opportunity to do that with the Bocarsly Lab.

The students too, theyve been encouraged that they can do this, he said. They had some trepidation about coming to Princeton, but when they got here, it was like, Hmmm, I actually can do this. Were all just chemists. I think it has done a lot to build their confidence.

Quarels and her two students from Rowan University partnered with Rob Knowles, a professor of chemistry, and his research group. Quarles noted that the Knowles Lab has a piece of equipment integral to her research a cryocooler, a refrigerator designed to reach cryogenic temperatures that is not available at Rowan. Just being able to utilize some of the resources here at Princeton was a big check for me.

She added that one of the students who accompanied her, Jonathan Santoro, was up until this point a chemical engineering major at Rowan. Following this summers fellowship, he plans to change his major to chemistry full time and continue on the path to graduate school.

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Inaugural program with Fresno State, Rowan and Valdosta State universities spurs unforgettable summer of research - Princeton University

Media Contacts Julie Kiefer

Associate Director, Science Communications, University of Utah HealthEmail: julie.kiefer@hsc.utah.eduPhone: 801-587-1293

Aug 08, 2022 10:00 AM

A University of Utah Health-led multi-institutional research center that studies the inner workings and vulnerabilities of HIV, the human immunodeficieny virus that causes AIDS, recently received a five-year, $28 million grant renewal from the National Institutes of Health.

Since its founding in 2007, the CHEETAH Center for Structural Biology of HIV Infection Restriction and Viral Dynamics has published more than 300 research papers that have led to a better understanding of HIV and its potential treatments.

Wesley Sundquist, Ph.D., the centers director and professor and chair of the Department of Biochemistry at U of U Health, is leading 20 research teams from 12 institutions. With the grant renewal, the researchers will focus on:

The outstanding science stemming from this program is changing an understanding of HIV/AIDS, other viral diseases, and cellular biology, enabling the development of novel therapeutics such as lenacapavir and D-peptide inhibitors, says Rachel Hess, M.D., associate vice president for research at U of U Health, referring to two investigational drugs with roots in CHEETAH.

From deep understanding to investigational drugs

Just a half-century ago, HIV infection almost inevitably led to serious illness and death. Todays antiretroviral therapies can suppress the virus and prevent symptoms, but improvement is still needed. If these drugs arent taken daily, the virus can rebound and acquire drug resistance. The medicines can also cause difficult side effects. The underpinnings for two new investigational drugs that could help circumvent these issues are based on years of research by CHEETAH scientists.

Research from Sundquist; Christopher Hill, D.Phil, distinguished biochemistry professor at U of U Health; and other CHEETAH Center labs on the HIV capsida structure they found is vital for different steps of the HIV life cyclelaid the groundwork that led the pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences to identify the capsid inhibitor, lenacapavir. This investigational drug is now in phase 3 clinical trials and is already showing great promise as a potent, long-acting treatment.

Taking a different approach, Michael Kay, M.D., Ph.D., CHEETAH investigator and biochemistry professor, and Debra Eckert, Ph.D., biochemistry research assistant professor, used synthetic chemistry to design a D-peptide inhibitor called CPT31 that jams HIVs infection machinery. The molecule is now in phase 1 clinical trials sponsored by Navigen, Inc.

Often people forget that drug development builds from basic research, Sundquist says. These are two more cases where that has happened, and it is very satisfying.

Learning lessons from HIV

CHEETAH continues to bring an understanding of HIV, related viruses, and host biology in new directions through collaborations between its scientists, who come from a variety of disciplines. "The CHEETAH Center is doing exciting, interdisciplinary science in a collaborative environment that allows us to accomplish projects that wouldn't otherwise be possible in any single lab," says Pamela Bjorkman, Ph.D., a professor of biology and biological engineering at Caltech.

NelsElde, Ph.D., professor of human genetics at U of U Health, turns to evolution for inspiration, noting that many animals are not as susceptible as humans to disease caused by HIV. He is collaborating with fellow CHEETAH scientists to explore whether a gene found in mice and squirrel monkeys that prevents HIV from exiting cells after replicating could become the basis for anew type of antiviral.

Nature has done seemingly countless billions of experiments that got us to where we are today, Elde says. Can we learn from whats happened and borrow and deploy them in ways that are useful?

By contrast, Owen Pornillos, Ph.D., a CHEETAH investigator from the University of Virginia who received his doctorate from the U, takes advantage of his biochemistry expertise to take a different approach. In a collaborative project with several CHEETAH Center members, he is removing the virus from the complex environment of the host cell and bringing it to the test tube. By adding back specific ingredients a few at a time, the team is identifying key virus and host cell components that are essential for early stages of viral infection and replication. Combining this approach with new microscope technologies is allowing them to visualize these steps with unprecedented clarity.

CHEETAH is committed to doing excellent science and is always planning for where we envision the field will be five years from now, Pornillos says. Its exciting to be a part of it.

These diverse tactics are providing valuable insights into virology and biology, and uncovering targets for new types of therapeutic intervention.

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Research News iii

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U of U Health-Led Research Awarded $28 Million to Explore HIV's Inner Workings and Vulnerabilities - University of Utah Health Care

As the 2022 harvest ramps up in earnest,BSG Wine, a leading winemaking ingredients and product supply group headquartered in the Napa Valley since 2007, is uniquely positioned to equip the winemaking community with what it needs to for a spectacularly successful season.

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For more specifications and orders, go to:bsgwine.com/megazyme-assay-kits.

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Precision Lab Testing Made Easy by Innovative Wave Spectrophotometer and Pre-Programmed Biochemical Assay Kit - wineindustryadvisor.com