2025 Chemistry Capstone Symposium
All talks will be held in Rieke Science Center, Room 222.
Talks are anticipated to be approximately 25 minutes long including time for questions. The schedule of talks is given below.
View by Day: [ April 25th | May 1st | May 2nd | May 8th ]
12:00-12:30 pm
Title: Efficient Synthesis of an Aptamer-Based Luminescent Lanthanide RNA Probe
Grady Lemma, Senior Capstone Seminar
Abstract: In this talk, a novel synthesis of a luminescent lanthanide probe for RNA detection is introduced. The synthetic scheme provides an improved yield compared to literature routes, making use of microwave-assisted, iodine-catalyzed carbostyril formation. This probe is designed such that a specific sequence of RNA could be created to interfere with the photoinduced electron switch moiety in the structure, allowing luminescence in the presence of the aptamer, and dormancy in its absence.
12:30-1:00 pm
Title: Verifying and designing Trp5 mutants for mutagenesis experiments in Saccharomyces
cerevisiae
Lauren Lazarte, Senior Capstone Seminar
Abstract: The Saxowsky Lab worked over the summer to differentiate the functions of replicative mutagenesis and adaptive mutagenesis. Saccharomyces cerevisiae, also known as yeast, was used to determine if transcription can lead to adaptive mutagenesis in a reversion to prototrophy assay in the Trp5 gene. This talk aims to describe the design and verification of mutants in mutagenesis experiments.
1:00-1:30 pm
Title: Uranium Mobilization in Alluvial Aquifer and Permafrost Impacted by Climate Change
Eva Wirth, Senior Capstone Seminar
Abstract: Uranium has been used in countless nuclear weapons, but it is also naturally occurring in our crust. The concentration of uranium in groundwater, a main source of drinking water, has been increasing. If the concentration gets too high in our drinking sources, uranium can damage tissue in humans and aquatic life over an extended period of time. This talk addresses key findings of uranium mobilization at two sites, the Dawson Range and High Plains Aquifer, unaffected by anthropogenic contamination. It highlights the role of nitrogen and organic ligands in mobilizing uranium through groundwater, the differences in each site’s soil, and how this impacts uranium mobilization and the environment.
12:00-12:30 pm
Title: Reevaluating D-Amino Acids in Chronic Kidney Disease: Diagnostic Advances, Therapeutic Potential, and the Role of Molecular Chirality in “Mirror Life”
Justinpal Singh, Senior Capstone Seminar
Abstract: Once considered biologically insignificant, D-amino acids have been increasingly detected in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), shedding new light on their physiological and pathological roles. Emerging evidence suggests that altered levels of D-amino acids in CKD patients may serve as novel biomarkers, offering deeper insights into disease progression and metabolic dysregulation. Traditional diagnostic methods often fail to provide precise enantiomeric differentiation, necessitating advanced analytical techniques. Here, the use of three-dimensional high-performance liquid chromatography (3D HPLC) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy as powerful tools for accurately measuring D-amino acid levels in CKD will be discussed. These techniques provide superior sensitivity and specificity compared to conventional diagnostic approaches, enabling more reliable disease monitoring. Furthermore, recent research has explored the therapeutic potential of amino acid racemase, an enzyme capable of interconverting D- and L-amino acids, in treating conditions such as diabetic retinopathy by modulating amino acid homeostasis. This expanding knowledge aligns with the broader concept of “mirror life,” a growing field investigating the biological significance of molecular chirality in health and disease. By integrating cutting-edge analytical methods with emerging therapeutic strategies, this study underscores the importance of D-amino acids in CKD pathology and highlights their potential in both diagnostics and treatment
innovations.
12:30-1:00 pm
Title: Viability of Zophobas Atratus and Tenebrio Molitor (or their Gut Bacteria) as Methods to Decompose Plastics
Titus Powers, Senior Capstone Seminar
Abstract: Plastic waste is a serious problem that poses potential issues that I believe could be helped by utilizing both Zophobas Atratus (superworms) and Tenebrio Molitor (mealworms), who are capable of digesting plastic. Looking at how well they consume and digest different plastics, it is largely dependent on the form of the plastics, so using brittle and stiff forms that they can readily grab with their mandibles accelerates their consumption rate. Utilizing the gut bacteria and intestinal juices is a method that shows promise, but should be done in conjunction with worms eating the plastic, not in place of it. The worms are proven to be nutritious and safe for consumption, so an excess of worms is not an issue. Even if people do not want to eat the worms, it can be used for chicken feed. The frass (worm biological waste) can be filtered for microplastics and used as fertilizer. There is more research needed in order to fully know every step of the metabolic pathways taken to break the plastic down to try and recreate the process on an industrial level.
1:00-1:30 pm
Title: Evaluating Mobile Loop Mutation Effects on hMDH2
Danielle Cox, Senior Capstone Seminar
Abstract: Malate Dehydrogenase (MDH), is an enzyme that is necessary for cellular metabolism. Found in almost all organisms, it regulates the production of energy needed for the body. The enzyme has a highly conserved mobile loop that closes over the active site upon substrate binding, facilitating the reaction. While some of the amino acids in this loop have been identified to have a role in substrate binding, little is known about the role of other conserved amino acids within the loop. To evaluate the functions and impact of amino acids in the loop, four mutations (G84P, F91S, P80S and L90R) were examined through biochemical procedures such as kinetics and thermal stability. The mutation G84P showed little significant change in all assays. While F91S and P80S expressed subtle changes, the F91S mutation appeared to destabilize the folded protein, while inversely, P80S appeared to be more stable. The mutations F91S and L90R seemed to have lower specific activity and lower affinity for oxaloacetate.
2:00-2:30 pm
Title: Assessing the Effects of Mutations in the Mobile Loop on the Structure and Function of hMDH2
Kaela Williams, Senior Capstone Seminar
Abstract: Malate dehydrogenase (MDH) is an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion between malate and oxaloacetate using nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). Its mobile loop, which closes over the active site to enable the reaction to occur, is highly conserved but poorly understood. To further understanding of the residues in the loop, mutations were created and tested for changes to enzyme activity and stability, including L90R, F91S, G84P, and P80S. This was done by performing stop-time assays to measure specific activity, kinetic activity assays to measure kcat and Km with respect to oxaloacetate, and thermal shift assays to measure thermal stability, where a variety of effects were observed. These mutations were then analyzed using the modeling software ChimeraX, which was used to explain much of the observed activity and stability changes in each of the mutated enzymes.
2:30-3:00 pm
Title: Examination of Tau Protein as a Prion in Alzheimer’s Disease
Camilee Boland, Senior Capstone Seminar
Abstract: Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is an neurodegenerative disease in which causes memory loss, disorientation, and personality changes. Misfolded proteins that participate in viral-like spreading are known as prions. AD involves the misfolding and spreading of beta-amyloid and tau proteins, with the later being largely unstudied. To further examine the prion-like properties of the tau protein, cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) were used to view tau structurally and mechanistically, respectively.
3:00-3:30 pm
Title: Bacteriophage T4’s Soc-capsid protein – a promising platform for phage-display vaccines
Kayden Hulquist, Senior Capstone Seminar
Abstract: Vaccines are an important scientific technology that help protect our society from harmful diseases and infections. Every pathogen elicits different challenges when creating an efficient and protective vaccine, and not all known pathogens have a vaccine to defend against it in case of infection. Bacteriophages, commonly referred to as phages, are viruses that exclusively infect and propagate in bacteria. They offer a promising platform in next-generation medical technology, especially as a vaccine delivery platform. Phages provide a cheap, efficiently mass producible, and safe avenue for vaccine delivery that doesn’t require any adjuvants. Utilizing the Soc capsid protein on bacteriophage T4, antigens from pathogenic molecules can be fused to the N- and C-termini in vitro with high display copies and elicit a strong immunogenic response in the host. Tao et al. created a dual vaccine against anthrax and the plague, utilizing a mutant antigen of capsular protein F1 and low-calcium-response Vantigen to protect against the plague (F1mutV). The protective antigen PA is fused to Soc for protection against anthrax. Animal models saw between 80-100% protection against challenges of anthrax and plague. Other research by groups like Li et al. is using T4 as a platform for a universal influenza vaccine, utilizing the matrix protein 2 from human, swine and avian flu variants tandemly fused together and attached to Soc (Soc-3M2e). The universal flu vaccine saw 100% survival in mice models. All animal models for both studies elicited antibody creation, illustrating high immunogenic responses that can protect the host from future encounters with the pathogens. Results from studies like these show that phage-display technology with bacteriophage T4 could be a part of the next generation of vaccines. The stable nanoparticle provides multivalency, a broad immune response, and can be engineered towards a variety of pathogens to offer complete protection against infection and disease.
3:30-4:00 pm
Title: Characterization of Functional Meniscal Cell Subpopulations via Immunofluorescent Antibody Staining
Jordan Vanni, Senior Capstone Seminar
Abstract: The meniscus has poor regenerative properties after injury due to its limited vascularity and sparse distribution of cells. Common treatments like meniscectomies and suture repair do not support new tissue growth and often result in post-traumatic osteoarthritis. Given the frequency of meniscus tears and ineffectiveness of traditional treatments, regenerative medicine offers a potential alternative remedy. Identifying meniscus cells which can form new tissue via extracellular matrix synthesis is critical for developing effective regeneration-based treatments. The laboratory of Dr. Jennifer L. Robinson has previously performed single-cell RNA sequencing of pediatric meniscus tissues, revealing two functionally-distinct matrix-synthetic cell clusters: fibroblast-like and chondrocyte-like cells. These cells have a potentially significant role in producing and organizing extracellular matrix (ECM) during tissue regeneration. This project aims to validate and characterize the specific expression patterns of these markers in cultured primary meniscus cells, a necessary step toward our ultimate goal of identifying matrix-synthetic meniscus cells. Mxra8, an ECM remodeling protein, has not previously been characterized in meniscus tissues. In antibody staining panels, it displayed a heterogenous signal morphology within and across multiple wells. This varied expression makes Mxra8 a strong candidate for isolating meniscus cells based on their potentially unique functions, indicated by the presence or absence of this target marker. These results emphasize the importance of characterizing individual cells as a necessary next step for assessing the regenerative capabilities within meniscus tissue.
12:00-12:30 pm
Title: Progress and Challenges in Achieving Stable Perovskite Photovoltaic Devices
Kyle Hefty, Senior Capstone Seminar
Abstract: Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as a leading candidate for next-generation photovoltaics due to their high conversion efficiency, low cost of fabrication, and tunable optoelectronic properties. However, their commercial viability is inhibited by limited operational stability under environmental stressors such as heat, light, and moisture. This review examines the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influence perovskite stability, focusing on widely studied compounds including MAPbX3, FAPbX3, and CsPbX3. Comparative analysis highlights trade-offs between the structural tolerance, thermal resilience, and defect dynamics across different A-site cations. The degradation mechanisms of MAPbI3 under accelerated aging are evaluated, followed by the superior carrier transport and trap suppression observed in FA-based single crystals. Finally, the integration of cesium into mixed-cation systems is discussed as a promising strategy for enhancing both phase stability and device reproducibility. These findings emphasize the critical role of compositional engineering in advancing towards more durable and scalable perovskite photovoltaics.
12:30-1:00 pm
Title: Macroscopic Alignment of Biomimetic Self-Assembling Peptide Nanofibers
Aidan Donnelly, Senior Capstone Seminar
Abstract: Materials mimicking the structure of the extracellular matrix (ECM) have been shown to facilitate cell proliferation, differentiation, and influence cell behavior. Peptide based synthetic extracellular matrices imitate the fibrous nature of the ECM, providing a scaffold for cellular growth. Nanofibrillar alignment of the peptide nanofiber K2(SL)6K2 has shown promise as a potential base for bottom-up tissue engineering. However, very little is known about the effect of biomimetic sequences on the desired nanoscale organization and how they influence cellular behavior on aligned hydrogels. The biomimetic sequence IKVAVG, derived from the extracellular matrix protein Laminin α1, was previously determined to enhance neurite outgrowth and regeneration after an injury. Here, we demonstrate the ability to produce anisotropic, nanofibrous hydrogels using a novel biomimetic self-assembling peptide, IKVAVGK2(SL)6K2, utilizing solid phase peptide synthesis, polarized light microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. CD and FT-IR scans showed self-assembly into β-Sheet formation upon hydrogelation. Visualization of our peptide under polarized light microscopy demonstrated the desired anisotropic properties. In vitro studies studying the cellular behavior of PC12 on aligned peptide noodles are currently ongoing. These results support the idea of creating customizable self-assembling peptide hydrogels for tissue engineering of diverse cell types, broadening the possible fields of studies.
1:00-1:30 pm
Title: Determining if Beta-catenin Mutations Drive Kinase-Extrinsic TKI Resistance in ROS1
Transformed Cell Lines
Elijah Singleton, Senior Capstone Seminar
Abstract: Kinase domains are the most common protein domain encoded by cancer genes. Oncogene addiction to activated kinases represents a pharmacologically actionable vulnerability with targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). TKI has proven responsive in patients in inhibiting these aberrant kinases with 71 TKIs approved in 2021. ROS proto-oncogene 1 (ROS1), the largest human receptor kinase, is repeatedly involved in gene rearrangements involving multiple 5’ fusion partner genes in cancer. These rearrangements result in ROS1 fusion proteins that function as oncogenic drivers in diverse cancers, including in 1-2% of lung cancer cases. Despite the robust initial clinical response, kinase-intrinsic and kinase-extrinsic resistance developments pose challenges to TKI and their efficiency in treating ROS1-positive cancers. Kinase-extrinsic resistance pathways are poorly understood; about 9% of ROS1-positive cancer patients have concurrent Catenin Beta 1 (CTNNB1) hotspot mutations (S37F, S45P), whose functional consequence in driving TKI resistance is unknown. By determining whether these stabilizing CTNNB1 mutants induce resistance to ROS1 TKIs, the study examines how these alternative pathways drive further disease progression. We hypothesized that the activated CTNNB1 is an alternative pathway driving kinase-extrinsic ROS1 TKI resistance and furthering disease progression. Ba/F3 CD74-ROS1 transformed cell lines were transduced with CTNNB1 S45P virus. Future directions include determining the alternate pathway, and how its mechanisms inhibit TKIs and drive resistance to these treatments. From there, we can apply to more clinical settings with better treatment plans for patients that effectively target ROS1-positive cancers.
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