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Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14288/6

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Open Access
25-hydroxyvitamin D levels are low but not associated with disease activity in chronic spontaneous urticaria and depression
(AEPress, 2020) Vurgun, Eren; Güntaş, Gürkan; Kocatürk Göncü, Özgür Emek; Memet, Bachar; Doctor; School of Medicine; Koç University Hospital; 217219; N/A
Aim: to evaluate vitamin D levels in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), depression and both of them, thus to fi nd out whether vitamin D may be a common causative factor of CSU and depression. Methods: thirty patients with CSU, 30 patients with depression, 30 patients with both CSU and depression and 30 healthy volunteers as control group were involved in the study. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH) D) levels of these groups were measured and compared. Correlations between 25(OH)D levels and the activity of CSU and depression were analyzed. Results: healthy controls' 25(OH)D levels (17.2±8.8 ng/mL) were higher than patients with CSU (9.1±5.1 ng/mL), depression (8.9±6.1 ng/mL) and CSU with depression (7.7±4.7 ng/mL) (p<0.001, p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). There were no differences in 25(OH)D levels between CSU patients with and without depression, between depression patients and CSU patients with and without depression (p=0.43, p=0.82 and p=0.92, respectively). There were no correlations between 25(OH)D levels and the activity of CSU or depression (p=0.99 and p=0.76, respectively). Conclusion: Lower 25(OH)D levels in CSU and/or depression may appear as a secondary phenomenon, which means being result of these diseases rather than the cause (Tab. 1, Fig. 2, Ref. 41).
Open Access
2D hybrid meshes for direct simulation Monte Carlo solvers
(Institute of Physics (IOP) Publishing, 2013) Şengil, Nevsan; Department of Mathematics; Şengil, Uluç; Master Student; Department of Mathematics; College of Sciences
The efficiency of the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method decreases considerably if gas is not rarefied. In order to extend the application range of the DSMC method towards non-rarefied gas regimes, the computational efficiency of the DSMC method should be increased further. One of the most time consuming parts of the DSMC method is to determine which DSMC molecules are in close proximity. If this information is calculated quickly, the efficiency of the DSMC method will be increased. Although some meshless methods are proposed, mostly structured or non-structured meshes are used to obtain this information. The simplest DSMC solvers are limited with the structured meshes. In these types of solvers, molecule indexing according to the positions can be handled very fast using simple arithmetic operations. But structured meshes are geometry dependent. Complicated geometries require the use of unstructured meshes. In this case, DSMC molecules are traced cell-by-cell. Different cell-by-cell tracing techniques exist. But, these techniques require complicated trigonometric operations or search algorithms. Both techniques are computationally expensive. In this study, a hybrid mesh structure is proposed. Hybrid meshes are both less dependent on the geometry like unstructured meshes and computationally efficient like structured meshes.
Open Access
3D bioprinted organ?on?chips
(Wiley, 2022) Mustafaoğlu, Nur; Zhang, Yu Shrike; Department of Mechanical Engineering; N/A; N/A; Dabbagh, Sajjad Rahmani; Sarabi, Misagh Rezapour; Birtek, Mehmet Tuğrul; Taşoğlu, Savaş; Faculty Member; Department of Mechanical Engineering; KU Arçelik Research Center for Creative Industries (KUAR) / KU Arçelik Yaratıcı Endüstriler Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi (KUAR); Koç Üniversitesi İş Bankası Yapay Zeka Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi (KUIS AI)/ Koç University İş Bank Artificial Intelligence Center (KUIS AI); College of Engineering; Graduate School of Social Sciences and Humanities; Graduate School of Sciences and Engineering; N/A; N/A; N/A; 291971
Organ-on-a-chip (OOC) platforms recapitulate human in vivo-like conditions more realistically compared to many animal models and conventional two-dimensional cell cultures. OOC setups benefit from continuous perfusion of cell cultures through microfluidic channels, which promotes cell viability and activities. Moreover, microfluidic chips allow the integration of biosensors for real-time monitoring and analysis of cell interactions and responses to administered drugs. Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting enables the fabrication of multicell OOC platforms with sophisticated 3D structures that more closely mimic human tissues. 3D-bioprinted OOC platforms are promising tools for understanding the functions of organs, disruptive influences of diseases on organ functionality, and screening the efficacy as well as toxicity of drugs on organs. Here, common 3D bioprinting techniques, advantages, and limitations of each method are reviewed. Additionally, recent advances, applications, and potentials of 3D-bioprinted OOC platforms for emulating various human organs are presented. Last, current challenges and future perspectives of OOC platforms are discussed.
Open Access
3D engineered neural co-culture model and neurovascular effects of marine fungi-derived citreohybridonol
(American Institute of Physics (AIP) Publishing, 2022) Polat, İrem; Özkaya, Ferhat Can; El-Neketi, Mona; Ebrahim, Weaam; Şengül, Gülgün; Department of Mechanical Engineering; Sokullu, Emel; Sarabi, Misagh Rezapour; Taşoğlu, Savaş; Faculty Member; Faculty Member; Department of Mechanical Engineering; Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM) / Koç Üniversitesi Translasyonel Tıp Araştırma Merkezi (KUTTAM); Koç Üniversitesi İş Bankası Yapay Zeka Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi (KUIS AI)/ Koç University İş Bank Artificial Intelligence Center (KUIS AI); KU Arçelik Research Center for Creative Industries (KUAR) / KU Arçelik Yaratıcı Endüstriler Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi (KUAR); School of Medicine; Graduate School of Sciences and Engineering; College of Engineering; 163024; N/A; 291971
Marine-based biomolecules are emerging metabolites that have gained attention for developing novel biomaterials, drugs, and pharmaceutical in vitro platforms. Here, we developed a 3D engineered neural co-culture model via a 3D prototyped sliding frame-platform for multi-step UV lithography and investigated the neurovascular potential of citreohybridonol in neuroblastoma treatment. Citreohybridonol was isolated from a sponge-derived fungus Penicillium atrovenetum. The model was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy analysis. Human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cell lines were encapsulated in gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) with and without citreohybridonol. The effect of citreohybridonol on the proliferation capacity of cells was assessed via cell viability and immunostaining assays. GelMA and 3D culture characterization indicated that the cells were successfully encapsulated as axenic and mixed with/without citreohybridonol. The cytotoxic test confirmed that the 3D microenvironment was non-toxic for cultural experiments, and it showed the inhibitory effects of citreohybridonol on SH-SY5Y cells and induced the proliferation of HUVECs. Finally, immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that citreohybridonol suppressed SH-SY5Y cells and induced vascularization of HUVECs in mixed 3D cell culture.
Open Access
3D face recognition by projection based methods
(Society of Photo-optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE), 2006) Dutaǧaci, Helin; Sankur, Bülent; Department of Computer Engineering; Yemez, Yücel; Faculty Member; Department of Computer Engineering; College of Engineering
In this paper, we investigate recognition performances of various projection-based features applied on registered 3D scans of faces. Some features are data driven, such as ICA-based features or NNMF-based features. Other features are obtained using DFT or DCT-based schemes. We apply the feature extraction techniques to three different representations of registered faces, namely, 3D point clouds, 2D depth images and 3D voxel. We consider both global and local features. Global features are extracted from the whole face data, whereas local features are computed over the blocks partitioned from 2D depth images. The block-based local features are fused both at feature level and at decision level. The resulting feature vectors are matched using Linear Discriminant Analysis. Experiments using different combinations of representation types and feature vectors are conducted on the 3D-RMA dataset.
Open Access
3D microprinting of iron platinum nanoparticle-based magnetic mobile microrobots
(Wiley, 2021) Giltinan, Joshua; Sridhar, Varun; Bozüyük, Uğur; Sheehan, Devin; Department of Mechanical Engineering; Sitti, Metin; Faculty Member; Department of Mechanical Engineering; School of Medicine; College of Engineering; 297104
Wireless magnetic microrobots are envisioned to revolutionize minimally invasive medicine. While many promising medical magnetic microrobots are proposed, the ones using hard magnetic materials are not mostly biocompatible, and the ones using biocompatible soft magnetic nanoparticles are magnetically very weak and, therefore, difficult to actuate. Thus, biocompatible hard magnetic micro/nanomaterials are essential toward easy-to-actuate and clinically viable 3D medical microrobots. To fill such crucial gap, this study proposes ferromagnetic and biocompatible iron platinum (FePt) nanoparticle-based 3D microprinting of microrobots using the two-photon polymerization technique. A modified one-pot synthesis method is presented for producing FePt nanoparticles in large volumes and 3D printing of helical microswimmers made from biocompatible trimethylolpropane ethoxylate triacrylate (PETA) polymer with embedded FePt nanoparticles. The 30 mu m long helical magnetic microswimmers are able to swim at speeds of over five body lengths per second at 200Hz, making them the fastest helical swimmer in the tens of micrometer length scale at the corresponding low-magnitude actuation fields of 5-10mT. It is also experimentally in vitro verified that the synthesized FePt nanoparticles are biocompatible. Thus, such 3D-printed microrobots are biocompatible and easy to actuate toward creating clinically viable future medical microrobots.
Open Access
3D printed microneedles for point of care biosensing applications
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2022) Department of Mechanical Engineering; Sarabi, Misagh Rezapour; Nakhjavani, Sattar Akbar; Taşoğlu, Savaş; Faculty Member; Department of Mechanical Engineering; Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM) / Koç Üniversitesi Translasyonel Tıp Araştırma Merkezi (KUTTAM); KU Arçelik Research Center for Creative Industries (KUAR) / KU Arçelik Yaratıcı Endüstriler Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi (KUAR); Koç Üniversitesi İş Bankası Yapay Zeka Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi (KUIS AI)/ Koç University İş Bank Artificial Intelligence Center (KUIS AI); Graduate School of Sciences and Engineering; College of Engineering; N/A; N/A; 291971
Microneedles (MNs) are an emerging technology for user-friendly and minimally invasive injection, offering less pain and lower tissue damage in comparison to conventional needles. With their ability to extract body fluids, MNs are among the convenient candidates for developing biosensing setups, where target molecules/biomarkers are detected by the biosensor using the sample collected with the MNs. Herein, we discuss the 3D printing of microneedle arrays (MNAs) toward enabling point-of-care (POC) biosensing applications.
Open Access
3D printed personalized magnetic micromachines from patient blood-derived biomaterials
(American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), 2021) Ceylan, Hakan; Doğan, Nihal Olcay; Yaşa, İmmihan Ceren; Department of Mechanical Engineering; Sitti, Metin; Musaoğlu, Miraç Nur; Kulalı, Zeynep Umut; Faculty Member; Department of Mechanical Engineering; College of Engineering; School of Medicine; 297104; N/A; N/A
While recent wireless micromachines have shown increasing potential for medical use, their potential safety risks concerning biocompatibility need to be mitigated. They are typically constructed from materials that are not intrinsically compatible with physiological environments. Here, we propose a personalized approach by using patient blood-derivable biomaterials as the main construction fabric of wireless medical micromachines to alleviate safety risks from biocompatibility. We demonstrate 3D printed multiresponsive microswimmers and microrollers made from magnetic nanocomposites of blood plasma, serum albumin protein, and platelet lysate. These micro-machines respond to time-variant magnetic fields for torque-driven steerable motion and exhibit multiple cycles of pH-responsive two-way shape memory behavior for controlled cargo delivery and release applications. Their proteinaceous fabrics enable enzymatic degradability with proteinases, thereby lowering risks of long-term toxicity. The personalized micromachine fabrication strategy we conceptualize here can affect various future medical robots and devices made of autologous biomaterials to improve biocompatibility and smart functionality.
Open Access
3D printing of elastomeric bioinspired complex adhesive microstructures
(Wiley, 2021) Dayan, Cem Balda; Chun, Sungwoo; Krishna Subbaiah, Nagaraj; Drotlef, Dirk Michael; Akolpoğlu, Mükrime Birgül; Department of Mechanical Engineering; Sitti, Metin; Faculty Member; Department of Mechanical Engineering; College of Engineering; School of Medicine; 297104
Bioinspired elastomeric structural adhesives can provide reversible and controllable adhesion on dry/wet and synthetic/biological surfaces for a broad range of commercial applications. Shape complexity and performance of the existing structural adhesives are limited by the used specific fabrication technique, such as molding. To overcome these limitations by proposing complex 3D microstructured adhesive designs, a 3D elastomeric microstructure fabrication approach is implemented using two-photon-polymerization-based 3D printing. A custom aliphatic urethane-acrylate-based elastomer is used as the 3D printing material. Two designs are demonstrated with two combined biological inspirations to show the advanced capabilities enabled by the proposed fabrication approach and custom elastomer. The first design focuses on springtail- and gecko-inspired hybrid microfiber adhesive, which has the multifunctionalities of side-surface liquid super-repellency, top-surface liquid super-repellency, and strong reversible adhesion features in a single fiber array. The second design primarily centers on octopus- and gecko-inspired hybrid adhesive, which exhibits the benefits of both octopus- and gecko-inspired microstructured adhesives for strong reversible adhesion on both wet and dry surfaces, such as skin. This fabrication approach could be used to produce many other 3D complex elastomeric structural adhesives for future real-world applications.
Open Access
3D spatial organization and network-guided comparison of mutation profiles in Glioblastoma reveals similarities across patients
(Public Library of Science, 2019) Dinçer, Cansu; Kaya, Tuğba; Tunçbağ, Nurcan; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering; Department of Computer Engineering; Keskin, Özlem; Gürsoy, Attila; Faculty Member; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering; Department of Computer Engineering; Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM) / Koç Üniversitesi Translasyonel Tıp Araştırma Merkezi (KUTTAM); College of Engineering; 26605; 8745
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive type of brain tumor. Molecular heterogeneity is a hallmark of GBM tumors that is a barrier in developing treatment strategies. In this study, we used the nonsynonymous mutations of GBM tumors deposited in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and applied a systems level approach based on biophysical characteristics of mutations and their organization in patient-specific subnetworks to reduce inter-patient heterogeneity and to gain potential clinically relevant insights. Approximately 10% of the mutations are located in "patches" which are defined as the set of residues spatially in close proximity that are mutated across multiple patients. Grouping mutations as 3D patches reduces the heterogeneity across patients. There are multiple patches that are relatively small in oncogenes, whereas there are a small number of very large patches in tumor suppressors. Additionally, different patches in the same protein are often located at different domains that can mediate different functions. We stratified the patients into five groups based on their potentially affected pathways, revealed from the patient-specific subnetworks. These subnetworks were constructed by integrating mutation profiles of the patients with the interactome data. Network-guided clustering showed significant association between each group and patient survival (P-value = 0.0408). Also, each group carries a set of signature 3D mutation patches that affect predominant pathways. We integrated drug sensitivity data of GBM cell lines with the mutation patches and the patient groups to analyze the therapeutic outcome of these patches. We found that Pazopanib might be effective in Group 3 by targeting CSF1R. Additionally, inhibiting ATM that is a mediator of PTEN phosphorylation may be ineffective in Group 2. We believe that from mutations to networks and eventually to clinical and therapeutic data, this study provides a novel perspective in the network-guided precision medicine.
Open Access
3D-printed contact lenses: challenges towards translation and commercialization
(Future Medicine, 2022) Yetişen, Ali K.; Department of Mechanical Engineering; Taşoğlu, Savaş; Özdalgıç, Berin; Faculty Member; PhD Student; Department of Mechanical Engineering; KU Arçelik Research Center for Creative Industries (KUAR) / KU Arçelik Yaratıcı Endüstriler Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi (KUAR); Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM) / Koç Üniversitesi Translasyonel Tıp Araştırma Merkezi (KUTTAM); College of Engineering; Graduate School of Sciences and Engineering; 291971; 323683
NA
Open Access
3D-printed microneedles in biomedical applications
(Elsevier, 2021) Rahbarghazi, Reza; Yetişen, Ali Kemal; N/A; Department of Mechanical Engineering; Dabbagh, Sajjad Rahmani; Sarabi, Misagh Rezapour; Sokullu, Emel; Taşoğlu, Savaş; Faculty Member; Faculty Member; Department of Mechanical Engineering; KU Arçelik Research Center for Creative Industries (KUAR) / KU Arçelik Yaratıcı Endüstriler Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi (KUAR); Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM) / Koç Üniversitesi Translasyonel Tıp Araştırma Merkezi (KUTTAM); Graduate School of Social Sciences and Humanities; Graduate School of Sciences and Engineering; School of Medicine; College of Engineering; N/A; N/A; 163024; 291971
Conventional needle technologies can be advanced with emerging nano- and micro-fabrication methods to fabricate microneedles. Nano-/micro-fabricated microneedles seek to mitigate penetration pain and tissue damage, as well as providing accurately controlled robust channels for administrating bioagents and collecting body fluids. Here, design and 3D printing strategies of microneedles are discussed with emerging applications in biomedical devices and healthcare technologies. 3D printing offers customization, cost-efficiency, a rapid turnaround time between design iterations, and enhanced accessibility. Increasing the printing resolution, the accuracy of the features, and the accessibility of low-cost raw printing materials have empowered 3D printing to be utilized for the fabrication of microneedle platforms. The development of 3D-printed microneedles has enabled the evolution of pain-free controlled release drug delivery systems, devices for extracting fluids from the cutaneous tissue, biosignal acquisition, and point-of-care diagnostic devices in personalized medicine.
Open Access
3D-printed microrobots from design to translation
(Nature Portfolio, 2022) Department of Mechanical Engineering; N/A; Dabbagh, Sajjad Rahmani; Sarabi, Misagh Rezapour; Birtek, Mehmet Tuğrul; Sitti, Metin; Taşoğlu, Savaş; Faculty Member; Faculty Member; Department of Mechanical Engineering; KU Arçelik Research Center for Creative Industries (KUAR) / KU Arçelik Yaratıcı Endüstriler Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi (KUAR); Koç Üniversitesi İş Bankası Yapay Zeka Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi (KUIS AI)/ Koç University İş Bank Artificial Intelligence Center (KUIS AI); Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM) / Koç Üniversitesi Translasyonel Tıp Araştırma Merkezi (KUTTAM); Graduate School of Health Sciences; Graduate School of Sciences and Engineering; School of Medicine; College of Engineering; N/A; N/A; N/A; N/A; 297104; 291971
Microrobots have attracted the attention of scientists owing to their unique features to accomplish tasks in hard-to-reach sites in the human body. Microrobots can be precisely actuated and maneuvered individually or in a swarm for cargo delivery, sampling, surgery, and imaging applications. In addition, microrobots have found applications in the environmental sector (e.g., water treatment). Besides, recent advancements of three-dimensional (3D) printers have enabled the high-resolution fabrication of microrobots with a faster design-production turnaround time for users with limited micromanufacturing skills. Here, the latest end applications of 3D printed microrobots are reviewed (ranging from environmental to biomedical applications) along with a brief discussion over the feasible actuation methods (e.g., on- and off-board), and practical 3D printing technologies for microrobot fabrication. In addition, as a future perspective, we discussed the potential advantages of integration of microrobots with smart materials, and conceivable benefits of implementation of artificial intelligence (AI), as well as physical intelligence (PI). Moreover, in order to facilitate bench-to-bedside translation of microrobots, current challenges impeding clinical translation of microrobots are elaborated, including entry obstacles (e.g., immune system attacks) and cumbersome standard test procedures to ensure biocompatibility.
Open Access
3D-printed multi-stimuli-responsive mobile micromachines
(American Chemical Society (ACS), 2020) Lee, Yun-Woo; Ceylan, Hakan; Yasa, İmmihan Ceren; Department of Mechanical Engineering; Kılıç, Uğur; Sitti, Metin; Faculty Member; Department of Mechanical Engineering; School of Medicine; College of Engineering
Magnetically actuated and controlled mobile micromachines have the potential to be a key enabler for various wireless lab-on-a-chip manipulations and minimally invasive targeted therapies. However, their embodied, or physical, task execution capabilities that rely on magnetic programming and control alone can curtail their projected performance and functional diversity. Integration of stimuli-responsive materials with mobile magnetic micromachines can enhance their design toolbox, enabling independently controlled new functional capabilities to be defined. To this end, here, we show three-dimensional (3D) printed size-controllable hydrogel magnetic microscrews and microrollers that respond to changes in magnetic fields, temperature, pH, and divalent cations. We show two-way size-controllable microscrews that can reversibly swell and shrink with temperature, pH, and divalent cations for multiple cycles. We present the spatial adaptation of these microrollers for penetration through narrow channels and their potential for controlled occlusion of small capillaries (30 μm diameter). We further demonstrate one-way size-controllable microscrews that can swell with temperature up to 65% of their initial length. These hydrogel microscrews, once swollen, however, can only be degraded enzymatically for removal. Our results can inspire future applications of 3D- and 4D-printed multifunctional mobile microrobots for precisely targeted obstructive interventions (e.g., embolization) and lab- and organ-on-a-chip manipulations.
Open Access
A 19-year-old pregnant woman with pulmonary hypertension with progressive dyspnea
(Elsevier, 2021) Avcı, Burçak Kılıçkıran; Tok, Özge Özden; Öngen, Zeki; Bozkaya, Tijen Alkan; Kalangos, Afksendiyos; Doctor; Faculty Member; School of Medicine; Koç University Hospital; N/A; 286247
Case presentation: a 19-year-old pregnant woman at week 32 of gestation was referred to our clinic with progressive shortness of breath for the further evaluation and treatment of high-risk pregnancy. Her complaints had been existing since her childhood. Two years prior to her admission, she had been diagnosed with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction due to cardiomyopathy and associated pulmonary hypertension. The patient had no family history of any cardiac disease. She had never smoked or drunk alcohol. Her clinical condition had deteriorated progressively with the pregnancy.
Open Access
A 2D MEMS stage for optical applications
(Society of Photo-optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE), 2006) Ataman, Çağlar; Petremand, Yves; Noell, Wilfried; Epitaux, Marc; de Rooij, Nico F.; Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering; Ürey, Hakan; Faculty Member; Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering; College of Engineering; 8579
A 2D MEMS platform for a microlens scanner application is reported. The platform is fabricated on an SOI wafer with 50/μm thick device layer. Entire device is defined with a single etching step on the same layer. Through four S-shaped beams, the device is capable of producing nonlinear 2D motion from linear ID translation of two pairs of comb actuator sets. The device has a clear aperture of 2mm by 2mm, which is hallowed from the backside for micro-optics assembly. In this paper, a numerical device model and its validation via experimental characterization results are presented. Integration of the micro-optical components with the stage is also discussed. Additionally, a new driving scheme to minimize the settling time of the device in DC operation is explored.
Open Access
A bacteria-derived tail anchor localizes to peroxisomes in yeast and mammalian cells
(Nature Publishing Group (NPG), 2018) Seferoğlu, Ayşe Bengisu; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; Dunn, Cory David; Keskin, Abdurrahman; Akdoğan, Emel; Lutfullahoglu-Bal, Guleycan; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; College of Sciences
Prokaryotes can provide new genetic information to eukaryotes by horizontal gene transfer (HGT), and such transfers are likely to have been particularly consequential in the era of eukaryogenesis. Since eukaryotes are highly compartmentalized, it is worthwhile to consider the mechanisms by which newly transferred proteins might reach diverse organellar destinations. Toward this goal, we have focused our attention upon the behavior of bacteria-derived tail anchors (TAs) expressed in the eukaryote Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In this study, we report that a predicted membrane-associated domain of the Escherichia coli YgiM protein is specifically trafficked to peroxisomes in budding yeast, can be found at a pre-peroxisomal compartment (PPC) upon disruption of peroxisomal biogenesis, and can functionally replace an endogenous, peroxisome-directed TA. Furthermore, the YgiM(TA) can localize to peroxisomes in mammalian cells. Since the YgiM(TA) plays no endogenous role in peroxisomal function or assembly, this domain is likely to serve as an excellent tool allowing further illumination of the mechanisms by which TAs can travel to peroxisomes. Moreover, our findings emphasize the ease with which bacteria-derived sequences might target to organelles in eukaryotic cells following HGT, and we discuss the importance of flexible recognition of organelle targeting information during and after eukaryogenesis.
Open Access
A brand-new cardiorenal syndrome in the Coronavirus Disease- 2019 (COVID-19) setting
(Oxford University Press (OUP), 2020) Apetrii, Mugurel; Enache, Stefana; Siriopol, Dimitrie; Burlacu, Alexandru; Kanbay, Asiye; Scripcariu, Dragos; Covic, Adrian; Kanbay, Mehmet; Faculty Member; School of Medicine; 110580
Coronaviruses are a major pathogen for adults, causing up to one-third of community-acquired respiratory tract infections in adults during epidemics. Although the pandemic outbreak of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) targets preferentially patient’s lungs, recent data have documented that COVID-19 causes myocarditis, acute myocardial infarction, exacerbation of heart failure and acute kidney injury. Studies show that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), similar to its predecessor SARS-CoV, engages angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as the entry receptor. ACE2 is also expressed in the heart, providing a link between coronaviruses and the cardiovascular system.
Open Access
A broken gauge approach to gravitational mass and charge
(Springer, 2002) Tucker, R. W.; Department of Physics; Dereli, Tekin; Faculty Member; Department of Physics; College of Sciences; 201358
We argue that a spontaneous breakdown of local Weyl invariance offers a mechanism in which gravitational interactions contribute to the generation of particle masses and their electric charge. The theory is formulated in terms of a spacetime geometry whose natural connection has both dynamic torsion and non-metricity. Its structure illuminates the role of dynamic scales used to determine measurable aspects of particle interactions and it predicts an additional neutral vector boson with electroweak properties. © SISSA/ISAS 2002.
Open Access
A cartridge based sensor array platform for multiple coagulation measurements from plasma
(Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), 2015) Bulut, Serpil; Yaralioglu, G. G.; Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering; Çakmak, Onur; Ermek, Erhan; Kılınç, Necmettin; Barış, İbrahim; Kavaklı, İbrahim Halil; Ürey, Hakan; PhD Student; Other; Researcher; Teaching Faculty; Faculty Member; Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering; College of Engineering; Graduate School of Sciences and Engineering; College of Sciences; N/A; 109991; N/A; 111629; 40319; 8579
This paper proposes a MEMS-based sensor array enabling multiple clot-time tests for plasma in one disposable microfluidic cartridge. The versatile LoC (Lab-on-Chip) platform technology is demonstrated here for real-time coagulation tests (activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT) and Prothrombin Time (PT)). The system has a reader unit and a disposable cartridge. The reader has no electrical connections to the cartridge. This enables simple and low-cost cartridge designs and avoids reliability problems associated with electrical connections. The cartridge consists of microfluidic channels and MEMS microcantilevers placed in each channel. The microcantilevers are made of electroplated nickel. They are actuated remotely using an external electro-coil and the read-out is also conducted remotely using a laser. The phase difference between the cantilever oscillation and the coil drive is monitored in real time. During coagulation, the viscosity of the blood plasma increases resulting in a change in the phase read-out. The proposed assay was tested on human and control plasma samples for PT and aPTT measurements. PT and aPTT measurements from control plasma samples are comparable with the manufacturer's datasheet and the commercial reference device. The measurement system has an overall 7.28% and 6.33% CV for PT and aPTT, respectively. For further implementation, the microfluidic channels of the cartridge were functionalized for PT and aPTT tests by drying specific reagents in each channel. Since simultaneous PT and aPTT measurements are needed in order to properly evaluate the coagulation system, one of the most prominent features of the proposed assay is enabling parallel measurement of different coagulation parameters. Additionally, the design of the cartridge and the read-out system as well as the obtained reproducible results with 10 mu l of the plasma samples suggest an opportunity for a possible point-of-care application.