The document summarizes seminars presented by four speakers at the University of Puerto Rico RISE Program in Cayey, Puerto Rico. The first speaker, Olga González, discussed Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) and how it remains latent in B-cells but can be reactivated by stress, leading to B-cell lymphoma skin cancer. The second speaker, Yadilette Rivera, studied the three-dimensional structure of the lysosomal enzyme galactosamine-6-sulfatase, which is deficient in patients with a lysosomal storage disease. The third speaker, Jessica Torres, discussed developing a more efficient way to label proteins using an unnatural amino acid. The fourth speaker,

1. University of Puerto Rico
RISE Program
Cayey, Puerto Rico
BIOL 3095 – 2012 Seminar Reflections
Herpesviral Reactivation: A Key Step for Disease Development
Speaker: Olga González
Miss Olga González seminar was about KSHV, which is a Herpes Virus.
There are eight (8) types of Herpes Viruses and KSHV is from the gamma (γ)
group. It was discovered in 1994, and it is transmitted by saliva and sexual
relations. When infected with KSHV, the virus stays in the B-cells latent, meaning
that it will be present in the body for the rest of the patient’s life. The virus is
reactivated when stress appears in the body or the cells are stressed. For the
virus to activate the protein RTA is needed and consequently RBP-JΚ binds to
DNA, because they work together. When KHSV is reactivated it is manifested
through B-cell Lymphoma that is a type of skin cancer. Drugs used to treat the
virus, not cure it, are Glancicovir and Acyclovir. Another important aspect of
_______is the process that she used, which is chromatin
immunoprecipitation(ChIP). ChIP is used to investigate the interaction of
proteins and DNA in the cell, perfect for what Miss González investigated.
Against all Odds: Protein Crystallography and Graduate School
Speaker: Yadilette Rivera
Miss Yadilette’s seminar was about protein crystallography. She studied
three (3) lysosomal enzymes, but emphasized the galactosamine-6-sulfatase
(GALNS). GALNS is a human lysosomal enzyme that is deficient in patients with
mucopolysaccharidosis IV A (MPS IV A), a lysosomal storage disease. The
purpose of her research was to determine and report the three dimensional
structure of GALNS. Having this structure reveals, among other things, that most
of the MPS IV A cases are results of GALNS misfolding because the majority of the
mutations affect the hydrophobic core of the structure. Discovering the protein’s
structure will not only be a scientific advance, it will change the life of many
human beings. As she said in her paper: “While there is no currently approved
treatment for MPS IV A, weekly injections of enzyme replacement therapy with
recombinant enzyme is in phase III clinical trials.” Because of its specificity the
current treatment is really expensive. Discovering the protein’s structure may
save lives, and can make the life of patients easier, less painful, and more
manageable

2. Incorporation of Unnatural Amino Acids into Proteins & Biomedical
Research
Speaker: Jessica Torres
Miss Jessica Torres’ seminar was about protein labeling and unnatural
amino acids. The principle purpose of her research was to develop a more
efficient way of protein labeling that would not disrupt the normal function of
the proteins themselves or the cells. She explained that there are 20 common
amino acids including Proline, Glycine, and Glutamic Acid.. They added a 21st
unnatural amino acid that only reacts with a specifically designed fluorophore.
For this amino acid to react it needs three (3) specific things. .. They are Alkene,
Thiol, and UV light at 365 nm (nanometers). The bioconjugation of Alkene lysine
via the Thiol-ene reaction is controlled by radiation. This means that the UV light
is the “spark” that is needed to start the reaction.
Nanotechnology: Providing Tools For the Improved Diagnosis and
Treatment of Cancer
Speaker: Orielyz Flores
Miss Orielyz seminar was about nanoparticles. The paper that we analyzed was
about nanoparticles used to localize tumors, in vivo, and provoke a coagulation
cascade in them. This coagulation cascade is composed of two phases, the intrinsic
pathway and the extrinsic pathway. During the coagulation, signals are emitted by
gold nanorods and received by Iron Oxide nanoworms and by lyposomes that carry
the therapeutic cargo. In her research, the nanoparticles that are used are designed
to be automatically degraded by the tumors pH, right after doing their work. They are
Hyperbranched PolyesterNanoparticles(HBPN). Experimentally, it has been found
that tumors contain an acid pH. This treatment method is an alternate solution to
chemotherapy. Chemotherapy attacks every cell in the system, good and bad ones,
while this treatment attacks the direct source the tumor. This treatment sends a lot of
drug, in her research she used Taxon, and this drug interrupts mitotic cycle of the cell
and as a direct consequence it kills it.