1. Nicolle A. Rosa Mercado
UPR Cayey
Biol. 3095
Prof. E. Diaz and Prof. E. Gonzalez
Herpesviral Reactivation: A Key Step for Disease Development
There are many different types of herpes viruses. During this seminar Ms. Olga González discussed
five of them, which were Herpes Simplex Virus (types 1 and 2), Varicella Zoster Virus, Human
Cytomegalovirus, Epstein Barr virus, and Kaposi’s sarcoma (KSHV), associated with herpesvirus.
She explained the importance of the latency and reactivation processes for these viruses. Ms. Olga’s
research focuses on KSHV. The understanding of this virus is of extreme importance due to the fact
that it is known to cause three different types of cancer: Kaposi’s sarcoma, Primary effusion
lymphoma, and Multicentric Castleman disease. Rta, the lytic switch protein, is used for the
reactivation process of KSHV and follows these steps: activation of lytic program, establishing
latency, maintaining latency, and reactivation. Reactivation consists of activating most of the viral
genes and it permits productive cycle oncogenes to be expressed. Her research may lead to
innovating discoveries on “molecular piracy” processes and may give our society a better
understanding of molecular mechanisms and cancer development.
Incorporation of Unnatural Amino Acids into Proteins & Biomedical Research
During this seminar, Miss Jessica Torres gave a brief summary of her research at the North Carolina
State University. She spoke about the investigation of proteins involved in biological processes,
and how unnatural amino acids can be used to label proteins. Miss Torres explained the
importance of investigating proteins and stated that they make up fifty percent of the cellular dry
mass. She also mentioned the protein’s many functions which are signaling, transport, defense,
catalysis, maintenance, and stability. An unnatural amino acid has a side chain that differs from
those found in nature. Unnatural amino acids are incorporated to the protein through the stop codon
found in the polypeptide. Through the seminar, Miss Torres explained the importance of studying
proteins in their natural environment in order to evaluate their functions and effects. It is also
important to be aware that any changes, such as adding one protein to another, compromises the
stability of the proteins. This seminar taught me more about innovative investigations involving
amino acids.

2. Against all Odds: Protein Crystallography and Graduate School
In her seminar, Miss Yadilette Rivera spoke about the research she is working for her thesis at
University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her research is about three different proteins: GALNS,
GLB1, and SGSH. These three proteins are directly linked to lysosomal disorders. The degeneration
of enzymes may result in lysosomal storage disorders (Hopwood et.al. 2006). Some examples of
lysosomal storage disorders are mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) I, II, and VI, Gaucher disease type I,
Fabry disease, and Pompe disease. “In mucopolysaccharidosis type VI (MPS-VI; Maroteaux– Lamy
syndrome), an autosomal recessive disease, deficiency of N-acetylgalactosamine- 4-sulfatase leads
to the accumulation of its substrate, dermatan sulfate,in the lysosomes of many cell types2
(Hopwood et. al. 2006).” Galsulfase, a glycoprotein which consists of four-hundred and ninety-five
amino acids, is used to treat MPS VI (Hopwood et.al. 2006). “The ability to treat lysosomal storage
disorders (LSD) has improved dramatically over the past 10–15 years (Hopwood et. al 2006).” Miss
Rivera studies these proteins through X-ray crystallography, which turns the molecule into a unit
cell and later into a crystal.
Nanotechnology: Providing Tools For the Improved Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer
During her seminar, Miss Orielyz Flores spoke about how nanoparticles can be used to improve
cancer treatment. She explained that treating cancer patients with biodegradable nanoparticles is
more effective than chemotherapy due to the higher specificity. In chemotherapy the drug is spread
throughout the whole body, causing highly dangerous side effects. The nanoparticles contain near
infrared dyes, therapeutic drugs, chelated metals, and iodinated molecules. The nanoparticles
contain taxol, which is the drug used in chemotherapy. These nanoparticles could be gold
nanoparticles, ion oxide nanotherapy, arum oxide nanoparticles, or polymeric. These are injected
into the patients and they deliver the therapeutic drug directly to the tumor. The fact that tumor
tissue has a higher acidity than normal tissue helps the nanoparticle to degrade after the drug has
been delivered. The nanoparticles are able to enter the tumor through folic receptors, which are also
used to control experiments. The final goal to this research is to be able to improve cancer
treatments.