An investigation on the effects of Afrocentric missense variations on the structure and function of CYP2A6 protein
- Authors: Makombe, Chipo Perpetual
- Date: 2025-04-02
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/479119 , vital:78262
- Description: Pharmacogenomics, the foundation of personalized medicine distinguishes patients into different categories based on their response to the risk of a disease. Cytochrome P450 (CYPs) proteins are a family of enzymes critical in the metabolism of drugs and other substances. Genetic polymorphisms in CYPs can result in different enzymatic activity in individuals influencing the efficacy and toxicity of drugs. One of the CYPs which primarily metabolizes nicotine and other pharmaceutical drugs such as Artemisinin and Artesunate, Pilocarpine, Valproic Acid and Letrozole is CYP2A6. The gene encoding the protein is highly polymorphic and this can affect the rate of metabolism of drugs in individuals. Previously most studies unveiled connections between CYP2A6 variants and nicotine. Implications concerning the effects of specific missense variations in CYP2A6 drug metabolism have deficiencies. This study aimed to critically examine the structural and functional implications of 13 CYP2A6 allele variations on CYP2A6 protein using Bioinformatics techniques. Methods used were template selection, mutagenesis, parameter assignment and protonation. Molecular Dynamics to get insights regarding protein behavior at an atomic level, clustering to identify conformations during a simulation and DSSP for secondary structure analysis to monitor how secondary structures evolve. Berendsen and Parinello-Rahman barostats at production run were used for comparison. A global analysis was conducted to identify structural transitions (RMSD, RMSF, and Rg), clustering, and secondary structure prediction. Results from Berendsen barostat were inconsistent compared to Parrinello-Rahman barostat implying that CYP2A6 is sensitive to the pressure coupling parameter for precise and accurate results. Our clustering results showed each system in one conformation, fluctuations and shifts on the C-D, H-I loops and F, G, and L helices on variants I149M, F118l, K476R, and E390K_N418D_E419D. This indicated a potential loss of function limiting the protein’s ability to conformational flexibility for catalysis and substrate recognition. Certain regions of CYP2A6 became more rigid due to variations, which could have a negative impact on the catalytic activity, regulatory interactions, and general function of the enzyme in metabolism. Globally the variations did not cause large changes to the protein, there is need for a local analysis using Dynamic Residue Networks to study how residue interactions affect the function of CYP2A6. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry, Microbiology and Bioinformatics, 2025
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A content analysis of the framing and representation of Black Lives Matter protests by South African mainstream media
- Authors: Manyike, Lerato Gladys
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Black lives matter movement , Social movements South Africa , Race in mass media South Africa , Frames (Sociology) , Race discrimination South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/465799 , vital:76654
- Description: This study conducted a detailed analysis of 277 headlines using content analysis, focusing on how News24 portrays racial protests, particularly within the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. It explored News24's coverage of BLM protests from March to December 2020, uncovering various framing strategies and language nuances in news headlines. The research aimed to identify thematic frames, linguistic patterns, and overall media framing of BLM protests. The findings highlighted different framing strategies, including legitimising, conflict, and delegitimizing frames, along with the impact of descriptive language on audience perceptions. The study concluded that media framing is dynamic, responding to evolving events and public discourse, and provided recommendations for media transparency, diversity in newsrooms, media literacy, and ethical reporting. Future research suggestions include comparative analyses, audience reception studies, and policy impact assessments to deepen understanding and inform strategic interventions in media representations and public discourse on racial justice. Overall, the study contributes valuable insights into media framing practices and their impact on societal perceptions of racial justice issues. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 2024
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Hiding no scars
- Authors: Mhlongo, Sanele
- Date: 2022-04-07
- Subjects: Creative writing (Higher education) South Africa , South African poetry (English) 21st century , Interpersonal relations in literature , Diaries -- Authorship , South African essays (English) 21st century , Russian poetry 20th century History and criticism , South African fiction (English) 21st century History and criticism , Greek poetry History and criticism , German poetry 20th century History and criticism
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/294311 , vital:57190
- Description: My thesis is a collection of free-verse narrative and prose poetry focusing on rural life and people, as well as my personal relationships. Poetry through its play with language has the ability to say things with immediacy and allows unnoticed things to acquire relevance. It gives me a framework within which to express difficult themes such as family relationships, death, solitude, and poverty. In writing these poems I have drawn on the work of Constantine P. Cavafy, particularly the poems ‘Ithaka’, ‘The City’ and ‘As Much As You Can’ which showcase his consistently simple narrative style that covers profound subjects. I have also been influenced by Paul Celan’s poetry in his collection Breathturn Into Timestead where poems such as ‘Corona’, ‘In praise of remoteness’ and ‘Twelve Years’ demonstrate how poetry can have pace through tightly controlled yet experimental structure. I have also drawn on Anna Akhmatova’s symbolic poetry, specifically the poems ‘Now the pillow’s’, ‘He loved three things, alive’ and ‘Prologue’ from the selection Anna Akhmatova: Selected Poems which has its intention the re-creation of the past in the present. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Languages and Literatures, 2022
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Rainwater and alternative potable water microbial water quality and DRM implications in Makana Local Municipality
- Authors: Nhokodi, Tererai
- Date: 2022-04-06
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/232227 , vital:49973
- Description: Thesis (MSc (Pharm)) -- Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmacy, 2022
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Development of a protocol for extracting and quantifying the concentration of thiafentanil in blesbok (Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi) matrices 72-74 hours post administration
- Authors: Webber, Judith Tracy
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/164738 , vital:41159
- Description: Thesis (MSc)--Rhodes University, Faculty of Science, Chemistry, 2020
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Violence and destruction as an important part of artistic action with reference to the two Great Wars
- Authors: Hallier, Michael Glen Thomas
- Date: 1971-11
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/190329 , vital:44984
- Description: A well known fact about any work of art of any significance is its power to upset current conventions and disturb certain of our normal emotional patterns. The artist frequently achieves this by deliberately expressing emotions that are violent. There is nothing, however, new about the existence of violence in the arts, a large number of works in the history of art being painted with blood. One has only to think of the many battles, rapes, murders, martyrdoms and catastrophes that have been the subjects of many great paintings. Since the beginning of this century, and especially since the work of the Impressionists, in which violence is entirely excluded, violence has taken on a role of great importance and has been used to a greater or lesser extent by artists and group movements. It would appear initially that there are two main reasons in this century for the use of violence: one as a means of using it as a weapon against the academic and avant-garde in the arts, which in turn reflects attitudes found in society, and secondly as a direct reflection of the corrupt society in which we live. This is not to say that the twentieth century is an age in which more violence and sadism is found than in any other era of history, but never has it received so much publicity. I do not believe that man has change so much over the years, but it is my view that the apparent increase in this century is due to the vast changes in communications, it is due to the publicity it receives that violence has in recent times become a focal point, with murders, assassinations and war part of our daily lives. , Thesis (MFA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Fine Art, 1971
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