Identifier

etd-11152010-220038

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Chemistry

Document Type

Dissertation

Abstract

The research reported in this dissertation is presented in two parts. The first part is the Syntheses, Characterizations, and Investigations of Molecular Micelles and Imidazolium-Based Ionic Liquids for Protein Separations in Electrophoresis, and the second part is a case study entitled Investigating the Mentoring Canon through Exploration of Thirty Years of Mentoring by an Exemplar. Protein separations in the gel electrophoretic format are ubiquitous analyses used on a daily basis throughout biochemistry, analytical chemistry, and biotechnology. The goal of the research reported in the first part of this dissertation is to synthesize and characterize molecular micelles and ether-functionalized imidazolium-based ionic liquids and investigate their relevance and practical utility for protein separations in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Four experimental parameters were optimized for poly (sodium N-undecanoyl sulfate) (poly-SUS) protein separations. The analytical techniques, fluorescence spectroscopy and circular dichroism, proved useful for investigating the extent and mechanism of interaction that the molecular micelles and ionic liquids had with a combination of globular and glycosylated proteins. Based on the spectroscopic results, postulations were made and experiments were designed using validation samples in one-dimensional PAGE. Poly-SUS binding to p53, a major target for anticancer therapy, was highly efficient. The addition of 20% v/v 1-methoxyethoxyethyl-3-methyl imidazolium bromide and 1- methoxyethoxyethyl-3-butyl imidazolium bromide to the sample buffer containing poly-SUS resulted in significant gel band shifting of transferrin, a well known biomarker for chronic alcoholism and congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG). The goal of the research reported in part two of this dissertation was to investigate the mentoring of an exemplar over a thirty year period to determine why his mentoring ‘works’ as evidenced by the many invited talks, publications as well as local and national mentoring awards received. Study participants’ conceptions of what made the exemplar an effective mentor and why his mentoring philosophy worked were determined by item analysis of 40 mentor interview questions, 3080 protégé in-depth survey responses, and 2 mentoring award nomination packages. A theory of why the exemplar’s mentoring ‘worked’ was determined using constructivist grounded theory analysis. The theory that was constructed consisted of three stages: intra-psychological positioning, inter-psychological exchange, and intra-psychological transformation.

Date

2010

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Secure the entire work for patent and/or proprietary purposes for a period of one year. Student has submitted appropriate documentation which states: During this period the copyright owner also agrees not to exercise her/his ownership rights, including public use in works, without prior authorization from LSU. At the end of the one year period, either we or LSU may request an automatic extension for one additional year. At the end of the one year secure period (or its extension, if such is requested), the work will be released for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Warner, Isiah

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_dissertations.1625

Included in

Chemistry Commons

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