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Characterization Of Histidine Decarboxylase In Drosophila Using An Internal Flag Epitope, Maxwell Mianecki

Masters Theses

Histamine is a neurotransmitter in arthropods and is responsible for synaptic transmission in vision, mechanosensation, temperature sensing and sleep cycle in Drosophila. Histamine is synthesized by the enzyme histidine decarboxylase (HDC). While histamine is detectable within tissues using current immunofluorescent labeling techniques, immunological approaches have not been successful for HDC itself, with both direct antibodies and terminal epitope tags determined to be ineffective. In order to avoid loss of the epitope tag through putative N-­‐ and C-­‐terminal proteolytic cleavage, known to occur for HDC in other organisms, an internal epitope tag that does not disrupt enzyme function was utilized. A …

Evaluation Of Natural Steelhead Recruitment In The Muskegon River, Michigan, Nicholas C. Albrecht

Masters Theses

The lower Muskegon River is one of the most heavily fished rivers in the state of Michigan and is a valuable component of the multi-billion dollar sport fishery in the Great Lakes. Although significant stocking effort has been invested to maintain and improve the steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fishery in the Muskegon River, natural recruitment has been severely limited due to high summer water temperatures. The goal of this research project was to evaluate the success of a diffuser system installed in 2008 at Croton Dam to moderate high summer water temperatures in the lower Muskegon River. I estimated natural juvenile …

The Role Of Mir-34a In Inhibition Of Prostate Tumor Growth In The Bone And Induction Of Autophagy, Sanchaika Gaur

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men in the United States, with most deaths occurring from bone metastasis. Several new therapies have been FDA approved for bone-metastatic PCa, but patient survival has only marginally improved due to therapy resistance, which often arises from constitutive activation of compensatory signaling pathways. This dissertation work focused on a mechanistic understanding of how cross talk between tyrosine kinase receptors contributes to therapy resistance, and how this may be overcome by downregulating expression of these receptors. In PCa cell lines and xenograft models, I demonstrated that activation of IGF-1R …

Cloning And Expression Of A Tobacco Stearoyl-Acp Desaturase Gene Sbip24 And Its Interaction With Sabp2 In Sa Pathway, Amin J. Ferdous

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Salicylic acid binding protein 2 (SABP2) that converts methyl salicylate to salicylic acid (SA) plays an obligatory role in the SA-mediated disease resistance pathway in plants. SABP2 interacts with SBIP24 in a yeast two-hybrid screening. SBIP24 belongs to the stearoyl-acyl carrier protein-desaturase protein family. To biochemically characterize the SBIP24, it was cloned from tobacco leaves using RT-PCR and expressed in E. coli. Recombinant SBIP24 was affinity purified using Ni-NTA chromatography. RT-PCR was performed to determine the role of SABP2 in modulating the expression SBIP24. TMV infected transgenic C3 (control tobacco plant containing empty silencing vector) and 1-2 (SABP2-silenced) …

Genetic Health And Population Viability Of Reintroduced American Marten In Michigan, Tamara L. Hillman

Masters Theses

American marten (Martes americana) were extirpated from Michigan’s Lower Peninsula (LP) in 1911, and subsequently from the Upper Peninsula (UP) in 1939 due to habitat loss and unregulated trapping. The species was later reintroduced in the UP in the mid-1950s, and to the LP in the mid-1980s. Previous research has determined the small founding sizes used in the LP reintroductions have resulted in losses of genetic diversity, while research in the UP has produced discordant results concerning the effects of the reintroduction methods on genetic health and population structure. Since past research of marten in the LP, no …

Predictive Modeling Of Floral Species Richness In Michigan Prairie Fen Communities, Nichole R. Mason

Masters Theses

Prairie fens contain high levels of floral biodiversity, including 19 state threatened or endangered plant species, and are classified as rare and vulnerable communities by the Michigan Natural Features Inventory. The objective of this thesis was to develop multiple-regression (MR) models that reliably predict total, native, and invasive floral species richness for use by conservation organizations. Floral biodiversity surveys were conducted in eight southern Michigan prairie fens during the 2012 growing season. Simple linear regressions between fen size and biodiversity were used to optimize sampling strategy and effort (i.e., number of transects and plots per transect) in surveys conducted in …

Oligomerization Of The Sterile-2 G-Protein Coupled Receptor In Yeast Cells In The Presence And Absence Of Alpha-Factor Pheromone Using Fluorescence Spectroscopy And Forster Resonance Energy Transfer Analysis, Joel David Paprocki

Theses and Dissertations

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of receptors that respond to a wide variety of extracellular stimuli, including molecular ligands such as odorants, neurotransmitters, and hormones, as well as physical agents sigh as light and pressure. The stimulation event results in initiating conformational changes in the structure of the receptor, which further results in the release of the heterotrimeric G-protein; the latter has a variety of functions within signaling pathways in cellular biology. The GPCR explored in this investigation is the Sterile 2 α-factor receptor (Ste2), whose natural function is that of a yeast mating pheromone receptor. Its natural …

Generality Of The Terminal Investment Hypothesis: Effects Of Extrinsic Mortality And Resource Availability On Age-Related Reproductive Investment, Allystair Jones

Theses and Dissertations

A central question in life history theory is, what combination of traits and behaviors will lead to the highest reproductive success throughout a lifetime. The trade-off between current and future reproduction is central to the lifetime reproductive success of an organism. If there is a cost to reproduction, then allocation of energy to current reproduction will come at a cost to future reproduction. We expect young individuals to favor future reproduction over current reproduction and that balance shifts to current reproduction as they age (i.e. terminal investment hypothesis). However, how this transition from an emphasis on future reproduction to emphasis …

A Molecular Phylogeny Of Lampyridae With Insight Into Visual And Bioluminescent Evolution, Gavin Jon Martin

Theses and Dissertations

Fireflies are some of the most captivating organisms on the planet. Because of this, they have a rich history of study, especially concerning their bioluminescent and visual behavior. Among insects, opsin copy number variation has been shown to be quite diverse. However, within the beetles, very little work on opsins has been conducted. Here we look at the visual system of fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae), which offer an elegant system in which to study visual evolution as it relates to their behavior and broader ecology. They are the best-known case of a terrestrial organism that communicates through the use bioluminescence. The …

Understanding The Diversification Of Central American Freshwater Fishes Using Comparative Phylogeography And Species Delimitation, Justin C. Bagley

Theses and Dissertations

Phylogeography and molecular phylogenetics have proven remarkably useful for understanding the patterns and processes influencing historical diversification of biotic lineages at and below the species level, as well as delimiting morphologically cryptic species. In this dissertation, I used an integrative approach coupling comparative phylogeography and coalescent-based species delimitation to improve our understanding of the biogeography and species limits of Central American freshwater fishes. In Chapter 1, I conducted a literature review of the contributions of phylogeography to understanding the origins and maintenance of lower Central American biodiversity, in light of the geological and ecological setting. I highlighted emerging phylogeographic patterns, …

Targeting Cox-2 And Rank In Aggressive Breast Cancers: Inflammatory Breast Cancer And Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, Monica Elizabeth Reyes

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) are two highly aggressive breast cancer subtypes associated with a poor outcome. Despite sensitivity to current treatment, these breast cancers subtypes have a high recurrence rate and proclivity to metastasize early. The aggressiveness of IBC and TNBC have been linked to CSCs and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), which are critical features of breast cancer progression and metastasis. The clinical challenge faced in the treatment of IBC and TNBC is finding a treatment strategy to target the cancer stem-like (CSC) population to block metastasis. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and receptor activator of nuclear …

Part I: Synthesis And Biological Evaluations Of Potent Class L Selective Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors Part Ii: Aqueous Complexes For Efficient Sizebased Separation Of Americium From Curium Part Iii: Designing Strong Chiral Bronsted Acids And Their Application For Oxaxinanones Derivatization And The Aza-Henry Reaction, Joseph Steve Ulicki

Theses and Dissertations

PART I: SYNTHESIS AND BIOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS OF POTENT CLASS l SELECTIVE HISTONE DEACETYLASE INHIBITORS

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) have found a wide variety of medicinal uses and are most noted for their specific apoptotic action towards cancer cells1. Several hydroxamates and tetrapeptides HDACi have since been moved on to phase 1 and 2 clinical trials, with FK228 & SAHA having already been approved for treatment of advanced cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). FK228 & SAHA are pan-HDACi which d compounds describes the unselective inhibition for any of the 11 Zn2+-dependent HDAC isoforms. Research in the past five years, has shifted towards …

Population Genetics, Distributions And Phenology Of Bombus Latreille, 1802 And Xylocopa Latreille, 1802 (Hymenoptera: Apidae), Amber Dawn Tripodi

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This work addresses multiple knowledge gaps in bee ecology, population health and phylogeography in order to provide insights into the changing distributions of native bees. A comparison of Arkansas bumble bee records mirrors range-wide surveys, with records of stable species (Bombus bimaculatus Cresson, 1863 and B. impatiens Cresson, 1863) increasing three-fold, and records of the declining B. pensylvanicus (DeGeer, 1773) dropping to 60% of historical levels. However, nationally-recommended conservation-genetics tools did not mirror these results on a regional level. Stable and declining species had equivalent genetic diversity in samples from Arkansas and Tennessee (H_S range: 0.46-0.63). Diploid males, …

Interaction Of Rhizobium Sp. Strain Irbg74 With A Legume (Sesbania Cannabina) And A Cereal (Oryza Sativa), Shubhajit Mitra

Theses and Dissertations

Rhizobium sp. IRBG74 (IRBG74) develops a classical nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with the legume Sesbania cannabina and also promotes the growth of rice (Oryza sativa), but not much is known about the rhizobial determinants important for these interactions. We hypothesize that Rhizobium sp. IRBG74 utilizes similar mechanisms to endophytically colonize both legume and cereal hosts. In this study, we analyzed the colonization of rice and S. cannabina using a strain of IRBG74 marked with β-glucuronidase (GUS) and Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP). IRBG74 infected both of the host plants through crack entry under submerged conditions, but showed root hair mediated infection under aerobic …

Gene Regulatory Pathways Driving Central Nervous System Regeneration In Zebrafish, Ishwariya Venkatesh

Theses and Dissertations

Damage to the central nervous system (CNS) circuitry of adult mammals results in permanent disability. In contrast, the ability to regenerate damaged CNS nerves and achieve functional recovery occurs naturally in fish. The ability of fish to successfully regrow damaged CNS nerves is in part a consequence of their ability to re-express key neuronal growth-associated genes/proteins in response to CNS injury. On such protein is Growth-Associated Protein-43 (Gap43), a protein which is highly enriched in axonal growth cones during CNS development and regeneration. Experiments conducted in mammals have demonstrated that ectopic expression of GAP-43 improves axonal re-growth after injury. Using …

The Conservation Genetics Of Two Emydid Turtles: Emydoidea Blandingii And Malaclemys Terrapin, Charlotte Lizana Petre

Master's Theses

Conservation of turtles is complicated by their sensitivity to habitat degradation and overexploitation. I used microsatellites and standard population genetic analyses to explore genetic diversity, population structure, paternity and demographic history in two emydid turtles that are currently experiencing threats to their survival. The Blanding’s turtle, Emydoidea blandingii, has experienced habitat fragmentation throughout its range, and this study focuses on a population in Massachusetts where hatchlings from one population are being translocated to establish a new population. I found evidence of multiple paternity within clutches and found no significant reduction in genetic diversity when comparing the source population and …

Decontamination Protocols For Watercraft And Wildland Firefighting Equipment In Preventing The Spread Of Invasive Quagga (Dreissena Rostriformis Bugensis) And Zebra (Dreissena Polymorpha) Mussels, Ashlie Watters

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Quagga and zebra mussels (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis and Dreissena polymorpha) are two invasive species introduced via ballast water discharged by large oceanic cargo ships to the North American Great Lakes in the late 1980s. Once established, the mussels spread quickly. In January 2007, D. rostriformis bugensis was discovered in Lake Mead, NV-AZ, and in that same year, mussels were confirmed further south on the Colorado River in Lakes Mojave and Havasu. Dreissenids clog water intake pipes, water filtration systems, and electric generating plants. The mussels also ruin boat motors, damage recreational equipment, and once established in the reservoir, routine maintenance …

Biochemical Characterization Of Sbip-470 And Its Role In Sa-Mediated Signaling In Plants, Danda P. Chapagai

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Salicylic acid binding protein 2 (SABP2) is known to play a key role in Salicylic acid mediated defense pathway. SBIP-470 is SABP2 interacting protein that might be putatively involved in transfer of lipids. SBIP-470 was cloned without the signal peptide and expressed in E. coli. In vitro lipid binding assay using recombinant SBIP-470 failed to detect lipid binding. In vitro lipid transfer assay showed recombinant SBIP-470 does not transfer phospholipid. Study has shown that SBIP-470 is highly inducible upon infection with viral as well as bacterial pathogens. Induction of SBIP-470 expression upon the TMV infection most likely depends upon …

The Vascular Flora Of Steele Creek Park And A Quantitative Study Of Vegetation Patterns In Canopy Gaps, Sullivan County, Tennessee, Phillip C. Klahs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

An inventory of vascular plants was conducted in Steele Creek Park in Sullivan County, Tennessee from March 2013 to September 2014. The park covers an area of 892 ha and lies within the Ridge and Valley Province. The inventory of vascular plants documented 547 species of 323 genera and 101 families. Two hundred sixteen taxa were newly reported for Sullivan County. Tennessee Special Concern Species included Cardamine rotundifolia, Castanea dentata, Lonicera dioica, Allium tricoccum, Cypripedium acaule, and Panax quinquefolius. A single species, Juglans cinerea L., is considered a Tennessee Threatened Species. Vegetation patterns were studied quantitatively by installing 10 …

Characterization Of A Putative Phospholipase D ´ Like Gene As A Lipid Signaling Modulator And Its Role In Salicylic Acid Mediated Defense Pathway In Nicotiana Tabacum, Phillip T. Dean

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Plants are in a perpetual evolutionary arms race with a wide range of pathogens. Their sessile nature has led plants to evolve defense mechanisms that can quickly recognize a unique stressor and deploy a resistance tailored for a specific attack. The salicylic acid (SA) mediated defense pathway has been shown to be one of the major defense tactics plants can initiate to defend themselves against microbial pathogens. Following a pathogen attack high levels of methyl salicylate (MeSA) are produced that can be converted to SA by the enzyme salicylic acid binding protein 2 (SABP2). A yeast two-hybrid screening was performed …

Targeting Cox-2 And Rank In Aggressive Breast Cancers: Inflammatory Breast Cancer And Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, Monica E. Reyes

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) are two highly aggressive breast cancer subtypes associated with a poor outcome. Despite sensitivity to current treatment, these breast cancers subtypes have a high recurrence rate and proclivity to metastasize early. The aggressiveness of IBC and TNBC have been linked to CSCs and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), which are critical features of breast cancer progression and metastasis. The clinical challenge faced in the treatment of IBC and TNBC is finding a treatment strategy to target the cancer stem-like (CSC) population to block metastasis. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and receptor activator of nuclear …

Variation In Resource Utilization And Cost Of Reproduction For Two Burying Beetle Species, Peter J. Meyers

Theses and Dissertations

The cost of reproduction hypothesis suggests that allocation into current reproduction constrains future reproduction. How organisms accrue reproductive costs may differ between species and with varying levels of resource quality. Burying beetles are model organisms for testing for the cost of reproduction because of their unique natural history; beetles utilize small vertebrate carcasses for reproduction and they and their offspring feed exclusively on these discrete resources. Burying beetles also can utilize a large range of carcass sizes for reproduction. We tested for the cost of reproduction in two species of burying beetles, Nicrophorus marginatus and Nicrophorus guttula found in Central …

Metamorphosis Of Limulus Polyphemus Trilobite Larvae: Role Of Chemical And Structural Cues, Competency, And The Cost Of Delayed Metamorphosis, Stephanie Marie Kronstadt

Theses and Dissertations

Many marine and estuarine arthropods exhibit complex life cycles that include planktonic larval stages and benthic juvenile and adult phases. Chemical and structural cues associated with juvenile habitats often induce settlement and metamorphosis, thereby shortening the duration of the larval phase. These cues can trigger metamorphosis only after larvae reach competency, or developmental maturity. The point at which larvae reach this competency period and the ability to retain competency is highly species specific. Once competency is attained, a decrease in the time to metamorphosis (TTM) can decrease dispersal potential but may increase the chance of settling in a suitable habitat. …

Bacteriophage Host-Range Expansion To Include Two Strains Of Clostridium Sporogenes, Kevin Crown

Biology ETDs

Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria, which have been used to treat bacterial infections in people for decades. They are also now being used as FDA approved preservatives as a means to prevent the growth of spoiling bacteria in many ready-to-eat foods. Bacteriophages tend to infect a very narrow range of bacterial hosts, some only a single sub-strain. When used for therapeutics or food treatment however, it is desirable to use phages that are promiscuous in their host range. This has led to attempts to broaden the host range of the most useful phages. By passaging phages in co-cultures of …

Aret: A Novel Regulator Of Alternative Splicing In The Flight Muscle Transcripts In Drosophila Melanogaster, Sandy T. Oas

Biology ETDs

Drosophila melanogaster has been used as a model organism for understanding muscle development. Drosophila flight and jump muscles are distinct functionally and biochemically. This distinction is due to differentially expressed genes and differentially spliced mRNA transcripts. The exact mechanism of alternative splicing in somatic muscles is not well characterized. Aret was previously shown to be a transcriptional repressor, and has been implicated in splicing regulation based upon literature analysis and preliminary work. This study aims to define the regulatory role of Aret and the impact of alternative splicing on determining muscle diversification and fiber choice. We indicate the importance of …

Assessing The Use Ofdynamic Video Profilingscientists In Conveying Astrobiology Concepts, Michelle St. Romain

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Functional Morphology Of The Connective Tissue Of The Clavicular System Of The Domestic Cat, Felis Catus, Amanda N. Cooper

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Functional Morphology Of The Connective Tissue Of The Clavicular System Of The Domestic Cat, Felis Catus, Amanda N. Cooper

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Relationship Between Relative Hive Entrance Position And Dance Floor Location, Chelsea E. Corrigan

Undergraduate Honors Theses

It has been observed that returning honey bee foragers congregate with unemployed foragers and food receiver bees in a localized region of the hive known as the dance floor. Here, the returning foragers advertise food sources via the waggle dance. It was hypothesized that the close proximity of the dance floor to the hive entrance was related to foragers minimizing time and travel inside the hive. The hive entrance is conventionally located at the bottom of the hive. It was suggested that this location was ideal for easy removal of debris. This correlation between dance floor location and hive entrance …

Role Of Phosphorylation Of Focal Adhesion Kinase At Tyrosine 861 In Prostate Cancer Metastasis, Tanushree Chatterji

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase that mediates interactions between the extracellular matrix and intracellular signaling pathways critical in promoting numerous cellular functions including adhesion, proliferation, survival and migration. Most FAK functions result from phosphorylation by Src family kinases, which trigger numerous signaling cascades. Overexpression of FAK is associated with metastasis in many solid tumors, including prostate cancer. Hence, understanding the mechanisms by which FAK is regulated in prostate cancer will better elucidate its role in prostate cancer metastasis. Work in this dissertation tested the hypothesis that altered phosphorylation of FAK is critical for cell migration and …