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Cell and Developmental Biology

Journal

2015

Articles 1 - 8 of 8

Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

The Generation, Exploitation And Future Of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, Jacob Steenwyk Oct 2015

The Generation, Exploitation And Future Of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, Jacob Steenwyk

Scholarly Undergraduate Research Journal at Clark (SURJ)

The foundational advancements of John Gurdon and Shinya Yamanaka have improved understanding of dedifferen- tiation of cells to a pluripotent state. The seminal discovery established a novel system to study disease pathogenesis, drug screening, and toxicity, as well as sprouted the new field of regenerative medicine. In this article, the method- ology to obtain dedifferentiated cells, known as induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, subsequent validation, and application of which are reviewed. The experiments investigated here aim to demonstrate the capacity of iPS cells to replace the ethically-gray human embryonic cells by developing human livers and viable, healthy animals. It is …

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Reactive Oxygen Species-Mediated Neurodegeneration Is Independent Of The Ryanodine Receptor In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Lyndsay E.A. Young, Daniel C. Williams Oct 2015

Reactive Oxygen Species-Mediated Neurodegeneration Is Independent Of The Ryanodine Receptor In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Lyndsay E.A. Young, Daniel C. Williams

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

Despite the significant impacts on human health caused by neurodegeneration, our understanding of the degeneration process is incomplete. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is emerging as a genetic model organism well suited for identification of conserved cellular mechanisms and molecular pathways of neurodegeneration. Studies in the worm have identified factors that contribute to neurodegeneration, including excitotoxicity and stress due to reactive oxygen species (ROS). Disruption of the gene unc-68, which encodes the ryanodine receptor, abolishes excitotoxic cell death, indicating a role for calcium (Ca2+) signaling in neurodegeneration. We tested the requirement for unc-68 in ROS-mediated neurodegeneration using the …

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Iron As A Biomarker For Alzheimer’S Disease, Samual Barlow, Dr. Jonathan Wisco Jun 2015

Iron As A Biomarker For Alzheimer’S Disease, Samual Barlow, Dr. Jonathan Wisco

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is one of the highest causes of death in the United States. After the age of 65, the chance of getting Alzheimer’s doubles every five years. As the average lifespan of Americans increases, the importance of understanding AD and finding more efficient ways to treat it increases as well. The earlier AD is treated, the more effectively we are able to treat it. Non-heme iron (Fe) has been shown to spatially correlate with Abeta. Since Fe causes a signal dropout in susceptibility-weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), this imaging modality could possibly be used as a way to …

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Characterization Of The Role That Alternative Ribonucleotide Reductases Play In Restoring Replication In The Presence Of Hydroxyurea In Escherichia Coli, Michael Sadek Jun 2015

Characterization Of The Role That Alternative Ribonucleotide Reductases Play In Restoring Replication In The Presence Of Hydroxyurea In Escherichia Coli, Michael Sadek

PSU McNair Scholars Online Journal

DNA replication is essential for cells to grow and divide. Ribonucleotide reductase is an essential enzyme that is responsible for the formation of deoxyribonucleotides that are used in DNA synthesis during replication. Hydroxyurea is a chemotherapeutic agent that is thought to work by specifically inhibiting the ribonuceotide reductase to prevent replication. However, recent studies in E. coli have shown that following an initial period of inhibition, DNA synthesis then recovers in the presence of hydroxyurea, suggesting that the mode of death and cellular response to hydroxyurea is more complex than originally proposed. The E.coli genome encodes three ribonucleotide reductases that …

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Role Of Metabolic Shifts In Protection From Mutation Damage: Characterizing Mitochondrial Membrane Potential In C. Elegans Gas-1 Mutants, Lauren S. Muñoz-Tremblay Jun 2015

Role Of Metabolic Shifts In Protection From Mutation Damage: Characterizing Mitochondrial Membrane Potential In C. Elegans Gas-1 Mutants, Lauren S. Muñoz-Tremblay

PSU McNair Scholars Online Journal

Many terminal human diseases are caused by mutations affecting mitochondrial functioning. Mitochondria are essential organelles responsible for producing cellular energy, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) via oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) at mitochondrial electron transport chains (ETC). Proper ETC functioning relies on maintenance of the electrochemical gradient essential for energy production, known as mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔψM). The inner mitochondrial membrane is the site of the ETC and is most closely in contact with the enzymatic processes occurring within the mitochondrial matrix. Mutations affecting protein components of the ETC are especially troublesome for organelle health. ETC mutants commonly express altered ΔψM, as well as …

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Chronic Inflammation As A Result Of Hepatitis C Virus Infection: A Review Of The Literature, Samantha L. Lane May 2015

Chronic Inflammation As A Result Of Hepatitis C Virus Infection: A Review Of The Literature, Samantha L. Lane

DePaul Discoveries

Approximately 170 million people are infected with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) worldwide5,6. It is estimated that roughly 80% of those infected suffer from persistent infection with the virus; this persistence of infection is progressive, and over time can lead to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma7. Chronic inflammation and apoptotic deregulation are both hallmarks of chronic HCV infection, and many molecular pathways are initiated in both the innate and adaptive immune responses during infection with this viral pathogen. The aim of this review was to survey some of the major molecular mechanisms responsible for the induction of …

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Terahertz Imaging Platform To Characterize The Growth Of In-Vitro Breast Tumors, Scarlett-Marie Acklin Jan 2015

Terahertz Imaging Platform To Characterize The Growth Of In-Vitro Breast Tumors, Scarlett-Marie Acklin

Inquiry: The University of Arkansas Undergraduate Research Journal

This study aimed at evaluating the ideal plating method and density for imaging with the terahertz (THz) spectrometer. In this study, different methods were used to grow in-vitro tumors using the 4T1 cell line. Here, attempts to grow breast tumors in-vitro were conducted. Results were produced in two environments, flat-bottomed plates and round-bottomed multiwell plates. The second method allowed for faster clumping and increased cell aggregation, producing tumors up to 7mm. Terahertz spectroscopy produced images that correlated well to photomicrographs taken of the in-vitro tumors. This methodology shows great promise for providing a reliable, parameter-controlled source of in-vitro breast tumors …

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What Are The Possible Causes For Autism Spectrum Disorder?, Rochel Preiserowicz Jan 2015

What Are The Possible Causes For Autism Spectrum Disorder?, Rochel Preiserowicz

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Ever since the mid 1980’s when Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) started to become increasingly prevalent, researchers have been trying to find a possible cause for it. Autism Spectrum Disorder is a developmental disorder that manifests itself in children who are between 18-30 months old. People with autism have reduced social skills, and they have a difficult time communicating verbally and non-verbally. Autism is diagnosed through a questionnaire and other instruments that allow psychologists, psychiatrists, speech therapists, neurologists and many other doctors to determine if a child has a form of ASD. There are many theories about what causes autism. It …

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