Life Sciences Commons^™

Anomalous Constitutive Src Kinase Activity Promotes B Lymphoma Survival And Growth, Jiyuan Ke, R. Lakshman Chelvarajan, Vishal Sindhava, Darrell A. Robertson, Lazaros Lekakis, C. Darrell Jennings, Subbarao Bondada

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

Background: Previously we have shown that B cell receptor (BCR) expression and B cell receptor signaling pathways are important for the basal growth of B lymphoma cells. In particular we have shown that the activation of Syk, a non-src family protein tyrosine kinase and the mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK), ERK and JNK that mediate BCR signals are required for the constitutive growth of B lymphoma cells. Since src family protein tyrosine kinases (SFKs) like Lyn are known to be needed for the phosphorylation of BCR co-receptors, Ig-alpha and Ig-beta, we hypothesized that one or more SFKs will be constitutively …

A Unique Role For The Host Escrt Proteins In Replication Of Tomato Bushy Stunt Virus, Daniel Barajas, Yi Jiang, Peter D. Nagy

Plant Pathology Faculty Publications

Plus-stranded RNA viruses replicate in infected cells by assembling viral replicase complexes consisting of viral- and host-coded proteins. Previous genome-wide screens with Tomato bushy stunt tombusvirus (TBSV) in a yeast model host revealed the involvement of seven ESCRT (endosomal sorting complexes required for transport) proteins in viral replication. In this paper, we show that the expression of dominant negative Vps23p, Vps24p, Snf7p, and Vps4p ESCRT factors inhibited virus replication in the plant host, suggesting that tombusviruses co-opt selected ESCRT proteins for the assembly of the viral replicase complex. We also show that TBSV p33 replication protein interacts with Vps23p ESCRT-I …

Vectors And Methods For Enhanced Cell Longevity And Protein Expression, Bruce A. Webb, Jeremy Kroemer

Entomology Faculty Patents

It is the object of the current invention to provide methods and compositions relating to the expression of vankyrin proteins in cell lines to increase their viability, longevity and capacity for protein production. The inventors have discovered that the expression of P-ank-1 and I²-ank-3 proteins in cell culture has increased the cells' longevity and capacity for endogenous and/or heterologous target protein production. Specifically, the present invention relates to the enhanced expression of endogenous and/or heterologous target proteins/polypeptides in recombinant cells that are also expressing P-ank-1 and/or I²-ank-3 protein compared to expression host cells that are not …

Apolipoprotein E But Not B Is Required For The Formation Of Infectious Hepatitis C Virus Particles, Jieyun Jiang, Guangxiang Luo

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

Our previous studies have found that hepatitis C virus (HCV) particles are enriched in apolipoprotein E (apoE) and that apoE is required for HCV infectivity and production. Studies by others, however, suggested that both microsomal transfer protein (MTP) and apoB are important for HCV production. To define the roles of apoB and apoE in the HCV life cycle, we developed a single-cycle HCV growth assay to determine the correlation of HCV assembly with apoB and apoE expression, as well as the influence of MTP inhibitors on the formation of HCV particles. The small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown of apoE expression …

Forage News [2009-12], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky

Forage News

• Grazing Conference Photos
• Growing Alfalfa in the South
• Heart of America Grazing Conference
• Role and Importance of Clovers in Kentucky
• Advantage of Rotational Grazing Confirmed Using Time Lapse Photography
• Corn Stalk Quality After Weathering
• Kentucky Land Values Buck the Trend
• Results of the 1st Year for a Grazing Evaluation of KYFA9302 Tall Fescue, With and Without the AR584 Novel Endophyte
• Cutting Ash Content
• KFGC Update
• Upcoming Events

Proteomic Analysis Of Blastema Formation In Regenerating Axolotl Limbs, Nandini Rao, Deepali Jhamb, Derek J. Milner, Bingbing Li, Fengyu Song, Mu Wang, S. Randal Voss, Mathew Palakal, Michael W. King, Behnaz Saranjami, Holly L.D. Nye, Jo Ann Cameron, David L. Stocum

Biology Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Following amputation, urodele salamander limbs reprogram somatic cells to form a blastema that self-organizes into the missing limb parts to restore the structure and function of the limb. To help understand the molecular basis of blastema formation, we used quantitative label-free liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based methods to analyze changes in the proteome that occurred 1, 4 and 7 days post amputation (dpa) through the mid-tibia/fibula of axolotl hind limbs.

RESULTS: We identified 309 unique proteins with significant fold change relative to controls (0 dpa), representing 10 biological process categories: (1) signaling, (2) Ca2+ binding and translocation, (3) transcription, …

Characterization Of Genes Encoding Poly(A) Polymerases In Plants: Evidence For Duplication And Functional Specialization, Lisa R. Meeks, Bala Subrahmanyam Addepalli, Arthur G. Hunt

Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Poly(A) polymerase is a key enzyme in the machinery that mediates mRNA 3′ end formation in eukaryotes. In plants, poly(A) polymerases are encoded by modest gene families. To better understand this multiplicity of genes, poly(A) polymerase-encoding genes from several other plants, as well as from Selaginella, Physcomitrella, and Chlamydomonas, were studied.

Methodology/Principal Findings: Using bioinformatics tools, poly(A) polymerase-encoding genes were identified in the genomes of eight species in the plant lineage. Whereas Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was found to possess a single poly(A) polymerase gene, other species possessed between two and six possible poly(A) polymerase genes. With the exception …

Detection Of Sub-Clinical Cwd Infection In Conventional Test-Negative Deer Long After Oral Exposure To Urine And Feces From Cwd+ Deer, Nicholas J. Haley, Candace K. Mathiason, Mark D. Zabel, Glenn C. Telling, Edward A Hoover

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Chronic wasting disease (CWD) of cervids is a prion disease distinguished by high levels of transmissibility, wherein bodily fluids and excretions are thought to play an important role. Using cervid bioassay and established CWD detection methods, we have previously identified infectious prions in saliva and blood but not urine or feces of CWD+ donors. More recently, we identified very low concentrations of CWD prions in urine of deer by cervid PrP transgenic (Tg[CerPrP]) mouse bioassay and serial protein misfolding cyclic amplification (sPMCA). This finding led us to examine further our initial cervid bioassay experiments using sPMCA.

OBJECTIVES: We sought …

Non-Antibiotic Selection Systems For Soybean Somatic Embryos: The Lysine Analog Aminoethyl-Cysteine As A Selection Agent, Suryadevara S. Rao, Lewamy Mamadou, Matt Mcconnell, Raghuveer Polisetty, Prachuab Kwanyuen, David Hildebrand

Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: In soybean somatic embryo transformation, the standard selection agent currently used is hygromycin. It may be preferable to avoid use of antibiotic resistance genes in foods. The objective of these experiments was to develop a selection system for producing transgenic soybean somatic embryos without the use of antibiotics such as hygromycin.

RESULTS: When tested against different alternate selection agents our studies show that 0.16 microg/mL glufosinate, 40 mg/L isopropylamine-glyphosate, 0.5 mg/mL (S-(2 aminoethyl)-L-cysteine) (AEC) and the acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors Exceed and Synchrony both at 150 microg/mL inhibited soybean somatic embryo growth. Even at the concentration of 2 mg/mL, …

Viral Vectors Useful In Soybean And Methods Of Use, Said A. Ghabrial, Chunquan Zhang, Honcgang Gu

Plant Pathology Faculty Patents

The invention provides Bean pod mottle virus (BPMV) vectors useful for expression of heterologous proteins in plants such as soybean. The BPMV vectors are also useful for virus-induced gene silencing. The invention also provides methods for expressing a heterologous polypeptide in a plant such as soybean. The invention additionally provides methods for virus-induced gene silencing, particularly in a soybean plant, which can be used to determine the function of a gene of interest.

Monitoring Heart Function In Larval Drosophila Melanogaster For Physiological Studies, Ann S. Cooper, Kylah E. Rymond, Matthew A. Ward, Easter L. Bocook, Robin L. Cooper

Biology Faculty Publications

We present various methods to record cardiac function in the larval Drosophila. The approaches allow heart rate to be measured in unrestrained and restrained whole larvae For direct control of the environment around the heart another approach utilizes the dissected larvae and removal of the internal organs in order to bathe the heart in desired compounds. The exposed heart also allows membrane potentials to be monitored which can give insight of the ionic currents generated by the myocytes and for electrical conduction along the heart tube. These approaches have various advantages and disadvantages for future experiments that are discussed. …

Interactions Between Connected Half-Sarcomeres Produce Emergent Mechanical Behavior In A Mathematical Model Of Muscle, Kenneth S. Campbell

Physiology Faculty Publications

Most reductionist theories of muscle attribute a fiber's mechanical properties to the scaled behavior of a single half-sarcomere. Mathematical models of this type can explain many of the known mechanical properties of muscle but have to incorporate a passive mechanical component that becomes approximately 300% stiffer in activating conditions to reproduce the force response elicited by stretching a fast mammalian muscle fiber. The available experimental data suggests that titin filaments, which are the mostly likely source of the passive component, become at most approximately 30% stiffer in saturating Ca2+ solutions. The work described in this manuscript used computer modeling to …

Defective Interfering Rnas: Foes Of Viruses And Friends Of Virologists, Kunj Bihari Pathak, Peter D. Nagy

Plant Pathology Faculty Publications

Defective interfering (DI) RNAs are subviral RNAs produced during multiplication of RNA viruses by the error-prone viral replicase. DI-RNAs are parasitic RNAs that are derived from and associated with the parent virus, taking advantage of viral-coded protein factors for their multiplication. Recent advances in the field of DI RNA biology has led to a greater understanding about generation and evolution of DI-RNAs as well as the mechanism of symptom attenuation. Moreover, DI-RNAs are versatile tools in the hands of virologists and are used as less complex surrogate templates to understand the biology of their helper viruses. The ease of their …

Historical View And Physiology Demonstration At The Nmj Of The Crayfish Opener Muscle, Ann S. Cooper, Robin L. Cooper

Biology Faculty Publications

Here we present some of the key important discoveries made with the opener neuromuscular (NMJ) preparation of crustaceans and illustrate that there is still much to learn from this model preparation. In understanding the history one can appreciate why even today this NMJ still offers a rich playground to address questions regarding pre- and post-synaptic function and plasticity. The viability and ease of access to the terminal for intracellular as well as extracellular electrophysiology and imaging are significant advantages. The mechanisms behind the modulation of vesicular kinetics and fusion within the high- and low-output terminals are begging for investigation. The …

Expression Of Sorl1 And A Novel Sorl1 Splice Variant In Normal And Alzheimers Disease Brain, Karrie E. Grear, I-Fang Ling, James F. Simpson, Jennifer L. Furman, Christopher R. Simmons, Shawn L. Peterson, Frederick A. Schmitt, William R. Markesbery, Qiang Liu, Julia E. Crook, Steven G. Younkin, Guojun Bu, Steven Estus

Physiology Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Variations in sortilin-related receptor (SORL1) expression and function have been implicated in Alzheimers Disease (AD). Here, to gain insights into SORL1, we evaluated SORL1 expression and splicing as a function of AD and AD neuropathology, neural gene expression and a candidate single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP).

RESULTS: To identify SORL1 splice variants, we scanned each of the 46 internal SORL1 exons in human brain RNA samples and readily found SORL1 isoforms that lack exon 2 or exon 19. Quantification in a case-control series of the more abundant isoform lacking exon 2 (delta-2-SORL1), as well as the "full-length" SORL1 (FL-SORL1) isoform …

Aging Influences The Neural Correlates Of Lexical Decision But Not Automatic Semantic Priming, Brian T. Gold, Anders H. Andersen, Greg A. Jicha, Charles D. Smith

Neuroscience Faculty Publications

Human behavioral data indicate that older adults are slower to perform lexical decisions (LDs) than young adults but show similar reaction time gains when these decisions are primed semantically. The present study explored the functional neuroanatomic bases of these frequently observed behavioral findings. Young and older groups completed unprimed and primed LD tasks while functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was recorded, using a fully randomized trial design paralleling those used in behavioral research. Results from the unprimed task found that age-related slowing of LD was associated with decreased activation in perceptual extrastriate regions and increased activation in regions associated with …

Forage News [2009-11], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky

Forage News

• Forages at KCA
• 10th Kentucky Grazing Conference
• KFGC Presents Awards
• KFGC Update
• Caldwell Willig is New Kentucky Forage Spokesman
• Forage Testing A Must for This Years' Hay Crop
• "Growing Alfalfa in the South" & "Understanding Forage Quality" New Available on NAF Website
• It's the Pitts: A Can of Worms
• Estimating Clover Percentage in Your Pasture
• Upcoming Events

Photo Highlights Of The 10th Kentucky Grazing Conference, Kentucky Grazing Conference

Kentucky Grazing Conference

No abstract provided.

Forage Spokesman Information, Tom Flowers, Vince Rawe, Caldwell Willig

Kentucky Grazing Conference

No abstract provided.

Animal Welfare--Animal Rights: Role Of Grazing, Roy Burris

Kentucky Grazing Conference

The care and handling of farm animals has drawn a lot of media attention lately. Some well-publicized events have given our industry the proverbial black-eye and led to a chain of events that has left livestock producers feeling very vulnerable to negative attacks. Although these events have been very isolated, they have had some very farreaching effects. Could they have been prevented? How? What do we do now?

Extended Grazing And Reduced Stored Feed, Edward N. Ballard

Kentucky Grazing Conference

Feed costs represent the major cost in most livestock production systems. A recently completed analysis of 225 Standardized Performance Analysis (SPA) Beef Cow Records on herds in Illinois and Iowa showed that feed cost was the overriding factor determining profitability, explaining over 57 percent of the herd-to-herd variation. Typically the cost of supplying nutrients to ruminant livestock is much greater using harvested feedstuffs as opposed to grazing pastures or crop residues. The primary function of a grassland farm is to convert solar energy to marketable livestock products in the most efficient manner. The fewer steps between the animal product and …

Stored Feed Needs: How Much? What Quality?, Jeff Lehmkuhler

Kentucky Grazing Conference

Feed resources are the largest variable expense in beef production systems outside the initial investment in the livestock. When we look at Standardized Performance Analysis (SPA) information from Texas and Minnesota, states that are at the extreme from an environment stance, the projected costs for maintaining a beef cow are strikingly similar. It is important to note that these costs include all expenses and opportunity costs. Getting back to the SPA information, in 2007 the annual cost to maintain a cow in Texas was determined to be roughly $590 while the Minnesota value was near $610 or only about $20/cow …

Tall Fescue Grazing Research, Glen Aiken

Kentucky Grazing Conference

‘Kentucky-31’ tall fescue, like it or hate it, covers 5 million acres of Kentucky and if you do not have it on your farm, it is likely that one of your bordering neighbors does! Tall fescue owes its persistence and productivity in large part to a fungal endophyte that infects most plants. This endophyte produces an array of alkaloids that benefit the plant in tolerating heat, drought, and grazing. Unfortunately, the endophyte also produces ergot alkaloids that can cause “fescue toxicosis” in cattle. Cattle inflicted with toxicosis have reduced dry matter intake, elevated body temperature, and often retain their winter …

Weed Control Options For Pastures, Jon Doran

Kentucky Grazing Conference

What is a weed? A pasture or hayfield “weed” is any plant that you deem as being out of place and/or a plant that is decreasing your desired forage production. Weeds may be classified in several ways including broadleaf weeds, woody plants, and undesirable grasses. Besides decreasing forage, weeds can also interfere with forage utilization, grazing distribution, etc. There are several methods available to control weeds and increase production of and access to desirable forages. The three main methods are cultural, mechanical, and chemical. The cultural method is quite simple-a thriving grass stand is an excellent form of weed control …

Our Experiences With Eastern Gamagrass, Tommy R. Yankey

Kentucky Grazing Conference

As livestock producers try to reduce their cost of production, many look at ways to reduce their feed costs. Feed costs have been identified as the largest single cost of livestock production, making up 50 to 70% of the total cost of production. Grazing is the cheapest way to feed cattle on a cost per pound of nutrient basis.

New Developments In Grazing Species And Varieties, S. Ray Smith

Kentucky Grazing Conference

During the last 10 years there have been several new forage species that have emerged as useful in grazing systems and many new varieties have been released of traditional species. Plant breeders continue to make improvement in our traditional pasture species like tall fescue, orchardgrass, and red and white clover. In the following paragraphs, I will focus more on some of the forage species that you may not be as familiar with and highlight the advancements occurring in developing new varieties for grazing. There are many sources of information on this subject. I especially encourage you to read the new …

Why Should I Improve My Grazing Program?, Garry D. Lacefield

Kentucky Grazing Conference

Grazing represents the cheapest way to feed ruminants on a cost per pound of nutrient basis. Stored feed is usually the single largest item in livestock budgets and cost or amount of stored feed is usually the best prediction of potential profitability in most beef cattle operations.

Foreword And Kfgc Award Winners [2009], Garry D. Lacefield, Christi L. Forsythe

Kentucky Grazing Conference

No abstract provided.

Genetic Insulator For Preventing Influence By Another Gene Promoter, Susheng Gan, Mingtang Xie

Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Patents

A 16 bp polynucleotide sequence of Arabidopsis thaliana is a genetic insulator that can effectively isolate a transgene from positional effects of neighboring gene activities in transgenic plant cells.

The Leishmania Donovani Lipophosphoglycan Excludes The Vesicular Proton-Atpase From Phagosomes By Impairing The Recruitment Of Synaptotagmin V, Adrien F. Vinet, Mitsunori Fukuda, Salvatore J. Turco, Albert Descoteaux

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Publications

We recently showed that the exocytosis regulator Synaptotagmin (Syt) V is recruited to the nascent phagosome and remains associated throughout the maturation process. In this study, we investigated the possibility that Syt V plays a role in regulating interactions between the phagosome and the endocytic organelles. Silencing of Syt V by RNA interference revealed that Syt V contributes to phagolysosome biogenesis by regulating the acquisition of cathepsin D and the vesicular proton-ATPase. In contrast, recruitment of cathepsin B, the early endosomal marker EEA1 and the lysosomal marker LAMP1 to phagosomes was normal in the absence of Syt V. As Leishmania …