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Articles 1 - 30 of 39
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Nell2 Regulates The Contralateral-Versus-Ipsilateral Visual Projection As A Domain-Specific Positional Cue, Chizu Nakamoto, Elaine Durward, Masato Horie, Masaru Nakamoto
Nell2 Regulates The Contralateral-Versus-Ipsilateral Visual Projection As A Domain-Specific Positional Cue, Chizu Nakamoto, Elaine Durward, Masato Horie, Masaru Nakamoto
Biology Faculty Publications
In mammals with binocular vision, retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons from each eye project to eye-specific domains in the contralateral and ipsilateral dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN), underpinning disparity-based stereopsis. Although domain-specific axon guidance cues that discriminate contralateral and ipsilateral RGC axons have long been postulated as a key mechanism for development of the eye-specific retinogeniculate projection, the molecular nature of such cues has remained elusive. Here, we show that the extracellular glycoprotein Nell2 (neural epidermal growth factor-like-like 2) is expressed in the dorsomedial region of the dLGN, which ipsilateral RGC axons terminate in and contralateral axons avoid. In Nell2 …
Information Has Value Webcast - The Utility Of Social Media For Teaching Information Literacy, Nora Belzowski, Kristi Bugajski
Information Has Value Webcast - The Utility Of Social Media For Teaching Information Literacy, Nora Belzowski, Kristi Bugajski
Library Faculty Publications
How to use inquiry-based learning techniques to teach the information literacy threshold concept Information Has Value to students in a science for non-majors biology course. The presenters also discussed the design, implementation, and assessment of a scalable lesson plan that addresses concepts and skills within the Information Has Value frame.
The Developmental And Genetic Basis Of ‘Clubfoot’ In The Peroneal Muscular Atrophy Mutant Mouse, J. Martin Collinson, Nils Lindström, Carlos Neves, Karen Wallace, Caroline Meharg, Rebecca Charles, Zoe Ross, Amy Fraser, Ivan Mbogo, Kadri Oras, Masaru Nakamoto, Simon Barker, Suzanne Duce, Zosia Miedzybrodzka, Neil Vargesson
The Developmental And Genetic Basis Of ‘Clubfoot’ In The Peroneal Muscular Atrophy Mutant Mouse, J. Martin Collinson, Nils Lindström, Carlos Neves, Karen Wallace, Caroline Meharg, Rebecca Charles, Zoe Ross, Amy Fraser, Ivan Mbogo, Kadri Oras, Masaru Nakamoto, Simon Barker, Suzanne Duce, Zosia Miedzybrodzka, Neil Vargesson
Biology Faculty Publications
Genetic factors underlying the human limb abnormality congenital talipes equinovarus (‘clubfoot’) remain incompletely understood. The spontaneous autosomal recessive mouse ‘peroneal muscular atrophy’ mutant (PMA) is a faithful morphological model of human clubfoot. In PMA mice, the dorsal (peroneal) branches of the sciatic nerves are absent. In this study, the primary developmental defect was identified as a reduced growth of sciatic nerve lateral motor column (LMC) neurons leading to failure to project to dorsal (peroneal) lower limb muscle blocks. The pma mutation was mapped and a candidate gene encoding LIM-domain kinase 1 (Limk1) identified, which is upregulated in mutant lateral LMC …
Transposon-Mediated Stable Suppression Of Gene Expression In The Developing Chick Retina, Masaru Nakamoto, Chizu Nakamoto
Transposon-Mediated Stable Suppression Of Gene Expression In The Developing Chick Retina, Masaru Nakamoto, Chizu Nakamoto
Biology Faculty Publications
The embryonic chick has long been a favorite model system for in vivo studies of vertebrate development. However, a major technical limitation of the chick embryo has been the lack of efficient loss-of-function approaches for analyses of gene functions. Here, we describe a methodology in which a transgene encoding artificial microRNA sequences is introduced into embryonic chick retinal cells by in ovo electroporation and integrated into the genome using the Tol2 transposon system. We show that this methodology can induce potent and stable suppression of gene expression. This technique therefore provides a rapid and robust loss-of-function approach for studies of …
Doing It Again: Repeating Methodology From Published Literature To Learn Field Biology, Laurie Eberhardt
Doing It Again: Repeating Methodology From Published Literature To Learn Field Biology, Laurie Eberhardt
Biology Faculty Publications
Repeatability underpins a basic assumption in science which students must learn in order to evaluate others’ research findings as well as to communicate the results of their own research. By attempting to repeat the methods of published studies, students learn the importance of clear written communication, while at the same time developing research skills. I describe three examples of published field studies that can be used as the basis for course exercises on the repeatability of methodology, as well as field sampling techniques, all grounded in the overall topic of environmental change. Two of the exercises returned students to the …
Expression And Regulatory Effects On Cancer Cell Behavior Of Nell1 And Nell2 In Human Renal Cell Carcinoma, Ritsuko Nakamura, Takeru Oyama, Ryosuke Tajiri, Atsushi Mizokami, Mikiko Namiki, Masaru Nakamoto, Akishi Ooi
Expression And Regulatory Effects On Cancer Cell Behavior Of Nell1 And Nell2 In Human Renal Cell Carcinoma, Ritsuko Nakamura, Takeru Oyama, Ryosuke Tajiri, Atsushi Mizokami, Mikiko Namiki, Masaru Nakamoto, Akishi Ooi
Biology Faculty Publications
Neural epidermal growth factor-like like (NELL) 1 and 2 constitute a family of multimeric and multimodular extracellular glycoproteins. Although the osteogenic effects of NELL1 and functions of NELL2 in neural development have been reported, their expression and functions in cancer are largely unknown. In this study, we examined expression of NELL1 and NELL2 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) using clinical specimens and cell lines. We show that, whereas NELL1 and NELL2 proteins are strongly expressed in renal tubules in non-cancerous areas of RCC specimens, their expression is significantly downregulated in cancerous areas. Silencing of NELL1 and NELL2 mRNA expression was …
Nel Positively Regulates The Genesis Of Retinal Ganglion Cells By Promoting Their Differentiation And Survival During Development, Chizu Nakamoto, Soh-Leh Kuan, Amy Findlay, Elaine Durward, Zhufeng Ouyang, Masaru Nakamoto, Ewa Zakrewska, Takuma Endo
Nel Positively Regulates The Genesis Of Retinal Ganglion Cells By Promoting Their Differentiation And Survival During Development, Chizu Nakamoto, Soh-Leh Kuan, Amy Findlay, Elaine Durward, Zhufeng Ouyang, Masaru Nakamoto, Ewa Zakrewska, Takuma Endo
Biology Faculty Publications
For correct functioning of the nervous system, the appropriate number and complement of neuronal cell types must be produced during development. However, the molecular mechanisms that regulate the production of individual classes of neurons are poorly understood. In this study, we investigate the function of the thrombospondin-1–like glycoprotein, Nel (neural epidermal growth factor [EGF]-like), in the generation of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in chicks. During eye development, Nel is strongly expressed in the presumptive retinal pigment epithelium and RGCs. Nel overexpression in the developing retina by in ovo electroporation increases the number of RGCs, whereas the number of displaced amacrine …
Circadian Rhythms In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Khyla Rose Alorro, Sean Mcnabney
Circadian Rhythms In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Khyla Rose Alorro, Sean Mcnabney
Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE)
Circadian rhythms are endogenous, time-oriented cycles that cause physical or behavioral changes in organisms. While several studies suggest that such rhythms are ubiquitous for life, recent experiments demonstrate that the regulatory mechanisms behind them differ for each organism. Little is known about the molecular machinery that governs the circadian clock in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, but its output appears to directly influence the enzymes glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and peroxiredoxin. This project centered on linking GAPDH concentrations to various stages of the circadian rhythm in order to inductively determine components of the circadian clock. Spectroscopic assays and Western blots were used to determine …
Diversity And Abundance Of Aquatic Macroinvertebrates Associated With Different Benthic Substrates In The East Branch Of The Little Calumet River, Halina Hopkins, Ali Olson
Diversity And Abundance Of Aquatic Macroinvertebrates Associated With Different Benthic Substrates In The East Branch Of The Little Calumet River, Halina Hopkins, Ali Olson
Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE)
As part of an ongoing study of the effect of removing logjams to open the East Branch of the Little Calumet River for recreational purposes, we worked with park staff at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore on a study of the abundance and diversity of aquatic macroinvertebrates. We used a quantitative sampling technique to obtain samples of macroinvertebrates from five substrates in reaches of the river above and below four focal logjams. Diversity as measured by the Shannon-Weiner index varied with river substrate (sand=1.467, root wad=1.854, wood=1.64). Sand had the lowest average number of macroinvertebrates (92, as compared to 191 …
The Effects Of Tarp Wrapping On Blow Fly Oviposition During Decomposition Of Pigs, Natasha Lobosky, Jordan Stein
The Effects Of Tarp Wrapping On Blow Fly Oviposition During Decomposition Of Pigs, Natasha Lobosky, Jordan Stein
Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE)
The effects of blow fly oviposition on 12 young, recently deceased pigs were studied during a one month period in the fall semester of 2012. This project follows similar techniques that Dr. Bugajski used during her research project at Purdue. Using tarp-wrapped bodies as the sole variable, bare pigs were held as the control. The data that were collected included the presence or absence of larvae or adult flies, daily temperatures, samples of both larvae and adult flies, and the start and end of maggot migration. The samples of larvae and adult flies were later identified in the lab and …
Method For Instant Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Kill Of Samples, Melissa Kohner, Sara Dick
Method For Instant Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Kill Of Samples, Melissa Kohner, Sara Dick
Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE)
It is essential when studying the circadian rhythm in cells to be able to effectively stop them in time. In this experiment, we tested what would be the most successful killing agent on Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Six different agents were tested at different concentrations and amounts. After the S. cerevisiae was added to the test tube containing the agent, it was streaked on a plate after 5 and 10 minutes. The plates were incubated and then checked for growth. Ethanol was the most efficient killing agent. After an effective killing agent is determined, it can be used in further experiments measuring …
Circadian Rhythm In Yeast, Jake Yablonowski, Michael Borchert
Circadian Rhythm In Yeast, Jake Yablonowski, Michael Borchert
Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE)
Circadian rhythms are found in a variety of organisms and are involved in controlling activity of the organism. However, a circadian rhythm for yeast has not been discovered yet. The goal of this study is to find evidence for a circadian rhythm in yeast by looking for changes in GAPDH concentrations and peroxiredoxin levels. GAPDH and peroxiredoxin have been shown to be controlled by the circadian clock in many organisms. A continuous yeast culture is sampled every two hours over a period of about 104 hours. Each sample is processed and tested for the concentration of GAPDH using GAPDH reagent. …
Modeling Of Early Siv/Hiv Infection, Krista Schaefer, Cecilia Noecker, Kelly Zaccheo, Vitaly Gunasov, Judy Day, Yiding Yang
Modeling Of Early Siv/Hiv Infection, Krista Schaefer, Cecilia Noecker, Kelly Zaccheo, Vitaly Gunasov, Judy Day, Yiding Yang
Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE)
Although HIV has infected over 20 million people worldwide, it is a rather poorly transmitted virus since less than 1 out of 100 to 1,000 acts of sexual intercourse results in virus transmission. The factors that could potentially explain why the probability of transmission is so small are poorly understood. It is nearly impossible to study HIV replication in the first 2-3 weeks of infection because the virus is undetectable until after that duration. By using stochastic simulations of mathematical models of early virus replication, we investigate how the duration of the eclipse phase prior to virus production (eclipse stage) …
Structure-Function Analysis Of Nel, A Thrombospondin-1-Like Glycoprotein Involved In Neural Development And Functions, Masaru Nakamoto
Structure-Function Analysis Of Nel, A Thrombospondin-1-Like Glycoprotein Involved In Neural Development And Functions, Masaru Nakamoto
Biology Faculty Publications
Nel (neural epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like molecule) is a multimeric, multimodular extracellular glycoprotein with heparin-binding activity and structural similarities to thrombospondin-1. Nel is predominantly expressed in the nervous system and has been implicated in neuronal proliferation and differentiation, retinal axon guidance, synaptic functions, and spatial learning. The Nel protein contains an N-terminal thrombospondin-1 (TSP-N) domain, five cysteine-rich domains, and six EGF-like domains. However, little is known about the functions of specific domains of the Nel protein. In this study, we have performed structure-function analysis of Nel, by using a series of expression constructs for different regions of the Nel protein. …
Siltation Related To Beaver Dam Decomposition In The Little Kankakee River, Mckenzie Kelly, Chris Bitcheno, Alyssa Thacker, Jon Gardow, Arissa Wallis
Siltation Related To Beaver Dam Decomposition In The Little Kankakee River, Mckenzie Kelly, Chris Bitcheno, Alyssa Thacker, Jon Gardow, Arissa Wallis
Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE)
The Little Kankakee River (LKR) in LaPorte County, Indiana is an uncommon example of a good, cold-water fishery in northwest Indiana. However, the river has variable sedimentation levels; deep silt often covers gravel and sand, smothering invertebrates, a key food source for higher trophic organisms. The LKR contains a naturally-decomposing, abandoned beaver dam. The purpose of this study is to monitor its impact upon upstream and downstream silt levels. This research intends to identify possible sources of variability in silt levels, benefiting restoration teams in determining effects of dam removals. Furthermore, understanding the impact and pattern of silt levels could …
Testing The Potential Of Using Fungi To Convert Human Waste Into Protein, Alex Zapata, Elizabeth Phillippi, Blair Mitchell, Jon Schoer, Michael Watters
Testing The Potential Of Using Fungi To Convert Human Waste Into Protein, Alex Zapata, Elizabeth Phillippi, Blair Mitchell, Jon Schoer, Michael Watters
Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE)
We report on the results of a pilot experiment designed to test the potential of filamentous fungi (mold) to reduce solid waste (feces) while converting it into a consumable, high protein food product. Feces represent an untapped resource. Filamentous fungi are natural decomposers with the ability to use this resource. Many filamentous fungi are safe to eat. We examined growth in order to determine the conditions which maximized the rate of conversion of solid waste into fungal biomass. For this pilot, we compared the effect of different lengths of incubation, different methods of aeration, and different available surface area. The …
Impacts Of The Species Elaeagnus Umbellate On The Soil And Water Quality Of The Pierce Cedar Creek Institute Ecosystem, Yacoub Aljobeh, Kristin Engerer
Impacts Of The Species Elaeagnus Umbellate On The Soil And Water Quality Of The Pierce Cedar Creek Institute Ecosystem, Yacoub Aljobeh, Kristin Engerer
Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE)
The species Elaeagnus umbellate, more commonly known as autumn olive, is a shrub that is invasive to the United States and indigenous to East Asia. Even though the autumn olive is not native to North America, it was able to thrive and adapt to the new environment by using its ability to fix nitrogen. Nitrogen-fixing is a process where plants intake molecular nitrogen from the atmosphere and convert it into other forms of nitrogen that can be used by the plants. One of the nitrogen-fixing by-products is nitrate. Excessive amounts of nitrate can easily leach from the plant’s root …
National Park Service Nonnative Plant Control In The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Jacob Halpin, Laurie Eberhardt, Laura Thompson
National Park Service Nonnative Plant Control In The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Jacob Halpin, Laurie Eberhardt, Laura Thompson
Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE)
Invasive plants have become a growing threat to plant diversity and hydrology in the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Invasive plants compete with native plants for nutrients and sunlight, and certain invasive species have been known to completely take over certain areas of wetlands, nearly destroying entire ecosystems. The Dunes Lakeshore contains over 1,400 plants species and is one of the top ten most diverse national parks in the United States. The mission statement of the National Park Service is to “preserve for the educational, inspirational, and recreational use of the public certain portions of the Indiana Dunes.” In order …
Testing The Potential Of Using Fungi To Convert Human Waste Into Protein, Alex Zapata, Elizabeth Phillippi, Blair Mitchell, Jon Schoer, Michael K. Watters
Testing The Potential Of Using Fungi To Convert Human Waste Into Protein, Alex Zapata, Elizabeth Phillippi, Blair Mitchell, Jon Schoer, Michael K. Watters
Biology Faculty Presentations
We report on the results of a pilot experiment designed to test the potential of filamentous fungi (mold) to reduce solid waste (feces) while converting it into a consumable, high protein food product. Feces represent an untapped resource. Filamentous fungi are natural decomposers with the ability to use this resource. Many filamentous fungi are safe to eat. We examined growth in order to determine the conditions which maximized the rate of conversion of solid waste into fungal biomass. For this pilot, we compared the effect of different lengths of incubation, different methods of aeration, and different available surface area. The …
Improving Ecological Monitoring Of Restoration Sites In Northwest Indiana Through A Glisten-Nirmi Partnership., Danyi Harper, Don Meola
Improving Ecological Monitoring Of Restoration Sites In Northwest Indiana Through A Glisten-Nirmi Partnership., Danyi Harper, Don Meola
Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE)
Northwest Indiana is an area of active ecological restoration with 169 documented restoration projects. However, the ability to assess the success of restoration projects is incomplete because monitoring of the progress of these restorations does not exist. NIRMI was created in 2010 to establish a system of evaluating and quantifying plant species in local habitat restoration projects throughout Northwest Indiana. NIRMI uses a standardized approach to collect data that is placed within an open-access database for use by other researchers, restoration groups, and individuals in evaluation of restoration efforts. Data collection uses the CVS-EEP protocol for recording vegetation, a standard …
Deer Browse Monitoring Of The Lupine Population At John Merle Coulter Prairie And The Trillium Population At Hildebrand Lake, Jana C. Cram, Heather Dulaney
Deer Browse Monitoring Of The Lupine Population At John Merle Coulter Prairie And The Trillium Population At Hildebrand Lake, Jana C. Cram, Heather Dulaney
Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE)
A facet of ecological restoration practices in northwest Indiana involves monitoring and supporting the growth of various plants native to the region, including wild lupine (Lupinus perennis) and large-flowering trillium (Trillium grandiflorum). White-tailed deer are a common threat to these species because they eat, or browse, the flowers from these plants. This project investigated the amount of wild lupine and large-flowering trillium browsed by white-tailed deer at Coulter Prairie and Hildebrand Lake, respectively, over a four-year period. Plant counts are taken from permanent transect lines of 30 and 50 meters in length and measured in one …
Cyp704b1 Is A Long-Chain Fatty Acid V-Hydroxylase Essential For Sporopollenin Synthesis In Pollen Of Arabidopsis, Anna A. Dobritsa, Jay Shrestha, Marc Morant, Franck Pinot, Michiyo Matsuno, Rob Swanson, Birger Lindberg Møller, Daphne Preuss
Cyp704b1 Is A Long-Chain Fatty Acid V-Hydroxylase Essential For Sporopollenin Synthesis In Pollen Of Arabidopsis, Anna A. Dobritsa, Jay Shrestha, Marc Morant, Franck Pinot, Michiyo Matsuno, Rob Swanson, Birger Lindberg Møller, Daphne Preuss
Biology Faculty Publications
Sporopollenin is the major component of the outer pollen wall (exine). Fatty acid derivatives and phenolics are thought to be itsmonomeric building blocks, but the precise structure, biosynthetic route, and genetics of sporopollenin are poorly understood.Based on a phenotypic mutant screen in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), we identified a cytochrome P450, designatedCYP704B1, as being essential for exine development. CYP704B1 is expressed in the developing anthers. Mutations in CYP704B1result in impaired pollen walls that lack a normal exine layer and exhibit a characteristic striped surface, termed zebraphenotype. Heterologous expression of CYP704B1 in yeast cells demonstrated that it catalyzes v-hydroxylation of long-chainfatty acids, …
Incidence And Post-Pollination Mechanisms Of Nonrandom Mating In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Ann L. Carlson, Megan Telligman, Rob Swanson
Incidence And Post-Pollination Mechanisms Of Nonrandom Mating In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Ann L. Carlson, Megan Telligman, Rob Swanson
Biology Faculty Publications
Compatible pollinations from many differenttaxa display nonrandom mating. Here we describe a systemfor examining questions of nonrandom mating in Arabidopsisthaliana. Using this system, we demonstrate thatArabidopsis thaliana displays nonrandom mating betweendistinct accessions. Statistical analysis of these data demonstratesaspects of both pollen competition and male–female complementarity in these matings. Cytologicalexperiments implicate pollen germination and pollen tubegrowth rates as possible causal factors in these nonrandommating efficiencies.
Lap3, A Novel Plant Protein Required For Pollen Development, Is Essential For Proper Exine Formation, Anna A. Dobritsa, Shuh-Ichi Nishikawa, Daphne Preuss, Ewa Urbanczyk-Wochniak, Lloyd W. Sumner, Adam Hammond, Ann L. Carlson, Rob Swanson
Lap3, A Novel Plant Protein Required For Pollen Development, Is Essential For Proper Exine Formation, Anna A. Dobritsa, Shuh-Ichi Nishikawa, Daphne Preuss, Ewa Urbanczyk-Wochniak, Lloyd W. Sumner, Adam Hammond, Ann L. Carlson, Rob Swanson
Biology Faculty Publications
We isolated lap3-1 and lap3-2 mutants in ascreen for pollen that displays abnormal stigma binding.Unlike wild-type pollen, lap3-1 and lap3-2 pollen exine isthinner, weaker, and is missing some connections betweentheir roof-like tectum structures. We describe the mappingand identification of LAP3 as a novel gene that contains arepetitive motif found in b-propeller enzymes. Insertionmutations in LAP3 lead to male sterility. To investigatepossible roles for LAP3 in pollen development, we assayedthe metabolite profile of anther tissues containing developingpollen grains and found that the lap3-2 defect leadsto a broad range of metabolic changes. The largest changeswere seen in levels of a straight-chain hydrocarbon …
In Vitro Guidance Of Retinal Axons By A Tectal Lamina-Specific Glycoprotein Nel, Yulan Jiang, Hiroya Obama, Soh-Leh Kuan, Ritsuko Nakamura, Chizu Nakamoto, Zhufeng Ouyang, Masaru Nakamoto
In Vitro Guidance Of Retinal Axons By A Tectal Lamina-Specific Glycoprotein Nel, Yulan Jiang, Hiroya Obama, Soh-Leh Kuan, Ritsuko Nakamura, Chizu Nakamoto, Zhufeng Ouyang, Masaru Nakamoto
Biology Faculty Publications
Nel is a glycoprotein containing five chordin-like and six epidermal growth factor-like domains and is strongly expressed in the nervous system. In this study, we have examined expression patterns and in vitro functions of Nel in the chicken retinotectal system. We have found that in the developing tectum, expression of Nel is localized in specific laminae that retinal axons normally do not enter, including the border between the retinorecipient and non-retinorecipient laminae. Nel-binding activity is detected on retinal axons both in vivo and in vitro, suggesting that retinal axons express a receptor for Nel. In vitro, Nel inhibits retinal axon …
Strain-Dependent Relationship Between Growth Rate And Hyphal Branching In Neurospora Crassa, Michael K. Watters, Erik Lindamood, Margaret Meunich, Ryan Vetor
Strain-Dependent Relationship Between Growth Rate And Hyphal Branching In Neurospora Crassa, Michael K. Watters, Erik Lindamood, Margaret Meunich, Ryan Vetor
Biology Faculty Publications
In a previous study of branch frequency in Neurospora crassa focused on the wild-type, no relationship between growth rate and the frequency of hyphal branching was observed. In subsequent experiments, it became clear that while this independence is valid for the wild type and most mutant strains, it fails to hold for a subset of morphological mutants. This study distinguishes a subset of Neurospora morphological mutants for their morphological response to altered growth rate. Growth rates are altered using two different methods: reduced temperature and nutrient-deficient media. This should assure that the observed effect is not due to simple conditional …
Neuronal Pentraxins Mediate Synaptic Refinement In The Developing Visual System, Lisa Bjartmar, Andrew Huberman, Erik Ullian, Rene Renterıa, Xiaoqin Liu, Weifeng Xu, Jennifer Prezioso, Michael Susman, David Stellwagen, Caleb Stokes, Richard Cho, Paul Worley, Robert Malenka, Sherry Ball, Neal Peachey, David Copenhagen, Barbara Chapman, Masaru Nakamoto, Ben Barres, Mark Perin
Neuronal Pentraxins Mediate Synaptic Refinement In The Developing Visual System, Lisa Bjartmar, Andrew Huberman, Erik Ullian, Rene Renterıa, Xiaoqin Liu, Weifeng Xu, Jennifer Prezioso, Michael Susman, David Stellwagen, Caleb Stokes, Richard Cho, Paul Worley, Robert Malenka, Sherry Ball, Neal Peachey, David Copenhagen, Barbara Chapman, Masaru Nakamoto, Ben Barres, Mark Perin
Biology Faculty Publications
Neuronal pentraxins (NPs) define a family of proteins that are homologous to C-reactive and acute-phase proteins in the immune system and have been hypothesized to be involved in activity-dependent synaptic plasticity. To investigate the role of NPs in vivo , we generated mice that lack one, two, or all three NPs. NP1/2 knock-out mice exhibited defects in the segregation of eye-specific retinal ganglion cell (RGC) projections to the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus, a process that involves activity-dependent synapse formation and elimination. Retinas from mice lacking NP1 and NP2 had cholinergically driven waves of activity that occurred at a frequency similar …
Callose (Β-1,3 Glucan) Is Essential For Arabidopsis Pollen Wall Patterning, But Not Tube Growth, Rob Swanson
Callose (Β-1,3 Glucan) Is Essential For Arabidopsis Pollen Wall Patterning, But Not Tube Growth, Rob Swanson
Biology Faculty Publications
Background: Callose (β-1,3 glucan) separates developing pollen grains, preventing their underlying walls (exine) from fusing. The pollen tubes that transport sperm to female gametes also contain callose, both in their walls as well as in the plugs that segment growing tubes. Mutations in CalS5, one of several Arabidopsis β-1,3 glucan synthases, were previously shown to disrupt callose formation around developing microspores, causing aberrations in exine patterning, degeneration of developing microspores, and pollen sterility. Results: Here, we describe three additional cals5 alleles that similarly alter exine patterns, but instead produce fertile pollen. Moreover, one of these alleles (cals5-3) resulted in the …
Biphasic Functions Of The Kinase-Defective Ephb6 Receptor In Cell Adhesion And Migration, Hiroshi Matsuoka, Hiroya Obama, Meghan Kelly, Toshimitsu Matsui, Masaru Nakamoto
Biphasic Functions Of The Kinase-Defective Ephb6 Receptor In Cell Adhesion And Migration, Hiroshi Matsuoka, Hiroya Obama, Meghan Kelly, Toshimitsu Matsui, Masaru Nakamoto
Biology Faculty Publications
EphB6 is a unique member in the Eph family of receptor tyrosine kinases in that its kinase domain contains several alterations in conserved amino acids and is catalytically inactive. Although EphB6 is expressed both in a variety of embryonic and adult tissues, biological functions of this receptor are largely unknown. In the present study, we examined the function of EphB6 in cell adhesion and migration. We demonstrated that EphB6 exerted biphasic effects in response to different concentrations of the ephrin-B2 ligand; EphB6 promoted cell adhesion and migration when stimulated with low concentrations of ephrin-B2, whereas it induced repulsion and inhibited …
Loss-Of-Function Analysis Of Epha Receptors In Retinotectal Mapping, David Feldheim, Masaru Nakamoto, Miriam Osterfield, Nicholas Gale, Thomas Dechiara, Rajat Rohatgi, George Yancopoulos, John Flanagan
Loss-Of-Function Analysis Of Epha Receptors In Retinotectal Mapping, David Feldheim, Masaru Nakamoto, Miriam Osterfield, Nicholas Gale, Thomas Dechiara, Rajat Rohatgi, George Yancopoulos, John Flanagan
Biology Faculty Publications
EphA tyrosine kinases are thought to act as topographically specific receptors in the well-characterized projection map from the retina to the tectum. Here, we describe a loss-of-function analysis of EphA receptors in retinotectal mapping. Expressing patches of a cytoplasmically truncated EphA3 receptor in chick retina caused temporal axons to have reduced responsiveness to posterior tectal repellent activity in vitro and to shift more posteriorly within the map in vivo . A gene disruption of mouse EphA5, replacing the intracellular domain with beta-galactosidase, reduced in vitro responsiveness of temporal axons to posterior target membranes. It also caused map abnormalities in vivo …