Life Sciences Commons^™

Vector And Parameters For Targeted Transgenic Rna Interference In Drosophila Melanogaster, Jian Quan Ni, Michele Markstein, Richard Binari, Barret Pfeiffer, Lu Ping Liu, Christians Villalta, Matthew Booker, Lizabeth Perkins, Norbert Perrimon

Michele Markstein

The conditional expression of hairpin constructs in Drosophila melanogaster has emerged in recent years as a method of choice in functional genomic studies. To date, upstream activating site–driven RNA interference constructs have been inserted into the genome randomly using P-element–mediated transformation, which can result in false negatives due to variable expression. To avoid this problem, we have developed a transgenic RNA interference vector based on the phiC31 site-specific integration method.

Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers And Organochlorine Pesticides In Human Milk From Massachusetts, Usa, Kathleen Arcaro, B. Johnson-Restrepo, R. Addink, C. Wong, K. Kannan

Kathleen Arcaro

Concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs; DDTs, HCHs, CHLs, and HCB) were measured in human breast milk samples collected across Massachusetts, USA, in 2004. Seventeen PBDE congeners were found in the samples, ranging in concentration from 0.06 to 1910 ng g(-1) lipid wt. BDE-47 (2,2',4,4'-tetraBDE), BDE-99 (2,2',4,4',5-pentaBDE), and BDE-100 (2,2',4,4',6-pentaBDE) were the major congeners detected in breast milk samples. Overall mean (+/-SD) concentrations of DDTs, HCHs, CHLs, and HCB were 64.5 +/- 75, 18.9 +/- 19, 32.4 +/- 36, and 2.3 +/- 2.2 ng g(-1) lipid wt, respectively. Concentrations of PBDEs were strongly correlated with concentrations …

Growth Of Thermophilic And Hyperthermophilic Fe(Iii)-Reducing Microorganisms On A Ferruginous Smectite As The Sole Electron Acceptor, Derek Lovley, Kazem Kashefi, Evgenya S. Shelobolina, W. Crawford Elliott

Derek Lovley

Recent studies have suggested that the structural Fe(III) within phyllosilicate minerals, including smectite and illite, is an important electron acceptor for Fe(III)-reducing microorganisms in sedimentary environments at moderate temperatures. The reduction of structural Fe(III) by thermophiles, however, has not previously been described. A wide range of thermophilic and hyperthermophilic Archaea and Bacteria from marine and freshwater environments that are known to reduce poorly crystalline Fe(III) oxides were tested for their ability to reduce structural (octahedrally coordinated) Fe(III) in smectite (SWa-1) as the sole electron acceptor. Two out of the 10 organisms tested, Geoglobus ahangari and Geothermobacterium ferrireducens, were not able …

A Rhizosphere Fungus Enhances Arabidopsis Thermotolerance Through Production Of An Hsp90 Inhibitor, Catherine A. Mclellan, Thomas J. Turbyville, E. M. Kithsiri Wijeratne, Arthur Kerschen, Elizabeth Vierling, Christine Queitsch, Luke Whitesell, A. A. Leslie Gunatilaka

Elizabeth Vierling

The molecular chaperone HEAT SHOCK PROTEIN90 (HSP90) is essential for the maturation of key regulatory proteins in eukaryotes and for the response to temperature stress. Earlier, we have reported that fungi living in association with plants of the Sonoran desert produce small molecule inhibitors of mammalian HSP90. Here, we address whether elaboration of the HSP90 inhibitor monocillin I (MON) by the rhizosphere fungus Paraphaeosphaeria quadriseptata affects plant HSP90 and plant environmental responsiveness. We demonstrate that MON binds Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) HSP90 and can inhibit the function of HSP90 in lysates of wheat (Triticum aestivum) germ. MON treatment of Arabidopsis seedlings …

Pld1 Is Overexpressed In An Er-Negative Mcf-7 Cell Line Variant And A Subset Of Phospho-Akt-Negative Breast Carcinomas, Kathleen Arcaro, J.M. Gozgit, B.T. Pentecost, S.A. Marconi, C.N. Otis

Kathleen Arcaro

We have used a novel variant of the human oestrogen receptor (ER)-positive MCF-7 cell line, TMX2-28, as a model to study breast cancer. TMX2-28 cells show no detectable levels of mRNA or protein expression for the ER and express basal cytokeratins (CKs) 5, 14, and 17. cDNA microarray comparison between TMX2-28 and its parent cell line, MCF-7, identified 1402 differentially expressed transcripts, one of which was, phospholipase D1 (PLD1). Using real-time RT-PCR, we confirmed that PLD1 mRNA levels are 10-fold higher in TMX2-28 cells than in MCF-7 cells. We next examined PLD1 expression in human breast carcinomas. Phospholipase D1 mRNA …

America Competes Act, United States

Ethics in Science and Engineering National Clearinghouse

The full text of the America COMPETES Act. See Sec. 7008. Postdoctoral Research Fellows, and Sec. 7009. Responsible Conduct of Research.

A Conserved Role For Kinesin-5 In Plant Mitosis, Alex Bannigan, Wolf-Rüdiger Scheible, Wolfgang Lukowitz, Carey Fagerstrom, Patricia Wadsworth, Chris Somerville, Tobias Baskin

Tobias Baskin

The mitotic spindle of vascular plants is assembled and maintained by processes that remain poorly explored at a molecular level. Here, we report that AtKRP125c, one of four kinesin-5 motor proteins in arabidopsis, decorates microtubules throughout the cell cycle and appears to function in both interphase and mitosis. In a temperature-sensitive mutant, interphase cortical microtubules are disorganized at the restrictive temperature and mitotic spindles are massively disrupted, consistent with a defect in the stabilization of anti-parallel microtubules in the spindle midzone, as previously described in kinesin-5 mutants from animals and yeast. AtKRP125c introduced into mammalian epithelial cells by transfection decorates …

Salinity Constraints On Subsurface Archaeal Diversity And Methanogenesis In Sedimentary Rock Rich In Organic Matter, Klaus R. Nusslein, P, J. Waldron, S. T. Petsch, A. M. Martini

Klaus R. Nusslein

The diversity of microorganisms active within sedimentary rocks provides important controls on the geochemistry of many subsurface environments. In particular, biodegradation of organic matter in sedimentary rocks contributes to the biogeochemical cycling of carbon and other elements and strongly impacts the recovery and quality of fossil fuel resources. In this study, archaeal diversity was investigated along a salinity gradient spanning 8 to 3,490 mM Cl− in a subsurface shale rich in CH4 derived from biodegradation of sedimentary hydrocarbons. Shale pore waters collected from wells in the main CH4-producing zone lacked electron acceptors such as O2, NO3−, Fe3+, or SO42−. Acetate …

Genomics And Microarray Analysis Of Aromatics Degradation In Geobacter Metallireducens And Compan To A Geobacter Isolate From A Contaminated Fieldriso Site, Derek Lovley, Jessica E. Butler, Qiang He, Kelly P. Nevin, Zhili He, Jizhong Zhou

Derek Lovley

Background: Groundwater and subsurface environments contaminated with aromatic compounds can be remediated in situ by Geobacter species that couple oxidation of these compounds to reduction of Fe(III)-oxides. Geobacter metallireducens metabolizes many aromatic compounds, but the enzymes involved are not well known.

Results: The complete G. metallireducens genome contained a 300 kb island predicted to encode enzymes for the degradation of phenol, p-cresol, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, 4-hydroxybenzoate, benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde, and benzoate. Toluene degradation genes were encoded in a separate region. None of these genes was found in closely related species that cannot degrade aromatic compounds. Abundant transposons and phage-like genes in the …

Lack Of Electricity Production By Pelobacter Carbinolicus Indicates That The Capacity For Fe(Iii) Oxide Reduction Does Not Necessarily Confer Electron Transfer Ability To Fuel Cell Anodes, Hanno Richter, Martin Lanthier, Kelly P. Nevin, Derek Lovley

Derek Lovley

The ability of Pelobacter carbinolicus to oxidize electron donors with electron transfer to the anodes of microbial fuel cells was evaluated because microorganisms closely related to Pelobacter species are generally abundant on the anodes of microbial fuel cells harvesting electricity from aquatic sediments. P. carbinolicus could not produce current in a microbial fuel cell with electron donors which support Fe(III) oxide reduction by this organism. Current was produced using a coculture of P. carbinolicus and Geobacter sulfurreducens with ethanol as the fuel. Ethanol consumption was associated with the transitory accumulation of acetate and hydrogen. G. sulfurreducens alone could not metabolize …

Lack Of Electricity Production By Pelobacter Carbinolicus Indicates That The Capacity For Fe(Iii) Oxide Reduction Does Not Necessarily Confer Electron Transfer Ability To Fuel Cell Anodes, Hanno Richter, Martin Lanthier, Kelly P. Nevin, Derek Lovley

Kelly Nevin

The ability of Pelobacter carbinolicus to oxidize electron donors with electron transfer to the anodes of microbial fuel cells was evaluated because microorganisms closely related to Pelobacter species are generally abundant on the anodes of microbial fuel cells harvesting electricity from aquatic sediments. P. carbinolicus could not produce current in a microbial fuel cell with electron donors which support Fe(III) oxide reduction by this organism. Current was produced using a coculture of P. carbinolicus and Geobacter sulfurreducens with ethanol as the fuel. Ethanol consumption was associated with the transitory accumulation of acetate and hydrogen. G. sulfurreducens alone could not metabolize …

Athol Slaughterhouse Rises From The Ashes, Madeleine K. Charney

Madeleine K. Charney

Plans for rebuilding the Athol slaughterhouse destroyed by fire in 2006.

Athol Slaughterhouse Rises From The Ashes, Madeleine K. Charney

University Libraries Publication Series

Plans for rebuilding the Athol slaughterhouse destroyed by fire in 2006.

Ethics Across The Curriculum Modules For Eac Toolkit Workshops, William J. Frey, Jose A. Cruz-Cruz

Ethics in Science and Engineering National Clearinghouse

This collection of modules has been designed to show how the Ethics Across the Curriculum Toolkit project provides for the preparation and pairing of student and instructor modules. These modules have been brought together and paired to aid in Toolkit demonstrations designed for faculty developement workshops in ethics across the curriculum.

Abstract by author.

Ethics Bowl Competition As Capstone Activity For Practical And Professional Ethics Classes, William J. Frey, Jose A. Cruz-Cruz

Ethics in Science and Engineering National Clearinghouse

In Connexions, a course is both a course (what is offered in a school curriculum) and a collection of modules. This course as a collection of modules has been designed to pull together the modules published in Connexions by this author for the purpose of showing different aspects of the Ethics Bowl competition and how it can be used in a university course on practical and professional ethics. The Ethics Bowl concept comes from Robert Ladenson of the Illinois Institute of Technology. Through the Association of Practical and Professional Ethics, the Ethics Bowl competition has been carried out nationally for …

Using Case Studies In Teaching Research Ethics, Kenneth D. Pimple

Ethics in Science and Engineering National Clearinghouse

No abstract provided.

Roles For Estrogen And Progesterone In Breast Cancer Prevention, D. Joseph Jerry

D. Joseph Jerry

Prevention has long been the holy grail of breast cancer research. The significant reduction in breast cancer risk afforded by a full-term pregnancy early in life suggests the great potential of preventive strategies. In contrast to the risks associated with prolonged exposures, exogenous estrogen and progesterone for short durations can mimic the protective effects of pregnancy in carcinogen-induced mammary tumor models. Rajkumar and coworkers have now demonstrated that these hormones protect mice from mammary tumors initiated by a spectrum of oncogenic alterations that are common in breast cancers. Although differences between rodent models and humans remain, the results reveal that …

Importance Of C-Type Cytochromes For U(Vi) Reduction By Geobacter Sulfurreducens, Evgenya S. Shelobolina, Maddalena V. Coppi, Anton A. Korenevsky, Laurie N. Didonato, Sara A. Sullivan, Hiromi Konishi, Huifang Xu, Ching Leang, Jessica E. Butler, Byoung-Chan Kim, Derek Lovley

Derek Lovley

Background In order to study the mechanism of U(VI) reduction, the effect of deleting c-type cytochrome genes on the capacity of Geobacter sulfurreducens to reduce U(VI) with acetate serving as the electron donor was investigated. Results The ability of several c-type cytochrome deficient mutants to reduce U(VI) was lower than that of the wild type strain. Elimination of two confirmed outer membrane cytochromes and two putative outer membrane cytochromes significantly decreased (ca. 50–60%) the ability of G. sulfurreducens to reduce U(VI). Involvement in U(VI) reduction did not appear to be a general property of outer membrane cytochromes, as elimination of …

A High-Performance, Small-Scale Microarray For Expression Profiling Of Many Samples In Arabidopsis-Pathogen Studies, Masano Sato, Raka M. Mitra, John Coller, Dong Wang, Natalie W. Spivey, Julia Dewdney, Carine Denoux, Jane Glazebrook, Fumiaki Katagiri

Dong Wang

Studies of the behavior of biological systems often require monitoring of the expression of many genes in a large number of samples. While whole-genome arrays provide high-quality gene-expression profiles, their high cost generally limits the number of samples that can be studied. Although inexpensive small-scale arrays representing genes of interest could be used for many applications, it is challenging to obtain accurate measurements with conventional small-scale microarrays. We have developed a small-scale microarray system that yields highly accurate and reproducible expression measurements. This was achieved by implementing a stable gene-based quantile normalization method for array-to-array normalization, and a probe-printing design …

Evolutionary Genomics Of Weedy Rice In The Usa, Kenneth M. Olsen, Ana L. Caicedo, Yulin Jia

Biology Department Faculty Publication Series

Red rice is an interfertile, weedy form of cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.) that competes aggressively with the crop in the southern US, reducing yields and contaminating harvests. No wild Oryza species occur in North America and the weed has been proposed to have evolved through multiple mechanisms, including “de-domestication” of US crop cultivars, accidental introduction of Asian weeds, and hybridization between US crops and Asian wild/weedy Oryza strains. The phenotype of US red rice ranges from “crop mimics”, which share some domestication traits with the crop, to strains closely resembling Asian wild Oryza species. Assessments of genetic diversity …

2007 Chart Book: Cautions, University Of Massachusetts Amherst Cranberry Station

Cranberry Chart Book - Management Guide

No abstract provided.

2007 Chart Book: Disease Management, Frank L. Caruso

Cranberry Chart Book - Management Guide

No abstract provided.

2007 Chart Book: Late Water And Cranberry Management, Carolyn J. Demoranville, Anne L. Averill, Frank L. Caruso, Hilary A. Sandler

Cranberry Chart Book - Management Guide

No abstract provided.

2007 Chart Book: Weed Management At-A-Glance, Hilary A. Sandler

Cranberry Chart Book - Management Guide

No abstract provided.

2007 Chart Book: Insect Management At-A-Glance, Anne L. Averill, Martha M. Sylvia

Cranberry Chart Book - Management Guide

No abstract provided.

2007 Chart Book: Groundwater Protection Regulations And Zone Ii, Martha M. Sylvia

Cranberry Chart Book - Management Guide

No abstract provided.

2007 Chart Book: Winter Management, Carolyn J. Demoranville

Cranberry Chart Book - Management Guide

No abstract provided.

2007 Chart Book: Measures And Conversion Chart, Hilary A. Sandler

Cranberry Chart Book - Management Guide

No abstract provided.

2007 Chart Book: Disease Management At-A-Glance, Frank L. Caruso

Cranberry Chart Book - Management Guide

No abstract provided.

Building Online Communities In Forestry: The Cases Of Timberia.Org And The Urban Ecology Collaborative, Andrey V. Semenov

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

In recent years, a second generation of Web-based technologies have as “Web 2.0” At the core of Web 2.0 are web-based services, social networking and online collaborative functions. Forestry, like other disciplines, has the potential to take advantage of these technologies to alter or change the way traditional interaction between forestry professionals and other interested parties is undertaken. This dissertation explores the use of Web 2.0 and social networking technologies in two domains: (1) eBusiness and (2) Urban Ecology. The thesis is designed to provide essentially two chapters that stand on their own, and describe the background and the design …