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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Immunolocalization Of An Amino-Terminal Fragment Of Apolipoprotein E In The Pick's Disease Brain, Troy T. Rohn, Ryan J. Day, Lindsey W. Catlin, Raquel J. Brown, Alexander J. Rajic, Wayne W. Poon
Immunolocalization Of An Amino-Terminal Fragment Of Apolipoprotein E In The Pick's Disease Brain, Troy T. Rohn, Ryan J. Day, Lindsey W. Catlin, Raquel J. Brown, Alexander J. Rajic, Wayne W. Poon
Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations
Although the risk factor for apolipoprotein E (apoE) polymorphism in Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been well described, the role that apoE plays in other neurodegenerative diseases, including Pick's disease, is not well established. To examine a possible role of apoE in Pick's disease, an immunohistochemical analysis was performed utilizing a novel site-directed antibody that is specific for an amino-terminal fragment of apoE. Application of this antibody, termed the amino-terminal apoE cleavage fragment (nApoECF) antibody, consistently labeled Pick bodies within area CA1 of the hippocampus in 4 of the 5 cases examined. Co-localization of the nApoECF antibody with PHF-1, a general …
Serdemetan Antagonizes The Mdm2-Hif1Α Axis Leading To Decreased Levels Of Glycolytic Enzymes, Allan R. Albig
Serdemetan Antagonizes The Mdm2-Hif1Α Axis Leading To Decreased Levels Of Glycolytic Enzymes, Allan R. Albig
Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations
Serdemetan (JNJ-26854165), an antagonist to Mdm2, was anticipated to promote the activation of p53. While regulation of p53 by Mdm2 is important, Mdm2 also regulates numerous proteins involved in diverse cellular functions. We investigated if Serdemetan would alter the Mdm2-HIF1α axis and affect cell survival in human glioblastoma cells independently of p53. Treatment of cells with Serdemetan under hypoxia resulted in a decrease in HIF1α levels. HIF1α downstream targets, VEGF and the glycolytic enzymes (enolase, phosphoglycerate kinase1/2, and glucose transporter 1), were all decreased in response to Serdemetan. The involvement of Mdm2 in regulating gene expression of glycolytic enzymes raises …
Autism As The Early Closure Of A Neuroplastic Critical Period Normally Seen In Adolescence, Julia Marie Berger, Troy T. Rohn, Julia Thom Oxford
Autism As The Early Closure Of A Neuroplastic Critical Period Normally Seen In Adolescence, Julia Marie Berger, Troy T. Rohn, Julia Thom Oxford
Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations
The most severe cases of autism are diagnosed by extreme social dysfunction and other behavioral abnormalities. A number of genetic studies have been conducted to correlate behavioral phenotypes to genetic dysfunctions, but no “autism gene” has yet been discovered. In addition, environmental factors have been found to influence the development of autistic traits with high probability. This review will examine the role of a shortened period of neuroplasticity as a unifying feature of the autistic phenotype. The neuroplastic period of interest normally extends into adolescence, allowing for neural integration and the development of language and social skills. Early closure of …
Proteolytic Cleavage Of Apolipoprotein E4 As The Keystone For The Heightened Risk Associated With Alzheimer’S Disease, Troy T. Rohn
Proteolytic Cleavage Of Apolipoprotein E4 As The Keystone For The Heightened Risk Associated With Alzheimer’S Disease, Troy T. Rohn
Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by microscopic lesions consisting of beta-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). The majority of cases are defined as sporadic and are likely caused by a combination of both genetic and environmental factors. Of the genetic risk factors identified, the 34 kDa protein, apolipoprotein (apo) E4, is of significant importance as APOE4 carriers account for 65%–80% of all AD cases. Although apoE4 plays a normal role in lipoprotein transport, how it contributes to AD pathogenesis is currently unknown. One potential mechanism by which apoE4 contributes to disease risk is its propensity to …
Safeguarding Forensic Dna Reference Samples With Nullomer Barcodes, Jayita Goswami, Michael C. Davis, Tim Andersen, Abdelkrim Alileche, Greg Hampikian
Safeguarding Forensic Dna Reference Samples With Nullomer Barcodes, Jayita Goswami, Michael C. Davis, Tim Andersen, Abdelkrim Alileche, Greg Hampikian
Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations
Unintended transfer of biological material containing DNA is a concern to all laboratories conducting PCR analysis. While forensic laboratories have protocols in place to reduce the possibility of contaminating casework samples, there is no way to detect when a reference sample is mislabeled as evidence, or contaminates a forensic sample. Thus there is public concern regarding the safeguarding of DNA submitted to crime labs. We demonstrate a method of introducing an internal amplification control to reference samples, in the form of a nullomer barcode which is based upon sequences absent or rare from publically accessible DNA databases. The detection of …
Examining New Phylogenetic Markers To Uncover The Evolutionary History Of Early-Diverging Fungi: Comparing Mcm7, Tsr1 And Rrna Genes For Single- And Multi-Gene Analyses Of The Kickxellomycotina, Eric D. Tretter, E. M. Johnson, Yan Wang, Prasanna Kandel, Merlin M. White
Examining New Phylogenetic Markers To Uncover The Evolutionary History Of Early-Diverging Fungi: Comparing Mcm7, Tsr1 And Rrna Genes For Single- And Multi-Gene Analyses Of The Kickxellomycotina, Eric D. Tretter, E. M. Johnson, Yan Wang, Prasanna Kandel, Merlin M. White
Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations
The recently recognised protein-coding genes MCM7 and TSR1 have shown significant promise for phylogenetic resolution within the Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, but have remained unexamined within other fungal groups (except for Mucorales). We designed and tested primers to amplify these genes across early-diverging fungal clades, with emphasis on the Kickxellomycotina, zygomycetous fungi with characteristic flared septal walls forming pores with lenticular plugs. Phylogenetic tree resolution and congruence with MCM7 and TSR1 were compared against those inferred with nuclear small (SSU) and large subunit (LSU) rRNA genes. We also combined MCM7 and TSR1 data with the rDNA data to …
A Pharm-Ecological Perspective Of Terrestrial And Aquatic Plant-Herbivore Interactions, Jennifer Sorensen Forbey, M. Denise Dearing, Elisabeth M. Gross, Colin M. Orians, Erik E. Sotka, William J. Foley
A Pharm-Ecological Perspective Of Terrestrial And Aquatic Plant-Herbivore Interactions, Jennifer Sorensen Forbey, M. Denise Dearing, Elisabeth M. Gross, Colin M. Orians, Erik E. Sotka, William J. Foley
Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations
We describe some recent themes in the nutritional and chemical ecology of herbivores and the importance of a broad pharmacological view of plant nutrients and chemical defenses that we integrate as “Pharm-ecology”. The central role that dose, concentration, and response to plant components (nutrients and secondary metabolites) play in herbivore foraging behavior argues for broader application of approaches derived from pharmacology to both terrestrial and aquatic plant-herbivore systems. We describe how concepts of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics are used to better understand the foraging phenotype of herbivores relative to nutrient and secondary metabolites in food. Implementing these concepts into the field …
The Triggering Receptor Expressed On Myeloid Cells 2: “Trem-Ming” The Inflammatory Component Associated With Alzheimer's Disease, Troy T. Rohn
Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a progressive loss of memory and cognitive skills. Although much attention has been devoted concerning the contribution of the microscopic lesions, senile plaques, and neurofibrillary tangles to the disease process, inflammation has long been suspected to play a major role in the etiology of AD. Recently, a novel variant in the gene encoding the triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) has been identified that has refocused the spotlight back onto inflammation as a major contributing factor in AD. Variants in TREM2 triple one's risk of developing late-onset AD. …
Phytochemistry Predicts Habitat Selection By An Avian Herbivore At Multiple Spatial Scales, Graham G. Frye, John W. Connelly, David D. Musil, Jennifer S. Forbey
Phytochemistry Predicts Habitat Selection By An Avian Herbivore At Multiple Spatial Scales, Graham G. Frye, John W. Connelly, David D. Musil, Jennifer S. Forbey
Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations
Animal habitat selection is a process that functions at multiple, hierarchically structured spatial scales. Thus multi-scale analyses should be the basis for inferences about factors driving the habitat selection process. Vertebrate herbivores forage selectively on the basis of phytochemistry, but few studies have investigated the influence of selective foraging (i.e., fine-scale habitat selection) on habitat selection at larger scales. We tested the hypothesis that phytochemistry is integral to the habitat selection process for vertebrate herbivores. We predicted that habitats selected at three spatial scales would be characterized by higher nutrient concentrations and lower concentrations of plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) than …
Matrix Gla Protein Reinforces Angiogenic Resolution, Bikram Sharma, Allan R. Albig
Matrix Gla Protein Reinforces Angiogenic Resolution, Bikram Sharma, Allan R. Albig
Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations
Matrix Gla Protein (MGP) is an ECM molecule commonly associated with dysfunctions of large blood vessels such as arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis. However, the exact role of MGP in the microvasculature is not clear. Utilizing a mouse MGP knockout model we found that MGP suppresses angiogenic sprouting from mouse aorta restricts microvascular density in cardiac and skeletal muscle, and is an endogenous inhibitor of tumor angiogenesis. Similarly, morpholino based knockdown of MGP in zebrafish embryos caused a progressive loss of luminal structures in intersegmental vessels, a phenotype reminiscent of Dll4/Notch inhibition. Accordingly, MGP suppressed Notch-dependent Hes-1 promoter activity and expression of …
Caspase-Cleaved Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein Within Cerebellar White Matter Of The Alzheimer's Disease Brain, Troy T. Rohn, Lindsey W. Catlin, Wayne W. Poon
Caspase-Cleaved Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein Within Cerebellar White Matter Of The Alzheimer's Disease Brain, Troy T. Rohn, Lindsey W. Catlin, Wayne W. Poon
Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations
Although the cerebellum is generally thought of as an area spared of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology, recent evidence suggests that balance and mobility dysfunction may be magnified in affected individuals. In the present study, we sought to determine the degree of pathological changes within the cerebellum utilizing an antibody that specifically detects caspase-cleaved GFAP within degenerating astrocytes. Compared to control subjects, application of this antibody, termed the GFAP caspase-cleavage product (GFAPccp) antibody, revealed widespread labeling in cerebellar white matter with little staining observed in grey matter. Staining was observed within damaged astrocytes, was often localized near blood vessels and co-localized …