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2015

University of Kentucky

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Articles 1 - 30 of 340

Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Consequences Of Shifts In Abundance And Distribution Of American Chestnut For Restoration Of A Foundation Forest Tree, Harmony J. Dalgleish, Charles Dana Nelson, John A. Scrivani, Douglass F. Jacobs Dec 2015

Consequences Of Shifts In Abundance And Distribution Of American Chestnut For Restoration Of A Foundation Forest Tree, Harmony J. Dalgleish, Charles Dana Nelson, John A. Scrivani, Douglass F. Jacobs

Forestry and Natural Resources Faculty Publications

Restoration of foundation species, such as the American chestnut (Castanea dentata) that was devastated by an introduced fungus, can restore ecosystem function. Understanding both the current distribution as well as biogeographic patterns is important for restoration planning. We used United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis data to quantify the current density and distribution of C. dentata. We then review the literature concerning biogeographic patterns in C. dentata. Currently, 431 ± 30.2 million stems remain. The vast majority (360 ± 22 million) are sprouts < 2.5 cm dbh. Although this number is approximately 10% of the estimated pre-blight population, blight has caused a major shift in the size structure. The current-day population has a larger range, particularly west and north, likely due to human translocation. While climate change could facilitate northward expansion, limited seed reproduction makes this unlikely without assisted migration. Previous research demonstrates that the current, smaller population contains slightly higher genetic diversity than expected, although little information exists on biogeographic patterns in the genetics of adaptive traits. Our research provides a baseline characterization of the contemporary population of C. dentata, to enable monitoring stem densities …


Summer-Long Grazing Of High Vs. Low Endophyte (Neotyphodium Coenophialum)-Infected Tall Fescue By Growing Beef Steers Results In Distinct Temporal Blood Analyte Response Patterns, With Poor Correlation To Serum Prolactin Levels, Joshua J. Jackson, Merlin D. Lindemann, James A. Boling, James C. Matthews Dec 2015

Summer-Long Grazing Of High Vs. Low Endophyte (Neotyphodium Coenophialum)-Infected Tall Fescue By Growing Beef Steers Results In Distinct Temporal Blood Analyte Response Patterns, With Poor Correlation To Serum Prolactin Levels, Joshua J. Jackson, Merlin D. Lindemann, James A. Boling, James C. Matthews

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

Previously, we reported the effects of fescue toxicosis on developing Angus-cross steer growth, carcass, hepatic mRNA, and protein expression profiles of selected serum proteins, and blood clinical and chemical profiles, after summer-long grazing (85 days) of high endophyte (HE)- vs. low endophyte (LE)-infected fescue pastures. We now report the temporal development of acute, intermediate, and chronic responses of biochemical and clinical blood analytes determined at specified time intervals (period 1, day 0–36; period 2, day 37–58; and period 3, day 59–85). Throughout the trial, the alkaloid concentrations of the HE forage was consistently 19–25 times greater (P ≤ 0.002) …


Mycobacterium Marinum Infection After Exposure To Coal Mine Water, Moises A. Huaman, Julie A. Ribes, Kristine M. Lohr, Martin E. Evans Dec 2015

Mycobacterium Marinum Infection After Exposure To Coal Mine Water, Moises A. Huaman, Julie A. Ribes, Kristine M. Lohr, Martin E. Evans

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Mycobacterium marinum infection has been historically associated with exposure to aquariums, swimming pools, fish, or other marine fauna. We present a case of M marinum left wrist tenosynovitis and elbow bursitis associated with a puncture injury and exposure to coal mine water in Illinois.


Rna-Sequencing Reveals Global Transcriptomic Changes In Nicotiana Tabacum Responding To Topping And Treatment Of Axillary-Shoot Control Chemicals, Sanjay Kumar Singh, Yongmei Wu, Jayadri S. Ghosh, Sitakanta Pattanaik, Colin Fisher, Ying Wang, Darlene Lawson, Ling Yuan Dec 2015

Rna-Sequencing Reveals Global Transcriptomic Changes In Nicotiana Tabacum Responding To Topping And Treatment Of Axillary-Shoot Control Chemicals, Sanjay Kumar Singh, Yongmei Wu, Jayadri S. Ghosh, Sitakanta Pattanaik, Colin Fisher, Ying Wang, Darlene Lawson, Ling Yuan

Kentucky Tobacco Research and Development Center Faculty Publications

Removal of terminal buds (topping) and control of the formation of axillary shoots (suckers) are common agronomic practices that significantly impact the yield and quality of various crop plants. Application of chemicals (suckercides) to plants following topping is an effective method for sucker control. However, our current knowledge of the influence of topping, and subsequent suckercide applications, to gene expression is limited. We analyzed the differential gene expression using RNA-sequencing in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) that are topped, or treated after topping by two different suckercides, the contact-localized-systemic, Flupro® (FP), and contact, Off-Shoot-T®. Among the differentially …


Selection Of Reference Genes For Rt-Qpcr Analysis In A Predatory Biological Control Agent, Coleomegilla Maculata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), Chunxiao Yang, Huipeng Pan, Jeffrey Edward Noland, Deyong Zhang, Zhanhong Zhang, Yong Liu, Xuguo Zhou Dec 2015

Selection Of Reference Genes For Rt-Qpcr Analysis In A Predatory Biological Control Agent, Coleomegilla Maculata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), Chunxiao Yang, Huipeng Pan, Jeffrey Edward Noland, Deyong Zhang, Zhanhong Zhang, Yong Liu, Xuguo Zhou

Entomology Faculty Publications

Reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is a reliable technique for quantifying gene expression across various biological processes, of which requires a set of suited reference genes to normalize the expression data. Coleomegilla maculata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), is one of the most extensively used biological control agents in the field to manage arthropod pest species. In this study, expression profiles of 16 housekeeping genes selected from C. maculata were cloned and investigated. The performance of these candidates as endogenous controls under specific experimental conditions was evaluated by dedicated algorithms, including geNorm, Normfinder, BestKeeper, and ΔCt method. In addition, …


Linker Histone H1 And H3k56 Acetylation Are Antagonistic Regulators Of Nucleosome Dynamics, Morgan Bernier, Yi Luo, Kingsley C. Nwokelo, Michelle Goodwin, Sarah J. Dreher, Pei Zhang, Mark R. Parthun, Yvonne N. Fondufe-Mittendorf, Jennifer J. Ottesen, Michael G. Poirier Dec 2015

Linker Histone H1 And H3k56 Acetylation Are Antagonistic Regulators Of Nucleosome Dynamics, Morgan Bernier, Yi Luo, Kingsley C. Nwokelo, Michelle Goodwin, Sarah J. Dreher, Pei Zhang, Mark R. Parthun, Yvonne N. Fondufe-Mittendorf, Jennifer J. Ottesen, Michael G. Poirier

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Publications

H1 linker histones are highly abundant proteins that compact nucleosomes and chromatin to regulate DNA accessibility and transcription. However, the mechanisms that target H1 regulation to specific regions of eukaryotic genomes are unknown. Here we report fluorescence measurements of human H1 regulation of nucleosome dynamics and transcription factor (TF) binding within nucleosomes. H1 does not block TF binding, instead it suppresses nucleosome unwrapping to reduce DNA accessibility within H1-bound nucleosomes. We then investigated H1 regulation by H3K56 and H3K122 acetylation, two transcriptional activating histone post translational modifications (PTMs). Only H3K56 acetylation, which increases nucleosome unwrapping, abolishes H1.0 reduction of TF …


Chronic Ethanol Exposure Enhances The Aggressiveness Of Breast Cancer: The Role Of P38Γ, Mei Xu, Siying Wang, Zhenhua Ren, Jacqueline A. Frank, Xiuwei H. Yang, Zhuo Zhang, Zun-Ji Ke, Xianglin Shi, Jia Luo Dec 2015

Chronic Ethanol Exposure Enhances The Aggressiveness Of Breast Cancer: The Role Of P38Γ, Mei Xu, Siying Wang, Zhenhua Ren, Jacqueline A. Frank, Xiuwei H. Yang, Zhuo Zhang, Zun-Ji Ke, Xianglin Shi, Jia Luo

Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

Both epidemiological and experimental studies suggest that ethanol may enhance aggressiveness of breast cancer. We have previously demonstrated that short term exposure to ethanol (12–48 hours) increased migration/invasion in breast cancer cells overexpressing ErbB2, but not in breast cancer cells with low expression of ErbB2, such as MCF7, BT20 and T47D breast cancer cells. In this study, we showed that chronic ethanol exposure transformed breast cancer cells that were not responsive to short term ethanol treatment to a more aggressive phenotype. Chronic ethanol exposure (10 days - 2 months) at 100 (22 mM) or 200 mg/dl (44 mM) caused the …


Differential Impact Of Lpg-And Pg-Deficient Leishmania Major Mutants On The Immune Response Of Human Dendritic Cells, Michelle A. Favila, Nicholas S. Geraci, Asha Jayakumar, Suzanne Hickerson, Janet Mostrom, Salvatore J. Turco, Stephen M. Beverley, Mary Ann Mcdowell Dec 2015

Differential Impact Of Lpg-And Pg-Deficient Leishmania Major Mutants On The Immune Response Of Human Dendritic Cells, Michelle A. Favila, Nicholas S. Geraci, Asha Jayakumar, Suzanne Hickerson, Janet Mostrom, Salvatore J. Turco, Stephen M. Beverley, Mary Ann Mcdowell

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Leishmania major infection induces robust interleukin-12 (IL12) production in human dendritic cells (hDC), ultimately resulting in Th1-mediated immunity and clinical resolution. The surface of Leishmania parasites is covered in a dense glycocalyx consisting of primarily lipophosphoglycan (LPG) and other phosphoglycan-containing molecules (PGs), making these glycoconjugates the likely pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPS) responsible for IL12 induction.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Here we explored the role of parasite glycoconjugates on the hDC IL12 response by generating L. major Friedlin V1 mutants defective in LPG alone, (FV1 lpg1-), or generally deficient for all PGs, (FV1 lpg2-). Infection with metacyclic, infective …


2015–2016 Kentucky Agricultural Economic Situation And Outlook, Kenneth H. Burdine, Todd Davis, Timothy A. Woods, William M. Snell, Lee Meyer, Jeffrey W. Stringer Dec 2015

2015–2016 Kentucky Agricultural Economic Situation And Outlook, Kenneth H. Burdine, Todd Davis, Timothy A. Woods, William M. Snell, Lee Meyer, Jeffrey W. Stringer

Agricultural Situation and Outlook

No abstract provided.


Prey Size And Dietary Niche Of Rafinesque's Big-Eared Bat (Corynorhinus Rafinesquii), Luke E. Dodd, Michael J. Lacki, Joseph S. Johnson, Lynne K. Rieske Dec 2015

Prey Size And Dietary Niche Of Rafinesque's Big-Eared Bat (Corynorhinus Rafinesquii), Luke E. Dodd, Michael J. Lacki, Joseph S. Johnson, Lynne K. Rieske

Forestry and Natural Resources Faculty Publications

Bats in the genus Corynorhinus possess a suite of morphological characters that permit them to effectively use both gleaning and aerial-hawking foraging strategies to capture Lepidoptera. Consequently, they occupy a specialized feeding niche within North American bat assemblages and are of particular interest for dietary studies. We collected fecal pellets from a colony of C. rafinesquii (Rafinesque's Big-Eared Bat) at Mammoth Cave National Park during August–October 2011 and amplified cytochrome-c oxidase subunit 1 fragments of prey from these pellets. We used the Barcode of Life Database to identify prey, and evaluated the size of prey species based on published values. …


Chronic Systemic Immune Dysfunction In African-Americans With Small Vessel-Type Ischemic Stroke, Candice M. Brown, Cheryl D. Bushnell, Gregory P. Samsa, Larry B. Goldstein, Carol A. Colton Dec 2015

Chronic Systemic Immune Dysfunction In African-Americans With Small Vessel-Type Ischemic Stroke, Candice M. Brown, Cheryl D. Bushnell, Gregory P. Samsa, Larry B. Goldstein, Carol A. Colton

Neurology Faculty Publications

The incidence of small vessel-type (lacunar) ischemic strokes is greater in African-Americans compared to whites. The chronic inflammatory changes that result from lacunar stroke are poorly understood. To elucidate these changes, we measured serum inflammatory and thrombotic biomarkers in African-Americans at least 6 weeks post-stroke compared to control individuals. Cases were African-Americans with lacunar stroke (n = 30), and controls were age-matched African-Americans with no history of stroke or other major neurologic disease (n = 37). Blood was obtained > 6 weeks post-stroke and was analyzed for inflammatory biomarkers. Freshly isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide …


Genome Sequences Of Three Phytopathogenic Species Of The Magnaporthaceae Family Of Fungi, Laura H. Okagaki, Cristiano C. Nunes, Joshua Sailsbery, Brent Clay, Doug Brown, Titus John, Yeonyee Oh, Nelson Young, Michael Fitzgerald, Brian J. Haas, Qiandong Zeng, Sarah Young, Xian Adiconis, Lin Fan, Joshua Z. Levin, Thomas K. Mitchell, Patricia A. Okubara, Mark L. Farman, Linda M. Kohn, Bruce Birren, Li-Jun Ma, Ralph A. Dean Dec 2015

Genome Sequences Of Three Phytopathogenic Species Of The Magnaporthaceae Family Of Fungi, Laura H. Okagaki, Cristiano C. Nunes, Joshua Sailsbery, Brent Clay, Doug Brown, Titus John, Yeonyee Oh, Nelson Young, Michael Fitzgerald, Brian J. Haas, Qiandong Zeng, Sarah Young, Xian Adiconis, Lin Fan, Joshua Z. Levin, Thomas K. Mitchell, Patricia A. Okubara, Mark L. Farman, Linda M. Kohn, Bruce Birren, Li-Jun Ma, Ralph A. Dean

Plant Pathology Faculty Publications

Magnaporthaceae is a family of ascomycetes that includes three fungi of great economic importance: Magnaporthe oryzae, Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici, and Magnaporthe poae. These three fungi cause widespread disease and loss in cereal and grass crops, including rice blast disease (M. oryzae), take-all disease in wheat and other grasses (G. graminis), and summer patch disease in turf grasses (M. poae). Here, we present the finished genome sequence for M. oryzae and draft sequences for M. poae and G. graminis var. tritici. We used multiple technologies to sequence and annotate the …


Genetic Dissection Of Disease Resistance To The Blue Mold Pathogen, Peronospora Tabacina, In Tobacco, Xia Wu, Dandan Li, Yinguang Bao, David Zaitlin, Robert D. Miller, Shengming Yang Dec 2015

Genetic Dissection Of Disease Resistance To The Blue Mold Pathogen, Peronospora Tabacina, In Tobacco, Xia Wu, Dandan Li, Yinguang Bao, David Zaitlin, Robert D. Miller, Shengming Yang

Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Publications

Tobacco blue mold, caused by the obligately biotrophic oomycete pathogen Peronospora tabacina D.B. Adam, is a major foliar disease that results in significant losses in tobacco-growing areas. Natural resistance to P. tabacina has not been identified in any variety of common tobacco. Complete resistance, conferred by RBM1, was found in N. debneyi and was transferred into cultivated tobacco by crossing. In the present study, we characterized the RBM1-mediated resistance to blue mold in tobacco and show that the hypersensitive response (HR) plays an important role in the host defense reactions. Genetic mapping indicated that the disease resistance …


Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress And Ethanol Neurotoxicity, Fanmuyi Yang, Jia Luo Dec 2015

Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress And Ethanol Neurotoxicity, Fanmuyi Yang, Jia Luo

Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

Ethanol abuse affects virtually all organ systems and the central nervous system (CNS) is particularly vulnerable to excessive ethanol exposure. Ethanol exposure causes profound damages to both the adult and developing brain. Prenatal ethanol exposure induces fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) which is associated with mental retardation and other behavioral deficits. A number of potential mechanisms have been proposed for ethanol-induced brain damage; these include the promotion of neuroinflammation, interference with signaling by neurotrophic factors, induction of oxidative stress, modulation of retinoid acid signaling, and thiamine deficiency. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) regulates posttranslational protein processing and transport. The accumulation of …


Post Operative Fungal Endopthalmitis Due To Geotrichum Candidum, Thein Myint, Matthew J. Dykhuizen, Carolyn H. Mcdonald, Julie A. Ribes Dec 2015

Post Operative Fungal Endopthalmitis Due To Geotrichum Candidum, Thein Myint, Matthew J. Dykhuizen, Carolyn H. Mcdonald, Julie A. Ribes

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

Geotrichum species have been rarely reported as the cause of sepsis, disseminated infection in immunosuppressed patients. The patient we describe developed indolent endophthalmitis four months after her routine right eye cataract surgery. The intraoperative sample from right vitreous fluid grew Geotrichum candidum. The patient underwent vitrectomy, artificial lens explantation and intravitreal injection of amphotericin B followed by oral voriconazole. Despite these interventions, she underwent enucleation. This is the first published case of Geotrichum candidum endophthalmitis.


Individual Responses For Muscle Activation, Repetitions, And Volume During Three Sets To Failure Of High- (80% 1rm) Versus Low-Load (30% 1rm) Forearm Flexion Resistance Exercise, Nathaniel D. M. Jenkins, Terry J. Housh, Samuel L. Buckner, Haley C. Bergstrom, Kristen C. Cochrane, Cory M. Smith, Ethan C. Hill, Richard J. Schmidt, Joel T. Cramer Dec 2015

Individual Responses For Muscle Activation, Repetitions, And Volume During Three Sets To Failure Of High- (80% 1rm) Versus Low-Load (30% 1rm) Forearm Flexion Resistance Exercise, Nathaniel D. M. Jenkins, Terry J. Housh, Samuel L. Buckner, Haley C. Bergstrom, Kristen C. Cochrane, Cory M. Smith, Ethan C. Hill, Richard J. Schmidt, Joel T. Cramer

Kinesiology and Health Promotion Faculty Publications

This study compared electromyographic (EMG) amplitude, the number of repetitions completed, and exercise volume during three sets to failure of high- (80% 1RM) versus low-load (30% 1RM) forearm flexion resistance exercise on a subject-by-subject basis. Fifteen men were familiarized, completed forearm flexion 1RM testing. Forty-eight to 72 h later, the subjects completed three sets to failure of dumbbell forearm flexion resistance exercise with 80% (n = 8) or 30% (n = 7) 1RM. EMG amplitude was calculated for every repetition, and the number of repetitions performed and exercise volume were recorded. During sets 1, 2, and 3, one …


Forage News [2015-12], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky Dec 2015

Forage News [2015-12], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky

Forage News

  • New Seed Coating for Alfalfa
  • Forage News Quote of the Month
  • *New for Forage News* - Featured Publication: Managing Diseases of Alfalfa
  • Successful International Grassland Congress
  • Tall Fescue in the 21st Century is the Focus for the 2016 Virginia Winter Forage Conferences
  • Heart of America Registration Open
  • UK Ag Equine Programs to Host Equine Showcase, Breeder's Short Course
  • Heart of America Grazing Conference Registration Form


Neural Correlates Of Decision-Making Under Ambiguity And Conflict, Helen Pushkarskaya, Michael Smithson, Jane E. Joseph, Christine R. Corbly, Ifat Levy Nov 2015

Neural Correlates Of Decision-Making Under Ambiguity And Conflict, Helen Pushkarskaya, Michael Smithson, Jane E. Joseph, Christine R. Corbly, Ifat Levy

Agricultural Economics Faculty Publications

HIGHLIGHTS

• We use a simple gambles design in an fMRI study to compare two conditions: ambiguity and conflict.

• Participants were more conflict averse than ambiguity averse.

• Ambiguity aversion did not correlate with conflict aversion.

• Activation in the medial prefrontal cortex correlated with ambiguity level and ambiguity aversion.

• Activation in the ventral striatum correlated with conflict level and conflict aversion.

Studies of decision making under uncertainty generally focus on imprecise information about outcome probabilities (“ambiguity”). It is not clear, however, whether conflicting information about outcome probabilities affects decision making in the same manner as ambiguity does. …


Effects Of Rapamycin Treatment On Neurogenesis And Synaptic Reorganization In The Dentate Gyrus After Controlled Cortical Impact Injury In Mice, Corwin R. Butler, Jeffery A. Boychuk, Bret N. Smith Nov 2015

Effects Of Rapamycin Treatment On Neurogenesis And Synaptic Reorganization In The Dentate Gyrus After Controlled Cortical Impact Injury In Mice, Corwin R. Butler, Jeffery A. Boychuk, Bret N. Smith

Physiology Faculty Publications

Post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) is one consequence of traumatic brain injury (TBI). A prominent cell signaling pathway activated in animal models of both TBI and epilepsy is the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Inhibition of mTOR with rapamycin has shown promise as a potential modulator of epileptogenesis in several animal models of epilepsy, but cellular mechanisms linking mTOR expression and epileptogenesis are unclear. In this study, the role of mTOR in modifying functional hippocampal circuit reorganization after focal TBI induced by controlled cortical impact (CCI) was investigated. Rapamycin (3 or 10 mg/kg), an inhibitor of mTOR signaling, was administered by intraperitoneal …


Dopaminergic Modulation Of Medial Prefrontal Cortex Deactivation In Parkinson Depression, Anders H. Andersen, Charles D. Smith, John T. Slevin, Richard J. Kryscio, Catherine A. Martin, Frederick A. Schmitt, Lee X. Blonder Nov 2015

Dopaminergic Modulation Of Medial Prefrontal Cortex Deactivation In Parkinson Depression, Anders H. Andersen, Charles D. Smith, John T. Slevin, Richard J. Kryscio, Catherine A. Martin, Frederick A. Schmitt, Lee X. Blonder

Neuroscience Faculty Publications

Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with emotional abnormalities. Dopaminergic medications ameliorate Parkinsonian motor symptoms, but less is known regarding the impact of dopaminergic agents on affective processing, particularly in depressed PD (dPD) patients. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of dopaminergic pharmacotherapy on brain activation to emotional stimuli in depressed versus nondepressed Parkinson disease (ndPD) patients. Participants included 18 ndPD patients (11 men, 7 women) and 10 dPD patients (7 men, 3 women). Patients viewed photographs of emotional faces during functional MRI. Scans were performed while the patient was taking anti-Parkinson medication and the day after …


Positional Plasticity In Regenerating Amybstoma Mexicanum Limbs Is Associated With Cell Proliferation And Pathways Of Cellular Differentiation, Catherine D. Mccusker, Antony Athippozhy, Carlos Diaz-Castillo, Charless Fowlkes, David M. Gardiner, S. Randal Voss Nov 2015

Positional Plasticity In Regenerating Amybstoma Mexicanum Limbs Is Associated With Cell Proliferation And Pathways Of Cellular Differentiation, Catherine D. Mccusker, Antony Athippozhy, Carlos Diaz-Castillo, Charless Fowlkes, David M. Gardiner, S. Randal Voss

Biology Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: The endogenous ability to dedifferentiate, re-pattern, and re-differentiate adult cells to repair or replace damaged or missing structures is exclusive to only a few tetrapod species. The Mexican axolotl is one example of these species, having the capacity to regenerate multiple adult structures including their limbs by generating a group of progenitor cells, known as the blastema, which acquire pattern and differentiate into the missing tissues. The formation of a limb regenerate is dependent on cells in the connective tissues that retain memory of their original position in the limb, and use this information to generate the pattern …


Alteration Of Tobacco Alkaloid Content Through Modification Of Specific Cytochrome P450 Genes, Ralph E. Dewey, Balazs Siminszky, Steven W. Bowen, Lily Gavilano Nov 2015

Alteration Of Tobacco Alkaloid Content Through Modification Of Specific Cytochrome P450 Genes, Ralph E. Dewey, Balazs Siminszky, Steven W. Bowen, Lily Gavilano

Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Patents

Compositions and methods for reducing the level of nomicotine and N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) in Nicotiana plants and plant parts thereof are provided. The compositions comprise isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides for cytochrome P450s that are involved in the metabolic conversion of nicotine to nornicotine in these plants. Expression cassettes, vectors, plants, and plant parts thereof comprising inhibitory sequences that target expression or function of the disclosed cytochrome P450 polypeptides are also provided. Methods for the use of these novel sequences to inhibit expression or function of cytochrome P450 polypeptides involved in this metabolic conversion are also provided. The methods find use in …


A Cytosolic Multiprotein Complex Containing P85Α Is Required For Β-Catenin Activation In Colitis And Colitis-Associated Cancer, Tatiana Goretsky, Emily M. Bradford, Hyunji Ryu, Maryam Tahir, Mary Pat Moyer, Tianyan Gao, Linheng Li, Terrence A. Barrett Nov 2015

A Cytosolic Multiprotein Complex Containing P85Α Is Required For Β-Catenin Activation In Colitis And Colitis-Associated Cancer, Tatiana Goretsky, Emily M. Bradford, Hyunji Ryu, Maryam Tahir, Mary Pat Moyer, Tianyan Gao, Linheng Li, Terrence A. Barrett

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Wnt/β-catenin signaling is required for crypt structure maintenance. We previously observed nuclear accumulation of Ser-552 phosphorylated β-catenin (pβ-CatSer-552) in intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) during colitis and colitis-associated cancer. Data here delineate a novel multiprotein cytosolic complex (MCC) involved in β-catenin signaling in the intestine. The MCC contains p85α, the class IA subunit of PI3K, along with β-catenin, 14-3-3ζ, Akt, and p110α. MCC levels in IEC increase in colitis and colitis-associated cancer patients. IEC-specific p85α-deficient (p85ΔIEC) mice develop more severe dextran sodium …


Initial Characterization Of The Large Genome Of The Salamander Ambystoma Mexicanum Using Shotgun And Laser Capture Chromosome Sequencing, Melissa C. Keinath, Vladimir A. Timoshevskiy, Nataliya Y. Timoshevskaya, Panagiotis A. Tsonis, S. Randal Voss, Jeramiah J. Smith Nov 2015

Initial Characterization Of The Large Genome Of The Salamander Ambystoma Mexicanum Using Shotgun And Laser Capture Chromosome Sequencing, Melissa C. Keinath, Vladimir A. Timoshevskiy, Nataliya Y. Timoshevskaya, Panagiotis A. Tsonis, S. Randal Voss, Jeramiah J. Smith

Biology Faculty Publications

Vertebrates exhibit substantial diversity in genome size, and some of the largest genomes exist in species that uniquely inform diverse areas of basic and biomedical research. For example, the salamander Ambystoma mexicanum (the Mexican axolotl) is a model organism for studies of regeneration, development and genome evolution, yet its genome is ~10× larger than the human genome. As part of a hierarchical approach toward improving genome resources for the species, we generated 600 Gb of shotgun sequence data and developed methods for sequencing individual laser-captured chromosomes. Based on these data, we estimate that the A. mexicanum genome is ~32 Gb. …


20-Hydroxyecdysone (20e) Primary Response Gene E93 Modulates 20e Signaling To Promote Bombyx Larval-Pupal Metamorphosis, Xi Liu, Fangyin Dai, Enen Guo, Kang Li, Li Ma, Ling Tian, Yang Cao, Guozheng Zhang, Subba Reddy Palli, Sheng Li Nov 2015

20-Hydroxyecdysone (20e) Primary Response Gene E93 Modulates 20e Signaling To Promote Bombyx Larval-Pupal Metamorphosis, Xi Liu, Fangyin Dai, Enen Guo, Kang Li, Li Ma, Ling Tian, Yang Cao, Guozheng Zhang, Subba Reddy Palli, Sheng Li

Entomology Faculty Publications

As revealed in a previous microarray study to identify genes regulated by 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) and juvenile hormone (JH) in the silkworm, Bombyx mori, E93 expression in the fat body was markedly low prior to the wandering stage but abundant during larval-pupal metamorphosis. Induced by 20E and suppressed by JH, E93 expression follows this developmental profile in multiple silkworm alleles. The reduction of E93 expression by RNAi disrupted 20E signaling and the 20E-induced autophagy, caspase activity, and cell dissociation in the fat body. Reducing E93 expression also decreased the expression of the 20E-induced pupal-specific cuticle protein genes and prevented growth …


Biosafety Research For Non-Target Organism Risk Assessment Of Rnai-Based Ge Plants, Andrew F. Roberts, Yann Devos, Godwin N. Y. Lemgo, Xuguo Zhou Nov 2015

Biosafety Research For Non-Target Organism Risk Assessment Of Rnai-Based Ge Plants, Andrew F. Roberts, Yann Devos, Godwin N. Y. Lemgo, Xuguo Zhou

Entomology Faculty Publications

RNA interference, or RNAi, refers to a set of biological processes that make use of conserved cellular machinery to silence genes. Although there are several variations in the source and mechanism, they are all triggered by double stranded RNA (dsRNA) which is processed by a protein complex into small, single stranded RNA, referred to as small interfering RNAs (siRNA) with complementarity to sequences in genes targeted for silencing. The use of the RNAi mechanism to develop new traits in plants has fueled a discussion about the environmental safety of the technology for these applications, and this was the subject of …


Short-Term, High-Fat Diet Accelerates Disuse Atrophy And Protein Degradation In A Muscle-Specific Manner In Mice, Steven L. Roseno, Patrick R. Davis, Lance M. Bollinger, Jonathan J. S. Powell, Carol A. Witczak, Jeffrey J. Brault Nov 2015

Short-Term, High-Fat Diet Accelerates Disuse Atrophy And Protein Degradation In A Muscle-Specific Manner In Mice, Steven L. Roseno, Patrick R. Davis, Lance M. Bollinger, Jonathan J. S. Powell, Carol A. Witczak, Jeffrey J. Brault

Kinesiology and Health Promotion Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: A short-term high-fat diet impairs mitochondrial function and the ability of skeletal muscle to respond to growth stimuli, but it is unknown whether such a diet alters the ability to respond to atrophy signals. The purpose of this study was to determine whether rapid weigh gain induced by a high-fat (HF) diet accelerates denervation-induced muscle atrophy.

METHODS: Adult, male mice (C57BL/6) were fed a control or HF (60 % calories as fat) diet for 3 weeks (3wHF). Sciatic nerve was sectioned unilaterally for the final 5 or 14 days of the diet. Soleus and extensor digitorum longus …


Isolation Of Rhp-Psp, A Member Of Yer057c/Yjgf/Uk114 Protein Family With Antiviral Properties, From The Photosynthetic Bacterium Rhodopseudomonas Palustris Strain Jsc-3b, Pin Su, Tuizi Feng, Xuguo Zhou, Songbai Zhang, Yu Zhang, Ju'e Cheng, Yuanhua Luo, Jing Peng, Zhuo Zhang, Xiangyang Lu, Deyong Zhang, Yong Liu Nov 2015

Isolation Of Rhp-Psp, A Member Of Yer057c/Yjgf/Uk114 Protein Family With Antiviral Properties, From The Photosynthetic Bacterium Rhodopseudomonas Palustris Strain Jsc-3b, Pin Su, Tuizi Feng, Xuguo Zhou, Songbai Zhang, Yu Zhang, Ju'e Cheng, Yuanhua Luo, Jing Peng, Zhuo Zhang, Xiangyang Lu, Deyong Zhang, Yong Liu

Entomology Faculty Publications

Rhodopseudomonas palustris strain JSC-3b isolated from a water canal adjacent to a vegetable field produces a protein that was purified by bioactivity-guided fractionation based on ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion-exchange absorption and size exclusion. The protein was further identified as an endoribonuclease L-PSP (Liver-Perchloric acid-soluble protein) by shotgun mass spectrometry analysis and gene identification, and it is member of YER057c/YjgF/UK114 protein family. Herein, this protein is designated Rhp-PSP. Rhp-PSP exhibited significant inhibitory activities against tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) in vivo and in vitro. To our knowledge, this represents the first report on the antiviral activity of a protein of the …


Forage News [2015-11], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky Nov 2015

Forage News [2015-11], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky

Forage News

  • Debby Dulworth as Keynote Speaker on Extending the Grazing Season at Heart of America Grazing Conference
  • Study Shows No Damage to Soils from Grazing of Cover Crops
  • Forage News Quote of the Month
  • Get the Most out of Grazing Corn Stalks
  • 2016 Kentucky Small Ruminant Grazing Conference schedule announced
  • Muhlenberg County Producer and Ag Teacher to Represent Kentucky at AFGC
  • Heart of America Grazing Conference Registration Open
  • AGFC Annual Meeting Agenda Available


Quantifying The Effects Of Biomass Market Conditions And Policy Incentives On Economically Feasible Sites To Establish Dedicated Energy Crops, Sandhya Nepal, Marco A. Contreras, George A. Stainback, John M. Lhotka Nov 2015

Quantifying The Effects Of Biomass Market Conditions And Policy Incentives On Economically Feasible Sites To Establish Dedicated Energy Crops, Sandhya Nepal, Marco A. Contreras, George A. Stainback, John M. Lhotka

Forestry and Natural Resources Faculty Publications

This study used a spatially-explicit model to identify the amount and spatial distribution of economically feasible sites for establishing dedicated energy crops under various market and policy scenarios. A sensitivity analysis was performed for a biomass market with different discount rates and biomass prices as well as policy scenarios including propriety tax exemption, carbon offset payments, and the inclusion of farmland for biomass production. The model was applied to a four-county study area in Kentucky representing conditions commonly found in the Ohio River Valley. Results showed that both biomass price and discount rate have a can strongly influence the amount …