Life Sciences Commons^™

Molecular Genetic Aspects Of Iron And Copper Cross-Talk In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Qingyuan Xiang

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) are essential micronutrients for plants and humans who consume plants. Their functions are tightly linked. For example, both of Fe and Cu work as cofactors in superoxide dismutase proteins to prevent reactive oxygen species damage. When Fe is removed from nutrient solution, plants uptake more Cu, but how plants sense and respond to Fe status is not fully understood. This thesis includes two projects that focus on Fe and Cu interaction, homeostasis and cross-talk in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Two Arabidopsis ecotypes, Kas-1 and Tsu-1, have difference in timing of Cu accumulation in rosettes under Fe …

An Insight Into The Functional Role Of Thioredoxin Reductase, A Selenoprotein, In Maintaining Normal Native Microbiota In The Gulf Coast Tick (Ambylomma Maculatum), Khemraj Budachetri, Shahid Karim

Faculty Publications

Tick selenoproteins have been associated with antioxidant activity in ticks. Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), also a selenoprotein, belongs to the pyridine nucleotide‐disulphide oxidoreductase family of proteins and is an important antioxidant. Molecular interactions between native microbiota and tick hosts have barely been investigated to date. In this study, we determined the functional role of TrxR in tick feeding and in maintenance of the native microbial community. TrxR transcript levels remained high and microbial load was reduced throughout tick attachment to the vertebrate host. RNA interference (RNAi) showed that depletion of TrxR activity did not interfere with tick haematophagy or phenotype but …

Effect Of Quercetin, Genistein And Kaempferol On Glutathione And Glutathione-Redox Cycle Enzymes In 3t3-L1 Preadipocytes, William Y. Boadi, Paul K. Amartey, Andrew Lo

Chemistry Faculty Research

Context and objective: Many studies have shown that cellular redox potential is largely determined by glutathione (GSH), which accounts for more than 90% of cellular nonprotein thiols. The aim of this study was to delineate the effect of three flavonoids – namely, quercetin, kaempferol and genistein – and exogenous GSH on oxidative damage by the Fenton’s pathway through the GSH and GSH-redox cycle enzymes in 3T3-L1 cells. Materials and methods: 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were exposed to each flavonoid and GSH at concentrations of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 µM and then GSH levels and activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), …

Restraint Stress Alters Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Expression And Increases Superoxide Dismutase In The Rat Hypothalamus And Hippocampus, Kristina Isabel Barron

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The impact of restraint stress on changes in cytokine expression and oxidative stress markers in hippocampal (Hipp) and hypothalamic (Hyp) regions of the brain, were assessed in a rat model. In addition, immune and inflammatory variables were assessed in peripheral blood. Male Wistar rats were acutely (30 min) or repeatedly (30 min/d for 14 consecutive days) exposed to a restraint stress, or maintained as non-stressed controls. At the time of sacrifice, whole blood and brain tissues enriched in Hyp or Hipp regions were collected; blood was collected with EDTA as an anticoagulant and centrifuged to yield plasma. All tissue samples …

Ghrelin Effects On Midgut Tissue Antioxidative Defense And Glutathione S-Transferase Activity In Lymantria Dispar (Lepidoptera), Vesna Peric Mataruga, Milena Vlahovic, Marija Mrdakovic, Dragana Matic, Anja Gavrilovic, Aleksandra Mrkonja, Larisa Ilijin

Turkish Journal of Biology

The aim of the study was to examine changes in Cu?Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), their gel electrophoresis profiles, glutathione reductase (GR) activity, amount of glutathione (GSH), and the activity of glutathione S-transferase (GST) - phase II biotransformation enzyme in the midgut tissue of gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L. (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae)) larvae after ghrelin treatment. Four subpicomolar injections of ghrelin (0.3 pmol) or physiological saline (control) were applied every 24 h. The SOD, CAT, GR, GST activity, and amount of GSH were higher in the ghrelin-treated group than in the control. Electrophoresis gel bands of SOD and CAT had …

The Effects Of Midazolam And Etomidate On The Antioxidant System In The Rat Liver, Di̇lek Bayram, Meral Öncü, Efkan Uz, Haci Ramazan Yilmaz, Ayşe Yi̇ği̇t, Ahmet Koçak

Turkish Journal of Biology

This study was conducted to investigate the histopathological and biochemical effects of midazolam and etomidate, which are intravenous anesthetics used in surgical operations, on rat liver. There were 3 study groups each consisting of 9 animals: the control, midazolam, and etomidate groups. Midazolam and etomidate were administered 10 times with 1-day intervals. At the end of the study, tissues were taken for histological examination and biochemical analysis. We determined superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the liver. There was a slight increase in MDA level in the midazolam-exposed group when compared with the controls, and this …

The Biochemical And Histoanatomical Response Of Some Woody Species To Anthropic Impact In Suceava County, Romania, Elena Ciornea, Irina Boz, Elena Ionel, Sabina Ioana Cojocaru, Gabriela Dumitru

Turkish Journal of Biology

The use of extractive mining technologies in various areas of Suceava, Romania (C?limani Mountains - sulfur, Tarni?a-Ostra - copper and barite, and Crucea-Botuşana - uranium) has resulted in the accumulation of surplus chemicals with direct action on the ecosystem. The aim of this study was to analyze the possible damage on some woody species (Picea abies L., Populus tremulaL., Salix alba L., Betula verrucosa Ehrh.,and Larix decidua Mill.) and their adaptive and phytoremediation capacity through the biomarkers of oxidative stress and histoanatomical observations. Thus, we determined the total soluble protein concentration and superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase activities. Cross-sections of …

Genome-Wide Distribution Of Superoxide Dismutase (Sod) Gene Families In Sorghum Bicolor, Ertuğrul Fi̇li̇z, Hüseyi̇n Tombuloğlu

Turkish Journal of Biology

Superoxide dismutases (SODs) are critical enzymes protecting cells against toxic superoxide radicals. To date, 3 types of SODs have been identified: Cu-ZnSODs, Fe-MnSODs, and NiSODs. In this study, a genome-wide analysis was performed in Sorghum bicolor to characterize SOD genes and proteins. Using several bioinformatics tools, we characterized a total of 8 SOD genes from the Sorghum genome. Gene structure, chromosomal distribution, tissue specific expression, conserved domain, and phylogenetic analyses of SOD genes were carried out. Additionally, 3-dimensional structures were determined and compared within each SbSOD protein. Chromosomal distributions revealed that the highest number of SOD genes was on chromosomes …