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Full-Text Articles in Biology

Identification Of Disufide Bond Formation Between Mitoneet And Glutamate Dehydrogenase 1, Morgan E. Roberts, Jacquelyn P. Crail, Megan M. Laffoon, William G. Fernandez, Michael A. Menze, Mary E. Konkle Dec 2013

Identification Of Disufide Bond Formation Between Mitoneet And Glutamate Dehydrogenase 1, Morgan E. Roberts, Jacquelyn P. Crail, Megan M. Laffoon, William G. Fernandez, Michael A. Menze, Mary E. Konkle

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

MitoNEET is a protein that was identified as a drug target for diabetes, but its cellular function as well as its role in diabetes remains elusive. Protein pull-down experiments identified glutamate dehydrogenase 1 (GDH1) as a potential binding partner. GDH1 is a key metabolic enzyme with emerging roles in insulin regulation. MitoNEET forms a covalent complex with GDH1 through disulfide bond formation and acts as an activator. Proteomic analysis identified the specific cysteine residues that participate in the disulfide bond. This is the first report that effectively links mitoNEET to activation of the insulin regulator GDH1.


Differential Habitat Use By Common Watersnakes (Nerodia Sipedon), Lorin A. Neuman-Lee, Andrew M. Durso, Nicholas M. Kiriazis, Melanie J. Olds, Stephen J. Mullin Dec 2013

Differential Habitat Use By Common Watersnakes (Nerodia Sipedon), Lorin A. Neuman-Lee, Andrew M. Durso, Nicholas M. Kiriazis, Melanie J. Olds, Stephen J. Mullin

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

Understanding intraspecific variation in habitat use is important for the management of any species. In many studies of reptiles, habitat use by juveniles is poorly understood when compared to their adult conspecifics because of capture biases and logistical constraints. We compared habitat use between sexes and age classes of Common Watersnakes (Nerodia sipedon) at a reservoir in central Illinois. Juvenile N. sipedon occurred more frequently in habitat with high canopy cover, whereas adult N. sipedon, especially reproductive females, were found exclusively in habitat with no canopy cover. Adult males used both locations equally. We emphasize the need to investigate ontogenetic …


Identification Of Disulfide Bond Formation Between Mitoneet And Glutamate Dehydrogenase 1, Morgan E. Roberts, Jacquelyn P. Crail, Megan M. Laffoon, William G. Fernandez, Michael A. Menze, Mary E. Konkle Dec 2013

Identification Of Disulfide Bond Formation Between Mitoneet And Glutamate Dehydrogenase 1, Morgan E. Roberts, Jacquelyn P. Crail, Megan M. Laffoon, William G. Fernandez, Michael A. Menze, Mary E. Konkle

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

MitoNEET is a protein that was identified as a drug target for diabetes, but its cellular function as well as its role in diabetes remains elusive. Protein pull-down experiments identified glutamate dehydrogenase 1 (GDH1) as a potential binding partner. GDH1 is a key metabolic enzyme with emerging roles in insulin regulation. MitoNEET forms a covalent complex with GDH1 through disulfide bond formation and acts as an activator. Proteomic analysis identified the specific cysteine residues that participate in the disulfide bond. This is the first report that effectively links mitoNEET to activation of the insulin regulator GDH1.


Mitochondrial Energetics Of Benthic And Pelagic Antarctic Teleosts, Eloy Martinez, Michael A. Menze, Joseph P. Torres Jun 2013

Mitochondrial Energetics Of Benthic And Pelagic Antarctic Teleosts, Eloy Martinez, Michael A. Menze, Joseph P. Torres

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

Antarctic fauna are highly adapted to the frigid waters of the Southern Ocean. This study describes the in vitro temperature sensitivity of oxygen consumption rates measured in liver mitochondria from the pelagic notothenioid Pleuragramma antarcticum between 5 and 35 C. Oxygen fluxes were measured after the addition of millimolar levels of pyruvate, malate, succinate and glutamate (state II, LEAK) and saturating levels of ADP [state III, oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS)]. State III respiration significantly decreased above 18.7 C. A comparison of the oxidative capacities among P. antarcticum and other notothenioids showed significant differences in state III respiration, where benthic species exhibited …


Activities Of Methionine-Γ-Lyase In The Acidophilic Archaeon “Ferroplasma Acidarmanus” Strain Fer1, M. A. Khan, Madeline M. Lopez-Munoz, Charles W. Kaspar, Kai F. Hung Apr 2013

Activities Of Methionine-Γ-Lyase In The Acidophilic Archaeon “Ferroplasma Acidarmanus” Strain Fer1, M. A. Khan, Madeline M. Lopez-Munoz, Charles W. Kaspar, Kai F. Hung

Kai F. Hung

Biogeochemical processes on exposed pyrite ores result in extremely high levels of sulfuric acid at these locations. Acidophiles that thrive in these conditions must overcome significant challenges, including an environment with proton concentrations at pH 3 or below. The role of sulfur metabolism in the archaeon “Ferroplasma acidarmanus” strain fer1’s ability to thrive in this environment was investigated due to its growth-dependent production of methanethiol, a volatile organic sulfur compound. Two putative sequences for methionine- γ-lyase (EC 4.4.1.11), an enzyme known to carry out α,γ-elimination on L-methionine to produce methanethiol, were identified in fer1. Bioinformatic analyses identified a conserved pyridoxal-5′-phosphate …


Activities Of Methionine-Γ-Lyase In The Acidophilic Archaeon “Ferroplasma Acidarmanus” Strain Fer1, M. Khan, Madeline Lopez-Munoz, Charles Kaspar, Kai Hung Apr 2013

Activities Of Methionine-Γ-Lyase In The Acidophilic Archaeon “Ferroplasma Acidarmanus” Strain Fer1, M. Khan, Madeline Lopez-Munoz, Charles Kaspar, Kai Hung

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

Biogeochemical processes on exposed pyrite ores result in extremely high levels of sulfuric acid at these locations. Acidophiles that thrive in these conditions must overcome significant challenges, including an environment with proton concentrations at pH 3 or below. The role of sulfur metabolism in the archaeon “Ferroplasma acidarmanus” strain fer1’s ability to thrive in this environment was investigated due to its growth-dependent production of methanethiol, a volatile organic sulfur compound. Two putative sequences for methionine- γ-lyase (EC 4.4.1.11), an enzyme known to carry out α,γ-elimination on L-methionine to produce methanethiol, were identified in fer1. Bioinformatic analyses identified a conserved pyridoxal-5′-phosphate …


Activities Of Methionine-Γ-Lyase In The Acidophilic Archaeon “Ferroplasma Acidarmanus” Strain Fer1, M. A. Khan, Madeline M. Lopez-Munoz, Charles W. Kaspar, Kai F. Hung Apr 2013

Activities Of Methionine-Γ-Lyase In The Acidophilic Archaeon “Ferroplasma Acidarmanus” Strain Fer1, M. A. Khan, Madeline M. Lopez-Munoz, Charles W. Kaspar, Kai F. Hung

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

Biogeochemical processes on exposed pyrite ores result in extremely high levels of sulfuric acid at these locations. Acidophiles that thrive in these conditions must overcome significant challenges, including an environment with proton concentrations at pH 3 or below. The role of sulfur metabolism in the archaeon “Ferroplasma acidarmanus” strain fer1’s ability to thrive in this environment was investigated due to its growth-dependent production of methanethiol, a volatile organic sulfur compound. Two putative sequences for methionine- γ-lyase (EC 4.4.1.11), an enzyme known to carry out α,γ-elimination on L-methionine to produce methanethiol, were identified in fer1. Bioinformatic analyses identified a conserved pyridoxal-5′-phosphate …


Mechanisms Of Freeze Avoidance In Eggs Of The Antarctic Naked Dragonfish (Gymnodraco Acuticeps) And Atlantic Tomcod (Microgadus Tomcod), Jeremy M. Carlson Apr 2013

Mechanisms Of Freeze Avoidance In Eggs Of The Antarctic Naked Dragonfish (Gymnodraco Acuticeps) And Atlantic Tomcod (Microgadus Tomcod), Jeremy M. Carlson

Student Honors Theses

A remarkable number of marine teleosts belonging to the perciform suborder Notothenioidei and the paracanthopterygian suborder Gadoidei (cods and their allies) have evolved biophysical and physiological adaptations that promote freeze avoidance to temperatures as low as 1oC below the equilibrium freezing point of their body fluids (Cheng et al. 2003; Costanzo et al. 1995; Howes 1991; Raymond and DeVries 1977). Among the Notothenioids endemic to the Antarctic Ocean, the naked dragonfish (Gymnodraco acuticeps, Figure 1) inhabits the ice-laden waters near McMurdo Sound where the annual water temperature remains stable at -1.87 ± 0.1oC (Komatsu et al. 1970; Bargelloni et al. …


Isoform-Specific Effects Of Apoe On Neurite Outgrowth In Olfactory Epithelium Culture, Aseem Hussain, Minh Luong, Apryl Pooley, Britto P. Nathan Jan 2013

Isoform-Specific Effects Of Apoe On Neurite Outgrowth In Olfactory Epithelium Culture, Aseem Hussain, Minh Luong, Apryl Pooley, Britto P. Nathan

Britto P. Nathan

The apolipoprotein E4 (apoE4) genotype is a major risk factor for developing late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Inheritance of apoE4 is also associated with impairments in olfactory function in early stages of AD. In this project we examined the effects of the three common isoforms of human apoE (apoE2, apoE3, and apoE4) on neuronal differentiation and neurite outgrowth in explant cultures of mouse olfactory epithelium (OE).


The Spatial Distribution Of The Japanese Beetle, Popillia Japonica, In Soybean Fields, Stacey A. Sara, Emily B. Mccallen, Paul V. Switzer Jan 2013

The Spatial Distribution Of The Japanese Beetle, Popillia Japonica, In Soybean Fields, Stacey A. Sara, Emily B. Mccallen, Paul V. Switzer

Paul V. Switzer

The Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), is a serious pest of many agricultural and horticultural plants. Relatively little research has investigated the distributions of Japanese beetles in agricultural fields, and this lack of information makes pest management more difficult. In the present study, the spatial distribution of Japanese beetles in soybean fields was examined. Specifically, how the distribution and abundance of beetles was affected by distance from an edge, edge direction, and edge type was examined. An edge effect for density was discovered; beetle numbers decreased significantly with increasing distance from the field edge. The east and south …


Isoform-Specific Effects Of Apoe On Neurite Outgrowth In Olfactory Epithelium Culture, Aseem Hussain, Minh Luong, Apryl Pooley, Britto P. Nathan Jan 2013

Isoform-Specific Effects Of Apoe On Neurite Outgrowth In Olfactory Epithelium Culture, Aseem Hussain, Minh Luong, Apryl Pooley, Britto P. Nathan

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

The apolipoprotein E4 (apoE4) genotype is a major risk factor for developing late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Inheritance of apoE4 is also associated with impairments in olfactory function in early stages of AD. In this project we examined the effects of the three common isoforms of human apoE (apoE2, apoE3, and apoE4) on neuronal differentiation and neurite outgrowth in explant cultures of mouse olfactory epithelium (OE).


Assessing Multiple Endpoints Of Atrazine Ingestion On Gravid Northern Watersnakes (Nerodia Sipedon) And Their Offspring, Lorin A. Neuman-Lee, Karen F. Gaines, Kyle A. Baumgartner, Jayme R. Voorhees, James M. Novak, Stephen J. Mullin Jan 2013

Assessing Multiple Endpoints Of Atrazine Ingestion On Gravid Northern Watersnakes (Nerodia Sipedon) And Their Offspring, Lorin A. Neuman-Lee, Karen F. Gaines, Kyle A. Baumgartner, Jayme R. Voorhees, James M. Novak, Stephen J. Mullin

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

Ecotoxicological studies that focus on a single endpoint might not accurately and completely represent the true ecological effects of a contaminant. Exposure to atrazine, a widely used herbicide, disrupts endocrine function and sexual development in amphibians, but studies involving live-bearing reptiles are lacking. This study tracks several effects of atrazine ingestion from female Northern Watersnakes (Nerodia sipedon) to their offspring exposed in utero. Twenty-five gravid N. sipedon were fed fish dosed with one of the four levels of atrazine (0, 2, 20, or 200 ppb) twice weekly for the entirety of their gestation period. Endpoints for the mothers included blood …


Comparative Anatomy And Dorsal Fin Muscle Activity During Turning Maneuvers In Two Shark Species, Anabela Maia, Cheryl Wilga Jan 2013

Comparative Anatomy And Dorsal Fin Muscle Activity During Turning Maneuvers In Two Shark Species, Anabela Maia, Cheryl Wilga

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

Stability and procured instability characterize two opposing types of swimming, steady and maneuvering, respectively. Fins can be used to manipulate flow to adjust stability during swimming maneuvers either actively using muscle control or passively by structural control. The function of the dorsal fins during turning maneuvering in two shark species with different swimming modes is investigated here using musculoskeletal anatomy and muscle function. White-spotted bamboo sharks are a benthic species that inhabits complex reef habitats and thus have high requirements for maneuverability. Spiny dogfish occupy a variety of coastal and continental shelf habitats and spend relatively more time cruising in …


Function Of Dorsal Fins In Bamboo Shark During Steady Swimming, Anabela Maia, Cheryl Wilga Jan 2013

Function Of Dorsal Fins In Bamboo Shark During Steady Swimming, Anabela Maia, Cheryl Wilga

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

To gain insight into the function of the dorsal fins in white-spotted bamboo sharks (Orectolobiformes: Hemiscyillidae) during steady swimming, data on three-dimensional kinematics and electromyographic recordings were collected. Bamboo sharks were induced to swim at 0.5 and 0.75 body lengths per second in a laminar flow tank. Displacement, lag and angles were analyzed from high-speed video images. Onset, offset, duration, duty cycle and asynchrony index were calculated from three muscle implants on each side of each dorsal fin. The dorsal fins were displaced more laterally than the undulating body. In addition, the dorsal tips had larger lateral displacement than the …


Isoform-Specific Effects Of Apoe On Neurite Outgrowth In Olfactory Epithelium Culture, Aseem Hussain, Minh Luong, Apryl Pooley, Britto Nathan Jan 2013

Isoform-Specific Effects Of Apoe On Neurite Outgrowth In Olfactory Epithelium Culture, Aseem Hussain, Minh Luong, Apryl Pooley, Britto Nathan

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

The apolipoprotein E4 (apoE4) genotype is a major risk factor for developing late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Inheritance of apoE4 is also associated with impairments in olfactory function in early stages of AD. In this project we examined the effects of the three common isoforms of human apoE (apoE2, apoE3, and apoE4) on neuronal differentiation and neurite outgrowth in explant cultures of mouse olfactory epithelium (OE).


Improved Tolerance To Salt And Water Stress In Drosophila Melanogaster Cells Conferred By Late Embryogenesis Abundant Protein, Matthew R. Marunde, Dilini A. Samarajeewa, John Anderson, Shumin Li, Steven C. Hand, Michael A. Menze Jan 2013

Improved Tolerance To Salt And Water Stress In Drosophila Melanogaster Cells Conferred By Late Embryogenesis Abundant Protein, Matthew R. Marunde, Dilini A. Samarajeewa, John Anderson, Shumin Li, Steven C. Hand, Michael A. Menze

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

Mechanisms that govern anhydrobiosis involve the accumulation of highly hydrophilic macromolecules, such as late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins. Group 1 LEA proteins comprised of 181 (AfLEA1.1) and 197 (AfLEA1.3) amino acids were cloned from embryos of Artemia franciscana and expressed in Drosophila melanogaster cells (Kc167). Confocal microscopy revealed a construct composed of green fluorescence protein (GFP) and AfLEA1.3 accumulates in the mitochondria (AfLEA1.3-GFP), while AfLEA1.1-GFP was found in the cytoplasm. In the presence of mixed substrates, oxygen consumption was statistically identical for permeabilized Kc167 control and Kc167-AfLEA1.3 cells. Acute titrations of permeabilized cells with NaCl up to 500 mM led …


Diapause And Anhydrobiosis In Embryos Of Artemia Franciscana: Metabolic Depression, Lea Proteins And Water Stress, Steven C. Handel, Yuvraj Patil, Shumin Li, Nilay Chakraborty, Apurva Borcar, Michael A. Menze, Leaf C. Boswell, Daniel Moore, Mehmet Toner Jan 2013

Diapause And Anhydrobiosis In Embryos Of Artemia Franciscana: Metabolic Depression, Lea Proteins And Water Stress, Steven C. Handel, Yuvraj Patil, Shumin Li, Nilay Chakraborty, Apurva Borcar, Michael A. Menze, Leaf C. Boswell, Daniel Moore, Mehmet Toner

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

Metabolic depression is typically correlated with extended survival of environmental challenge and energy-limitation in early life stages of various invertebrates and vertebrates. Diapause is an ontogenetically-programmed reduction of development and often metabolism seen in many invertebrates. When embryos of Artemia franciscana enter the state of diapause, the overall metabolic depression is estimated to be greater than 99%. These embryos also contain trehalose and express multiple isoforms of Late Embryogenesis Abundant (LEA) proteins, constituents often present in a number of such anhydrobiotic animals. The mRNA levels for LEA proteins are highest in diapause and post-diapause embryos that possess desiccation tolerance, but …


The Spatial Distribution Of The Japanese Beetle, Popillia Japonica, In Soybean Fields, Stacey Sara, Emily Mccallen, Paul Switzer Jan 2013

The Spatial Distribution Of The Japanese Beetle, Popillia Japonica, In Soybean Fields, Stacey Sara, Emily Mccallen, Paul Switzer

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

The Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), is a serious pest of many agricultural and horticultural plants. Relatively little research has investigated the distributions of Japanese beetles in agricultural fields, and this lack of information makes pest management more difficult. In the present study, the spatial distribution of Japanese beetles in soybean fields was examined. Specifically, how the distribution and abundance of beetles was affected by distance from an edge, edge direction, and edge type was examined. An edge effect for density was discovered; beetle numbers decreased significantly with increasing distance from the field edge. The east and south …


The Spatial Distribution Of The Japanese Beetle, Popillia Japonica, In Soybean Fields, Stacey A. Sara, Emily B. Mccallen, Paul V. Switzer Jan 2013

The Spatial Distribution Of The Japanese Beetle, Popillia Japonica, In Soybean Fields, Stacey A. Sara, Emily B. Mccallen, Paul V. Switzer

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

The Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), is a serious pest of many agricultural and horticultural plants. Relatively little research has investigated the distributions of Japanese beetles in agricultural fields, and this lack of information makes pest management more difficult. In the present study, the spatial distribution of Japanese beetles in soybean fields was examined. Specifically, how the distribution and abundance of beetles was affected by distance from an edge, edge direction, and edge type was examined. An edge effect for density was discovered; beetle numbers decreased significantly with increasing distance from the field edge. The east and south …


A Spatially Explicit Model To Predict Radiocesium Body Burdens Of White- Tailed Deer On The U.S. Department Of Energy's Savannah River Site, Christopher W. Bobryk, Karen F. Gaines, James M. Novak, Susan A. Blas Jan 2013

A Spatially Explicit Model To Predict Radiocesium Body Burdens Of White- Tailed Deer On The U.S. Department Of Energy's Savannah River Site, Christopher W. Bobryk, Karen F. Gaines, James M. Novak, Susan A. Blas

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

We developed a spatially explicit exposure model to interpolate and predict radiocesium (137Cs) body burdens found in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) on the U.S. Department of Energy’s (USDOE) Savannah River Site (SRS) to gain insight into and differentiate between the main contributing sources of this radionuclide for use in harvest management strategies that focus on minimizing human risk. Hunting has been allowed from permanent stands as a mechanism to manage the deer herd since 1965. All animals are monitored in the field for gross beta and gamma activity levels, providing a spatially explicit dataset. The models described here use the …