Cell Biology Commons^™

Whole Genome Sequencing Of The Whipple Azalea Garden, Afia Asamoah, Elizabeth Toth, Amy Vasudevan, Sarah Justice, Elizabeth D. Hasenmyer

Lux et Fides: A Journal for Undergraduate Christian Scholars

Taylor University houses a large collection of North American azaleas. Deciduous azalea species, like those found on campus, are vastly understudied. This project aims to provide publicly available genomic data which will be used to study the genetic basis behind their physical characteristics and their relatedness to other species.

Effects Of Osmotic Stress On Oxygen Consumption Of Drosophila Cells (Kc167), Ali A. Ahmed, Rajib Hassan, Michael A. Menze

The Cardinal Edge

This article investigates the effect of osmotic stress on a drosophila cell line called Kc167.

The embryonic-derived fly (Drosophila melanogaster) cell line, Kc-167, was employed as a model for water-stress sensitivity in Arthropods. Like mammalian cells, cells derived from the fruit fly contain the same basic set of membranous components found in all eukaryotic cells. A series of experiments were conducted to characterize the mitochondrial repones of Kc167 cells to water stress. Precisely, the oxygen flux in a sealed respirometer chamber containing Kc167 cells was measured under hyperosmotic and control conditions. Mitochondrial uncouplers were used in some experiments for intact …

Age-Related Morphofunctional Changes In Sickle Cell Mice Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stromal Cells, Felipe Augusto Rós, Péricles Natan Mendes Da Costa, Jonathan Milhomens, Débora Glenda Lima De La-Roque, Fernanda Ursoli Ferreira, Juliana De Matos Maçonetto, Camila Cristina De Oliveira Menezes Bonaldo, Julianne Vargas De Carvalho, Patrícia Vianna Bonini Palmaa Palma, Wassim El Nemer, Dimas Tadeu Covas, Simone Kashima

Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Therapy

Bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSC) are key elements of the hematopoietic niche and participate in the regulatory mechanisms of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC). Hematological diseases can affect MSCs and their functions. However, the dysregulations caused by sickle cell disease (SCD) are not fully elucidated. This work explored changes in BM-MSC and their relationship with age using sickle cell mice (Townes-SS). BM-MSC were isolated from Townes-SS, and control groups Townes-AA and C57BL/6J at 30- and 60-day-old. The BM-MSCs showed no morphological differences in culture and demonstrated the murine MSC-like immunophenotypic profile (Sca-1+, CD29+, CD44+, CD90.2+, CD31-, CD45- and CD117-). Subsequently, …

The Role Of Adenovirus Serotype 5 E4 11k In The Relocalization Of The Cellular P Body Proteins, Kasey A. Karen, La`Quita Randolph, Kevin Neubrecht, Heather Vincent

Georgia Journal of Science

Human adenoviruses are a useful tool to understand basic cellular biology in addition to viral infections. Historically, cellular splicing was first discovered in adenovirus, but other cellular processes, such as double-strand break repair and aggresome formation, have been further elucidated through adenoviral infection. The adenovirus protein E4 11k has been shown to disrupt cytoplasmic processing bodies (p bodies), which are not well-understood but are involved in mRNA metabolism. Several p body proteins were found to be reorganized in the cytoplasm with adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) able to cause the colocalization of these p body proteins with aggresomes. The p body …

Therapies For Mitochondrial Disorders, Kayli Sousa Smyth, Anne Mulvihill

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

Mitochondria are cytoplasmic, double-membrane organelles that synthesise adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Mitochondria contain their own genome, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), which is maternally inherited from the oocyte. Mitochondrial proteins are encoded by either nuclear DNA (nDNA) or mtDNA, and both code for proteins forming the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complexes of the respiratory chain. These complexes form a chain that allows the passage of electrons down the electron transport chain (ETC) through a proton motive force, creating ATP from adenosine diphosphate (ADP). This study aims to explore current and prospective therapies for mitochondrial disorders (MTDS). MTDS are clinical syndromes coupled with abnormalities …

The Effect Of The Oncometabolite Fumarate In The Response To Dna Damage: An Analysis Of The Role Of Fumarate In The Response Of Cells A2780 To Dna Damage Induced By Cisplatin, Gillian Luczyk, Luisa María Sierra, Enol Álvarez González

DU Undergraduate Research Journal Archive

Previous research has been conducted on the effect of oncometabolites on DNA damage repair; however, these studies have traditionally focused on the response to damage caused by DNA double-strand breaks, whereas this study involves cisplatin-induced damage that creates DNA cross-links. This study reports on the effect of the oncometabolite fumarate on the response of A2780 cells to DNA damage produced by cisplatin. Three assays were used to complete this study: comet assay, cell cycle assay and apoptosis assay. The comet assay revealed that fumarate influenced the response of cells to DNA damage and, at a lower 1mM concentration, appeared to …

Du Undergraduate Showcase: Research, Scholarship, And Creative Works: Abstracts, Emma Aggeler, Elena Arroway, Daisy T. Booker, Justin Bravo, Kyle Bucholtz, Megan Burnham, Nicole Choi, Spencer Cockerell, Rosie Contino, Jackson Garske, Kaitlyn Glover, Caroline Hamilton, Haley Hartmann, Madalyne Heiken, Colin Holter, Leah Huzjak, Alyssa Jeng, Cole Jernigan, Chad Kashiwa, Adelaide Kerenick, Emily King, Abigail Langeberg, Maddie Leake, Meredith Lemons, Alec Mackay, Greer Mckinley, Ori Miller, Guy Milliman, Katherine Miromonti, Audrey Mitchell, Lauren Moak, Megan Morrell, Gelella Nebiyu, Zdenek Otruba, Toni V. Panzera, Kassidy Patarino, Sneha Patil, Alexandra Penney, Kevin Persky, Caitlin Pham, Gabriela Recinos, Mary Ringgenberg, Chase Routt, Olivia Schneider, Roman Shrestha, Arlo Simmerman, Alec Smith, Tessa Smith, Nhi-Lac Thai, Kyle Thurmann, Casey Tindall, Amelia Trembath, Maria Trubetskaya, Zachary Vangelisti, Peter Vo, Abby Walker, David Winter, Grayden Wolfe, Leah York

DU Undergraduate Research Journal Archive

Abstracts from the DU Undergraduate Showcase.

Effect Of Rehmannia Glutinosa Libosch Extract On Proliferation And Cardiogenic Pre-Differentiation Of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Huu Dat Nguyen, Len Ho Thi, Xuan Bach Ho, Van Anh Cao, Duy Minh Le Hoang

BioMedicine

Background: Vietnamese medicine tried and tested certain bioactive compounds from plants to increase the rate of tissue immunomodulation, regeneration, and differentiation. Although there are many research papers discovered about phytochemicals of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch and differentiation induction potential of some substances purified from this herbal, it finds difficult to seek research that investigated the effect of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch extract on proliferation and cardiogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells, even though it has commonly been used for a long time because of its function as a restorative and as a critical role in cardiovascular treatment in traditional.

Results: Our …

Effect Of Estrogen Pretreatment On Glial-Like Cell Viability Following Stress Response Hormone Treatment, Bridget N. Smith, Kevin S. Burgess, Kathleen S. Hughes

Georgia Journal of Science

The role of steroid hormones is critical in cellular function. Previous studies have found a positive correlation between the endogenous estrogen 17β-estradiol and cellular protection. Conversely, exogenous conjugated equine estrogens provide less protective mechanisms than endogenous hormones, and little is known about the role of estrogens in cellular protection during a stress response. In the present study, we compare the effects of short-term estrogen pretreatments (alone and in combination) on cell viability when cells with glial cell morphology are exposed to either epinephrine or cortisol. Results showed that 1 µM 17β-estradiol resulted in decreased cell viability following the epinephrine treatment; …

The Effects Of Ppal-1 In Arabidopsis Gamete Development, Amanda J White, Susana Perez-Martinez, Mark P. Running

The Cardinal Edge

Prenylation is a type of post-translational modification in which a 15- or 20-carbon lipid is added to the carboxyl (C) terminus of the protein. Arabidopsis thaliana contains the PROTEIN PRENYLTRANSFERASE ALPHA SUBUNIT-LIKE (PPAL) gene, which encodes a protein with homology to the α-subunits of the three known prenylation enzymes, PFT, PGGT, and Rab-GGT. We previously identified two mutations in PPAL, one of which is ppal-1, which contains a T-DNA insertion in the fourth intron. We have previously observed that self-fertilizing heterozygous ppal-1 plants produce progeny in which homozygous ppal-1 is underrepresented. This project attempts to ascertain …

Characterization Of Metabolic Gene Expression In The Raw 264.7 Monocyte Cell Line, Lauren Macaisa

PANDION: The Osprey Journal of Research and Ideas

Immune cells undergo changes in gene expression and metabolism when activated by a foreign molecule. Although the changes are short-lived in response to an acute infection, they persist in disorders with underlying chronic inflammation. To understand how changes in gene expression relate to changes in metabolism, the expression of metabolic transporter proteins, was analyzed in response to chronic inflammation in a mouse monocyte cell line. Specifically, Glucose Transporter-1 (GLUT1), Monocarboxylate Transporter-1 (MCT1), Monocarboxylate Transporter-4 (MCT4), and Glutamate Aspartate Transporter (GLAST) were analyzed, and it was hypothesized that all the transporters would increase in expression in response to a prolonged inflammatory …

Effect Of Her2 Expression On Nupl2 Protein In Cervical Cancer Cells, Mary E. Eichholz, Margaret J. Ballou, Tristan J. Haight, Jennifer L. Minton, Ryan N. Oates, Jacob J. Adler

Kentucky Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship

Recurring cervical cancer patients frequently present overexpressed Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2) protein, which promotes the growth of the cancer. Some HER2-expressing cells and cervical cancer patients have enhanced gene expression of Nucleoporin-like 2 (NUPL2). As part of the nuclear pore complex, the NUPL2 protein serves to selectively export substances from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. In this experiment, HER2 was expressed in cervical cancer cells to examine its effect on NUPL2 protein expression and localization. Interestingly, there was no difference in NUPL2 protein levels between HER2-expressing and non-expressing cells. Importantly, consistent instances of NUPL2 protein …

Expression And Localization Of The 14-3-3 (Ywha) Protein Family Within Mammals, Neha Kumrah, Santanu De

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

The 14-3-3 (YWHA) are a family of homologous, acidic, and highly conserved proteins expressed abundantly and ubiquitously in a wide array of organisms ranging from plants to animals, including humans, which regulate important cellular events. Within mammals, seven isoforms of 14-3-3 exist: β, γ, ε, ζ, η, τ, and σ (stratifin), each of which is encoded by a unique gene. Studies have shown similar expression patterns among mammalian species. The 14-3-3 proteins are commonly expressed and have proven to play critical roles in proper cellular localization, function, and homeostatic regulation. Numerous researchers have investigated the expression and localization patterns of …

Eating Broccoli: Can It Protect Cancer Patients From Radiation Skin Damage?, Huong Pham

The Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.

Molecular And Ultrastructure Study Of Tight Junction During Experimental Entamoeba Spp. Infection, Athraa A. Al-Hilfi Dr, Maha Khalil Al-Malak, Shereen Jawad Al-Ali, Muslim Abd-Ulrahman Al-Tomah

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Entamoeba spp. in particular E.histolytica is the main reason of human amoebiasis. The molecular mechanism of its pathogenicity is poorly understood, therefore the aim this study is to investigate these mechanism on both molecular and ultrastructure levels. Tight junction (TJ) genes Claudin-1 (Cldn1) and Occludin (Ocln) were investigated by real time PCR and the pathological changes by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM), the result showed that the gene expression levels of TJ genes were significantly high in rats infected with E. histolytica E. dispar and E. moshkovskii after 28, 14, 7 days in compare with healthy …

Patenting Antibodies: A Complication In Written Description Jurisprudence, Krisha Yadav-Rajan

DePaul Journal of Health Care Law

No abstract provided.

The Bioethical Significance Of “The Origin Of Man’S Ethical Behavior” (October 1941, Unpublished) By Ernest Everett Just And Hedwig Anna Schnetzler Just, Theodore Walker Jr.

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

Abstract –

E. E. Just (1883-1941) is an acknowledged “pioneer” in cell biology, and he is perhaps the pioneer in study of egg cell fertilization. Here we discover that Just also made pioneering contributions to general biology and evolutionary bioethics.

Within Just’s published contributions to observational cell biology, there are substantial fragments of his theory of ethical behavior, a theory with roots in cell biology. In addition to such previously available fragments, Just’s fully developed theory is now available. This recently discovered unpublished book-length manuscript argues for the biological origins of ethical behavior (evolving from cells to humans, within a …

Analyzing The Effect On Ligand Sensitivity For Xenopus Tropicalis Mc1r, Mc3r, Mc4r, And Mc5r As A Result Of Coexpression With Gallus Gallus Mrap1 In Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells, Avery Niemann, Robert Dores

DU Undergraduate Research Journal Archive

Some melanocortin receptors and the accessory protein MRAP1 have been found to interact in novel ways when co-expressed in the same cells following stimulation with either ACTH (1-24) or αMSH. These interactions have been seen for mammalian, bird, and some bony fish melanocortin receptors. Such analysis has not been done yet on the amphibian melanocortin receptors, MC1R, MC3R, MC4R, and MC5R. To this end, this study was done on the effects regarding ligand sensitivity for ACTH (1-24) and αMSH, when the MC1R, MC3R, MC4R, and MC5R paralogs of the amphibian, Xenopus tropicalis were expressed in Chinese Hamster Ovary cells either …

Insulin Signal Transduction Mediates Ethanol-Induced Feeding Dysfunction In A Fly Model Of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Manae Matsubara

McNair Research Journal SJSU

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is the leading cause of congenital intellectual disabilities in the Western World, with a worldwide prevalence of 2-11% of all births. FASD is preventable but recent epidemiological studies suggest that public awareness campaigns have reached the limits of their effectiveness. Therefore, research is shifting from prevention to treatment and mitigation of symptoms. No biological treatments for FASD exist, due in part to the fact the cellular mechanisms of alcohol toxicity are not well-understood. Developmental alcohol exposure (DAE) causes a variety of deleterious effects in both vertebrates and invertebrates, including increased mortality, slow growth, learning and …

Efficacy Of Taurine Against Aluminum Maltolate-Induced Apoptosis In Sh-Sy5y Cells Via Reduction Of Oxidative Stress, Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress, And Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Bi-Yu Liu, Yuh-Ju Lee, Hsian-Chin Jen, Deng-Fwu Hwang

Journal of Marine Science and Technology

Aluminum (Al) is one of the most abundant elements on the earth’s crust and is used in various industrial applications. However, Al is known to be associated with various neurodegenerative diseases. Taurine is a free amino acid presents at high concentrations in the brain and is crucial for neuron development. Here, the protective effects of taurine against Al-induced neurotoxicity were investigated. Al, at a concentration of 600 M, induced apoptosis of and cell cycle arrest in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Additionally, Al induced a 55% increase in the levels of reactive oxygen species and inhibited mitochondrial membrane potential up to …

Integrated Regulation Of Class Ii Human Endogenous Retroviruses In A Breast Cancer Cell Line, Yingguang Liu, Tam D. Nguyen

Proceedings of the International Conference on Creationism

Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are still regarded as foreign invaders by most biologists. Because of structural and positional homology of ERVs in human and ape genomes, they have been considered molecular evidences of common ancestry. Using a breast cancer cell line, we analyzed the regulatory features of a group of human endogenous retroviruses (HERV-K), and found that they contain multiple sequence motifs subjecting them to regulation by sex hormones, a stem cell-specific transcription factor (OCT4), and DNA methylation. Mutation of the OCT4 motif abrogates their response to sex hormones, while methylation of a progesterone-response element enhances receptor-binding. We also found that …

Effects Of Adenovirus Infection On The Localization Of Cellular Protein Pat1b, Emilee Friedman, Kasey A. Karen

Georgia Journal of Science

Adenoviruses are a diverse family of nonenveloped, double-stranded DNA viruses with a variety of vertebrate hosts including humans. Over 50 serotypes of human adenovirus have been identified, and cause a number of illnesses, including conjunctivitis, gastroenteritis, and respiratory infections. The life cycle of adenovirus is divided into immediate early, early, and late phases, with immediate early proteins controlling transcription and the cell cycle, early proteins being largely regulatory, and late proteins being structural. Early proteins such as E4 11k have been demonstrated to relocalize key cellular proteins, including proteins found within mRNA processing bodies (p-bodies). It is hypothesized that E4 …

Stochastic Analysis Of A Mammalian Circadian Clock Model: Small Protein Number Effects, David W. Morgens, Blerta Shtylla

Spora: A Journal of Biomathematics

The circadian clock, responsible for coordinating organism function with daily and seasonal changes in the day-night cycle, is controlled by a complex protein network that constitutes a robust biochemical oscillator. Deterministic ordinary differential equation models have been used extensively to model the behavior of these central clocks. However, due to the small number of proteins involved in the circadian oscillations, mathematical models that track stochastic variations in the numbers of clock proteins may reveal more complex and biologically relevant behaviors. In this paper, we compare the response of a robust yet detailed deterministic model for the mammalian circadian clock with …

Examining The Electrical Excitation, Calcium Signaling, And Mechanical Contraction Cycle In A Heart Cell, Kristen Deetz, Nygel Foster, Darius Leftwich, Chad Meyer, Shalin Patel, Carlos Barajas, Matthias K. Gobbert, Zana Coulibaly

Spora: A Journal of Biomathematics

As the leading cause of death in the United States, heart disease has become a principal concern in modern society. Cardiac arrhythmias can be caused by a dysregulation of calcium dynamics in cardiomyocytes. Calcium dysregulation, however, is not yet fully understood and is not easily predicted; this provides motivation for the subsequent research. Excitation-contraction coupling (ECC) is the process through which cardiomyocytes undergo contraction from an action potential. Calcium induced calcium release (CICR) is the mechanism through which electrical excitation is coupled with mechanical contraction through calcium signaling. The study of the interplay between electrical excitation, calcium signaling, and mechanical …

About Logan Weihe And Beloved Microcosm, Logan M. Weihe

Steeplechase: An ORCA Student Journal

No abstract provided.

Pam-1 Localizations In The Regulation Of Autophagy During Caenorhabditis Elegans Oogenesis, Ashley N. Munie

Steeplechase: An ORCA Student Journal

Autophagy, the cell's recycling system, is a highly-conserved survival mechanism of the cell. Autophagy has been implicated in the mediation of the removal of cytotoxic aggregates, such as those linked to neurodegenerative disorders like Huntington and Alzheimer disease. Studies in several model organisms have identified numerous genes involved in mediating autophagy, including the Puromycin sensitive aminopeptidase (Psa). The Caenorhabditis elegans orthologue of Psa, pam-1, also governs fertility. Along with apoptosis, a form of regulated cell death, autophagy has been found to be required for efficient C. elegans oogenesis. When autophagy is suppressed through RNAi in worms harboring …

Investigation Of Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract And Its Cancer-Selective Antiproliferative Properties, Reagen H. Welch, Ashlee H. Tietje

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

Moringa oleifera is a tree native to a number of Asian, African, and Central American countries and has been used in traditional medicine for an assortment of medicinal uses for centuries. Due to bioactive compounds within Moringa leaves, it is believed that Moringa leaf extract may possess cancer-selective antiproliferative properties. Previous research has been conducted in regards to this topic, but poor experimental design due to lack of necessary controls limits the legitimacy of anticancer claims. While previous research has shown that Moringa leaf extract has the potential to kill cancer cells, the research fails to demonstrate the effects of …

Characterization Of Different Molecular Markers For Identification Of Salmonella Enterica Serovar Typhi In Pakistani Population, Faizan Muttiullah, Fida Muhammad Khan, Fakhar-I- Abbas, Sabiha Shamim

Journal of Bioresource Management

Typhoid is caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi that is usually diagnosed by using serologic and immuno-chromatographic techniques in developing counties including Pakistan, which is thought to be an unreliable diagnostic method. For accurate diagnosis we used molecular techniques to amplify 204 bp StyR-36 and 498 bp flagellin gene for the identification of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi. This study was done on 58 individuals diagnosed positive of typhoid via serologic tests and 50 healthy individuals as a control group. Success rate of amplification for flagellin gene was 77.58% while that for StyR-36 gene was 68.97% showing that flagellin gene primer …

The General Amino Acid Permease Gap1 Is Regulated Differentially By Torc1 Activation And Inhibition, Ray Bowman

D.U.Quark

How does cell signaling in response to extracellular stressors impact the trafficking of membrane proteins? In particular, the TORC1 complex plays a key role in this process and while some details of this system have reported, in a recent Journal of Biological Chemistry publication, Andre’s group has revealed new details of this pathway focusing on the general amino acid permease Gap1 as a model cargo. Andre et al. describe a novel and distinct pathway wherein ubiquitylation and downregulation of Gap1 is regulated not only by amino acid-induced activation of TORC1, but also by numerous sources of TORC1 inhibition and cellular …

Spatiotemporal Regulation Of Atg1 Kinase Activation In Selective Autophagy, Ning Sun

D.U.Quark

Autophagy is a potent intracellular degradation system and thus its activation requires exquisite regulation to maintain cellular homeostasis. Atg1, a serine-threonine protein kinase, is essential in both selective and non-selective autophagy. New findings suggest that in selective autophagy, Atg1 is activated at the vacuole by convergence of two independent recruitment pathways to prevent aberrant autophagy induction.