A Tlr/Akt/Foxo3 Immune Tolerance–Like
Pathway Disrupts The Repair Capacity Of
Oligodendrocyte Progenitors,
2018
Oregon Health and Science University
A Tlr/Akt/Foxo3 Immune Tolerance–Like Pathway Disrupts The Repair Capacity Of Oligodendrocyte Progenitors, Taasin Srivastava, Parham Diba, Justin M. Dean, Fatima Banine, Daniel Shaver, Matthew Hagen, Xi Gong, Weiping Su, Ben Emery, Daniel L. Marks, Edward N. Harris, Bruce Baggentoss, Paul H. Weigel, Larry S. Sherman, Stephen A. Back
Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications
Cerebral white matter injury (WMI) persistently disrupts myelin regeneration by oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs). We identified a specific bioactive hyaluronan fragment (bHAf) that downregulates myelin gene expression and chronically blocks OPC maturation and myelination via a tolerance-like mechanism that dysregulates pro-myelination signaling via AKT. Desensitization of AKT occurs via TLR4 but not TLR2 or CD44. OPC differentiation was selectively blocked by bHAf in a maturation-dependent fashion at the late OPC (preOL) stage by a noncanonical TLR4/TRIF pathway that induced persistent activation of the FoxO3 transcription factor downstream of AKT. Activated FoxO3 selectively localized to oligodendrocyte lineage cells in white matter …
Role Of Selenof As A Gatekeeper Of Secreted
Disulfide-Rich Glycoproteins,
2018
Harvard Medical School
Role Of Selenof As A Gatekeeper Of Secreted Disulfide-Rich Glycoproteins, Sun Hee Yim, Robert A. Everley, Frank A. Schildberg, Sang-Goo Lee, Andrea Orsi, Zachary R. Barbati, Kutay Karatepe, Dmitry E. Fomenko, Petra A. Tsuji, Hongbo R. Luo, Steven P. Gygi, Roberto Sitia, Arlene H. Sharpe, Dolph L. Hatfield, Vadim N. Gladyshev
Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications
Selenof (15-kDa selenoprotein; Sep15) is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident thioredoxin-like oxidoreductase that occurs in a complex with UDPglucose: glycoprotein glucosyltransferase. We found that Selenof deficiency in mice leads to elevated levels of non-functional circulating plasma immunoglobulins and increased secretion of IgM during in vitro splenic B cell differentiation. However, Selenof knockout animals show neither enhanced bacterial killing capacity nor antigen-induced systemic IgM activity, suggesting that excess immunoglobulins are not functional. In addition, ER-to-Golgi transport of a target glycoprotein was delayed in Selenof knockout embryonic fibroblasts, and proteomic analyses revealed that Selenof deficiency is primarily associated with antigen presentation and ER-to-Golgi …
Lncrna Meg3 Protects Endothelial Function By
Regulating The Dna Damage Response,
2018
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Lncrna Meg3 Protects Endothelial Function By Regulating The Dna Damage Response, Mohamed Sham Shihabudeen Haider Ali, Xiao Cheng, Matthew Moran, Stefan Haemmig, Michael J. Naldrett, Sophie Alvarez, Mark W. Feinberg, Xinghui Sun
Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications
The role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in regulating endothelial function through the DNA damage response (DDR) remains poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrate that lncRNA maternally expressed gene 3 (Meg3) interacts with the RNA binding protein polypyrimidine tract binding protein 3 (PTBP3) to regulate gene expression and endothelial function through p53 signaling a major coordinator of apoptosis and cell proliferation triggered by the DDR. Meg3 expression is induced in endothelial cells (ECs) upon p53 activation. Meg3 silencing induces DNA damage, activates p53 signaling, increases the expression of p53 target genes, promotes EC apoptosis, and inhibits EC proliferation. Mechanistically, …
Long-Chain Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Modulate Mammary Gland Composition And Inflammation,
2018
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Long-Chain Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Modulate Mammary Gland Composition And Inflammation, Saraswoti Khadge, Geoffrey M. Thiele, J. Graham Sharp, Timothy R. Mcguire, Lynell W. Klassen, Paul N. Black, Concetta Dirusso, James Talmadge
Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications
Studies in rodents have shown that dietary modifications as mammary glands (MG) develop, regulates susceptibility to mammary tumor initiation. However, the effects of dietary PUFA composition on MGs in adult life, remains poorly understood. This study investigated morphological alterations and inflammatory microenvironments in the MGs of adult mice fed isocaloric and isolipidic liquid diets with varying compositions of omega (ω)-6 and long-chain (Lc)-ω3FA that were pair-fed. Despite similar consumption levels of the diets, mice fed the ω-3 diet had significantly lower body-weight gains, and abdominal-fat and mammary fat pad (MFP) weights. Fatty acid analysis showed significantly higher levels of Lc-ω-3FAs …
Quantitative Genetics Of Populus,
2018
Michigan Technological University
Quantitative Genetics Of Populus, Roba Bdeir
Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports
Evidence for bark, stem and stomatal density adaptation to different climates in the model species Populus is seen in both the natural population as well as in the greenhouse, but the genetic basis of these adaptation remains poorly understood. The present thesis investigates bark texture, bark thickness, diameter and stomatal density variations among Populus population using two quantitative genetics methods to attempt understand the genetic system controlling inheritance of these traits and to associate them with respective genes. The first approach aimed at detecting quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with all phenotypic traits in an interspecific hybrid pedigree (Populus …
Manipulation Of Genes Involved In Secondary Cell Wall Development During Wood Formation In Poplar,
2018
Michigan Technological University
Manipulation Of Genes Involved In Secondary Cell Wall Development During Wood Formation In Poplar, Kavitha Satish Kumar
Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports
Lignins are second most abundant components of vascular plant cell walls. They provide plants with structural rigidity and are polymers of monolignols. Lignin polymerization is catalyzed by peroxidases and/or laccases. These enzymes are suggested to share functional overlap and mechanism by which they coordinate this process is not clearly understood. There are about 100 peroxidases and 50 laccase genes known in poplar genome out of which some stem differentiating xylem-specific (SDX) enzymes were selected for our study. The main objective was to genetically manipulate genes expressed in the SDX region in the cell wall to see the effects on lignin …
Diversity And Functional
Evolution Of Terpene Synthases In
Dictyostelid Social Amoebae,
2018
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Diversity And Functional Evolution Of Terpene Synthases In Dictyostelid Social Amoebae, Xinlu Chen, Tobias G. Kollner, Gad Shaulsky, Qidong Jia, Jeroen S. Dickschat, Jonathan Gershenzon, Feng Chen
Nebraska Center for Biotechnology: Faculty and Staff Publications
Dictyostelids, or social amoebae, have a unique life style in forming multicellular fruiting bodies from unicellular amoeboids upon starvation. Recently, dictyostelids were found to contain terpene synthase (TPS) genes, a gene type of secondary metabolism previously known to occur only in plants, fungi and bacteria. Here we report an evolutionary functional study of dictyostelid TPS genes. The number of TPS genes in six species of dictyostelids examined ranges from 1 to 19; and the model species Dictyostelium purpureum contains 12 genes. Using in vitro enzyme assays, the 12 TPS genes from D. purpureum were shown to encode functional enzymes with …
Knowledge And Attitudes Regarding The Recent Zika Outbreak Among A Sample Of South Florida Residents,
2018
University of Central Florida
Knowledge And Attitudes Regarding The Recent Zika Outbreak Among A Sample Of South Florida Residents, Mohamed Elakkari
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
South Florida has had the largest number of U.S. Zika infection cases during the recent outbreak. This study aimed at assessing South Floridians' basic knowledge, perceptions of the seriousness and susceptibility to Zika infection, their information sources and needs, as well as their attitudes towards the protective measures proposed by the CDC. We also wanted to assess whether any of those factors have affected the frequency of participants' undertaking of the protective behaviors. To this end, we designed an online questionnaire and surveyed the responses of five hundred South Floridians (Age=18-78 years). We found significant gaps in participants' knowledge about …
Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Inhibit Doxorubicin-Induced Pyroptosis In Cell Culture Models,
2018
University of Central Florida
Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Inhibit Doxorubicin-Induced Pyroptosis In Cell Culture Models, Zahra Tavakoli Dargani
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Doxorubicin (Dox) is a potent chemotherapeutic drug used for the treatment of various cancers. Unfortunately, its use is limited as Dox induces adverse cardiotoxicity (DIC) and muscle toxicity (DIMT), which are mediated through oxidative stress, ER stress, and inflammation. However, it remains unknown whether Dox induces an inflammation mediated cell death, called “pyroptosis”. The current study is designed to determine whether Dox induces pyroptosis in cardiac and muscle cell culture models. Moreover, the protective effects of embryonic stem cell-derived exosomes (ES-Exos) in inhibiting pyroptosis will also be determined. For this purpose, we designed two different cell culture models using H9c2 …
Structural Basis For The Substrate Inhibition Of
Proline Utilization A By Proline,
2018
University of Missouri
Structural Basis For The Substrate Inhibition Of Proline Utilization A By Proline, David A. Korasick, Travis A. Pemberton, Benjamin W. Arentson, Donald F. Becker, John J. Tanner
Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications
Proline utilization A (PutA) is a bifunctional flavoenzyme that catalyzes the two-step oxidation of L-proline to L-glutamate using spatially separated proline dehydrogenase (PRODH) and L-glutamate-y-semialdehyde dehydrogenase (GSALDH) active sites. Substrate inhibition of the coupled PRODH-GSALDH reaction by proline is a common kinetic feature of PutAs, yet the structural basis for this phenomenon remains unknown. To understand the mechanism of substrate inhibition, we determined the 2.15 Å resolution crystal structure of Bradyrhizobium japonicum PutA complexed with proline. Proline was discovered in five locations remote from the PRODH active site. Most notably, strong electron density indicated that proline bound tightly to the …
Photosystem Ii Subunit S Overexpression Increases
The Efficiency Of Water Use In A Field-Grown Crop,
2018
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Photosystem Ii Subunit S Overexpression Increases The Efficiency Of Water Use In A Field-Grown Crop, Katarzyna Glowacka, Johannes Kromdijk, Katherine Kucera, Jiayang Xie, Amanda P. Cavanagh, Lauriebeth Leonelli, Andrew D. B. Leakey, Donald R. Ort, Krishna K. Niyogi, Stephen P. Long
Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications
Insufficient water availability for crop production is a mounting barrier to achieving the 70% increase in food production that will be needed by 2050. One solution is to develop crops that require less water per unit mass of production. Water vapor transpires from leaves through stomata, which also facilitate the influx of CO2 during photosynthetic assimilation. Here, we hypothesize that Photosystem II Subunit S (PsbS) expression affects a chloroplastderived signal for stomatal opening in response to light, which can be used to improve wateruse efficiency. Transgenic tobacco plants with a range of PsbS expression, from undetectable to 3.7 …
Simulation Of Stimulation: Cytokine
Dosage And Cell Cycle Crosstalk
Driving Timing-Dependent T Cell
Differentiation,
2018
University of Amsterdam
Simulation Of Stimulation: Cytokine Dosage And Cell Cycle Crosstalk Driving Timing-Dependent T Cell Differentiation, Matteo Barberis, Tomáš Helikar, Paul Verbruggen
Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications
Triggering an appropriate protective response against invading agents is crucial to the effectiveness of human innate and adaptive immunity. Pathogen recognition and elimination requires integration of a myriad of signals from many different immune cells. For example, T cell functioning is not qualitatively, but quantitatively determined by cellular and humoral signals. Tipping the balance of signals, such that one of these is favored or gains advantage on another one, may impact the plasticity of T cells. This may lead to switching their phenotypes and, ultimately, modulating the balance between proliferating and memory T cells to sustain an appropriate immune response. …
Editorial: Structure And Function Of
Chloroplasts,
2018
University of Nebraska- Lincoln
Editorial: Structure And Function Of Chloroplasts, Rebecca L. Roston, Juliette Jouhet, Fei Yu, Hongbo Gao
Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications
The primary energy resource of life on earth is the sun, whose energy is captured in the form of usable carbons by a process called photosynthesis. Photosynthesis occurs within a cellular organelle adapted to that purpose, called the chloroplast. Chloroplasts are unique metabolic and sensory organelles restricted to plants, algae, and a few protists. In this special topic, we aimed to gather new research, hypotheses, and reviews that would help us to better understand the important role of chloroplasts in all photosynthetic organisms. We were fortunate enough to have submissions from many talented chloroplast researchers. This topic contains a total …
Visualizing The Invisible: A Guide To Designing, Printing, And Incorporating
Dynamic 3d Molecular Models To Teach Structure–Function Relationships,
2018
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Visualizing The Invisible: A Guide To Designing, Printing, And Incorporating Dynamic 3d Molecular Models To Teach Structure–Function Relationships, Michelle E. Howell, Karin V. Van Dijk, Christine S. Booth, Tomáš Helikar, Brian A. Couch, Rebecca Roston
Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications
Understanding the intricate relationship between macromolecular structure and function represents a central goal of undergraduate biology education (1–3). In teaching complex three-dimensional (3D) concepts, instructors typically depend on static two-dimensional (2D) textbook images or computer-based visualization software, which can lead to unintended misconceptions (4–6). While chemical and molecular kits exist, these models cannot handle the size and detail of macromolecules. Consequently, students may graduate in the life sciences without understanding how structure underlies function or acquiring skills to translate between 2D and 3D molecular models (5, 7).
Optimisation Of Ion Exchange Chromatography Purification Protocols For A Staphylococcal Peptidoglycan Degrading Hydrolase Enzyme,
2018
Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology, Cork, Ireland
Optimisation Of Ion Exchange Chromatography Purification Protocols For A Staphylococcal Peptidoglycan Degrading Hydrolase Enzyme, Fiona Maher
Theses
Bacteriophage (phage) are the most abundant biological entities on earth and were first discovered by d’Herelle in 1917. They are found wherever their hosts live and, like all viruses they do not have the ability to make their own protein. Therefore, in order to reproduce, phage must invade and infect bacterial cells. This project focused on the optimisation of Ion Exchange Chromatography purification protocols for a staphylococcal peptidoglycan degrading hydrolase enzyme (CHAPk). The project objective was to obtain the greatest yield of enzyme from the growth of the E.coU XL 1-Blue expression system into which the vector pQE60 was previously …
A Role For A Predicted E. Coli Inner Membrane Lipoprotein In Cell Envelope Integrity,
2018
CUNY City College of New York
A Role For A Predicted E. Coli Inner Membrane Lipoprotein In Cell Envelope Integrity, Charlie Chung
Dissertations and Theses
One of the distinct characteristics of Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli is the possession of a double-membraned cell envelope. The outer membrane provides an additional layer of protection against hydrophobic molecules including antibiotics, contributing to the multidrug resistance crisis. The Gram-negative membrane is composed of phospholipids, glycolipids, and proteins. A large portion of the bacterial cellular proteome is composed of membrane proteins. Despite this, the functions of several membrane proteins are as yet undefined. Therefore, defining the physiological roles of uncharacterized membrane proteins is expected to provide us with insights into the biology of the Gram-negative cell envelope and …
Collective Chemotaxis Of Retinal Neural Cells From Drosophila Melanogaster In Controlled Microenvironments,
2018
CUNY City College
Collective Chemotaxis Of Retinal Neural Cells From Drosophila Melanogaster In Controlled Microenvironments, Stephanie Zhang
Dissertations and Theses
More than 172 million people are influenced by a retinal disorder that stems from either age-related or developmental causes. Of those, 1.5 million people endure a developmental retinal disorder. In the developing retina, neural cells undergo a series of highly complicated differentiation and migration process. A main cause of these diseases is abnormal collective migration of neural progenitors hindering the retinogenesis process. However, our grasp of collective migration and signaling molecules, critical to the developing retina, is incompletely understood. Understanding the molecular mechanisms, such as the fibroblast growth factor pathway, that regulate glial and neuronal migration provides decisive insights in …
Electrotransfer Of Different Control Plasmids Elicits Different Antitumor Effectiveness In B16.F10 Melanoma,
2018
Old Dominion University
Electrotransfer Of Different Control Plasmids Elicits Different Antitumor Effectiveness In B16.F10 Melanoma, Masa Bosnjak, Tanjo Jesenko, Urska Kamensek, Gregor Sersa, Jaka Lavrencak, Loree Heller, Maja Cemazar
Bioelectrics Publications
Several studies have shown that different control plasmids may cause antitumor action in different murine tumor models after gene electrotransfer (GET). Due to the differences in GET protocols, plasmid vectors, and experimental models, the observed antitumor effects were incomparable. Therefore, the current study was conducted comparing antitumor effectiveness of three different control plasmids using the same GET parameters. We followed cytotoxicity in vitro and the antitumor effect in vivo after GET of control plasmids pControl, pENTR/U6 scr and pVAX1 in B16.F10 murine melanoma cells and tumors. Types of cell death and upregulation of selected cytosolic DNA sensors and cytokines were …
Excitation And Injury Of Adult Ventricular Cardiomyocytes By Nano- To Millisecond Electric Shocks,
2018
Old Dominion University
Excitation And Injury Of Adult Ventricular Cardiomyocytes By Nano- To Millisecond Electric Shocks, Iurii Semenov, Sergey Grigoryev, Johanna U. Neuber, Christian W. Zemlin, Olga N. Pakhomova, Maura Casciola, Andrei G. Pakhomov
Bioelectrics Publications
Intense electric shocks of nanosecond (ns) duration can become a new modality for more efficient but safer defibrillation. We extended strength-duration curves for excitation of cardiomyocytes down to 200 ns, and compared electroporative damage by proportionally more intense shocks of different duration. Enzymatically isolated murine, rabbit, and swine adult ventricular cardiomyocytes (VCM) were loaded with a Ca2+ indicator Fluo-4 or Fluo-5N and subjected to shocks of increasing amplitude until a Ca2+ transient was optically detected. Then, the voltage was increased 5-fold, and the electric cell injury was quantified by the uptake of a membrane permeability marker dye, propidium …
Nano-Pulse Stimulation For The Treatment Of Pancreatic Cancer And The Changes In Immune Profile,
2018
Old Dominion University
Nano-Pulse Stimulation For The Treatment Of Pancreatic Cancer And The Changes In Immune Profile, Sigi Guo, Niculina I. Burcus, James Hornef, Yu Jing, Chunqi Jiang, Richard Heller, Stephen J. Beebe
Bioelectrics Publications
A Pancreatic cancer is a notorious malignant neoplasm with an extremely poor prognosis. Current standard of care is rarely effective against late-stage pancreatic cancer. In this study, we assessed nanopulse stimulation (NPS) as a local treatment for pancreatic cancer in a syngeneic mouse Pan02 pancreatic cancer model and characterized corresponding changes in the immune profile. A single NPS treatment either achieved complete tumor regression or prolonged overall survival in animals with partial tumor regression. While this is very encouraging, we also explored if this local ablation effect could also result in immune stimulation, as was observed when NPS led to …
