Digital Commons Network^™

An Optical Fiber Caffeine Sensor Using A Molecularly Imprinted Polymethacrylic Acid Membrane Coated On Optical Fiber Surface As A Transducer, Josiah W. Miller, Jason D. Mccaslin, Shiquan Tao

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Caffeine is a neurotransmitter, important to human health. This compound exists in many food products, has been added to soft drinks, pharmaceutical drugs. For many applications, a field deployable technique for quick detecting caffeine is attractive. In this paper, we report a selective optical fiber caffeine sensor using a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) membrane as a transducer. The membrane extracts/concentrate caffeine from sample solutions significantly improved sensor’s sensitivity with a 95 times sensitivity improvement. The sensor achieved a detection limit of 0.20 µg/mL. This sensor was used to directly analyze caffeine in soft drink products without interference from sample matrix.

Cytotoxicity Of Bioactive Peptides From Cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata L. Walp) Against Breast Cancer Cells (Mcf-7), Dian R. Ningsih, Zusfahair Zusfahair, Ely Setiawan, Purwati Purwati, Kasta Gurning, Fitri A. Puspita Sari, Elya Widiawati

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Cancer is characterized by dysregulated metabolic signaling pathways, leading to uncontrolled cellular proliferation. Current cancer treatments, which involve surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, still cause adverse systemic toxicities. Accordingly, one possible effort that can be undertaken is to explore safe anticancer substances from protein sources such as peptides. Bioactive peptides can be isolated by hydrolyzing cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) protein with trypsin. The objectives of this study were to isolate and fractionate bioactive peptides from cowpea, to determine the anticancer activity of peptide fractions, to identify active peptide fractions as anticancer agents using Liquid Chromatography High Resolution Mass Spectrometry …

Exogenous Ribosome Incorporation Induces Lineage Transdifferentiation In Intestinal And Liver Cancer Cells, Haoxuan Gu, Nadia Wahyuningsih, Keisuke Yamashita, Shota Inoue, Fuchao Tan, Mani Sharaki, Muhaimin Rifa’I, Kunimasa Ohta

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

It has previously been shown that exogenous bacterial ribosomes added to somatic cells and various cancer cell lines generate ribosome-induced cell clusters (RICs) capable of transdifferentiating into multiple cellular lineages. However, the scope of ribosome-induced transdifferentiation in cancer cells remains poorly understood. This study aimed to analyze the effects of exogenous ribosome incorporation on human cancer cell lines, specifically the intestinal epithelial cell line Caco-2 and the hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2. Caco-2 and HepG2 cells were cultured with purified bacterial ribosomes in human ES/iPS cell medium after trypsinization, resulting in the formation of ribosome-induced Caco-2 (RICs-Ca) and HepG2 (RICs-He) …

Tapping Into The Ocean’S Hidden Energy: Feasibility Of A 5 Mw Otec Installation In North Bali, Widodo Setiyo Pranowo, Yani Permanawati, Gisela Malya Asoka Anindita, Agung Kurniawan, Albertus Sulaiman, Johar Setiyadi, Safri Burhanuddin, Ivonne Milichristi Radjawane, Hansan Park, Endro Sigit Kurniawan

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Indonesia is an archipelagic country surrounded by water and faces energy challenges due to the low use of renewable energy. Among the potential renewable options, marine energy is a particularly suitable resource given the country’s geographical nature. Based on this discussion, seawater temperature can be used as an alternative ocean thermal en-ergy known as ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) by using the difference in sea surface and deep-sea water temperatures. Therefore, this study aimed to examine OTEC installations in North Bali waters using closed-cycle OTEC calculations for a 5 MW system. Following this objective, we examined the water conditions by …

Flexible Concurrent Training In Remote Settings, Christopher Bonilla

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a trainee-driven flexible concurrent training program to a traditional fixed concurrent training program over 16 weeks of remote training in recreationally trained individuals. Participants were randomized into a flexible group that selected workouts based on daily perceived readiness or a control group that followed a fixed training schedule. The primary outcome was a total fitness score derived from a three-repetition maximum deadlift, a two-minute push-up test, and a two-mile run, assessed every four weeks. A secondary analysis used multilevel modeling to examine whether self-reported sleep duration predicted perceived readiness …

Development Of Novel Plasminogen Activators From Fragments Of Streptokinase Enzyme, Vijay G Mr

Theses and Dissertations

Thrombotic disorders such as myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis remain major causes of mortality and disability worldwide, creating a continuing need for effective, safe and affordable thrombolytic therapy. Streptokinase is one of the most widely used plasminogen activators because of its activity, low cost and broad availability. However, its wider clinical utility is limited by high immunogenicity, allergic reactions, neutralizing antibody formation and poor suitability for repeat administration. This thesis aimed to develop novel streptokinase-derived plasminogen activators by identifying smaller functional fragments that retain thrombolytic activity while potentially reducing immunogenicity.

A literature-guided fragment-based strategy was …

Progress And Prospective Of New Pollutants Study, Ruan Ting, Chunyang Liao, Yawei Wang, Maoyong Song, Yaqi Cai, Guibin Jiang

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The governance of new pollutants has been becoming a critical strategic demand for the high-quality development of China. The policy will be further advanced during the coming National 15th Five-Year Plan period. Nevertheless, significant challenges remain in aspects such as list of controlled chemicals, standard development, measurement methods, alternative approaches, and remediation techniques. Existing experience in addressing traditional pollutants remains insufficient to adequately address the concealed and complex ecological and/or health risks associated with new pollutants. Thus, a strengthening of basic research is the optimal approach to tackling these challenges and avoiding detours. To better identify the critical scientific challenges …

Spatial Identity In Transition: Revitalizing Surakarta’S Heritage Markets Through Community-Based Placemaking, Eko Nursanty, Sri Mulyani, I Wayan Andhika Widiantara, Arturo Galay Cauba

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Traditional markets are essential socio-cultural infrastructures in heritage cities, shaping everyday interactions, economic life, and collective memory. In Surakarta, four historic markets—Pasar Gede, Pasar Klewer, Pasar Legi, and Pasar Triwindu—sustain the city’s urban identity. However, rapid modernization, commercial restructuring, and shifting consumer behavior have disrupted their spatial and symbolic continuity, raising concerns about the erosion of cultural meaning. Previous studies examined traditional markets mainly from economic or architectural perspectives, rarely exploring how their multidimensional identity evolves under urban transformation. This study investigates how spatial, social, symbolic, and environmental dimensions collectively shape market-based authenticity and the urban identity of Surakarta. A …

Bull’S-Eye On Borrelia: A Commensal And Consequential Pathogen, Alan L. Gillen

Faculty Publications and Presentations

If Lyme disease causes such urgent and chronic disease issues, where do Borrelia bacteria and ticks fit into a very good creation (Genesis 1)? How did bacteria and ticks change to rely on different hosts and blood for survival? And how are these adaptations informing today’s research in bacteriology, immunology, entomology, and disease ecology? The purposeful placement of Borrelia (Fig. 1) is most likely in the gut of wild mice (Fig. 2), not domesticated mice nor man. The bacteria are communalistic in wild mice, where they may be probiotic for mutual good (Fig. 2)—the Creator made it for good at …

Transcriptomic And Genomic Insights Into Nutrient Stress Responses And Subgenome Evolution In Chenopodium, Ashley Kathleen Marcheschi

Theses and Dissertations

Chenopodium is a diverse genus of nutritionally and ecologically important species in the Amaranthaceae family. This thesis investigates two outstanding questions in the genus: how Chenopodium quinoa responds transcriptionally to nutrient deficiency and how Australian Chenopodium species are related through their subgenomic ancestry and evolutionary history. First, we characterized transcriptomic responses of C. quinoa to deficiencies of twelve essential macro- and micronutrients across leaf and root tissues using RNA sequencing. Leaves showed the strongest responses under nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, and zinc deficiency, while roots responded more evenly across conditions. Recurring responses included suppression of photosynthesis, remodeling of translational machinery, reactive …

Pharky, Phedro, Phractured, And Stagephright: Complete Genome Sequences Of Four Ek2 Cluster Microbacterium Phages, Susan M. R. Gurney, Medha Gupta, Deeksha Reddy, Gloria Zacharias, Aleda S. Jomy, Carly J. Smith, Matthew T. Mcdonald, Brett M. Condon

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

We report the complete genome sequence of four Microbacterium phages, Pharky, Phedro, Phractured, and StagePhright, isolated using the bacterial host Microbacterium foliorum from soil samples collected in Philadelphia. All four phages are genetically very similar and contain a gene of unknown function, which is uncommon in the EK2 cluster.

Homocysteine Thiolactone From Translation Proofreading Is An Endogenous Ligand For Cell-Cell Signaling By The Receptor Sdia, Lorenzo Eugenio Leiva, Roberto A. Zúñiga, Gregory J. Phillips, Michael Ibba

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Several widespread mechanisms enable cellular communication and coordinate the behavior of bacterial populations. The modules responsible for cellular communication are often found in matching pairs: an enzyme that synthesizes a signal molecule and a specific receptor that decodes it. A notable exception is Escherichia coli SdiA, a homolog of known N-acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) receptors, for which no corresponding AHL synthase exists. SdiA is an orphan receptor that enables cross-talk by sensing AHLs from other bacterial species. In this work, we investigated whether homocysteine thiolactone (HTL), an AHL-like molecule arising from a proofreading reaction of methionyl tRNA synthetase (MetRS) to correct …

Nonmarine Ostracods Of Northern Cyprus: Diversity, Ecology, And Global Island Comparisons, Ahmet Özdi̇lek, Okan Külköylüoğlu

Turkish Journal of Zoology

There is a notable paucity of detailed information regarding the distribution and ecological characteristics of nonmarine Ostracoda in Northern Cyprus. Furthermore, a comprehensive assessment of their distribution across islands in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres is incomplete. To advance our understanding of ostracod diversity, distribution, and ecological preferences, a total of 79 aquatic sites in Northern Cyprus were randomly sampled between 18 May and 12 August 2022. A total of 64 ostracod taxa were identified, comprising 28 living species and 36 subfossils, with 18 species representing new records for the island. Additionally, five ostracod species were reported for the first …

Dietary Stability Of The Eurasian Beaver Revealed By Hair Stable Isotopes, Linas Balčiauskas, Rasa Vaitkevičiūtė Koklevičienė, Andrius Garbaras, Inga Garbarienė, Laima Balčiauskienė

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) is a keystone ecosystem engineer whose expanding populations increasingly occupy agricultural landscapes. Hair stable  isotope analysis was applied to reconstruct assimilated diet in 56 legally  hunted beavers in Lithuania in 2024–2025. Stable carbon isotope values were tightly  clustered (–25.53 ± 0.10‰ SE), while those for nitrogen showed greater variability (5.38 ± 0.20‰ SE), indicating limited interindividual dietary differentiation.  Generalized linear models revealed no significant effects of sex, year, or month, and  age-related differences were limited to the youngest individuals. Comparison with  published Polish data showed no significant differences in mean isotope values.  Overall, the results …

From Introduction To Biomass Dominance: The Invasive Fish Striped Piggy (Pomadasys Stridens) Reshaping Demersal Assemblages In The Eastern Mediterranean, Mehmet Cengi̇z Deval

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Rapid increases in the abundance and biomass of nonindigenous species have the potential to profoundly reshape demersal fish assemblages in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, yet quantitative evidence from long-term standardized surveys remains scarce. In the present study, temporal changes in biomass dynamics and community structure were assessed using fishery-independent trawl surveys conducted on the continental shelf of Antalya Bay (GSA 24) during two periods a decade apart (2009–2010 and 2020–2021), with particular focus on the Lessepsian striped piggy Pomadasys stridens. Based on the second survey, in which both daytime and nocturnal sampling were conducted, the biomass index (BI) differed significantly …

Comparative Cytogenetics Of Four Phelsuma Species: Insights Into Chromosome Evolution In Malagasy Gekkonidae, Marcello Mezzasalma, Gaetano Odierna, Fabio Maria Guarino, Elvira Brunelli

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Karyotype diversification and chromosome mutations (or macromutations) such as  inversions, fusions, and fissions represent understudied factors of biological evolution.  We present in this study one of the first experimental cytogenetic analyses  on the Malagasy day geckos of the genus Phelsuma. A molecular analysis was  performed using a trait of the mitochondrial 12S and a comparative chromosome  study with traditional Giemsa coloration, Ag-NOR staining and sequential C-banding  (C-banding + Giemsa + fluorochromes) on nine individuals of Phelsuma from different  localities. The molecular analysis allowed unambiguous identification of  three species (P. lineata, P. laticauda, and P. standingi), while two additional samples  likely …

From Insight To Impact: Segmenting Consumers By Their Regenerative Agriculture Priorities, Lourival Carmo Monaco Neto, Gustavo Stevanin De Souza, Owen Jerome Zakrzewski, Allan Wayne Gray

Department of Agricultural Economics Faculty Publications

Regenerative agriculture is gaining traction in agrifood value chains, yet its definitional ambiguity and the heterogeneity of consumer priorities create strategic challenges for commercialization. Firms commonly assume a homogeneous ‘sustainable consumer’ motivated by environmental outcomes, but research on consumer food values suggests that economic attributes often outweigh environmental concerns when trade-offs are required. This study segments U.S. consumers based on how they prioritize seven core attributes of regenerative agriculture: soil health, biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions, water use, food prices, crop yield, and farmer profitability. Using forced-ranking data from 1231 nationally representative U.S. consumers surveyed in August 2024, we apply a …

Aquaponics: Farming Fish And Growing Greens For Grades 9–12, Amy M. Shambach,, Rebecca M. Ward, J. Stuart Carlton, Kwamena K. Quagrainie, Tomas O. Höök

Purdue University Press Books

Aquaponics: Farming Fish and Growing Greens for Grades 9–12 teaches STEM-related course material through aquaponics, a water-based agricultural system that combines aquaculture (fish production) and hydroponics (soilless vegetable production) systems. This curriculum is aligned with Next Generation Science Standards and designed to be used with an onsite aquaponics system. Topics include an introduction to aquaculture, fundamental parts of an aquaponics system, the nitrogen cycle, water quality, population dynamics, our modern food system, and more. The ten lessons presented build on each other and are intended to be delivered in sequential order. Alternatively, lessons may also be utilized as stand-alone units …

Anoxia Tolerant Dna Replication Is Supported By Atr Kinase In The Annual Killifish Austrofundulus Limnaeus, Riley Roth-Carter, Erin Helms, Joshua C. Saldivar, Jason Podrabsky

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Hypoxia and anoxia suppress cell proliferation due to an increase in replication stress and activation of DNA damage checkpoints. Embryos of the annual killifish Austrofundulus limnaeus tolerate prolonged anoxia, indicating improved genomic stability under oxygen starvation. We investigated the cell cycle regulation of the anoxia tolerant killifish embryonic cell line PSU-AL-WS40NE during anoxia. Live-cell imaging confirms continued proliferation of WS40NE cells for the first 24 h of anoxia with minimal cell death. Fluorescence imaging shows that cells accumulate in G1 after the first day in anoxia with a rapid entry into S phase upon reoxygenation. Pharmacological inhibition shows a reliance …

From Landfill To Ladle: Using Open Lca To Calculate Food Diversion Impacts, Samantha Rodriguez

DePaul Discoveries

Food waste contributes to climate change because discarded food results in wasting embodied carbon from producing food. In addition to wasting embodied carbon, food that ends up in landfills emits methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. This life cycle assessment quantifies the carbon equivalent footprint of food donations from Costco to the Seton Soup Kitchen using OpenLCA. Two functional units were analyzed in this study. The first functional unit is one meal consisting of 500 grams of donated food that would otherwise be landfilled served to a Seton Soup Kitchen patron during one meal service. The …

Vertebrate Diversity In Cave Systems Of Colombia: An Approach Based On Environmental Dna Metabarcoding Analysis, Rita Daniela Martinelli Marín, Carlos Andres Lasso, Francesco Sauro, Susana Josefina Caballero

International Journal of Speleology

There is currently limited knowledge of the biological communities inhabiting cave ecosystems in South America. This study examines the vertebrate community composition of 21 caves across diverse subterranean ecosystems in Colombia using environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis. Water was collected from water bodies inside caves and subterranean systems in six of the eight speleological regions of Colombia in eight departments. Water was filtered manually through a 0.8 m pore size filter and preserved with Longmire solution. A 170-base pair (bp) fragment of the 12s mitochondrial gene specific for vertebrate identification was amplified by PCR and sequenced by Illumina (metabarcoding). Data corresponding …

Campus Food Recovery: Balancing Sustainability And Student Needs, Scott T. Taylor Jr., Wenhao Zhang, Robin B. Dipietro, Mary Stein, Junehee Kwon

ICHRIE Research Reports

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of a food recovery program at a large university on food waste reduction and food insecurity mitigation. The primary goal of the food recovery program was two-fold: to help provide ready-to-eat meals for students facing food insecurity and to help the campus food service provider minimize post-production food waste. Thus, food was recovered from multiple dining outlets on a large university campus in the southeast United States. To ensure a valid comparison between 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 academic years, a 3-month period during the spring semesters in 2023 and 2024 was …

Unveiling The Diversity Within Salvia Caespitosa Sensu Lato (Lamiaceae): Three New “Hidden” Endemic Species From Türkiye​, Ferhat Celep, Musa Doğan, Gali̇p Akaydin, Ahmet Kahraman, Ersi̇n Karabacak, Ömer Çeçen, Meti̇n Armağan, Chun-Lei Xiang, Bryan T. Drew

Turkish Journal of Botany

Documenting species, particularly those that are threatened or endangered, is fundamental to biodiversity conservation. However, many taxa remain scientifically unrecognized, being either undiscovered or unpublished. While some plants can be easily recognized as new species, other identifications are obscured by morphological, taxonomic, and nomenclatural complexity. Detecting cryptic or “hidden” species is therefore essential to understanding biodiversity and plant evolution. Our revisionary studies on Salvia demonstrate that the morphologically complex Salvia caespitosa is not a single species but instead comprises at least four distinct species, three with narrow distributions. This conclusion is supported by integrative evidence from extensive field studies, herbarium …

A New Species Of The Genus Heracleum From Türkiye: H. Papilionaceum (Apiaceae: Tordyliaea​), Mehmet Sağiroğlu, Mardiya Sabdani̇, Bariş Bani̇, Hayri̇ Duman

Turkish Journal of Botany

A new species, Heracleumpapilionaceum (Apiaceae: Tordylieae), is described and illustrated from the Elmacık Mountains, Bolu Province, northwestern Türkiye. Morphological studies and phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear ribosomal (nr)DNA Internal Transcribed Spacer sequences placed the new species close to H. apiifolium and H. munzurense. Comparative morphological and fruit anatomical data, images, and a distribution map are provided. An International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List assessment is also presented, supporting its classification as Critically Endangered.

Erginia (Asteraceae: Cichorieae: Crepidinae), A New Genus Accommodating Chondrilla Spinosa, An Orphan Species Of Localized Distribution In Southeastern Anatolia, Murat Erdem Güzel, Kami̇l Coşkunçelebi̇, Serdar Makbul, Mutlu Gültepe, Zeynepnur Alemdağ, Norbert Kilian

Turkish Journal of Botany

The new genus Erginia is established to accommodate Chondrilla spinosa, a species of previously uncertain systematic placement, with a highly localized distribution in Southeastern Anatolia (Türkiye) on alpine screes along two mountain ridges. Although there has been general agreement that the species is a member of the subtribe Crepidinae in its wider sense, including the Chondrillinae, its placement in Chondrilla is based on the superficial resemblance of its achene features, which also do not match any other known genus, and no molecular phylogenetic analysis had clarified its sister group. In this study, we produce additional micro- and macromorphological as well …

Integrative Data Inform The Taxonomy Of Salix: A Case Study Of S. Purpurea L. Subsp. Leucodermis Yalt. (Salicaceae) From Türkiye, Peli̇n Acar, Yasi̇n Kaya, Dudu Özlem Mavi̇ İdman, Irina V. Belyaeva

Turkish Journal of Botany

The study of endemic species provides valuable perspectives on evolutionary history and future targets for their conservation. Salix purpurea L. subsp. leucodermis Yalt., which is endemic to Sandras Mountain in Türkiye, was analysed using morphological, anatomical, and genomic methods. This study presents the first draft short-read sequence of S. purpurea subsp. leucodermis, providing preliminary genomic evidence of differentiation from related taxa. This study also revealed a specific combination of anatomical features (prominent calcium oxalate crystals and amphistomatous leaves) and morphological characteristics (striated wood, glabrous buds, absence of stipules) that differentiate the taxon in question from the closely related species S. …

Influence Of A New Nanoensemble Of Graphene Oxide And Indole-3-Acetic Acid On The Morphophysiological, Biochemical, And Ultrastructural Characteristics Of Upland Cotton (Gossypium Hirsutum L.), Nurlan Amrahov, Ulviyya Hasanova, Aliyeva Gunel, Aghazada Goncha, Fuad Rzayev, Eldar Gasimov, Aliyeva Solmaz, Lala Gahramanli, Elvin Ibrahimli, Ruhangiz Mammadova, Zarema Gakhramanova, Cem Bayram, Goncha Eyvazova, Si̇bel Hasanova, Ziyaddin Mammadov

Turkish Journal of Botany

​The exogenous application of phytohormones plays a crucial role in the activation of adaptive mechanisms in plants under both normal and stress conditions. Therefore, the present study investigates the synthesis, characterization, and application of nanoensembles based on indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and graphene oxide (GO) nanolayers. The surface of GO synthesized by the modified Hummer method was noncovalently functionalized with IAA molecules. The structure and morphological properties of the prepared materials were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The IAA and IAA+GO nanoensemble enhanced the morphological parameters, lateral root formation, catalase and peroxidase …

Effects Of Calcium And Magnesium Ions On Wheat (Triticum Aestivum) Chromosome Structure Visualized Using Light And Scanning Elec​Tron Microscopes, Andi Salamah, Fitri Amalia Nurchasanah, Vycka Fikriyani Fairuz, Astari Dwiranti

Turkish Journal of Botany

Divalent cations, particularly calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+), are essential for maintaining chromosomal architecture, yet their roles in plants remain poorly characterized. This study investigated the effects of Ca2+ and Mg2+ on the chromosomal structure of wheat (Triticum aestivum, 2n = 6x = 42), a widely used model in plant cytogenetics. Root-tip chromosomes were isolated enzymatically and treated with BAPTA (a Ca2+-specific chelator), EDTA (a broad cation chelator), and buffer solutions containing either 5 mM Mg2+ (XBE5) or no Mg2+ (XBE). Chromosomes were stained with aceto-orcein for light microscopy and processed for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Microscopic observations revealed that …

Systematic Implications Of Seed Morphology In Oxytropis (Galegeae: Fabaceae) From Pakistan, Amjad Khan, Amir Sultan, Raees Khan, Rozina Rozina, Shahab Ali, Ali Bagheri, Rifat Ullah Khan, Abdul Samad Mumtaz, Tariq Ullah, Ghalia Saleem Aljeddani, Hasil Khan

Turkish Journal of Botany

Oxytropis is a taxonomically challenging genus within the tribe Galegeae of the family Fabaceae. Despite its systematic importance, the seed morphology of Oxytropis has been poorly investigated. In the present study, we examined the seed morphology of 18 Oxytropis species representing 10 sections from the Pakistan, with the aim of evaluating the diagnostic value of seed traits using both light and scanning electron microscopy. The current investigation revealed two distinct seed shapes, namely cordiform and prolonged reniform, across the studied taxa. Seed length ranged from 1.75 mm in O. crassiuscula to 2.3 mm in O. duthieana, while seed width varied …

Optimized Immunoprecipitation Identifies Candidate Proteins Associated With Eyespot Protein Eye2 In Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii ​, Esra Öztürk, Telsa Mittelmeier, Carol Dieckmann, Atakan Sukatar

Turkish Journal of Botany

​The EYE2 protein is essential for eyespot assembly and localization in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying its function remain poorly understood. In this study, we present a systematic evaluation and optimization of an immunoprecipitation (IP)-based workflow for isolating EYE2 and its associated protein complexes. Key methodological variables including strain selection, flagella removal, and detergent concentration were compared using western blotting to determine optimal extraction conditions. The combination of the cell wall-deficient cw15 strain, 4% digitonin extraction, and pH shock-mediated deflagellation significantly enhanced IP specificity and reproducibility. Using this optimized protocol, EYE2 and its potential interaction partners were isolated …