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Plasmodium Berghei Subpellicular Microtubule Protein-1 (Pbspm-1) Is A Microtubule Stabilizing Protein That Affects Schizont Development, Manuel Joseph Widuch

Master's Theses

In eukaryotes, microtubules (MTs) are regulated by microtubule-associated proteins (MAP), only a few of which have been characterized in the malaria parasite to date. Here we present the functional characterization of STOP axonemal protein 1 (SAXO1) of the rodent parasite Plasmodium berghei. The protein exhibits high sequence and organizational conservation to the subpellicular microtubule protein 1 (SPM1) of the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii and SAXO1 of Trypanosoma brucei. SAXO1 proteins are conserved in most eukaryotes where they form a protein family. We refer to this protein as PbSPM1. It is a 38 kD protein that is organized into an N-terminal …

Research Progress And Clinical Translation Potential Of Coronary Atherosclerosis Diagnostic Markers From A Genomic Perspective, Hanxiang Liu, Yuchen Zhang, Yueyan Zhao, Yuzhen Li, Xiaofeng Zhang, Lingyu Bao, Rongkai Yan, Yixin Yang, Huixian Zhou, Jinming Zhang, Siyuan Song

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Objective: Coronary atherosclerosis (CAD) is characterized by arterial intima lipid deposition, chronic inflammation, and fibrous tissue proliferation, leading to arterial wall thickening and lumen narrowing. As the primary cause of coronary heart disease and acute coronary syndrome, CAD significantly impacts global health. Recent genetic studies have demonstrated CAD's polygenic and multifactorial nature, providing molecular insights for early diagnosis and risk assessment. This review analyzes recent advances in CAD-related genetic markers and evaluates their diagnostic potential, focusing on their applications in diagnosis and risk stratification within precision medicine.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review of CAD genomic studies from PubMed and …

How Did Covid-19 Impact Physiology Research Globally? – Lessons Learned And Future Recommendations, Jeet Patel, Santanu De

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

The Coronavirus Infectious Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused massive changes in the medical field across the globe. As the whole world moved from in-person to remote activities, students found themselves in a predicament where they were compelled towards schooling and work online from home. This would mean that all projects, research, tests, and meetings were conducted over Zoom or other online meeting platforms. Laboratories were shut down or only a limited number of people were allowed to enter to conduct the necessary research. This paper discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic affected research process and experiments within various aspects of the …

Discerning The Role Of Microtubule Acetylation During Hiv-1 Infection, Drew Michael Lichon

Dissertations

The host-pathogen interactions underlying Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection are complex and involve the exploitation of host cellular machinery. This thesis investigates the roles of dynein adaptors, microtubule acetylation, and TRIM69-mediated restriction in HIV-1 infection. Through a series of detailed experiments, we explore how HIV-1 utilizes multiple dynein adaptors, such as BICDR1 and Hook3, for intracellular transport, and reveal that these adaptors are critical for efficient viral trafficking. Conversely, the knockdown of Ninein surprisingly enhances HIV-1 infectivity, suggesting a nuanced regulatory role for this adaptor in viral transport. Further, this thesis challenges the prevailing paradigm that microtubule acetylation …

Mission Success: Mastering Muscle Function Through Humanoid Analysis, Amber M. Chelette

Educational Practices in Kinesiology

Knowledge of muscle function and human movement are essential skills of all kinesiology students. In the humanoid activity, teams are challenged to determine whether a muscle is essential to the successful development of a humanoid being sent to Mars. This activity provides a significant learning experience regarding muscle anatomy, function, and movement analysis. The humanoid activity is intended for use in a face-to-face upper-level kinesiology anatomy or movement analysis course and best implemented with class sizes of 20-30 students. The total time commitment is approximately 45 minutes.

Hiv Associated Epigenetic Trends And Chronic Diseases: Insights Into The Hidden Burden Of Chronic Infection, Courtney G. Wallace, Zachary Capriotti, Zachary Klase

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains a major health challenge despite dramatic advances in treatment and prevention. People living with HIV (PLWH) continue to experience high rates of non-AIDS comorbidities, including cardiovascular, renal, pulmonary, oncologic, and neurocognitive disorders. These conditions persist under viral suppression, underscoring the lasting biological impact of infection. Epigenetic dysregulation has emerged as a key driver of these outcomes. HIV integration, viral proteins, chronic inflammation, and ART exposure have all been reported to alter DNA methylation, histone modifications, transcription factor networks, and noncoding RNA regulation. These changes extend beyond infected cells, reprogramming uninfected immune and tissue compartments. Long-lived …

Mitochondrial A3 Adenosine Receptor As A Mechanism For The Protective Effects Of A3ar Agonists On Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain, Timothy M. Doyle, Kali Janes, Wen Hua Xiao, Grant R. Kolar, Hans F. Luecke, Michael Anne Gratton, Dilip K. Tosh, Kenneth A. Jacobson, Gary J. Bennett, Daniela Salvemini

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Alterations in mitochondrial function are the linchpin in numerous disease states including in the development of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain (CIPN), a major dose-limiting toxicity of widely used chemotherapeutic cytotoxins. In CIPN, mitochondrial dysfunction is characterized by deficits in mitochondrial bioenergetics (e.g., decreased ATP production) that are thought to drive the degeneration of the peripheral nerve sensory axon terminal sensory arbors in the skin (the intraepidermal nerve fibers; IENFs) and induce abnormal spontaneous discharge in peripheral nerve sensory axons. Preserving mitochondrial function is anticipated to prevent CIPN. We have now discovered that the G-protein-coupled receptor, A3 adenosine receptor subtype (A3AR), is …

Associations Between Social Determinants Of Health And Mental Health Disorders Among U.S. Population: A Cross-Sectional Study, S. Tanarsuwongkul

Faculty Publications

Aims

The impact of social determinants of health (SDOH) on mental health is increasingly realized. A comprehensive study examining the associations of SDOH with mental health disorders has yet to be accomplished. This study evaluated the associations between five domains of SDOH and the SDOH summary score and mental health disorders in the United States.

Methods

We analyzed data from a diverse group of participants enrolled in the All of Us research programme, a research programme to gather data from one million people living in the United States, in a cross-sectional design. The primary exposure was SDOH based on Healthy …

Electrostatic Force-Enabled Microneedle Patches That Exploit Photoredox Catalysis For Transdermal Phototherapy, Hang Zhang, Wen-Chuan Xie, Yuhang Yao, Zi-Yi Tang, Wen-Xiu Ni, Song Gao, Jun-Long Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Microneedle patches for topical administration of photodynamic therapy (PDT) sensitizers are attractive owing to their safety, selectivity, and noninvasiveness. However, low-efficiency photosensitizer delivery coupled with the limitations of the hypoxic tumor microenvironment remains challenging. To overcome these issues, we developed an effective microneedle patch based on intermolecular electrostatic interactions within a photosensitizer matrix containing a zinc-containing porphyrin analogue, ZnBP (w). This design improved the mechanical strength of the microneedle patch and enhanced the photosensitizer loading efficiency in aqueous environments. A key feature of the system is efficient electron transfer between ZnBP (w) and NADH upon photoirradiation. Electrostatic interactions between ZnBP …

Tolerance Of Cotton To Herbicide-Coated Fertilizers, L. Summer Linn, Jason K. Norsworthy, Pamela Carvalho-Moore, Tristen H. Avent, Tom Barber, Trenton L. Roberts, Ben Trash

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Cotton producers need residual herbicides that can safely and practically be applied postemergence. Herbicide-coated fertilizers could allow for simultaneous application of residual herbicides and a bulk fertilizer blend. Therefore, a study was conducted in 2022 and 2023 in Fayetteville, AR, to evaluate cotton tolerance to 12 herbicide treatments coated onto a fertilizer blend and applied over cotton. Herbicides and rates evaluated included diuron at 840 g ai ha-1, florpyrauxifen-benzyl at 29 g ai ha-1, flumioxazin at 105 g ai ha-1, flumioxazin + pyroxasulfone at 70 + 90 g ai ha-1, fluridone at 168 g ai ha-1, fluometuron at 840 g …

The Functional Fitness Of The Community Dwelling Older Adults In Shan Dong Of Mainland China In Comparison With The Population In Hong Kong, Zongtao Li, Yu Teng, Huigang Wang, Hao Liu, Lei Zhao

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Purpose: To compare the functional fitness (FF) of the community dwelling older adults in Shan Dong (SD) of mainland China with their peers in Hong Kong (HK). Methods: 1887 older adults living in SD were measured with Senior Fitness Test (SFT) One sample T test was used to determine the age grooup difference in each FF component between the population of SD and HK. Results: Compared with their HK peers, SD older adults showed higher performance in the task of 30s arm curl, but lower abilities in 30s chair stand, back scratch, chair sit & reach, and 8 ft …

Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Promote Pre-Metastatic Niche Formation In The Omentum By Expanding Innate-Like B Cells That Express Il-10, Wonjae Lee, Song Yi Ko, Hironari Akasaka, Melanie Weigert, Ernst Lengyel

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Disseminated cancer cells in the peritoneal fluid often colonize omental fat-associated lymphoid clusters but the mechanisms are unclear. Here, we identify that innate-like B cells accumulate in the omentum of mice and women with early-stage ovarian cancer concomitantly with the extrusion of chromatin fibers by neutrophils called neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Studies using genetically modified NET-deficient mice, pharmacologic inhibition of NETs, and adoptive B cell transfer show that NETs induce expression of the chemoattractant CXCL13 in the pre-metastatic omentum, stimulating recruitment of peritoneal innate-like B cells that in turn promote expansion of regulatory T cells and omental metastasis through producing …

Nerves At Play: The Peripheral Nervous System In Extracranial Malignancies, Paola D Vermeer, Anthony C Restaino, Jeffrey L Barr, Dan Yaniv, Moran Amit

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The exponential growth of the cancer neuroscience field has shown that the host's immune, vascular, and nervous systems communicate with and influence each other in the tumor microenvironment, dictating the cancer malignant phenotype. Unraveling the nervous system's contributions toward this phenotype brings us closer to cancer cures. In this review, we summarize the peripheral nervous system's contributions to cancer. We highlight the effects of nerve recruitment and tumor innervation, the neuro-immune axis, glial cell activity, and neural regulation on cancer development and progression. We also discuss harnessing the neural control of peripheral cancers as a potential therapeutic approach in oncology. …

Performance Of Eight Lettuce Cultivars In A Water Culture System, Ricky C. Young, Hudson M. Cox, Jacob D. Frodge, Mollie K. Mayabb, Brycen C. Shephard, Alireza Rahemi

Posters-at-the-Capitol

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is one of the most well-known vegetables in the world. About 27 million tons of lettuce were produced in the world in 2022 and global demand for lettuce is increasing steadily, driven by the importance of fiber consumption. Lettuce can be grown in multiple media, including hydroponic systems in a controlled environment agriculture (CEA) system. Growing lettuce in hydroponic systems is an alternative to lettuce production optimization. Since little information is available about lettuce cultivar trials in hydroponic systems, a research project was developed and executed to study the ability of different types of lettuce …

An Iron Age Iib–C Hebrew Stamp Seal With Apotropaic And Prophylactic Properties From The Southwestern Corner Of The Temple Mount, Jerusalem, Filip Vukosavović, Ronny Reich, Navot Rom, Yuval Baruch

'Atiqot

An Iron Age Hebrew iconic stamp seal was uncovered near the southwestern corner of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The seal, made of black stone, depicts a winged genie and a personal name, Yehoʽezer son of Hoshaʽyahu. This is the first depiction of the winged genie iconography in the region found in an archaeological excavation. Influenced by Neo-Assyrian art, the seal was created in Jerusalem by a local artist for Hoshaʽyahu, a member of the Judean elite, during the Assyrian Century. Later on, the seal was inherited by his son, Yehoʽezer. In addition to being used as a stamp, the …

Go Figure: The Unique Trajectories Of Figurine Use And Religious Ideologies In The Middle- And Late-Bronze Age Southern Levant, Matthew Susnow, Joe Uziel

'Atiqot

This article explores the differences between cultic practices and religious ideologies as expressed in the material culture of the Middle and Late Bronze Ages in the Southern Levant. Whereas the periods share much in common in terms of material culture and political organization, we suggest that the cultic practices in the earlier period were dictated by elite ideologies aiming at social inclusion, unity, integration and group cohesion, while the Late Bronze Age viewed the distribution of such paraphernalia, particularly ceramic female figurines, as domestic in nature.

The Eastern Oyster Behavioral Response To Low Salinity And Hypoxia In Controlled And Natural Settings, Siyah Yongue

LSU Master's Theses

Oyster aquaculture is expanding in the northern Gulf of Mexico, but climate change may challenge the sustainability of this industry. Projected increases in the frequency and intensity of low salinity and low dissolved oxygen (DO) periods could impact the behavior, metabolism, growth, and survival of oysters. Characterizing how oyster behavior links to environmental stressors could help better identify thresholds in their tolerance and inform predictive tools for aquaculture professionals. In this research, the effect of separate and concomitant exposures to low salinity and DO on the behavioral response of oysters was examined in the lab. The impact of other environmental …

Conformational Switching Of Arp5 Subunit Regulates Ino80 Chromatin Remodeling, Shagun Shukla, Somnath Paul, Jeison Garcia, Yuan Zhong, Sara Sanz Juste, Blaine Bartholomew

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The INO80 chromatin remodeler is a versatile enzyme capable of several functions, including spacing nucleosomes equal distances apart, precise positioning of nucleosomes based on DNA shape/sequence and exchanging histone dimers. Within INO80, the Arp5 subunit plays a central role in INO80 remodeling, evidenced by its interactions with the histone octamer, nucleosomal and extranucleosomal DNA, and its necessity in linking INO80's ATPase activity to nucleosome movement. We find two distinct regions of Arp5 binding near the acidic pocket of nucleosomes. One region has an arginine anchor that binds nucleosomes and is vital for INO80 mobilizing nucleosomes. The other region has a …

Comparison Of Virtual Vs. Traditional Cycling Exercise On Perceived Duration And Exercise Enjoyment: A Pilot Study, Kyle W. Reason, Lauren G. Killen, T. Scott Lyons, Jean A. Helm Allen, Matt Green

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(2): 147-157, 2025. Participating in regular physical activity has been shown to increases one’s quality of life. Individuals may choose not to participate in regular physical activity because of a perceived lack of time and enjoyment. With the potential of these barriers to decrease exercise adherence, the purpose of this study was to compare perceived exercise duration and enjoyment between a virtually interactive stationary bike and a clamped workload on a standard non-interactive stationary bike. Thirteen active participants completed a VO₂ peak test and four counterbalanced trials (two 20-min, two 40-min) with one trial …

Superstable Lipid Vacuoles Endow Cartilage With Its Shape And Biomechanics, Raul Ramos, Kim T Pham, Richard C Prince, Leith B Leiser-Miller, Maneeshi S Prasad, Rachel C Nordberg, Jerry C Hu, Kosuke Yamaga, Ji Won Oh, Tao Peng, Rupsa Datta, Aksana Astrowskaja, Axel A Almet, John T Burns, Yuchen Liu, Christian Fernando Guerrero-Juarez, Bryant Q Tran, Yi-Lin Chu, Anh M Nguyen, Tsai-Ching Hsi, Norman T-L Lim, Sandra Schoeniger, Ruiqi Liu, Yun-Ling Pai, Chella K Vadivel, Sandy Ingleby, Andrew E Mckechnie, Frank Van Breukelen, Kyle L Hoehn, John J Rasweiler, Michinori Kohara, William J Loughry, Scott H Weldy, Raymond Cosper, Chao-Chun Yang, Sung-Jan Lin, Kimberly L Cooper, Sharlene E Santana, Jeffrey E Bradley, Michael A Kiebish, Michelle Digman, David E James, Amy E Merrill, Qing Nie, Thomas F Schilling, Aliaksandr A Astrowski, Eric O Potma, Martín I García-Castro, Kyriacos A Athanasiou, Richard R Behringer, Maksim V Plikus

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Conventionally, the size, shape, and biomechanics of cartilages are determined by their voluminous extracellular matrix. By contrast, we found that multiple murine cartilages consist of lipid-filled cells called lipochondrocytes. Despite resembling adipocytes, lipochondrocytes were molecularly distinct and produced lipids exclusively through de novo lipogenesis. Consequently, lipochondrocytes grew uniform lipid droplets that resisted systemic lipid surges and did not enlarge upon obesity. Lipochondrocytes also lacked lipid mobilization factors, which enabled exceptional vacuole stability and protected cartilage from shrinking upon starvation. Lipid droplets modulated lipocartilage biomechanics by decreasing the tissue's stiffness, strength, and resilience. Lipochondrocytes were found in multiple mammals, including humans, …

Species Differences In The Biotransformation Of Aflatoxin B1: Primary Determinants Of Relative Carcinogenic Potency In Different Animal Species, David L. Eaton, David E. Williams, Roger A. Coulombe

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

It has been known since the early days of the discovery of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) that there were large species differences in susceptibility to AFB1. It was also evident early on that AFB1 itself was not toxic but required bioactivation to a reactive form. Over the past 60 years there have been thousands of studies to delineate the role of ~10 specific biotransformation pathways of AFB1, both phase I (oxidation, reduction) and phase II (hydrolysis, conjugation, secondary oxidations, and reductions of phase I metabolites). This review provides a historical context and substantive analysis of each of these pathways as contributors …

Effects Of Pericarp Removal And Different Germination Conditions On Seed Germination And Saline-Alkali Tolerance Of Amorpha Fruticosa, Zhan-Wu Gao, Yong-Guang Mu, Feng Chen, Li-Jie He, Xin-Ning Li, Jia-Tong Li, Ke-Jia Ding, Yan-Hui Cu, Chun-Sheng Mu, Adnan Rasheed

Turkish Journal of Botany

In this paper, neutral salt NaCl and basic salt Na2CO3 were used to simulate salt stress and alkali stress respectively, and the effects of salt stress and alkali stress on seed germination and growth changes in natural saline-alkali soil were studied, in order to provide theoretical basis for making full use of plant resources and improving production efficiency. The fruit peel of Amorpha fruticosa contains a lot of lipids, which has a significant effect on seed germination. Under salt stress, removal of pericarp significantly increased germination rate, germination potential and germination index (P< 0.05), and significantly shortened germination time of seeds (p< 0.05), which accelerated the establishment of seedlings, reduced the stress time during germination, and advanced the transition from heterotrophic to autotrophic, accumulating more anions and organic solutes to adapt to salt stress. Therefore, when planting in neutral salt soil, it can be used to remove the peel for sowing to improve the planting effect. However, under alkali stress, the growth is inhibited by the absorption of a large amount of Na+ and high pH value, so it is not suitable for removing the peel for sowing. Different germination conditions had significant effects on seed germination. The length and biomass of radicle and germ in sand culture were significantly higher than those in paper culture (P< 0.05). Under the condition of sand culture, the concentration of the treatment solution can be well maintained, which is conducive to fixing the seedlings and reducing the interference of other mineral elements. Therefore, sand culture method is recommended for seed germination experiments under stress, especially for plants with developed roots.

A Review And Meta-Analysis Of The Efficacy Of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi In Remediating Toxic Metals In Mine-Affected Soil, Sonali Banerjee, Jajati Mandal, Dibyendu Sarkar, Rupali Datta, Pradip Bhattacharyya

Michigan Tech Publications

Mines are natural reservoirs of various minerals, metals, and metalloids. Several heavy metals (HMs), such as Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, and Ni, are major anthropogenic pollutants that cause severe environmental pollution. The accumulation of these toxic HMs in soils has raised several concerns for crop growth, food safety, and marketing. Physiological and biochemical processes in plants are severely impacted by HMs, disrupting normal metabolic activities and reducing biomass production. Phytoremediation plays a pivotal role in addressing HM contamination by offering an eco-friendly, economical, and holistic solution. Similarly, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a significant role by forming a symbiotic relationship …

Bridging Taste And Health: The Role Of Machine Learning In Consumer Food Selection, Saroj Adhikari, Brandon R. Mcfadden

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Faculty Publications and Presentations

Navigating the modern food landscape is complex, often leading consumers to make suboptimal dietary choices due to information, time constraints, and psychological vulnerabilities. Machine learning (ML) presents a promising solution to enhance the contemporary grocery shopping experience by providing personalized dietary recommendations tailored to individual preferences and characteristics. Traditional methods of dietary guidance cannot account for nuanced consumer characteristics and preferences. In contrast, ML algorithms can incorporate specific information about individuals and continuously adapt to provide personalized recommendations, considering factors like historical eating habits, socio-demographics, nutritional requirements, etc. This paper explores the potential value of ML in enhancing personalized dietary …

Full Issue, Volume 12, Number 3, Donna J. Peterson, Scott Cummings, Elizabeth Gregory North

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Neurofilament Light (Nfl) And Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (Gfap) In Ms And Aqp4-Nmosd: Advancing Clinical Applications., Sara Samadzadeh, Roy D. Sleator

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

Fluid biomarkers such as Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) and Neurofilament Light (NfL) play important roles in the diagnosis, monitoring, and evaluation of therapeutic responses in conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Aquaporin-4 Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (AQP4-NMOSD). These biomarkers offer key insights into the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of these diseases, enabling effective follow-up and personalized treatment approaches, which are essential for improving patient outcomes. Herein, we synthesize the structural attributes, functional roles, and clinical significance of GFAP and NfL in the context of MS and AQP4-NMOSD. We explore the critical implications of these biomarkers in disease manifestation and …

Effects Of Sex, Mating Status, And Genetic Background On Circadian Behavior In Drosophila, Oghenerukevwe Akpoghiran, Alexandra K. Strich, Kyunghee Koh

Farber Institute for Neuroscience Faculty Papers

Circadian rhythms play a crucial role in regulating behavior, physiology, and health. Sexual dimorphism, a widespread phenomenon across species, influences circadian behaviors. Additionally, post-mating physiological changes in females are known to modulate various behaviors, yet their effects on circadian rhythms remain underexplored. Here, using Drosophila melanogaster, a powerful model for studying circadian mechanisms, we systematically assessed the impact of sex and mating status on circadian behavior. We measured circadian period length and rhythm strength in virgin and mated males and females, including females mated to males lacking Sex Peptide (SP), a key mediator of post-mating changes. Across four wild-type and …

Exploring The Role Of Brain Angiogenesis Inhibitor 3 (Bai3) In Regulating Body Weight, Haifa Alsahrif

All ETDs from UAB

Obesity is a significant public health issue, strongly associated with various metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Understanding the mechanisms that contribute to obesity is essential for developing effective interventions. One critical area of interest involves G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which are important in regulating metabolic health. These receptors are known to be involved in critical metabolic functions such as insulin secretion, lipid metabolism, and glucose uptake. The role of the GPCR, brain angiogenesis inhibitor-3 (BAI3), in metabolic regulation has not been fully explored. This dissertation focuses on the known functions of the BAI isoforms (BAI1-3) and presents …

The C-Terminal Phdvc5hch Tandem Domain Of Nsd2 Is A Combinatorial Reader Of Modified H3k4 And Tri-Methylated H3k27 That Regulates Transcription Of Cell Adhesion Genes In Multiple Myeloma, Andrea Berardi, Charlotte Leonie Kaestner, Michela Ghitti, Giacomo Quilici, Paolo Cocomazzi, Jianping Li, Federico Ballabio, Chiara Zucchelli, Stefan Knapp, Jonathan Licht, Giovanna Musco

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

Histone methyltransferase NSD2 (MMSET) overexpression in multiple myeloma (MM) patients plays an important role in the development of this disease subtype. Through the expansion of transcriptional activating H3K36me2 and the suppression of repressive H3K27me3 marks, NSD2 activates an aberrant set of genes that contribute to myeloma growth, adhesive and invasive activities. NSD2 transcriptional activity also depends on its non-catalytic domains, which facilitate its recruitment to chromatin through histone binding. In this study, using NMR, ITC and molecular dynamics simulations, we show that the tandem PHD domain of NSD2 (PHDVC5HCHNSD2) is a combinatorial reader of unmodified histone H3K4 and tri-methylated H3K27 …

Sialylation Of Tnfr1 By St6gal1 Modulates Receptor Dynamics And Determines Cell Fate, Jihye Hwang

All ETDs from UAB

Abnormal glycosylation has long been identified as a key feature of cancer. Aberrant glycan structures on tumor cells arise from the dysregulation of select glycosyltransferases. For example, sialyltransferase ST6GAL1 is notable for its high expression in various cancers, including breast, colon, ovarian, and pancreatic. ST6GAL1 introduces α2-6-linkage sialylation to N-glycans on proteins, endowing cancer cells with stem cell-like properties. This modification contributes to resistance to apoptosis mediated by death receptors like TNFR1. Despite its significance in cancer, the regulatory mechanisms controlling ST6GAL1 expression remain largely unexplored. Additionally, it is unclear whether the apoptosis-resistant effect of sialylation is caused by an …