Digital Commons Network^™

Role Of The Distal Sara Promoters In Sara Expression In Staphylococcus Aureus, Ambrose L. Cheung, Adhar C. Manna

Dartmouth Scholarship

The global regulatory locus sarA comprises a 375-bp open reading frame that is driven by three promoters, the proximal P1 and distal P3 and P2 promoters. We mutated the weaker P3 and P2 promoters to ascertain the effect of the change on SarA protein and target gene expression. Our results indicated that the solely active P1 promoter led to a lower SarA protein level, which has an effect on agr transcription and subsequently had corresponding effects on hla, sspA, and spa transcription, probably in both agr-independent and agr-dependent manners.

Diets And Coexistence Of The Sea Urchins Lytechinus Variegatus And Arbacia Punctulata (Echinodermata) Along The Central Florida Gulf Coast, Janessa Cobb, John M. Lawrence

Integrative Biology Faculty and Staff Publications

The basis for coexistence of similar species is fundamental in community ecology. One mechanism for coexistence is differentiation of diets. Lytechinus variegatus and Arbacia punctulata coexist in different microhabitats along the Florida gulf coast. Their great difference in morphology might affect their choice of microhabitats and diet. We analyzed diets of both species at 1 offshore and 1 nearshore site where both occurred in relatively equal numbers, an offshore site dominated by A. punctulata and an offshore site dominated by L. variegatus. Gut contents were analyzed to determine the diet. A. punctulata prim. consumed sessile invertebrates except on dates …

Evaluating Forensic Dna Evidence, Dan E. Krane, William C. Thompson

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Protection Against Ischemia And Reperfusion Injury, Peter R. Oeltgen, Paul D. Bishop, Mark S. Kindy, Juan A. Sanchez

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Patents

A compound and method for using the compound to reduce injury associated with ischemia and reperfusion of mammalian organs such as the heart. The compound, either Deltorphin A and/or Dermorphin H, may be administered as part of a preconditioning strategy which reduces the extent of injury and improves organ function following cessation and restoration of blood flow. The compound may be used in preparation for planned ischemia or in a prophylactic manner in anticipation of further ischemic events.

Stim1, An Essential And Conserved Component Of Store-Operated Ca2+ Channel Function, Jack Roos, Paul J. Digregorio, Andriy V. Yeromin, Kari Ohlsen, Maria I. Lioudyno, Shenyuan L. Zhang, Olga Safrina, J. Ashot Kozak, Steven L. Wagner, Michael D. Cahalan, Gönül Veliçelebi, Kenneth A. Stauderman

Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Physiology Faculty Publications

Store-operated Ca²⁺ (SOC) channels regulate many cellular processes, but the underlying molecular components are not well defined. Using an RNA interference (RNAi)-based screen to identify genes that alter thapsigargin (TG)-dependent Ca²⁺ entry, we discovered a required and conserved role of Stim in SOC influx. RNAi-mediated knockdown of Stim in Drosophila S2 cells significantly reduced TG-dependent Ca²⁺ entry. Patch-clamp recording revealed nearly complete suppression of the Drosophila Ca²⁺ release-activated Ca²⁺(CRAC) current that has biophysical characteristics similar to CRAC current in human T cells. Similarly, knockdown of the human homologue STIM1 significantly reduced CRAC channel activity …

A Developmental Switch In The Response Of Drg Neurons To Ets Transcription Factor Signaling, Simon Hippenmeyer, Eline Vrieseling, Markus Sigrist, Thomas Portmann, Celia Laengle, David R. Ladle, Silvia Arber

Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Physiology Faculty Publications

Two ETS transcription factors of the Pea3 subfamily are induced in subpopulations of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) sensory and spinal motor neurons by target-derived factors. Their expression controls late aspects of neuronal differentiation such as target invasion and branching. Here, we show that the late onset of ETS gene expression is an essential requirement for normal sensory neuron differentiation. We provide genetic evidence in the mouse that precocious ETS expression in DRG sensory neurons perturbs axonal projections, the acquisition of terminal differentiation markers, and their dependence on neurotrophic support. Together, our findings indicate that DRG sensory neurons exhibit a temporal …

26Al-Containing Acidic And Basic Sodium Aluminum Phosphate Preparation And Use In Studies Of Oral Aluminum Bioavailability From Foods Utilizing 26Al As An Aluminum Tracer, Robert A. Yokel, Aaron A. Urbas, Robert A. Lodder, John P. Selegue, Rebecca L. Florence

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

We synthesized ²⁶Al-containing acidic and basic (alkaline) sodium aluminum phosphates (SALPs) which are FDA-approved leavening and emulsifying agents, respectively, and used them to determine the oral bioavailability of aluminum incorporated in selected foods. We selected applicable methods from published syntheses (patents) and scaled them down (∼3000- and 850-fold) to prepare ∼300–400 mg of each SALP. The ²⁶Al was incorporated at the beginning of the syntheses to maximize ²⁶Al and ²⁷Al equilibration and incorporate the ²⁶Al in the naturally-occurring Al-containing chemical species of the products. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) were used …

Role For Akt3/Protein Kinase Bγ In Attainment Of Normal Brain Size, Rachel M. Easton, Han Cho, Kristin Roovers, Diana W. Shineman

Dartmouth Scholarship

Studies of Drosophila and mammals have revealed the importance of insulin signaling through phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and the serine/threonine kinase Akt/protein kinase B for the regulation of cell, organ, and organismal growth. In mammals, three highly conserved proteins, Akt1, Akt2, and Akt3, comprise the Akt family, of which the first two are required for normal growth and metabolism, respectively. Here we address the function of Akt3. Like Akt1, Akt3 is not required for the maintenance of normal carbohydrate metabolism but is essential for the attainment of normal organ size. However, in contrast to Akt1^−/− mice, which display a …

Two-Dimensional Fluorescence Difference Gel Electrophoresis Analysis Of The Urine Proteome In Human Diabetic Nephropathy, Kumar Sharma, Sohee Lee, Steven Han, Sungchun Lee, Barbara Francos, Peter Mccue, Richard Wassell, M. Alexander Shaw, Satish P. Ramachandrarao

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Urinary proteins may provide clues regarding pathogenesis of kidney disease as well as providing markers of disease activity. We employed two-dimensional differential in-gel electrophoretic analysis (2-D DIGE) to assess multiple urine samples in patients with diabetic nephropathy. Patient samples were collected as timed overnight collections. All the patients had longstanding diabetes, impaired renal function, and overt proteinuria. Control and patient urinary protein were analyzed by 2-D DIGE and DeCyder analysis. Ninety-nine spots were significantly regulated in the urine proteome of the diabetic samples, with 63 up- and 36 down-regulated. One spot corresponding to a pI 5–6 and a molecular weight …

Multiple Metabolic Hits Converge On Cd36 As Novel Mediator Of Tubular Epithelial Apoptosis In Diabetic Nephropathy, Katalin Susztack, Emilio Ciccone, Peter Mccue, Kumar Sharma, Erwin Böttinger

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Diabetic nephropathy (DNP) is a common complication of type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus and the most common cause of kidney failure. While DNP manifests with albuminuria and diabetic glomerulopathy, its progression correlates best with tubular epithelial degeneration (TED) and interstitial fibrosis. However, mechanisms leading to TED in DNP remain poorly understood.

Multiple Metabolic Hits Converge On Cd36 As Novel Mediator Of Tubular Epithelial Apoptosis In Diabetic Nephropathy., Katalin Susztak, Emilio Ciccone, Peter Mccue, Kumar Sharma, Erwin P Böttinger

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Diabetic nephropathy (DNP) is a common complication of type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus and the most common cause of kidney failure. While DNP manifests with albuminuria and diabetic glomerulopathy, its progression correlates best with tubular epithelial degeneration (TED) and interstitial fibrosis. However, mechanisms leading to TED in DNP remain poorly understood.

METHODS AND FINDINGS: We found that expression of scavenger receptor CD36 coincided with proximal tubular epithelial cell (PTEC) apoptosis and TED specifically in human DNP. High glucose stimulated cell surface expression of CD36 in PTECs. CD36 expression was necessary and sufficient to mediate PTEC apoptosis induced …

A Three-Component Regulatory System Regulates Biofilm Maturation And Type Iii Secretion In Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Sherry L. Kuchma, John P. Connolly, George A. O'Toole

Dartmouth Scholarship

Biofilms are structured communities found associated with a wide range of surfaces. Here we report the identification of a three-component regulatory system required for biofilm maturation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PA14. A transposon mutation that altered biofilm formation in a 96-well dish assay originally defined this locus, which is comprised of genes for a putative sensor histidine kinase and two response regulators and has been designated sadARS. Nonpolar mutations in any of the sadARS genes result in biofilms with an altered mature structure but do not confer defects in growth or early biofilm formation, swimming, or twitching motility. After …

Mechanisms Of Growth Hormone Enhancement Of Excitatory Synaptic Transmission In Hippocampus, Ghada Saad Zaglool Ahmed Mahmoud

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Growth hormone (GH) deficiency is associated with impaired learning and memory. One possible target for GH effects on memory is the hippocampus, a brain region containing GH receptors (GHRs). To determine if GH acutely alters hippocampal function, recombinant human GH (rhGH) was applied to in vitro rat hippocampal brain slices. Extracellular recordings were used to assess effects of GH on the field EPSP (fEPSP) and long-term potentiation (LTP) of the fEPSP. GHR expression was measured in GH-treated and control rat hippocampal slices using RT-PCR. The GH signaling pathway was investigated by studying the effect of GH on the fEPSP after …

Effect Of Dna Base Modification On Polymerase Chain Reaction Efficiency And Fidelity, Jan A. Sikorsky

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Polymerase stop assays, used to quantify DNA damage, assume single lesions are sufficient to block thermostable DNA polymerase progression. To explore this assumption, 90 base oligonucleotides containing normal or modified DNA bases were amplified using real-time PCR. Data implied that the PCR efficiency was influenced to differing degrees depending on which base lesion was present on the input oligonucleotide; specifically, while reactions with templates containing a single 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2í-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) were not noticeably altered, the presence of a single 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2í-deoxyadenosine, an abasic site, or a cis-syn thymidine dimer (TT dimer) dramatically delayed amplification. In addition, the presence of two tandem 8-oxodGs …

Renal Ischemia And Reperfusion Activates The Eif2 Alpha Kinase Perk, Heather L. Montie, Foaz Kayali, Adam J. Haezebrouck, Noreen F. Rossi, Donald J. Degracia

PCOM Scholarly Works

Inhibition of protein synthesis occurs in the post-ischemic reperfused kidney but the molecular mechanism of renal translation arrest is unknown. Several pathways have been identified whereby cell stress inhibits translation initiation via phosphorylation of the alpha subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2a, phospho-form eIF2a(P)]. Here, we report a 20-fold increase in eIF2a(P) in kidney homogenates following 10 min of cardiac arrest-induced ischemia and 10 min reperfusion. Using immunohistochemistry, we observed eIF2a(P) in tubular epithelial cells in both cortex and medulla, where the greatest eIF2a(P) staining was found in epithelial cells of the so-called watershed area at the corticomedullary junction. …

Intrusive Effects Of The Connecticut Intrusion Arch And The Utility Intrusion Arch, Mi̇hri̇ Amasyali, Deni̇z Sağdiç, Hüseyi̇n Ölmez, Erol Akin, Şeni̇z Karaçay

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the effects of two different arches, the Connecticut Intrusion Arch (CIA) and the Utility Intrusion Arch (UIA). A total of 20 patients (15 girls and 5 boys) having Class I or Class II malocclusions with deep bite were divided into two groups. Lateral cephalograms were obtained before treatment and after intrusion of upper incisors. Statistical evaluation of lateral cephalograms revealed that upper incisors were intruded and protruded, upper first molars were extruded, and lower incisors were protruded in both groups. Due to the extrusion of the molars, anterior and posterior …

Effect Of Genetic Variation On The Formation Of Hepatocarcinogenic Metabolites Of Trichloroethylene Using Chloral Hydrate Studies (An Interdisciplinary Approach), Apryl Bronley-Delancey

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is listed with the EPA as a suspected human carcinogen and is ubiquitous in the environment (US EPA 1992). Chloral hydrate (CH) is a sedative drug and a cytochrome P450 (CYP 450)-derived metabolite of TCE (Klaassen 2001). Chloral hydrate is metabolized in the liver to the rodent hepatocarcinogen trichloroacetate (TCA) by aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), and to the non-carcinogenic metabolite trichloroethanol (TCEOH) by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) (Klaassen 2001). Both ALDH and ADH are polymorphic in humans which can presumably predict the disposition of chloral hydrate into the carcinogenic vs. non-carcinogenic pathways. The likelihood is then raised that subpopulations of …

Punishment And Rehabilitation Views Of Social Work Majors And Non-Social Work Students: An Exploratory Study, Eric G. Lambert, Sudershan Pasupuleti, Reva I. Allen

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Knowledge About Breast Cancer And Mammography In Breast Cancer Screening Among Women Awaiting Mammography, Ayli̇n Yücel, Bumi̇n Deği̇rmenci̇, Murat Acar, Hülya Elli̇dokuz, Ramazan Albayrak, Alpay Haktanir

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

The purpose of this study was to evaluate knowledge about breast cancer and mammography in breast cancer screening among women awaiting mammographic examination. A cross-sectional survey was carried out of 298 women with an age range of 29-79 years through interview before mammographic examination. The questionnaire was designed specifically for this study, and a total of 100 points was given for all correct answers. Women's perception of susceptibility to breast cancer, severity of the disease, barriers to breast cancer screening, and perceived benefits of mammography were determined. Their knowledge about the risk factors of breast cancer and self-examination were also …

Patients' Knowledge Of The Intravenous Contrast Materials And Their Risks: A Cross-Sectional Survey, Ayli̇n Yücel, Bumi̇n Deği̇rmenci̇, Murat Acar, Hülya Elli̇dokuz, Ramazan Albayrak, Alpay Haktanir

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

The aim of this study was to determine the level of knowledge about the intravenous contrast materials (IVCMs) and their risks in patients in an Anatolian city. The study included 156 outpatients who applied for radiographic studies requiring the use of IVCMs. The data were obtained by face-to-face interviews before the radiographic examination. The questionnaire was designed specifically for this study and the respondent was given a total score of 100 points for all correct answers. Patients' information about the IVCMs, their risks, and their role in the diagnosis of some diseases were investigated with this survey. ANOVA, t-test and …

Mitochondrial Dna Mutations, Apoptosis, And The Misfolded Protein Response., Justin L. Mott, Dekui Zhang, Hans Peter Zassenhaus

Journal Articles: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Studies of transgenic mice with accelerated accumulation of mtDNA mutations specifically in the heart lead us to propose that apoptotic signaling and cell death is central to the pathogenesis of mtDNA mutations in aging. It is the cellular response to that apoptotic signaling and the organ?s compensatory response to a loss of cells that specify the phenotype of an accumulation of mtDNA mutations. In the heart, cardiomyocytes induce a vigorous anti-apoptotic, pro-survival response to counteract mitochondrial apoptotic signaling. The heart up-regulates contractility of remaining myocytes in order to maintain cardiac output. We hypothesize that mutant mitochondrial proteins originate apoptotic signaling …

The Use Of Time-Resolved Fluorescence Imaging In The Study Of Protein Kinase C Localisation In Cells., Christopher D Stubbs, Stanley W Botchway, Simon J Slater, Anthony W Parker

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Two-photon-excitation fluorescence lifetime imaging (2P-FLIM) was used to investigate the association of protein kinase C alpha (PKCalpha) with caveolin in CHO cells. PKCalpha is found widely in the cytoplasm and nucleus in most cells. Upon activation, as a result of increased intracellular Ca2+ and production of DAG, through G-protein coupled-phospholipase C signalling, PKC translocates to a variety of regions in the cell where it phosphorylates and interacts with many signalling pathways. Due to its wide distribution, discerning a particular interaction from others within the cell is extremely difficult. RESULTS: Fluorescence energy transfer (FRET), between GFP-PKCalpha and DsRed-caveolin, was used …

Global Gene Expression Profiling Of Cells Overexpressing Smc3., Giancarlo Ghiselli, Chang-Gong Liu

Department of Microbiology and Immunology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The Structural Maintenance of Chromosome 3 protein (SMC3) plays an essential role during the sister chromatid separation, is involved in DNA repair and recombination and participates in microtubule-mediated intracellular transport. SMC3 is frequently elevated in human colon carcinoma and overexpression of the protein transforms murine NIH3T3 fibroblasts. In order to gain insight into the mechanism of SMC3-mediated tumorigenesis a gene expression profiling was performed on human 293 cells line stably overexpressing SMC3. RESULTS: Biotinylated complementary RNA (cRNA) was used for hybridization of a cDNAmicroarray chip harboring 18,861 65-mer oligos derived from the published dEST sequences. After filtering, the hybridization …

Role Of The Hypervariable Hinge Region Of Phosphoprotein P Of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus In Viral Rna Synthesis And Assembly Of Infectious Virus Particles, Subash C. Das, Asit K. Pattnaik

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

The phosphoprotein (P protein) of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is an essential subunit of the viral RNAdependent RNA polymerase and has multiple functions residing in its different domains. In the present study, we examined the role of the hypervariable hinge region of P protein in viral RNA synthesis and recovery of infectious VSV by using transposon-mediated insertion mutagenesis and deletion mutagenesis. We observed that insertions of 19-amino-acid linker sequences at various positions within this region affected replication and transcription functions of the P protein to various degrees. Interestingly, one insertion mutant was completely defective in both transcription and replication. Using …

Faculty Publications 2004, Lsu Health Sciences Center New Orleans

Historical Faculty Publications

This Faculty bibliography contains 1027 publications.

Gene Therapy And Targeted Toxins For Glioma, James Curtin, Gwendalyn King, Marianela Candolfi, Kurt Kroeger, Pedro Lowenstein, Maria Castro

Articles

The most common primary brain tumor in adults is glioblastoma. These tumors are highly invasive and aggressive with a mean survival time of nine to twelve months from diagnosis to death. Current treatment modalities are unable to significantly prolong survival in patients diagnosed with glioblastoma. As such, glioma is an attractive target for developing novel therapeutic approaches utilizing gene therapy. This review will examine the available preclinical models for glioma including xenographs, syngeneic and genetic models. Several promising therapeutic targets are currently being pursued in pre-clinical investigations. These targets will be reviewed by mechanism of action, i.e., conditional cytotoxic, targeted …

Combining Cytotoxic And Immune-Mediated Gene Therapy To Treat Brain Tumors, James Curtin, Gwendalyn King, Marianela Candolfi, Remy Greeno, Kurt Kroeger, Pedro Lowenstein, Maria Castro

Articles

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a type of intracranial brain tumor, for which there is no cure. In spite of advances in surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, patients die within a year of diagnosis. Therefore, there is a critical need to develop novel therapeutic approaches for this disease. Gene therapy, which is the use of genes or other nucleic acids as drugs, is a powerful new treatment strategy which can be developed to treat GBM. Several treatment modalities are amenable for gene therapy implementation, e.g. conditional cytotoxic approaches, targeted delivery of toxins into the tumor mass, immune stimulatory strategies, and these will all …

Hinderin, A Five-Domains Protein Including Coiled-Coil Motifs That Binds To Smc3., Chirag A Patel, Giancarlo Ghiselli

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The structural maintenance of chromosome proteins SMC1 and SMC3 play an important role in the maintenance of chromosomal integrity by preventing the premature separation of the sister chromatids at the onset of anaphase. The two proteins are constitutive components of the multimeric complex cohesin and form dimers by interacting at their central globular regions. RESULTS: In order to identify proteins that by binding to SMC3 may interfere with the protein dimerization process, a human cDNA library was screened by the yeast two-hybrid system by using the hinge region of SMC3 as bait. This has lead to the identification of …

Palm Is Expressed In Both Developing And Adult Mouse Lens And Retina., Meryl Castellini, Louise V Wolf, Bharesh K Chauhan, Deni S Galileo, Manfred W Kilimann, Ales Cvekl, Melinda K Duncan

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Paralemmin (Palm) is a prenyl-palmitoyl anchored membrane protein that can drive membrane and process formation in neurons. Earlier studies have shown brain preferred Palm expression, although this protein is a major water insoluble protein in chicken lens fiber cells and the Palm gene may be regulated by Pax6. METHODS: The expression profile of Palm protein in the embryonic, newborn and adult mouse eye as well as dissociated retinal neurons was determined by confocal immunofluorescence. The relative mRNA levels of Palm, Palmdelphin (PalmD) and paralemmin2 (Palm2) in the lens and retina were determined by real time rt-PCR. RESULTS: In the …

The Effect Of Antioxidant Supplementation On Human Sperm Cryopreservation, Katrina E. Taylor

Theses : Honours

Semen cryopreservation has an important role in assisted reproductive technology however, the cooling, freezing and thawing processes often result in a significant loss of sperm motility, viability and nuclear integrity. The destructive effects of cryopreservation are significantly exacerbated in samples exhibiting low sperm number and poor morphological characteristics. Recent research into infertility has focused on the correlation between excessive oxidation and subfertility, in particular radical induced lipid peroxidation within the phospholipid bilayer of the spermatozoon plasma membrane and the promotion of cellular damage as a result of antioxidant insufficiency. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of …