Digital Commons Network^™

Wholly Rickettsia! Reconstructed Metabolic Profile Of The Quintessential Bacterial Parasite Of Eukaryotic Cells, Timothy P. Driscoll, Victoria I. Verhoeve, Mark L. Guillotte, Stephanie S. Lehman, Sherri A. Rennoll, Magda Beier-Sexton, M Sayeedur Rahman, Abdu F. Azad, Joseph J. Gillespie

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Reductive genome evolution has purged many metabolic pathways from obligate intracellular Rickettsia (Alphaproteobacteria; Rickettsiaceae). While some aspects of host-dependent rickettsial metabolism have been characterized, the array of host-acquired metabolites and their cognate transporters remains unknown. This dearth of information has thwarted efforts to obtain an axenic Rickettsia culture, a major impediment to conventional genetic approaches. Using phylogenomics and computational pathway analysis, we reconstructed the Rickettsia metabolic and transport network, identifying 51 host-acquired metabolites (only 21 previously characterized) needed to compensate for degraded biosynthesis pathways. In the absence of glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway, cell envelope glycocon- jugates are synthesized …

Comparison Of Photon Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy, Intensity-Modulated Proton Therapy, And Intensity-Modulated Carbon Ion Therapy For Delivery Of Hypo-Fractionated Thoracic Radiotherapy, Alexander Chi, Lien-Chun Lin, Sijin Wen, Wen-Chen Hsi, Haijuan Yan

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Purpose

The aim of the present study was to compare the dose distribution generated from photon volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT), and intensity modulated carbon ion therapy (IMCIT) in the delivery of hypo-fractionated thoracic radiotherapy.

Methods and materials

Ten selected patients who underwent thoracic particle therapy between 2015 and 2016 were re-planned to receive a relative biological effectiveness (RBE) weighted dose of 60 Gy (i.e., GyE) in 15 fractions delivered with VMAT, IMPT, or IMCIT with the same optimization criteria. Treatment plans were then compared.

Results

There were no significant differences in target volume dose …

Enriching Traditional Protein-Protein Interaction Networks With Alternative Conformations Of Proteins, Farideh Halakou, Emel S. Kilic, Engin Cukuroglu, Ozlem Keskin, Attila Gursoy

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Traditional Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) networks, which use a node and edge representation, lack some valuable information about the mechanistic details of biological processes. Mapping protein structures to these PPI networks not only provides structural details of each interaction but also helps us to find the mutual exclusive interactions. Yet it is not a comprehensive representation as it neglects the conformational changes of proteins which may lead to different interactions, functions, and downstream signalling. In this study, we proposed a new representation for structural PPI networks inspecting the alternative conformations of proteins. We performed a large-scale study by creating breast cancer …

Distinct Mechanisms Of Biotic And Chemical Elicitors Enable Additive Elicitation Of The Anticancer Phytoalexin Glyceollin I, Kelli Farrell, Md Asraful Jahan, Nik Kovinich

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Phytoalexins are metabolites biosynthesized in plants in response to pathogen, environmental, and chemical stresses that often have potent bioactivities, rendering them promising for use as therapeutics or scaffolds for pharmaceutical development. Glyceollin I is an isoflavonoid phytoalexin from soybean that exhibits potent anticancer activities and is not economical to synthesize. Here, we tested a range of source tissues from soybean, in addition to chemical and biotic elicitors, to understand how to enhance the bioproduction of glyceollin I. Combining the inorganic chemical silver nitrate (AgNO₃) with the wall glucan elicitor (WGE) from the soybean pathogen Phytophthora sojae had an …

A State Of The Science On Influential Factors Related To Sun Protective Behaviors To Prevent Skin Cancer In Adults, Amy F. Bruce, Laurie Theeke, Jennifer Mallow

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Skin cancer rates have risen over the past decades, making it imperative that adults understand the need for protection from sun exposure. Though some risk factors have been identified as predictive for skin cancers, there is a lack of synthesized information about factors that influence adults in their decisions to engage in sun protective behaviors. The purpose of this paper is to present the current state of the science on influential factors for sun protective behaviors in the general adult population. A rigorous literature search inclusive of a generally White, Caucasian, and non-Hispanic adult population was performed, and screening yielded …

Seed Production, Viability, And Reproductive Limits Of The Invasive Ailanthus Altissima (Tree-Of-Heaven) Within Invaded Environments†, Kristen L. Wickert, Eric S. Oneal, Donald D. Davis, Matthew T. Kasson

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

The success of some invasive tree species is attributed, in part, to high fecundity in the form of sexual propagules. If invasive trees produce more seed annually than co-occurring native trees, they will have a greater ability to disperse and establish across the landscape. In this study, seed production of female Ailanthus trees was investigated to determine (1) reproductive age limits; (2) annual and cumulative seed output; and (3) seed viability. Existing data on Ailanthus seed production were combined with a novel dataset to compare variability in seed production and explore relationships with tree diameter and age. Results from this …

The Role Of Laminins In Cartilaginous Tissues: From Development To Regeneration, Y Sun, T L. Wang, W S. Toh, M Pei

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

As a key molecule of extracellular matrix, laminin provides a delicate microenvironment for cell functions. Recent findings suggest that laminins expressed by cartilage-forming cells (chondrocytes, progenitor cells and stem cells) could promote chondrogenesis. However, few papers outline the effect of laminins on providing a favorable matrix microenvironment for cartilage regeneration. In this review, we delineated the expression of laminins in hyaline cartilage, fibrocartilage and cartilage-like tissue (nucleus pulposus) throughout several developmental stages. We also examined the effect of laminins on the biological activities of chondrocytes, including adhesion, migration and survival. Furthermore, we scrutinized the potential influence of various laminin isoforms …

Two Types Of Bone Necrosis In The Middle Triassic Pistosaurus Longaevus Bones: The Results Of Integrated Studies, Dawid Surmik, Bruce M. Rothschild, Mateusz Dulski, Katarzyna Janiszewska

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Avascular necrosis, diagnosed on the basis of either a specific pathological modification of the articular surfaces of bone or its radiologic appearance in vertebral centra, has been recognized in many Mesozoic marine reptiles as well as in present-day marine mammals. Its presence in the zoological and paleontologic record is usually associated with decompression syndrome, a disease that affects secondarily aquatic vertebrates that could dive. Bone necrosis can also be caused by infectious processes, but it differs in appearance from decompression syndrome-associated aseptic necrosis. Herein, we report evidence of septic necrosis in the proximal articular surface of the femur of a …

Impact Of Built-Up-Litter And Commercial Antimicrobials On Salmonella And Campylobacter Contamination Of Broiler Carcasses Processed At A Pilot Mobile Poultry-Processing Unit, Kawang Li, Lacey Lemonakis, Brian Glover, Joseph Moritz, Cangliang Shen

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

The small-scale mobile poultry-processing unit (MPPU) produced raw poultry products are of particular food safety concern due to exemption of USDA poultry products inspection act. Limited studies reported the microbial quality and safety of MPPU-processed poultry carcasses. This study evaluated the Salmonella and Campylobacter prevalence in broiler ceca and on MPPU-processed carcasses and efficacy of commercial antimicrobials against Campylobacter jejuni on broilers. In study I, straight-run Hubbard × Cobb broilers (147) were reared for 38 days on clean-shavings (CS, 75) or built-up-litter (BUL, 72) and processed at an MPPU. Aerobic plate counts (APCs), coliforms, Escherichia coli, and yeast/molds (Y/M) …

Mti-101 Treatment Inducing Activation Of Stim1 And Trpc1 Expression Is A Determinant Of Response In Multiple Myeloma, Michael F. Emmons, Nagaraju Anreddy, Kayla Steinberger, Shengyu Yang, Mark Mclaughlin, Ariosto Silva, Lori A. Hazlehurst

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

The emergence of drug resistance continues to be a major hurdle towards improving patient outcomes for the treatment of Multiple Myeloma. MTI-101 is a first-in-class peptidomimetic that binds a CD44/ITGA4 containing complex and triggers necrotic cell death in multiple myeloma cell lines. In this report, we show that acquisition of resistance to MTI-101 correlates with changes in expression of genes predicted to attenuate Ca2+ flux. Consistent with the acquired resistant genotype, MTI-101 treatment induces a rapid and robust increase in intracellular Ca2+ levels in the parental cells; a finding that was attenuated in the acquired drug resistant cell line. Mechanistically, …

Long Non-Coding Rna Atb Promotes Malignancy Of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma By Regulating Mir-200b/Kindlin-2 Axis, Zhongwen Li, Xiaoliang Wu, Qi Shen, Wen Luo, Chuangzhong Deng, Qianghua Zhou, Xinru Chen, Yanjie Li, Zuanfu Lim, Xing Wang, Jiahong Wang, Xianzi Yang

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death, especially in China. In addition, the prognosis of late stage patients is extremely poor. However, the biological significance of the long non-coding RNA lnc-ATB and its potential role in ESCC remain to be documented. In this study, we investigated the role of lnc-ATB and the underlying mechanism promoting its oncogenic activity in ESCC. Expression of lnc-ATB was higher in ESCC tissues and cell lines than that in normal counterparts. Upregulated lnc-ATB served as an independent prognosis predictor of ESCC patients. Moreover, loss-of-function assays in ESCC cells …

Expression Of Cocaine- And Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript (Cart) In Hen Ovary, Pengfei Li, Jianshan Xie, Xiaolei Yao, Wenzhong Liu, Jianbo Yao, Zhiwei Zhu, Lihua Lyu

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART), discovered initially by via differential display RT-PCR analysis of brains of rats administered cocaine, is expressed mainly in central nervous system or neuronal origin cells, and is involved in a wide range of behaviors, such as regulation of food intake, energy homeostasis, and reproduction. The hens egg-laying rate mainly depends on the developmental status of follicles, expression of CART have not been identified from hen follicles, the regulatory mechanisms of CART biological activities are still unknown. The objective of this study was to characterize the mRNA expression of CART in hen follicular granulosa cells and …

Heterogeneous Vascular Bed Responses To Pulmonary Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticle Exposure, Alaeddin B. Abukabda, Phoebe A. Stapleton, Carroll R. Mcbride, Jinghai Yi, Timothy R. Nurkiewicz

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

A growing body of research links engineered nanomaterial (ENM) exposure to adverse cardiovascular endpoints. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of ENM exposure on vascular reactivity in discrete segments so that we may determine the most sensitive levels of the vasculature where these negative cardiovascular effects are manifest. We hypothesized that acute nano-TiO2exposure differentially affects reactivity with a more robust impairment in the microcirculation. Sprague-Dawley rats (8–10 weeks) were exposed to nano-TiO2via intratracheal instillation (20, 100, or 200 µg suspended per 250 µL of vehicle) 24 h prior to vascular assessments. A serial assessment across …

Cultivar-Specific Changes In Primary And Secondary Metabolites In Pak Choi (Brassica Rapa, Chinensis Group) By Methyl Jasmonate, Moo J. Kim, Yu-Chun Chiu, Na K. Kim, Hye M. Park, Choong H. Lee, John A. Juvik, Kang-Mo Ku

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Glucosinolates, their hydrolysis products and primary metabolites were analyzed in five pak choi cultivars to determine the effect of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) on metabolite flux from primary metabolites to glucosinolates and their hydrolysis products. Among detected glucosinolates (total 14 glucosinolates; 9 aliphatic, 4 indole and 1 aromatic glucosinolates), indole glucosinolate concentrations (153–229%) and their hydrolysis products increased with MeJA treatment. Changes in the total isothiocyanates by MeJA were associated with epithiospecifier protein activity estimated as nitrile formation. Goitrin, a goitrogenic compound, significantly decreased by MeJA treatment in all cultivars. Changes in glucosinolates, especially aliphatic, significantly differed among cultivars. Primary metabolites …

Peripheral Blood Akap7 Expression As An Early Marker For Lymphocyte-Mediated Post-Stroke Blood Brain Barrier Disruption, Grant C. O'Connell, Madison B. Treadway, Ashley B. Petrone, Connie S. Tennant, Noelle Lucke-Wold, Paul D. Chantler, Taura L. Barr

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Our group recently identified 16 genes whose peripheral blood expression levels are differentially regulated in acute ischemic stroke. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the early expression levels of any of these 16 genes are predictive for post-stroke blood brain barrier (BBB) disruption. Transcriptional expression levels of candidate genes were measured in peripheral blood sampled from ischemic stroke patients at emergency department admission, and BBB permeability was assessed at 24 hour follow up via perfusion-weighted imaging. Early heightened expression levels of AKAP7, a gene encoding a protein kinase A-binding scaffolding molecule, were significantly associated with BBB …

Inhibition Of Vegf And Angiopoietin-2 To Reduce Brain Metastases Of Breast Cancer Burden, Kaci A. Bohn, Chris E. Adkins, Mohamed I. Nounou, Paul R. Lockman

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

For metastases in the central nervous system, angiogenesis enhances metastatic potential and promotes progression. Primary factors which drive vessel growth are vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiopoietin-2. Preclinical models show inhibition of either factor reduces metastases spread and inhibits growth. This work sets out to answer two questions in a preclinical mouse model. First, whether the combined inhibition of VEGF and angiopoietin-2, reduces passive permeability and limits drug uptake into brain metastases; and second, whether this inhibition reduces metastases burden in brain. We observed combinatorial inhibition of VEGF and angiopoietin-2, decreased (p < 0.05) angiogenesis and vascular branching in an aortic ring assay and decreased (p < 0.05) endothelial wound closure times. Using a brain metastases of breast cancer model (induced by intracardiac injections of brain seeking MDA-MB-231Br cells or 4T1Br cells), we observed, similar to VEGF, angiopoetin-2 expression correlates to increased angiogenesis (p < 0.05) and increased lesion permeability. To determine efficacy, animals were administered bevacizumab plus L1-10 (angiopoietin inhibitor) twice per week until neurological symptoms developed. Lesion permeability significantly decreased by ∼50% (p < 0.05) compared to untreated lesions, but remained ∼25% greater (p < 0.0%) than brain. In subsequent experiments, animals were administered similar regimens but sacrificed on day 32. The number of metastatic lesions developed was significantly (p < 0.001) reduced in the bevacizumab group (56%) and combination group (86%). Lesions’ size was reduced in bevacizumab treated lesions (∼67%) and bevacizumab and L1-10 treated lesions (∼78%) developing area < 0.5 mm2. In summary, combinatorial inhibition of VEGF and angiopoietin reduces lesion permeability and brain metastatic burden.

Male Fertility Status Is Associated With Dna Methylation Signatures In Sperm And Transcriptomic Profiles Of Bovine Preimplantation Embryos, Jenna Kropp, Jose A. Carrillo, Hadjer Namous, Alyssa Daniels, Sana M. Salih, Jiuzhou Song, Hasan Khatib

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Background

Infertility in dairy cattle is a concern where reduced fertilization rates and high embryonic loss are contributing factors. Studies of the paternal contribution to reproductive performance are limited. However, recent discoveries have shown that, in addition to DNA, sperm delivers transcription factors and epigenetic components that are required for fertilization and proper embryonic development. Hence, characterization of the paternal contribution at the time of fertilization is warranted. We hypothesized that sire fertility is associated with differences in DNA methylation patterns in sperm and that the embryonic transcriptomic profiles are influenced by the fertility status of the bull. Embryos were …

Life After Stroke In Appalachia, Laurie Theeke, A Noelle Lucke-Wold, Jennifer Mallow, Patricia Hortsman

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Objective

The purpose of this study was to describe the structure of meaning in the experience of surviving stroke for adults living in Appalachia.

Methods

This qualitative phenomenological study includes a sample of 6 adult survivors of ischemic stroke who were discharged from either a community or university hospital to home in the Appalachian region. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, transcribed, and analyzed thematically by two investigators. The explicated themes were verified by the survivors as representative of their experience.

Results

Five main themes emerged: 1) Frustration with new physical and functional impairment, 2) Negative emotions including anger, guilt, …

Extramedullary Solitary Plasmacytoma: Demonstrating The Role Of 18f-Fdg Pet Imaging, Archana Gautam, Kamal K. Sahu, Ahsan Alamgir, Imran Siddiqi, Sikander Ailawadhi

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

An Extramedullary Plasmacytoma (EMP) is characterized by a neoplastic proliferation of clonal plasma cells outside the medullary cavity. EMPs are a rare occurrence compared to other malignant plasma cell disorders and account for approximately 3-5% of plasma-cell neoplasms. Although most cases of EMP are not immediately life threatening at diagnosis, EMPs can progress to Multiple Myeloma (MM) and thus, warrant monitoring. Currently, there are no standard guidelines for when and how to monitor patients who are diagnosed with or treated for a solitary plasmacytoma. We present a case of solitary EMP who was treated adequately and definitively but developed a …

Vascular Endothelial Overexpression Of Human Cyp2j2 (Tie2-Cyp2j2 Tr) Modulates Cardiac Oxylipin Profiles And Enhances Coronary Reactive Hyperemia In Mice, Ahmad Hanif, Matthew L. Edin, Darryl C. Zeldin, Chridtophe Morisseau, John R. Falck, Mohammed A. Nayeem

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Arachidonic acid is metabolized to epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) by cytochrome (CYP) P450 epoxygenases, and to ω-terminal hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs) by ω-hydroxylases. EETs and HETEs often have opposite biologic effects; EETs are vasodilatory and protect against ischemia/reperfusion injury, while ω-terminal HETEs are vasoconstrictive and cause vascular dysfunction. Other oxylipins, such as epoxyoctadecaenoic acids (EpOMEs), hydroxyoctadecadienoic acids (HODEs), and prostanoids also have varied vascular effects. Post-ischemic vasodilation in the heart, known as coronary reactive hyperemia (CRH), protects against potential damage to the heart muscle caused by ischemia. The relationship among CRH response to ischemia, in mice with altered levels of CYP2J epoxygenases …

Altering Calcium Influx For Selective Destruction Of Breast Tumor, Han-Gang Yu, Sarah Mclaughlin, Mackenzie Newman, Kathleen Brundage, Amanda Ammer, Karen Martin, James Coad

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Background

Human triple-negative breast cancer has limited therapeutic choices. Breast tumor cells have depolarized plasma membrane potential. Using this unique electrical property, we aim to develop an effective selective killing of triple-negative breast cancer.

Methods

We used an engineered L-type voltage-gated calcium channel (Cec), activated by membrane depolarization without inactivation, to induce excessive calcium influx in breast tumor cells. Patch clamp and flow cytometry were used in testing the killing selectivity and efficiency of human breast tumor cells in vitro. Bioluminescence and ultrasound imaging were used in studies of human triple-negative breast cancer cell MDA-MB-231 xenograft in mice. Histological staining, …

Nicotinic Acid Inhibits Glioma Invasion By Facilitating Snail1 Degradation, Jiejing Li, Jiagui Qu, Yu Shi, Mark Perfetto, Zhuxian Ping, Laura Christian, Hua Niu, Shuting Mei, Qin Zhang, Xiangcai Yang, Shuo Wei

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Malignant glioma is a formidable disease that commonly leads to death, mainly due to the invasion of tumor cells into neighboring tissues. Therefore, inhibition of tumor cell invasion may provide an effective therapy for malignant glioma. Here we report that nicotinic acid (NA), an essential vitamin, inhibits glioma cell invasion in vitro and in vivo. Treatment of the U251 glioma cells with NA in vitroresults in reduced invasion, which is accompanied by a loss of mesenchymal phenotype and an increase in cell-cell adhesion. At the molecular level, transcription of the adherens junction protein E-cadherin is upregulated, leading to …

Influence Of 1-Methylcyclopropene Treatment On Postharvest Quality Of Four Scab (Venturia Inaequalis)-Resistant Apple Cultivars, Moises Zucoloto, Kang-Mo Ku, Moo J. Kim, Mosbah M. Kushad

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Scab (Venturia inaequalis) is a very serious disease for apples causing up to 80% of loss in yield but there are only a few studies on postharvest quality of scab-resistant cultivars. In this study we evaluated the effect of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on fruit quality, total phenolic content, and antioxidant capacity after storage of four scab-resistant cultivars and compared to a standard cultivar, “Golden Delicious.” In general, ethylene production and respiration rates significantly differed among cultivars, between control and 1-MCP-treated fruits, and between storage duration regimes. 1-MCP treatment retarded fruit softening and lowered juice pH but storage effect on soluble solids …

Glucosinolates, Carotenoids, And Vitamins E And K Variation From Selected Kale And Collard Cultivars, Moo J. Kim, Yu-Chun Chiu, Kang-Mo Ku

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Glucosinolates, carotenoids, and fat-soluble vitamins E and K contents were analyzed from various kale and collard cultivars at mature stage. We found a significant difference in these phytonutrients among cultivars. Among kale cultivars, “Beira” and “Olympic Red” were the highest in the total glucosinolate and “Toscano” kale was the highest in total carotenoid content. “Scarlet” kale was highest in tocopherols. For collard, total glucosinolate was the highest in “Top Bunch” while carotenoids were the highest in “Green Glaze.” An accession PI261597 was the highest in phylloquinone. In addition to the total content of each phytonutrient class, their composition differed among …

Decellularization Strategies For Regenerative Medicine: From Processing Techniques To Applications, Anna Gilpin, Yong Yang

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

As the gap between donors and patients in need of an organ transplant continues to widen, research in regenerative medicine seeks to provide alternative strategies for treatment. One of the most promising techniques for tissue and organ regeneration is decellularization, in which the extracellular matrix (ECM) is isolated from its native cells and genetic material in order to produce a natural scaffold. The ECM, which ideally retains its inherent structural, biochemical, and biomechanical cues, can then be recellularized to produce a functional tissue or organ. While decellularization can be accomplished using chemical and enzymatic, physical, or combinative methods, each strategy …

Winter Grazing In A Grass-Fed System: Effect Of Stocking Density And Sequential Use Of Autumn-Stockpiled Grassland On Performance Of Yearling Steers, Domingo J. Mata-Padrino, E E D Felton, W B. Bryan, D P. Belesky

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Winter grazing can help reduce the need for purchased feeds in livestock production systems, when finishing cattle on pasture. Our objective was to evaluate the influence of stocking density and grazing stockpiled forage on performance of yearling steers during winter. Three grasslands were winter grazed for two years: I, naturalized pastureland, and II and III, sown and managed for hay production during the growing season but grazed in winter. Two stocking densities were used: low 7.41 and high 12.35 steers ha−1. Herbage mass was estimated before and after each grazing event, and disappearance (consumption, weathering, and trampling) was the difference …

Stabilization Of Hif-1Α And Hif-2Α, Up-Regulation Of Mycc And Accumulation Of Stabilized P53 Constitute Hallmarks Of Cns-Pnet Animal Model, Sergey Malchenko, Simone T. Srendni, Yingtao Bi, Naira V. Margaryan, Jerusha Boyineni, Indra Mohanam, Tandra Tomita, Ramana V. Davuluri, Marcelo B. Soares

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Recently, we described a new animal model of CNS primitive neuroectodermal tumors (CNS-PNET), which was generated by orthotopic transplantation of human Radial Glial (RG) cells into NOD-SCID mice’s brain sub-ventricular zone. In the current study we conducted comprehensive RNA-Seq analyses to gain insights on the mechanisms underlying tumorigenesis in this mouse model of CNS-PNET. Here we show that the RNA-Seq profiles derived from these tumors cluster with those reported for patients’ PNETs. Moreover, we found that (i) stabilization of HIF-1α and HIF-2α, which are involved in mediation of the hypoxic responses in the majority of cell types, (ii) up-regulation of …

Nano-Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Nano-Mri) Gives Personalized Medicine A New Perspective, Lorenzo Rosa, Jonathan Blackledge, Albert Boretti

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

This paper reviews some of the major and most recent advances in nanoscale-magnetic resonance imaging (nano-MRI) for personalized medicine (PM). Nano-MRI may drastically expand the capabilities of the traditional magnetic resonance images (MRI), down to the nanometer scale and possibly, in the near future, at the atomic scale. Nano-MRI is potentially able to observe structures which cannot be seen using today’s molecular imaging, with sensitivities of many billions of times better than MRI as currently used in hospitals, for example. The paper briefly reports on the foremost research themes in nano-MRI.

Phospholipid Binding To The Fak Catalytic Domain Impacts Function, Jessica E. Hall, Michael D. Schaller

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Focal adhesion kinase is an essential nonreceptor tyrosine kinase that plays an important role in development, in homeostasis and in the progression of human disease. Multiple stimuli activate FAK, which requires a change in structure from an autoinhibited to activated conformation. In the autoinhibited conformation the FERM domain associates with the catalytic domain of FAK and PI(4,5)P2 binding to the FERM domain plays a role in the release of autoinhibition, activating the enzyme. An in silico model of FAK/PI(4,5)P2 interaction suggests that residues on the catalytic domain interact with PI(4,5)P2, in addition to the known FERM domain PI(4,5)P2 binding site. …

Agonist Muscle Adaptation Accompanied By Antagonist Muscle Atrophy In The Hindlimb Of Mice Following Stretch-Shortening Contraction Training, Erik P. Rader, Marshall A. Naimo, James Ensey, Brent A. Baker

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Background: The vast majority of dynamometer-based animal models for investigation of the response to chronic muscle contraction exposure has been limited to analysis of isometric, lengthening, or shortening contractions in isolation. An exception to this has been the utilization of a rat model to study stretch-shortening contractions (SSCs), a sequence of consecutive isometric, lengthening, and shortening contractions common during daily activity and resistance-type exercise. However, the availability of diverse genetic strains of rats is limited. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to develop a dynamometer-based SSC training protocol to induce increased muscle mass and performance in plantarflexor muscles …