Digital Commons Network^™

Abscisic And Jasmonic Acids Contribute To Soybean Tolerance To The Soybean Aphid (Aphis Glycines Matsumura), Kaitlin M. Chapman, Lia Marchi-Werle, Thomas E. Hunt, Tiffany M. Heng-Moss, Joe Louis

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Plant resistance can provide effective, economical, and sustainable pest control. Tolerance to the soybean aphid has been identified and confirmed in the soybean KS4202. Although its resistance mechanisms are not fully understood, evidence suggests that enhanced detoxification of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is an active system under high aphid infestation. We further explored tolerance by evaluating the differences in constitutive and aphid-induced defenses in KS4202 through the expression of selected defense-related transcripts and the levels of the phytohormones abscisic acid (ABA), jasmonic acid (JA), JA-isoleucine (JA-Ile), cis-(+)-12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (OPDA), and salicylic acid (SA) over several time points. Higher constitutive levels …

Parental Rnai Suppression Of Chromatin Remodeling Genes To Control Coleopteran Pests, Blair D. Siegfried, Kenneth E. Narva, Kanika Arora, Sarah E. Worden, Chitvan Khajuria, Elane Fishilevich, Nicholas P. Storer, Meghan Frey, Ronda L. Hamm, Ana Maria Velez

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

This disclosure concerns nucleic acid molecules and meth ods of use thereof for control of hemipteran pests through RNA interference - mediated inhibition of target coding and transcribed non - coding sequences in hemipteran pests. The disclosure also concerns methods for making transgenic plants that express nucleic acid molecules useful for the control of hemipteran pests, and the plant cells and plants obtained thereby.

Rna Interference Of The Muscle Actin Gene In Bed Bugs: Exploring Injection Versus Topical Application For Dsrna Delivery, Sanjay Basnet, Shripat T. Kamble

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Bed bugs are one the most troublesome household pests that feed primarily on human blood. RNA interference (RNAi) is currently being pursued as a potential tool for insect population management and has shown efficacy against some phytophagous insects. We evaluated the different techniques to deliver dsRNA specific to bed bug muscle actin (dsactin) into bed bugs. Initially, stability of dsRNA in human blood was studied to evaluate the feasibility of feeding method. Adult bed bugs were injected with dsRNA between last thoracic segment and first abdominal segment on the ventral side, with a dose of 0.2 μg dsactin …

In-Hive Acaricides Alter Biochemical And Morphological Indicators Of Honey Bee Nutrition, Immunity, And Development, Alison M. Reeves, Scott T. O'Neal, Richard D. Fell, Carlyle C. Brewster, Troy D. Anderson

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The honey bee is a widely managed crop pollinator that provides the agricultural industry with the sustainability and economic viability needed to satisfy the food and fiber needs of our society. Excessive exposure to apicultural pesticides is one of many factors that has been implicated in the reduced number of managed bee colonies available for crop pollination services. The goal of this study was to assess the impact of exposure to commonly used, beekeeper-applied apicultural acaricides on established biochemical indicators of bee nutrition and immunity, as well as morphological indicators of growth and development. The results described here demonstrate that …

Mirdis: A Web Tool For Endogenous And Exogenous Microrna Discovery Based On Deep-Sequencing Data Analysis, Hanyuan Zhang, Bruno Vieira Resende E Silva, Juan Cui

School of Computing: Faculty Publications

Small RNA sequencing is the most widely used tool for microRNA (miRNA) discovery, and shows great potential for the efficient study of miRNA cross-species transport, i.e., by detecting the presence of exogenous miRNA sequences in the host species. Because of the increased appreciation of dietary miRNAs and their far-reaching implication in human health, research interests are currently growing with regard to exogenous miRNAs bioavailability, mechanisms of cross-species transport and miRNA function in cellular biological processes. In this article, we present microRNA Discovery (miRDis), a new small RNA sequencing data analysis pipeline for both endogenous and exogenous miRNA detection. Specifically, we …

Cosmic-Ray Neutron Probes On The High Plains Of Nebraska: Applications To Large Scale Agriculture, Trenton E. Franz, Darin Desilets, Ammar Wahbi

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Faculty Publications

Cosmic-rays have some surprising applications in precision agriculture. The cosmic-ray neutron probe (CRNP), when implemented as a roving instrument, can be used to create spatial maps of soil moisture, and from these maps soil hydraulic properties can be inferred. In this work, we combine data from a mobile CRNP with laboratory samples to make spatial predictions of soil hydraulic properties for select field sites around the state of Nebraska. These maps, which focus on wilting point and field capacity, can, in turn, be used to determine the optimal timing and application rates for irrigation farmers, many of whom have the …

Community Health Worker Employer Survey: Perspectives On Chw Workforce Development In The Midwest, Virginia Chaidez, Angela L. Palmer-Wackerly, Kate Trout

Department of Communication Studies: Faculty Publications

A statewide Community Health Worker Employer Survey was administered to various clinical, community, and faith-based organizations (n = 240) across a range of rural and urban settings in the Midwest. At least 80% of participants agreed or strongly agreed that items characterized as supervisory support were present in their work environment. Thirty-six percent of respondents currently employed CHWs, over half (51%) of survey respondents reported seeing the need to hire/work with more CHWs, and 44% saw the need for CHWs increasing in the future. Regarding CHW support, a majority of respondents indicated networking opportunities (63%), paid time for networking (80%), …

Shared Mechanisms Among Probiotic Taxa: Implications For General Probiotic Claims, Mary Ellen Sanders, Andrew K. Benson, Sarah Lebeer, Daniel J. Merenstein, Todd R. Klaenhammer

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Strain-specificity of probiotic effects has been a cornerstone principle of probiotic science for decades. Certainly, some important mechanisms are present in only a few probiotic strains. But scientific advances now reveal commonalities among members of certain taxonomic groups of probiotic microbes. Some clinical benefits likely derive from these shared mechanisms, suggesting that sub-species-specific, species specific or genus-specific probiotic effects exist. Human trials are necessary to confirm specific health benefits. However, a strain that has not been tested in human efficacy trials may meet the minimum definition of the term ‘probiotic’ if it is a member of a well-studied probiotic species …

Development Of Omega-3-Rich Camelina Sativa Seed Oil Emulsions, Henok D. Belayneh, Randy L. Wehling, Yue Zhang, Ozan N. Ciftci

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Camelina sativa seed is an underutilized oil source rich in omega-3 fatty acids; however, camelina oil is not fully explored for food applications. Its high omega-3 content makes it susceptible to oxidation, which may limit food applications. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to investigate the potential of camelina seed oil to form physically and oxidatively stable emulsions as a potential delivery system for omega-3 fatty acids. Effects of homogenization conditions, namely, pressure (15 MPa-30 MPa), number of passes (1,3,5, and 7), and type of homogenizers (high pressure and high shear) on the structural properties and stability of …

Shared Mechanisms Among Probiotic Taxa: Implications For General Probiotic Claims, Mary Ellen Sanders, Andrew K. Benson, Sarah Lebeer, Daniel J. Merenstein, Todd R. Klaenhammer

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Strain-specificity of probiotic effects has been a cornerstone principle of probiotic science for decades. Certainly, some important mechanisms are present in only a few probiotic strains. But scientific advances now reveal commonalities among members of certain taxonomic groups of probiotic microbes. Some clinical benefits likely derive from these shared mechanisms, suggesting that sub-species-specific, speciesspecific or genus-specific probiotic effects exist. Human trials are necessary to confirm specific health benefits. However, a strain that has not been tested in human efficacy trials may meet the minimum definition of the term ‘probiotic’ if it is a member of a well-studied probiotic species expressing …

Probiotic Bifidobacterium Strains And Galactooligosaccharides Improve Intestinal Barrier Function In Obese Adults But Show No Synergism When Used Together As Synbiotics, Janina A. Krumbeck, Heather E. Rasmussen, Robert W. Hutkins, Jennifer L. Clarke, Krista Shawron, Ali Keshavarzian, Jens Walter

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Background: One way to improve both the ecological performance and functionality of probiotic bacteria is by combining them with a prebiotic in the form of a synbiotic. However, the degree to which such synbiotic formulations improve probiotic strain functionality in humans has not been tested systematically. Our goal was to use a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-arm clinical trial in obese humans to compare the ecological and physiological impact of the prebiotic galactooligosaccharides (GOS) and the probiotic strains Bifidobacterium adolescentis IVS-1 (autochthonous and selected via in vivo selection) and Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12 (commercial probiotic allochthonous to the human gut) when used …

Role Of Whole Grains Versus Fruits And Vegetables In Reducing Subclinical Inflammation And Promoting Gastrointestinal Health In Individuals Affected By Overweight And Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Julianne C. Kopf, Mallory J. Suhr, Jennifer L. Clarke, Seong-Il Eyun, Jean-Jack M. Riethoven, Amanda E. Ramer-Tait, Devin J. Rose

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Background: Whole grains (WG) and fruits and vegetables (FV) have been shown to reduce the risk of metabolic disease, possibly via modulation of the gut microbiota. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of increasing intake of either WG or FV on inflammatory markers and gut microbiota composition.

Methods: A randomized parallel arm feeding trial was completed on forty-nine subjects with overweight or obesity and low intakes of FV and WG. Individuals were randomized into three groups (3 servings/d provided): WG, FV, and a control (refined grains). Stool and blood samples were collected at the beginning of …

Changes In Enzymatic Activities And Functionality Of Whole Wheat Flour Due To Steaming Of Wheat Kernels, Rachana Poudel, Devin J. Rose

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

The effects of steaming wheat kernels on lipolytic degradation of resulting whole flour was studied by quantifying enzyme activities and lipid degradation products during storage. Lipase, lipoxygenase, polyphenol oxidase, and peroxidase activities were decreased by up to 81%, 63%, 22%, and 34%, respectively, as the time of steaming increased up to 90 s. Steaming had no effect on starch and gluten properties. Upon storage free fatty acids decreased with respect to time of steaming. Time of steaming did not affect lipid oxidation in flour; however, total carbonyls produced in dough made from stored flour were decreased with the increase in …

Reduced Colonic Mucin Degradation In Breastfed Infants Colonized By Bifidobacterium Longum Subsp. Infantis Evc001, Sercan Karav, Giorgio Casaburi, Steven A. Frese

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Mucin glycoproteins play an important role in protecting the gut epithelium by keeping gut microbes from direct contact with the gut epithelium while allowing for diffusion of small molecules from the lumen to the epithelium. The mucin glycocalyx can be degraded by gut bacteria such as Bacteroides and Akkermansia, but other bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium longum subsp. Infantis, cannot consume mucin glycans. Untargeted mass spectrometry profiles were compared to microbiome profiles to assess how different gut microbiomes affect colonic mucin degradation. Samples obtained from nine infants colonized by Bifidobacterium infantis EVC001 and from 10 infants colonized by higher …

Stability Of The Phenolic Compounds And Antioxidant Capacity Of Five Fruit (Apple, Orange, Grape, Pomelo And Kiwi) Juices During In Vitro-Simulated Gastrointestinal Digestion, Wei Quan, Yadan Tao, Mei Lu, Bo Yuan, Jie Chen, Maomao Zeng, Fang Qin, Fengxian Guo, Zhiyoung He

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

The in vitro digestive stability of phenolic compounds and the antioxidant capacity of five kinds of commonly consumed fruit juices in the daily diet, including apple juice (AJ), orange juice (OJ), grape juice (GJ), pomelo juice (PJ) and kiwifruit juice (KJ), were studied. Following in vitro digestion, the total phenolic (TP) content of fruit juices decreased to different extents by 35%, 25.3%, 23.5%, 22.2% and 7.8% for KJ, OJ, PJ, GJ and AJ, respectively. The individual phenolic content showed similar changes to the TP content, showing reductions of naringenin-trisaccharide in OJ and PJ, epicatechin in GJ, and chlorogenic acid in …

Metabolic Syndrome, Gut Microbiome And Dietary Bioactive Peptides, An Unexplored Triad, Rohita Sinha, Jennifer Clarke, Jean-Jack Riethoven

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

The gut microbiome is a complex, biochemically rich and essential component of the human metabolic system. It has been our understanding for very long that the gut microbes are primarily there to digest the undigested food (mainly fibers), get nourishment, and in return release metabolites helping host cells — short-chain fatty acids produced by gut microbes are a great source of energy for the colonocytes. It is only in the last decade, with advancements of DNA sequencing platforms, that we are lettered about the association between the gut microbial composition and metabolic disorders such as obesity, dysglycemia, dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular …

Commensal Escherichia Coli Strains Can Promote Intestinal Inflammation Via Differential Interleukin-6 Production, Hatem Kittana, Joao Carlos Gomes-Neto, Kari Heck, Abby L. Geis, Rafael R. Segura Munoz, Liz A. Cody, Robert J. Schmaltz, Laure B. Bindels, Rohita Sinha, Jesse M. Hostetter, Andrew K. Benson, Amanda E. Ramer-Tait

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Escherichia coli is a facultative anaerobic symbiont found widely among mammalian gastrointestinal tracts. Several human studies have reported increased commensal E. coli abundance in the intestine during inflammation; however, host immunological responses toward commensal E. coli during inflammation are not well-defined. Here, we show that colonization of gnotobiotic mice with different genotypes of commensal E. coli isolated from healthy conventional microbiota mice and representing distinct populations of E. coli elicited strain-specific disease phenotypes and immunopathological changes following treatment with the inflammatory stimulus, dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). Production of the inflammatory cytokines GM-CSF, IL-6, and IFN-y was a hallmark of the …

Food-Derived Bioactive Peptides In Human Health: Challenges And Opportunities, Subhadeep Chakrabarti, Snigdha Guha, Kaustav Majumder

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Recent scientific evidence suggests that food proteins not only serve as nutrients, but can also modulate the body’s physiological functions. These physiological functions are primarily regulated by some peptides that are encrypted in the native protein sequences. These bioactive peptides can exert health beneficial properties and thus are considered as a lead compound for the development of nutraceuticals or functional foods. In the past fewdecades, awide range of food-derived bioactive peptide sequences have been identified, with multiple health beneficial activities. However, the commercial application of these bioactive peptides has been delayed because of the absence of appropriate and scalable production …

Release Of Major Peanut Allergens From Their Matrix Under Various Ph And Simulated Saliva Conditions—Ara H2 And Ara H6 Are Readily Bio-Accessible, Stef J. Koppelman, Mieke Smits, Monic Tomassen, Govardus A.H. De Jong, Joseph L. Baumert, Steve L. Taylor, Renger Witkamp, Robert Jan Veldman, Raymond Pieters, Harry J. Wichers

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

The oral mucosa is the first immune tissue that encounters allergens upon ingestion of food. We hypothesized that the bio-accessibility of allergens at this stage may be a key determinant for sensitization. Light roasted peanut flour was suspended at various pH in buffers mimicking saliva. Protein concentrations and allergens profiles were determined in the supernatants. Peanut protein solubility was poor in the pH range between 3 and 6, while at a low pH (1.5) and at moderately high pHs (>8), it increased. In the pH range of saliva, between 6.5 and 8.5, the allergens Ara h2 and Ara h6 …

Investigating Colonization Of The Healthy Adult Gastrointestinal Tract By Fungi, Thomas A. Auchtung, Tatiana Y. Fofanova, Christopher J. Stewart, Andrea K. Nash, Matthew C. Wong, Jonathan R. Gesell, Jennifer M. Auchtung, Nadim J. Ajami, Joseph F. Petrosino

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

A wide diversity of fungi have been detected in the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract with the potential to provide or influence important functions. However, many of the fungi most commonly detected in stool samples are also present in food or the oral cavity. Therefore, to recognize which gut fungi are likely to have a sustained influence on human health, there is a need to separate transient members of the GI tract from true colonizers. To identify colonizing fungi, the eukaryotic rRNA operon’s second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) was sequenced from the stool, saliva, and food of healthy adults following consumption …

Food Processing Environment Surveillance Using Amplicon Metagenomics: Assessing The Change In The Microbiome Of A Fluid Milk Processing Facility Before And After Cleaning, Sapna Chitlapilly Dass, Bing Wang, Jayne E. Stratton, Andreia Bianchini, Angela Ababdappa

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Effective cleaning strategies in a food processing facility play an important role in reducing food borne illness or economic losses associated with spoilage. In this study, the efficacy of cleaning practices was assessed by studying the bacterial population present before and after sanitation in a fluid milk processing environment. The bacterial population was studied using 16S rRNA amplicon metagenomics sequencing of the V1-V3 regions. Relative abundance of varying levels(0.01-99%)were found in the various processing facility environmental samples. Genera such as Paenibacillus, Viribacillus and Lysinibacillus that can cause food spoilage in cold-stored products were found on product contact surfaces before …

Metatranscriptome Of Human Faecal Microbial Communities In A Cohort Of Adult Men, Galeb S. Abu-Ali, Raaj S. Mehta, Jason Lloyd-Price, Himel Mallick, Tobyn Branck, Kerry L. Ivey, David A. Drew, Casey Dulong, Eric Rimm, Jacques Izard, Andrew T. Chan, Curtis Huttenhower

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

The gut microbiome is intimately related to human health, but it is not yet known which functional activities are driven by specific microorganisms' ecological configurations or transcription. We report a large-scale investigation of 372 human fecal metatranscriptomes and 929 metagenomes from a subset of 308 men in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. We identified a metatranscriptomic 'core' universally transcribed over time and across participants, often by different microorganisms. In contrast to the housekeeping functions enriched in this core, a 'variable' metatranscriptome included specialized pathways that were differentially expressed both across participants and among microorganisms. Finally, longitudinal metagenomic profiles allowed ecological …

In Vitro Digestibility Of Nanoporous Wheat Starch Aerogels, Ali Ubeyitogullari, Sandrayee Brahma, Devin J. Rose, Ozan Ciftci

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

This study reports the in vitro digestibility of starch aerogels for the first time. The relative crystallinities of the wheat starch aerogels (WSAs) produced at gelatinization temperatures of 120 °C (WSA-120C), 130 °C (WSA-130C), and 120 °C with the addition of sodium metaphosphate (STMP) (WSA-STMP) and xerogel were similar. However, WSA-120C showed the highest amylose−lipid complex content. The addition of STMP created some cross-linked starch with a phosphorus content of 0.023%. Resistant starch (RS) contents of WSA-STMP (33.5%) and xerogel (26.9%) were higher than the other samples when they were uncooked prior to digestion. Nevertheless, the RS contents of WSA-STMP …

Use Of Uv Treated Milk Powder To Increase Vaccine Efficacy In The Elderly, Sara Schaefer, Kasper Arthur Hettinga, James Cullor, J. Bruce German, Bethany M. Henrick

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Aging populations experience a decline in adaptive immune system function also known as immunosenesence. Protein nutrition has been shown to stimulate and strengthen the immune system, and such approaches are needed for this growing segment of the population. A controlled, randomized, double blind pilot study was conducted to compare two different protein sources (soy and dairy) as nutritional supplementation to enhance vaccine response. Our objective was to examine the immune stimulating effects of dairy protein subjected to ultraviolet radiation (UV-C) radiation treatment process instead of pasteurization. Participants were 21 healthy individuals over 60 years of age who consumed 6 g …

Effects Of Selected Socio-Demographic Characteristics On Nutrition Knowledge And Eating Behavior Of Elementary Students In Two Provinces In China, Ling Qian, Fan Zhang, Ian M. Newman, Duane F. Shell, Weijing Du

Department of Educational Psychology: Faculty Publications

Background: National and international child health surveys have indicated an increase in childhood obesity in China. The increase has been attributed to a rising standard of living, increasing availability of unhealthy foods, and a lack of knowledge about healthy diet. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of selected sociodemographic characteristics on the BMI, nutrition knowledge, and eating behavior of elementary school children. Methods: Multistage stratified cluster sampling was used. Information on demographics, nutrition knowledge, and eating behavior was gathered by means of questionnaires. The schools’ doctors provided the height and weight data. The study was set …

Health Beliefs As A Key Determinant Of Intent To Use Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids (Aas) Among High-School Football Players: Implications For Prevention, Amanda E. Halliburton, Matthew S. Fritz

Department of Educational Psychology: Faculty Publications

The use of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) is problematic for youth because of negative effects such as reduced fertility, increased aggression and exposure to toxic chemicals. An effective programme for addressing this problem is Adolescents Training and Learning to Avoid Steroids (ATLAS). This secondary analysis expands prior research by identifying prominent mechanisms of change and highlighting key longitudinal processes that contributed to the success of ATLAS. The current sample consists of highschool football players (N = 1.068; M_age = 15.25) who began ATLAS in grades nine through eleven and participated in booster sessions for two years post-baseline. Knowledge of AAS …

An Historical Overview And Update Of Wolf-Moose Interactions In Northeastern Minnesota, L. David Mech, John Fieberg, Shannon M. Barber-Meyer

United States Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center: Publications

Wolf (Canis lupus) and moose (Alces americanus) populations in northeastern Minnesota, USA, have fluctuated for decades and, based on helicopter counts, moose numbers declined to a new low from 2006 to about 2012. Other steep declines were found in 1991 and 1998 during periods when moose counts were done with fixed-wing aircraft; these declines also appeared to be real. Winter wolf numbers, monitored in part of the moose range, had been increasing since about 2002 to the highest population in decades in 2009. However, from 2009 to 2016, wolves decreased precipitously, and the moose- population decline leveled …

Tor-Autophagy Branch Signaling Via Imp1 Dictates Plant-Microbe Biotrophic Interface Longevity, Guangchao Sun, Christian Elowsky, Gang Li, Richard Wilson

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

Like other intracellular eukaryotic phytopathogens, the devastating rice blast fungus Magnaporthe (Pyricularia) oryzae first infects living host cells by elaborating invasive hyphae (IH) surrounded by a plant-derived membrane. This forms an extended biotrophic interface enclosing an apoplastic compartment into which fungal effectors can be deployed to evade host detection. M. oryzae also forms a focal, plant membrane-rich structure, the biotrophic interfacial complex (BIC), that accumulates cytoplasmic effectors for translocation into host cells. Molecular decision-making processes integrating fungal growth and metabolism in host cells with interface function and dynamics are unknown. Here, we report unanticipated roles for the M. …

Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus: A Century Old Virus With Rising Importance Worldwide, Khushwant Singh, Stephen N. Wegulo, Anna Skoracka, Jiban Kumar Kundu

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) causes wheat streak mosaic, a disease of cereals and grasses that threatens wheat production worldwide. It is a monopartite, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus and the type member of the genus Tritimovirus in the family Potyviridae. The only known vector is the wheat curl mite (WCM, Aceria tosichella), recently identified as a species complex of biotypes differing in virus transmission. Low rates of seed transmission have been reported. Infected plants are stunted and have a yellow mosaic of parallel discontinuous streaks on the leaves. In the autumn, WCMs move from WSMV-infected volunteer wheat and other grass …

Differential Modulation Of Human Gabac‑Ρ1 Receptor By Sulfur‑Containing Compounds Structurally Related To Taurine, Lenin David Ochoa‑De La Paz, Martin González‑Andrade, Herminia Pasantes‑Morales, Rodrigo Franco, Rubén Zamora‑Alvarado, Edgar Zenteno, Hugo Quiroz‑Mercado, Roberto Gonzales‑Salinas, Rosario Gulias‑Cañizo

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Background: The amino acid taurine (2-Aminoethanesulfonic acid) modulates inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors. This study aimed to determine if the dual action of taurine on GABAC- ρ1R relates to its structure. To address this, we tested the ability of the structurally related compounds homotaurine, hypotaurine, and isethionic acid to modulate GABAC- ρ1R.

Results: In Xenopus laevis oocytes, hypotaurine and homotaurine partially activate heterologously expressed GABAC- ρ1R, showing an increment in its deactivation time with no changes in channel permeability, whereas isethionic acid showed no effect. Competitive assays suggest that hypotaurine and homotaurine compete for the GABA-binding site. In addition, their effects were …