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Articles 1 - 30 of 472

Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Gymnosperms Demonstrate Patterns Of Fine-Root Trait Coordination Consistent With The Global Root Economics Space, Jessica R. Langguth, Marcin Zadworny, Karl Andraczek, Marvin Lo, Newton Tran, Kelsey Patrick, Joanna Mucha, Luke Mccormack, Kevin E. Mueller May 2024

Gymnosperms Demonstrate Patterns Of Fine-Root Trait Coordination Consistent With The Global Root Economics Space, Jessica R. Langguth, Marcin Zadworny, Karl Andraczek, Marvin Lo, Newton Tran, Kelsey Patrick, Joanna Mucha, Luke Mccormack, Kevin E. Mueller

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Gymnosperms encompass a diverse group of mostly woody plants with high ecological and economic value, yet little is known about the scope and organization of fine-root trait diversity among gymnosperms due to the undersampling of most gymnosperm families and the dominance of angiosperm groups in recent syntheses. New and existing data were compiled for morphological traits (root diameter, length, tissue density, specific root length [SRL] and specific root area [SRA]), the architectural trait branching ratio, root nitrogen content [N] and mycorrhizal colonization. We used phylogenetic least squares regression and principal component analysis to determine trait-trait relationships and coordination across 66 …

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Sexual Dimorphism Of Circadian Liver Transcriptome, Artem A. Astafev, Volha Mezhnina, Allan Poe, Peng Jiang, Roman Kondratov Apr 2024

Sexual Dimorphism Of Circadian Liver Transcriptome, Artem A. Astafev, Volha Mezhnina, Allan Poe, Peng Jiang, Roman Kondratov

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Sexual dimorphism affects various aspects of physiology, metabolism and longevity. Circadian clock is a master regulator of metabolism. Anti -aging dietary interventions reprogram circadian transcriptome in the liver and other tissues, but little is known about sexual dimorphism of circadian transcriptome. We compared circadian transcriptomes in the liver of male and female mice on ad libitum (AL) and 30% caloric restriction (CR) diets. We found that AL female mice had a larger number of oscillating genes than male mice, and the portion of the transcriptome with sex -specific rhythms displayed phase difference. We found that CR increased the number of …

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Advances In Methods For Trna Sequencing And Quantification, Nigam H. Padhiar, Upendra Katneni, Anton A. Komar, Yuri Motorin, Chava Kimchi-Sarfaty Mar 2024

Advances In Methods For Trna Sequencing And Quantification, Nigam H. Padhiar, Upendra Katneni, Anton A. Komar, Yuri Motorin, Chava Kimchi-Sarfaty

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

In the past decade tRNA sequencing (tRNA-seq) has attracted considerable attention as an important tool for the development of novel approaches to quantify highly modified tRNA species and to propel tRNA research aimed at understanding the cellular physiology and disease and development of tRNA-based therapeutics. Many methods are available to quantify tRNA abundance while accounting for modifications and tRNA charging/acylation. Advances in both library preparation methods and bioinformatic workflows have enabled developments in next-generation sequencing (NGS) workflows. Other approaches forgo NGS applications in favor of hybridization-based approaches. In this review we provide a brief comparative overview of various tRNA quantification …

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How The Ribosome Shapes Cotranslational Protein Folding, Ekaterina Samatova, Anton A. Komar, Marina Rodnina Feb 2024

How The Ribosome Shapes Cotranslational Protein Folding, Ekaterina Samatova, Anton A. Komar, Marina Rodnina

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

During protein synthesis, the growing nascent peptide chain moves inside the polypeptide exit tunnel of the ribosome from the peptidyl transferase center towards the exit port where it emerges into the cytoplasm. The ribosome defines the unique energy landscape of the pioneering round of protein folding. The spatial confinement and the interactions of the nascent peptide with the tunnel walls facilitate formation of secondary structures, such as a-helices. The vectorial nature of protein folding inside the tunnel favors local intra- and inter-molecular interactions, thereby inducing cotranslational folding intermediates that do not form upon protein refolding in solution. Tertiary structures start …

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Three Fundamental Challenges To The Advancement Of Stemflow Research And Its Integration Into Natural Science, John T. Van Stan Ii, Juan Pinos Jan 2024

Three Fundamental Challenges To The Advancement Of Stemflow Research And Its Integration Into Natural Science, John T. Van Stan Ii, Juan Pinos

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Plant canopies divert a portion of precipitation to the base of their stems through "stemflow", a phenomenon that influences the canopy water balance, soil microbial ecology, and intrasystem nutrient cycling. However, a comprehensive integration of stemflow into theoretical and numerical models in natural science remains limited. This perspective examines three unresolved, fundamental questions hindering this integration, spanning the canopy to the soil. First, the precise source area within the canopy that generates stemflow is undefined. Thus, we asked, "whence stemflow?" Current common assumptions equate it to the entire tree canopy, a potentially misleading simplification that could affect our interpretation of …

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Microstructure-Based Modeling Of Primary Cilia Mechanics, Nima Mostafazadeh, Andrew Resnick, Y.-N. Young, Zhangli Peng Jan 2024

Microstructure-Based Modeling Of Primary Cilia Mechanics, Nima Mostafazadeh, Andrew Resnick, Y.-N. Young, Zhangli Peng

Physics Faculty Publications

A primary cilium, made of nine microtubule doublets enclosed in a cilium membrane, is a mechanosensing organelle that bends under an external mechanical load and sends an intracellular signal through transmembrane proteins activated by cilium bending. The nine microtubule doublets are the main load-bearing structural component, while the transmembrane proteins on the cilium membrane are the main sensing component. No distinction was made between these two components in all existing models, where the stress calculated from the structural component (nine microtubule doublets) was used to explain the sensing location, which may be totally misleading. For the first time, we developed …

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Hypothesis And Theory: Do Trees "Release The Tension" In Rainwater? Surface Tension Reduction In Throughfall And Stemflow From Urban Trees, Benjamin J. Noren, Nicholas R. Lewis, Kelly Cristina Tonello, Anna Ilek, John T. Van Stan Ii Dec 2023

Hypothesis And Theory: Do Trees "Release The Tension" In Rainwater? Surface Tension Reduction In Throughfall And Stemflow From Urban Trees, Benjamin J. Noren, Nicholas R. Lewis, Kelly Cristina Tonello, Anna Ilek, John T. Van Stan Ii

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Knowledge of the processes and impacts associated with the canopy's partitioning of rainfall into stemflow (water that drains to the base of tree stems) and throughfall (water that drips through gaps and from canopy surfaces) has expanded in recent years. However, the effect of canopy interactions on the fundamental physical properties of rainwater as it travels through the canopy to the soil, particularly surface tension, remains understudied. To discuss specific hypotheses within this context and their relevance to ecohydrological theory, the surface tension of rainwater samples was examined directly. Over a period of 9 months, open rainwater, throughfall and stemflow …

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Telomere Maintenance In African Trypanosomes, Bibo Li Ph.D. Nov 2023

Telomere Maintenance In African Trypanosomes, Bibo Li Ph.D.

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Telomere maintenance is essential for genome integrity and chromosome stability in eukaryotic cells harboring linear chromosomes, as telomere forms a specialized structure to mask the natural chromosome ends from DNA damage repair machineries and to prevent nucleolytic degradation of the telomeric DNA. In Trypanosoma brucei and several other microbial pathogens, virulence genes involved in antigenic variation, a key pathogenesis mechanism essential for host immune evasion and long-term infections, are located at subtelomeres, and expression and switching of these major surface antigens are regulated by telomere proteins and the telomere structure. Therefore, understanding telomere maintenance mechanisms and how these pathogens achieve …

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Meiosis In Budding Yeast, G. Valentin Borner, Andreas Hochwagen, Amy J. Macqueen Oct 2023

Meiosis In Budding Yeast, G. Valentin Borner, Andreas Hochwagen, Amy J. Macqueen

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Meiosis is a specialized cell division program that is essential for sexual reproduction. The two meiotic divisions reduce chromosome number by half, typically generating haploid genomes that are packaged into gametes. To achieve this ploidy reduction, meiosis relies on highly unusual chromosomal processes including the pairing of homologous chromosomes, assembly of the synaptonemal complex, programmed formation of DNA breaks followed by their processing into crossovers, and the segregation of homologous chromosomes during the first meiotic division. These processes are embedded in a carefully orchestrated cell differentiation program with multiple interdependencies between DNA metabolism, chromosome morphogenesis, and waves of gene expression …

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From Myzocytosis To Cytostomal Nutrient Uptake And Transport By Intracellular Plasmodium Species, T. Y. Sam-Yellowe Aug 2023

From Myzocytosis To Cytostomal Nutrient Uptake And Transport By Intracellular Plasmodium Species, T. Y. Sam-Yellowe

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

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Shower Thoughts: Why Scientists Should Spend More Time In The Rain, John T. Van Stan Ii, Scott T. Allen, Douglas P. Aubrey, Z. Carter Berry, Matthew Biddick, Miriam A.M.J. Coenders-Gerrits, Paolo Giordani, Sybil G. Gotsch, Ethan D. Gutmann, Yakov Kuzyakov, Donát Magyar, Valentina S.A. Mella, Kevin E. Mueller, Alexandra G. Ponette-González, Philipp Porada, Carla E. Rosenfeld, Jack Simmons Jun 2023

Shower Thoughts: Why Scientists Should Spend More Time In The Rain, John T. Van Stan Ii, Scott T. Allen, Douglas P. Aubrey, Z. Carter Berry, Matthew Biddick, Miriam A.M.J. Coenders-Gerrits, Paolo Giordani, Sybil G. Gotsch, Ethan D. Gutmann, Yakov Kuzyakov, Donát Magyar, Valentina S.A. Mella, Kevin E. Mueller, Alexandra G. Ponette-González, Philipp Porada, Carla E. Rosenfeld, Jack Simmons

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Stormwater is a vital resource and dynamic driver of terrestrial ecosystem processes. However, processes controlling interactions during and shortly after storms are often poorly seen and poorly sensed when direct observations are substituted with technological ones. We discuss how human observations complement technological ones and the benefits of scientists spending more time in the storm. Human observation can reveal ephemeral storm-related phenomena such as biogeochemical hot moments, organismal responses, and sedimentary processes that can then be explored in greater resolution using sensors and virtual experiments. Storm-related phenomena trigger lasting, oversized impacts on hydrologic and biogeochemical processes, organismal traits or functions, …

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Unlocking Complex Soil Systems As Carbon Sinks: Multi-Pool Management As The Key, Gerrit Angst, Kevin E. Mueller, Michael J. Castellano, Cordula Vogel, Martin Wiesmeier, Carsten W. Mueller Jun 2023

Unlocking Complex Soil Systems As Carbon Sinks: Multi-Pool Management As The Key, Gerrit Angst, Kevin E. Mueller, Michael J. Castellano, Cordula Vogel, Martin Wiesmeier, Carsten W. Mueller

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Much research focuses on increasing carbon storage in mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM), in which carbon may persist for centuries to millennia. However, MAOM-targeted management is insufficient because the formation pathways of persistent soil organic matter are diverse and vary with environmental conditions. Effective management must also consider particulate organic matter (POM). In many soils, there is potential for enlarging POM pools, POM can persist over long time scales, and POM can be a direct precursor of MAOM. We present a framework for context-dependent management strategies that recognizes soils as complex systems in which environmental conditions constrain POM and MAOM formation.

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Chlorophyll Dynamics From Sentinel-3 Using An Optimized Algorithm For Enhanced Ecological Monitoring In Complex Urban Estuarine Waters, Jonathan Sherman, Maria Tzortziou, Kyle J. Turner, Joaquim Goes, Brice Grunert Apr 2023

Chlorophyll Dynamics From Sentinel-3 Using An Optimized Algorithm For Enhanced Ecological Monitoring In Complex Urban Estuarine Waters, Jonathan Sherman, Maria Tzortziou, Kyle J. Turner, Joaquim Goes, Brice Grunert

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Urban estuaries are dynamic environments that hold high ecological and economic value. Yet, their optical complexity hinders accurate satellite retrievals of important biogeochemical variables, such as chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) biomass. Approaches based on a limited number of satellite spectral bands often fail to capture seasonal transitions and sharp spatial gradients in estuarine Chl-a concentrations, inhibiting integration of satellite data into water quality monitoring and conservation programs. We propose a novel approach that utilizes the wide range of spectral information captured by the Ocean and Land Color Instrument (OLCI) to retrieve estuarine Chl-a. To validate our approach, we used measurements in Long …

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Investigation Of Cofactor Activities Of Endothelial Microparticle- Thrombomodulin With Liposomal Surrogate, Valentinas Gruzdys, Lin Wang, Dan Wang, Rachel Huang, Xue-Long Sun Apr 2023

Investigation Of Cofactor Activities Of Endothelial Microparticle- Thrombomodulin With Liposomal Surrogate, Valentinas Gruzdys, Lin Wang, Dan Wang, Rachel Huang, Xue-Long Sun

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Thrombomodulin (TM) is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein mainly expressed on the endothelial cells, where it binds thrombin to form the thrombin-TM complex that can activate protein C and thrombin-activable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) and induce anticoagulant and anti-fibrinolytic reactions, respec-tively. Cell activation and injury often sheds microparticles that contain membrane TM, which circulate in biofluids like blood. However, the biological function of circulating microparticle-TM is still unknown even though it has been recognized as a biomarker of endothelial cell injury and damage. In comparison with cell membrane, different phospholipids are exposed on the microparticle surface due to cell membrane "flip-flop"upon …

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Molecular Peptide Grafting As A Tool To Create Novel Protein Therapeutics, Anton A. Komar Mar 2023

Molecular Peptide Grafting As A Tool To Create Novel Protein Therapeutics, Anton A. Komar

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

The study of peptides (synthetic or corresponding to discrete regions of proteins) has facilitated the understanding of protein structure-activity relationships. Short peptides can also be used as powerful therapeutic agents. However, the functional activity of many short peptides is usually substantially lower than that of their parental proteins. This is (as a rule) due to their diminished structural organization, stability, and solubility often leading to an enhanced propensity for aggregation. Several approaches have emerged to overcome these limitations, which are aimed at imposing structural constraints into the backbone and/or sidechains of the therapeutic peptides (such as molecular stapling, peptide backbone …

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Hypothalamic Menin Regulates Systemic Aging And Cognitive Decline, Lige Leng, Et. Al, Jingqi Yan, Jie Zhang Mar 2023

Hypothalamic Menin Regulates Systemic Aging And Cognitive Decline, Lige Leng, Et. Al, Jingqi Yan, Jie Zhang

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Aging is a systemic process, which is a risk factor for impaired physiological functions, and finally death. The molecular mechanisms driving aging process and the associated cognitive decline are not fully understood. The hypothalamus acts as the arbiter that orchestrates systemic aging through neuroinflammatory signaling. Our recent findings revealed that Menin plays important roles in neuroinflammation and brain development. Here, we found that the hypothalamic Menin signaling diminished in aged mice, which correlates with systemic aging and cognitive deficits. Restoring Menin expression in ventromedial nucleus of hypothalamus (VMH) of aged mice extended lifespan, improved learning and memory, and ameliorated aging …

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Analysis Of 3.5 Million Sars-Cov-2 Sequences Reveals Unique Mutational Trends With Consistent Nucleotide And Codon Frequencies, Sarah E. Fumagalli, Nigam H. Padhiar, Douglas Meyer, Upendra Katneni, Haim Bar, Michael Dicuccio, Anton A. Komar, Chava Kimchi‑Sarfaty Feb 2023

Analysis Of 3.5 Million Sars-Cov-2 Sequences Reveals Unique Mutational Trends With Consistent Nucleotide And Codon Frequencies, Sarah E. Fumagalli, Nigam H. Padhiar, Douglas Meyer, Upendra Katneni, Haim Bar, Michael Dicuccio, Anton A. Komar, Chava Kimchi‑Sarfaty

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Background: Since the onset of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, bioinformatic analyses have been performed to understand the nucleotide and synonymous codon usage features and mutational patterns of the virus. However, comparatively few have attempted to perform such analyses on a considerably large cohort of viral genomes while organizing the plethora of available sequence data for a month-by-month analysis to observe changes over time. Here, we aimed to perform sequence composition and mutation analysis of SARS-CoV-2, separating sequences by gene, clade, and timepoints, and contrast the mutational profile of SARS-CoV-2 to other comparable RNA viruses.Methods: Using a cleaned, filtered, and pre-aligned dataset …

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Rad51-Mediated Interhomolog Recombination During Budding Yeast Meiosis Is Promoted By The Meiotic Recombination Checkpoint And The Conserved Pif1 Helicase, Andrew Ziesel, Qixuan Weng, Jasvinder S. Ahuja, Abhishek Bhattacharya, Raunak Dutta, Evan Cheng, G. Valentin Borner Ph.D., Michael Lichten, Nancy M. Hollingsworth Dec 2022

Rad51-Mediated Interhomolog Recombination During Budding Yeast Meiosis Is Promoted By The Meiotic Recombination Checkpoint And The Conserved Pif1 Helicase, Andrew Ziesel, Qixuan Weng, Jasvinder S. Ahuja, Abhishek Bhattacharya, Raunak Dutta, Evan Cheng, G. Valentin Borner Ph.D., Michael Lichten, Nancy M. Hollingsworth

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

During meiosis, recombination between homologous chromosomes (homologs) generates crossovers that promote proper segregation at the first meiotic division. Recombination is initiated by Spo11-catalyzed DNA double strand breaks (DSBs). 5' end resection of the DSBs creates 3' single strand tails that two recombinases, Rad51 and Dmc1, bind to form presynaptic filaments that search for homology, mediate strand invasion and generate displacement loops (D-loops). D-loop processing then forms crossover and noncrossover recombinants. Meiotic recombination occurs in two temporally distinct phases. During Phase 1, Rad51 is inhibited and Dmc1 mediates the interhomolog recombination that promotes homolog synapsis. In Phase 2, Rad51 becomes active …

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Survival Analysis And Prognostic Factors Of The Carcinoma Of Gallbladder, Zainab Feroz, Priyanka Gautam, Sonia Tiwari, Girish C. Shukla, Munish Kuma Dec 2022

Survival Analysis And Prognostic Factors Of The Carcinoma Of Gallbladder, Zainab Feroz, Priyanka Gautam, Sonia Tiwari, Girish C. Shukla, Munish Kuma

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Background: The present study aims to evaluate the survival status of patients with gallbladder cancer (GBC) and explore the prognostic factors for the improvement and preventions.
Methods: The study consists of 176 patients with clinically diagnosed gallbladder cancer; the study was conducted between 2019 and 2021 registered at Kamala Nehru Memorial Cancer Hospital, Prayagraj, India. The survival rates were analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method; survival rate difference was analyzed by log-rank test, prognosis factors; and hazard ratio for mortality outcomes was estimated using Cox regression method.
Results: The overall median survival time of patients was 5 months with the 1-year, …

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Optical Classification Of An Urbanized Estuary Using Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Reflectance, Kyle J. Turner, Maria Tzortziou, Brice K. Grunert, Joaquim Goes, Jonathan Sherman Nov 2022

Optical Classification Of An Urbanized Estuary Using Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Reflectance, Kyle J. Turner, Maria Tzortziou, Brice K. Grunert, Joaquim Goes, Jonathan Sherman

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Optical water classification based on remote sensing reflectance (Rrs(.)) data can provide insight into water components driving optical variability and inform the development and application of bio-optical algorithms in complex aquatic systems. In this study, we use an in situ dataset consisting of hyperspectral Rrs(.) and other biogeochemical and optical parameters collected over nearly five years across a heavily urbanized estuary, the Long Island Sound (LIS), east of New York City, USA, to optically classify LIS waters based on Rrs(.) spectral shape. We investigate the similarities and differences of discrete groupings (k-means clustering) and continuous spectral indexing using the Apparent …

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Nucleobase-Modified Nucleosides And Nucleotides: Applications In Biochemistry, Synthetic Biology, And Drug Discovery, Anthony J. Berdis Nov 2022

Nucleobase-Modified Nucleosides And Nucleotides: Applications In Biochemistry, Synthetic Biology, And Drug Discovery, Anthony J. Berdis

Chemistry Faculty Publications

DNA is often referred to as the "molecule of life " since it contains the genetic blueprint for all forms of life on this planet. The core building blocks composing DNA are deoxynucleotides. While the deoxyribose sugar and phosphate group are ubiquitous, it is the composition and spatial arrangement of the four natural nucleobases, adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T), that provide diversity in the coding information present in DNA. The ability of DNA to function as the genetic blueprint has historically been attributed to the formation of proper hydrogen bonding interactions made between complementary nucleobases. However, …

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Transcriptomics-Based Network Medicine Approach Identifies Metformin As A Repurposable Drug For Atrial Fibrillation, Jessica C. Lal, Chengsheng Mao, Yadi Zhou, Shamone R. Gore-Panter, Julie H. Rennison, Beth S. Lovano, Et. Al Oct 2022

Transcriptomics-Based Network Medicine Approach Identifies Metformin As A Repurposable Drug For Atrial Fibrillation, Jessica C. Lal, Chengsheng Mao, Yadi Zhou, Shamone R. Gore-Panter, Julie H. Rennison, Beth S. Lovano, Et. Al

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Effective drugs for atrial fibrillation (AF) are lacking, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. This study demonstrates that network proximity analysis of differentially expressed genes from atrial tissue to drug tar-gets can help prioritize repurposed drugs for AF. Using enrichment analysis of drug-gene signatures and functional testing in human inducible pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived atrial-like cardiomyocytes, we identify metformin as a top repurposed drug candidate for AF. Using the active compactor, a new design analysis of large-scale longitudinal electronic health record (EHR) data, we determine that metformin use is significantly associated with a reduced risk of AF (odds ratio = …

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Circadian Clock Controls Rhythms In Ketogenesis By Interfering With Ppar Alpha Transcriptional Network, Volha Mezhnina, Oghogho P. Ebeigbe, Nikkhil Velingkaar, Allan Poe, Yana I. Sandlers, Roman Kondratov Sep 2022

Circadian Clock Controls Rhythms In Ketogenesis By Interfering With Ppar Alpha Transcriptional Network, Volha Mezhnina, Oghogho P. Ebeigbe, Nikkhil Velingkaar, Allan Poe, Yana I. Sandlers, Roman Kondratov

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Ketone bodies are energy-rich metabolites and signaling molecules whose production is mainly regulated by diet. Caloric restriction (CR) is a dietary intervention that improves metabolism and extends longevity across the taxa. We found that CR induced high -amplitude daily rhythms in blood ketone bodies (beta-hydroxybutyrate [beta OHB]) that correlated with liver beta OHB level. Time-restricted feeding, another periodic fasting-based diet, also led to rhythmic beta OHB but with reduced amplitude. CR induced strong circadian rhythms in the expression of fatty acid oxidation and ketogenesis genes in the liver. The transcriptional factor peroxisome-proliferator-activated-receptor alpha (PPAR alpha) and its transcriptional target hepatokine …

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Water Availability Dictates How Plant Traits Predict Demographic Rates, Alice E. Stears, Peter B. Adler, Dana M. Blumenthal, Julie A. Kray, Kevin E. Mueller Jul 2022

Water Availability Dictates How Plant Traits Predict Demographic Rates, Alice E. Stears, Peter B. Adler, Dana M. Blumenthal, Julie A. Kray, Kevin E. Mueller

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

A major goal in ecology is to make generalizable predictions of organism responses to environmental variation based on their traits. However, straightforward relationships between traits and fitness are rare and likely to vary with environmental context. Characterizing how traits mediate demographic responses to the environment may enhance the predictions of organism responses to global change. We synthesized 15 years of demographic data and species-level traits in a shortgrass steppe to determine whether the effects of leaf and root traits on growth and survival depended on seasonal water availability. We predicted that (1) species with drought-tolerant traits, such as lower leaf …

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Investigating Roles Of 2 Novel Eklf Targets Involved In Erythropoiesis, Rose M. Gott Jun 2022

Investigating Roles Of 2 Novel Eklf Targets Involved In Erythropoiesis, Rose M. Gott

ETD Archive

Erythrocytes are primarily comprised of the oxygen carrying protein hemoglobin. Genetic mutations causing defects in the proper synthesis of hemoglobin result in various anemias. It is during the last phases of terminal erythroid differentiation that hemoglobin levels rise, making it a focus for therapeutic research. Fetal hemoglobin is comprised of ⍺-globin and gamma globin, then after a change in gene expression called hemoglobin switching which takes place after birth, adult hemoglobin is comprised of ⍺-globin and beta globin. We investigated hemoglobin switching and erythroid terminal differentiation by focusing on the master erythroid transcription factor Erythroid Krüppel-like Factor (EKLF). Data led …

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Targeting Heat Shock 27 Kda Protein Induces Androgen Receptor Degradation, Yaxin Li May 2022

Targeting Heat Shock 27 Kda Protein Induces Androgen Receptor Degradation, Yaxin Li

ETD Archive

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive brain tumor, with very poor prognosis. Androgen receptor (AR) plays a significant role in the progression of GBM, and anti-androgen agents have the potential to be used for the treatment of GBM. However, AR mutation commonly happens in GBM, which makes the anti-androgen agents less effective. Heat shock 27 kDa protein (HSP27) is a well-documented chaperone protein to stabilize AR. Inhibition of HSP27 results in AR degradation regardless the mutation status of AR, which makes HSP27 a good target to abolish AR in GBM. Identified compound I ((N-(3-((2,5-dimethoxybenzyl)oxy)-4-(methylsulfonamido) phenyl)-4-methoxybenzamide) inhibits GBM cell …

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Mechanisms Of Telomere Maintenance In Trypanosoma Brucei, M A G G. Rabbani May 2022

Mechanisms Of Telomere Maintenance In Trypanosoma Brucei, M A G G. Rabbani

ETD Archive

Telomeres are a nucleoprotein structure at the end of the chromosome and are essential for genome integrity and chromosome stability. Telomere lengths are primarily maintained by a telomerase-mediated pathway but can be maintained by a homologous recombination-mediated pathway. However, detailed mechanisms of telomere maintenance are still unclear in many eukaryotes, including an important human pathogen, Trypanosoma brucei. Telomeres can be elongated by telomerase in T. brucei, a causative agent of fatal sleeping sickness in humans and nagana in cattle. T. brucei evades host immune response by regularly switching its major surface antigen, variant surface glycoprotein (VSG), a process known as …

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Role Of Fasting In Caloric Restriction Improved Glucose Tolerance, Makayla M. Dillon May 2022

Role Of Fasting In Caloric Restriction Improved Glucose Tolerance, Makayla M. Dillon

ETD Archive

The Caloric Restriction (CR) diet in mammals has been shown to increase longevity and prevent metabolic disorders. Some of the benefits of CR include improved glucose homeostasis, namely improvements in glucose tolerance. Mice on the CR diet have a 30% reduction in food provided, as well as a fasting period between meals as they are only fed once a day. Hence the benefits of CR stem from both fasting and reduced calorie intake. In this study, we investigated if the fasting component of CR is responsible for the benefits of this diet in improving glucose homeostasis. In particular, we used …

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Development And Analysis Of Next-Generation Polymeric And Bio-Ceramic Based Orthopedic Scaffolds By Advanced Manufacturing Techniques, Sudeep K. Gummadi May 2022

Development And Analysis Of Next-Generation Polymeric And Bio-Ceramic Based Orthopedic Scaffolds By Advanced Manufacturing Techniques, Sudeep K. Gummadi

ETD Archive

Gliomas express mutant isocitrate dehydrogenases producing excessive amounts of D 2-hydroxyglutarate (D2HG) and releasing some of it into the environment. The immune surveillance is reduced as a result, however, the mechanisms behind lymphocyte suppression by the D2HG stereoisomer remain unknown. I incubated Jurkat T cells with D2HG at concentrations present within and surrounding gliomas, or its obverse L2HG stereoisomer, and quantified 2HG isomers within washed cells by TSPC derivatization with stable isotope-labeled D2HG and L2HG internal standards, HPLC separation, and mass spectrometry. D2HG was found in quiescent cells in double the amount of L2HG. External D2HG or L2HG increased the …

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A Multi-Spatial Analysis Of Land Use Effects On Freshwater Mussels In The Upper Cuyahoga River And Tinkers Creek, Tamar Atwell Apr 2022

A Multi-Spatial Analysis Of Land Use Effects On Freshwater Mussels In The Upper Cuyahoga River And Tinkers Creek, Tamar Atwell

ETD Archive

Mussels are considered one indicator of good water quality in rivers, but over the past 20 years mussel populations have continued to decline, while water quality improves. According to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA), water quality in the Cuyahoga River is now within safe levels for all parameters. However, what are safe levels for humans may not be safe for mussels. An analysis of freshwater mussel populations in two similarly sized watersheds, the Upper Cuyahoga River and Tinkers Creek was conducted. Correlations of mussel abundance and diversity were assessed by multivariate GIS/remote sensing tools to contrast water flow rates, …

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