Life Sciences Commons^™

Forage News [2010-12], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky

Forage News

• Register Now for Grazing Conference
• Forage Spokesman Contest and KFGC Award Nominations
• PFGC Celebrates 50th Anniversary
• Forage Variety Test Reports
• Feed Costs and Meat Production
• Corn Nitrogen Fertilizer Replacement Value of Alfalfa in Northern Illinois
• Comparison of Seeding Rates and Coating on Seedling Count, Root Length, Root Weight and Shoot Weight of Crimson Clover
• Effect of Macronutrient Deficiency on the Antioxidant Capacity of Lespedeza Cuneata (cv. Au Grazer) and Lotus Corniculatus (cv. Pardee)

Cell Lines Having Enhanced Cell Longevity And Protein Expression, Bruce Allen Webb, Jeremy Kroemer

Entomology Faculty Patents

It is the object of the current invention to provide methods and compositions relating to the expression of vankyrin proteins in cell lines to increase their viability, longevity and capacity for protein production. The inventors have discovered that the expression of P-ank-1 and I²-ank-3 proteins in cell culture has increased the cells' longevity and capacity for endogenous and/or heterologous target protein production. Specifically, the present invention relates to the enhanced expression of endogenous and/or heterologous target proteins/polypeptides in recombinant cells that are also expressing P-ank-1 and/or I²-ank-3 protein compared to expression host cells that are not …

Substrates Of The Arabidopsis Thaliana Protein Isoaspartyl Methyltransferase 1 Identified Using Phage Display And Biopanning, Tingsu Chen, Nihar Nayak, Susmita Maitra Majee, Jonathan Lowenson, Kim R. Schäfermeyer, Alyssa C. Eliopoulos, Taylor D. Lloyd, Randy Dinkins, Sharyn E. Perry, Nancy R. Forsthoefel, Steven G. Clarke, Daniel M. Vernon, Zhaohui Sunny Zhou, Tomas Rejtar, A. Bruce Downie

Horticulture Faculty Publications

The role of protein isoaspartyl methyltransferase (PIMT) in repairing a wide assortment of damaged proteins in a host of organisms has been inferred from the affinity of the enzyme for isoaspartyl residues in a plethora of amino acid contexts. The identification of PIMT target proteins in plant seeds, where the enzyme is highly active and proteome long-lived, has been hindered by large amounts of isoaspartate-containing storage proteins. Mature seed phage display libraries circumvented this problem. Inclusion of the PIMT co-substrate, S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet), during panning permitted PIMT to retain aged phage in greater numbers than controls lacking co-substrate or when …

Muscle Receptor Organs In The Crayfish Abdomen: A Student Laboratory Exercise In Proprioception, Bonnie Leksrisawat, Ann S. Cooper, Allison B. Gilberts, Robin L. Cooper

Biology Faculty Publications

The primary purpose of this experiment is to demonstrate primary sensory neurons conveying information of joint movements and positions as proprioceptive information for an animal. An additional objective of this experiment is to learn anatomy of the preparation by staining, dissection and viewing of neurons and sensory structures under a dissecting microscope. This is performed by using basic neurophysiological equipment to record the electrical activity from a joint receptor organ and staining techniques. The muscle receptor organ (MRO) system in the crayfish is analogous to the intrafusal muscle spindle in mammals, which aids in serving as a comparative model that …

Physiological Recordings Of High And Low Output Nmjs On The Crayfish Leg Extensor Muscle, Wenhui Wu, Robin L. Cooper

Biology Faculty Publications

We explain in detail how to expose and conduct electrophysiological recordings of synaptic responses for high (phasic) and low (tonic) output motor neurons innervating the extensor muscle in the walking leg of a crayfish. Distinct differences are present in the physiology and morphology of the phasic and tonic nerve terminals. The tonic axon contains many more mitochondria, enabling it to take a vital stain more intensely than the phasic axon. The tonic terminals have varicosities, and the phasic terminal is filiform. The tonic terminals are low in synaptic efficacy but show dramatic facilitated responses. In contrast, the phasic terminals are …

Leishmania Major Survival In Selective Phlebotomus Papatasi Sand Fly Vector Requires A Specific Scg-Encoded Lipophosphoglycan Galactosylation Pattern, Deborah E. Dobson, Shaden Kamhawi, Phillip Lawyer, Salvatore J. Turco, Stephen M. Beverley, David L. Sacks

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Phlebotomine sand flies that transmit the protozoan parasite Leishmania differ greatly in their ability to support different parasite species or strains in the laboratory: while some show considerable selectivity, others are more permissive. In "selective" sand flies, Leishmania binding and survival in the fly midgut typically depends upon the abundant promastigote surface adhesin lipophosphoglycan (LPG), which exhibits species- and strain-specific modifications of the dominant phosphoglycan (PG) repeat units. For the "selective" fly Phlebotomus papatasi PpapJ, side chain galactosyl-modifications (scGal) of PG repeats play key roles in parasite binding. We probed the specificity and properties of this scGal-LPG PAMP (Pathogen Associated …

Aminopeptidases Do Not Directly Degrade Tau Protein, K. Martin Chow, Hanjun Guan, Louis B. Hersh

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Tau hyperphosphorylation and aggregation to form intracellular neurofibrillar tangles is prevalent in a number of tauopathies. Thus there is current interest in the mechanisms involved in Tau clearance. It was recently reported that Tau can be degraded by an aminopeptidase known as the puromycin sensitive aminopeptidase (PSA). Until now PSA has been reported to only cleave peptides, with the largest reported substrates having 30-50 amino acids. We have studied this unique PSA cleavage reaction using a number of different PSA preparations.

RESULTS: An N-terminally His tagged-PSA was expressed and purified from Sf9 insect cells. Although this PSA preparation cleaved …

Making Of Viral Replication Organelles By Remodeling Interior Membranes, Zsuzsanna Sasvari, Peter D. Nagy

Plant Pathology Faculty Publications

Positive-stranded RNA (+RNA) viruses exploit host cell machinery by subverting host proteins and membranes and altering cellular pathways during infection. To achieve robust replication, some +RNA viruses, such as poliovirus (PV), build special intracellular compartments, called viral replication organelles. A recent work from the Altan-Bonnett laboratory [1] gave new insights into the formation of poliovirus replication organelles, which are unique subcellular structures containing many individual replication complexes as a result of dynamic cellular membrane remodeling.

Translation Elongation Factor 1a Facilitates The Assembly Of The Tombusvirus Replicase And Stimulates Minus-Strand Synthesis, Zhenghe Li, Judit Pogany, Steven Tupman, Anthony M. Esposito, Terri Goss Kinzy, Peter D. Nagy

Plant Pathology Faculty Publications

Replication of plus-strand RNA viruses depends on host factors that are recruited into viral replicase complexes. Previous studies showed that eukaryotic translation elongation factor (eEF1A) is one of the resident host proteins in the highly purified tombusvirus replicase complex. Using a random library of eEF1A mutants, we identified one mutant that decreased and three mutants that increased Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) replication in a yeast model host. Additional in vitro assays with whole cell extracts prepared from yeast strains expressing the eEF1A mutants demonstrated several functions for eEF1A in TBSV replication: facilitating the recruitment of the viral RNA template …

Forage News [2010-11], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky

Forage News

• Dr. Norman Taylor 1926-2010
• Registration Now Open for Grazing Conference
• Forage Spokesman Contest and KFGC Award Nominations - Deadline Dec. 3
• Effects of Ergot-Endophyte-Infected Fescue Seed on Physiological Parameters in Mature Female Meat Goats
• Chaparral® Herbicide Application for Suppression of Seedhead Emergence in Tall Fescue Pastures and Possible Alleviation of Fescue Toxicosis
• Science Shows Beef Production is Earth Friendly
• Use of Novel Endophyte Fescue for Cows
• Evaluation of Annual Ryegrass (Lolium Multiflorum) in Two Fall Grazing Systems on Forage Quality and Stock Calf Performance in Northern Minnesota
• Using Mature Hay for Bedding: Potential for Tall Fescue Toxicity

Cyanidin-3-Glucoside Inhibits Ethanol-Induced Invasion Of Breast Cancer Cells Overexpressing Erbb2, Mei Xu, Kimberly A. Bower, Siying Wang, Jacqueline A. Frank, Gang Chen, Min Ding, Shiow Wang, Xianglin Shi, Zunji Ke, Jia Luo

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Ethanol is a tumor promoter. Both epidemiological and experimental studies suggest that ethanol may enhance the metastasis of breast cancer cells. We have previously demonstrated that ethanol increased the migration/invasion of breast cancer cells expressing high levels of ErbB2. Amplification of ErbB2 is found in 20-30% of breast cancer patients and is associated with poor prognosis. We sought to identify agents that can prevent or ameliorate ethanol-induced invasion of breast cancer cells. Cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G), an anthocyanin present in many vegetables and fruits, is a potent natural antioxidant. Ethanol exposure causes the accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). This …

Retention And Loss Of Rna Interference Pathways In Trypanosomatid Protozoans, Lon-Fye Lye, Katherine Owens, Huafang Shi, Silvane M. F. Murta, Ana Carolina Vieira, Salvatore J. Turco, Christian Tschudi, Elisabetta Ullu, Stephen M. Beverley

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Publications

RNA interference (RNAi) pathways are widespread in metaozoans but the genes required show variable occurrence or activity in eukaryotic microbes, including many pathogens. While some Leishmania lack RNAi activity and Argonaute or Dicer genes, we show that Leishmania braziliensis and other species within the Leishmania subgenus Viannia elaborate active RNAi machinery. Strong attenuation of expression from a variety of reporter and endogenous genes was seen. As expected, RNAi knockdowns of the sole Argonaute gene implicated this protein in RNAi. The potential for functional genetics was established by testing RNAi knockdown lines lacking the paraflagellar rod, a key component of the …

Plant Phenolics: Extraction, Analysis And Their Antioxidant And Anticancer Properties, Jin Dai, Russell J. Mumper

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Phenolics are broadly distributed in the plant kingdom and are the most abundant secondary metabolites of plants. Plant polyphenols have drawn increasing attention due to their potent antioxidant properties and their marked effects in the prevention of various oxidative stress associated diseases such as cancer. In the last few years, the identification and development of phenolic compounds or extracts from different plants has become a major area of health- and medical-related research. This review provides an updated and comprehensive overview on phenolic extraction, purification, analysis and quantification as well as their antioxidant properties. Furthermore, the anticancer effects of phenolics in-vitro …

The Combined Effect Of Environmental And Host Factors On The Emergence Of Viral Rna Recombinants, Hannah M. Jaag, Peter D. Nagy

Plant Pathology Faculty Publications

Viruses are masters of evolution due to high frequency mutations and genetic recombination. In spite of the significance of viral RNA recombination that promotes the emergence of drug-resistant virus strains, the role of host and environmental factors in RNA recombination is poorly understood. Here we report that the host Met22p/Hal2p bisphosphate-3'-nucleotidase regulates the frequency of viral RNA recombination and the efficiency of viral replication. Based on Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) and yeast as a model host, we demonstrate that deletion of MET22 in yeast or knockdown of AHL, SAL1 and FRY1 nucleotidases/phosphatases in plants leads to increased TBSV recombination …

Complement Factor H-Related Proteins Cfhr2 And Cfhr5 Represent Novel Ligands For The Infection-Associated Crasp Proteins Of Borrelia Burgdorferi, Corinna Siegel, Teresia Hallström, Christine Skerka, Hannes Eberhardt, Barbara Uzonyi, Tobias Beckhaus, Michael Karas, Reinhard Wallich, Brian Stevenson, Peter F. Zipfel, Peter Kraiczy

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: One virulence property of Borrelia burgdorferi is its resistance to innate immunity, in particular to complement-mediated killing. Serum-resistant B. burgdorferi express up to five distinct complement regulator-acquiring surface proteins (CRASP) which interact with complement regulator factor H (CFH) and factor H-like protein 1 (FHL1) or factor H-related protein 1 (CFHR1). In the present study we elucidate the role of the infection-associated CRASP-3 and CRASP-5 protein to serve as ligands for additional complement regulatory proteins as well as for complement resistance of B. burgdorferi.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: To elucidate whether CRASP-5 and CRASP-3 interact with various human proteins, both borrelial proteins …

The Us Preventive Service Taskforce And The Guide To Clinical Preventive Services., F. Douglas Scutchfield Md

Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health Presentations

No abstract provided.

Community Health Assesments, F. Douglas Scutchfield Md

Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health Presentations

No abstract provided.

Public Health Services And Systems Research: Data For Research, F. Douglas Scutchfield Md

Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health Presentations

No abstract provided.

Agricultural Situation And Outlook Fall 2010, Sara Williamson, Kenneth H. Burdine

Agricultural Situation and Outlook

No abstract provided.

Beef, Dairy, Equine, Poultry, Hogs, Sheep, And Goats, Kenneth H. Burdine, A. Lee Meyer

Agricultural Economics Presentations

No abstract provided.

Factors Impacting Burley Outlook, Department Of Agricultural Economics, University Of Kentucky

Agricultural Economics Presentations

No abstract provided.

Horticulture, Timothy A. Woods

Agricultural Economics Presentations

No abstract provided.

Restaurant Sales: Grocery, Wholesale & Foodservice Sales, Timothy A. Woods, Miranda Hileman

Agricultural Economics Presentations

No abstract provided.

Economic Outlook 2011: U.S. Economy And Agriculture, Craig Infanger

Agricultural Economics Presentations

No abstract provided.

The Kentucky Food Consumer, Timothy A. Woods

Agricultural Economics Presentations

No abstract provided.

Forage News [2010-10], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky

Forage News

• Grazing Conference Returning to Kentucky
• KFGC Update
• Pennsylvania to Celebrate Forage Anniversary
• A Novel Endophyte Tall Fescue has been Developed by the University of Kentucky for the Upper Fescue Belt
• Benefits of Rotational Grazing
• Cultivar Preference of Lambs Grazing Forage Chicory in Ohio
• Effects of a Freeze on Forages
• Nitrate Poisoning: A Concern with Dry Weather

Alterations In Multiple Measures Of White Matter Integrity In Normal Women At High Risk For Alzheimer's Disease, Brian T. Gold, David K. Powell, Anders H. Andersen, Charles D. Smith

Neuroscience Faculty Publications

There is evidence that disruption of white matter (WM) microstructure is an early event in the course of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the neurobiological bases of WM microstructural declines in presymptomatic AD are unknown. In the present study we address this issue using a multimodal imaging approach to the study of presymptomatic AD. Participants were 37 high-risk (both family history of dementia and one or more APOE4 alleles) women and 20 low-risk (neither family history nor APOE4) women. Groups were matched for age, education, neuropsychological performance, and vascular factors that could affect white matter. Whole-brain analyses of diffusion tensor imaging …

The Mir-15/107 Group Of Microrna Genes: Evolutionary Biology, Cellular Functions, And Roles In Human Diseases, John R. Finnerty, Wang-Xia Wang, Sébastien S. Hébert, Bernard R. Wilfred, Guogen Mao, Peter T. Nelson

Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Faculty Publications

The miR-15/107 group of microRNA (miRNA) gene is increasingly appreciated to serve key functions in humans. These miRNAs regulate gene expression involved in cell division, metabolism, stress response, and angiogenesis in vertebrate species. The miR-15/107 group has also been implicated in human cancers, cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative disease, including Alzheimer's disease. Here we provide an overview of the following: (1) the evolution of miR-15/107 group member genes; (2) the expression levels of miRNAs in mammalian tissues; (3) evidence for overlapping gene-regulatory functions by different miRNAs; (4) the normal biochemical pathways regulated by miR-15/107 group miRNAs; and (5) the roles played …

Hepatitis C Virus Core-Derived Peptides Inhibit Genotype 1b Viral Genome Replication Via Interaction With Ddx3x, Chaomin Sun, Cara T. Pager, Guangxiang Luo, Peter Sarnow, Jamie H. D. Cate

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

The protein DDX3X is a DEAD-box RNA helicase that is essential for the hepatitis C virus (HCV) life cycle. The HCV core protein has been shown to bind to DDX3X both in vitro and in vivo. However, the specific interactions between these two proteins and the functional importance of these interactions for the HCV viral life cycle remain unclear. We show that amino acids 16-36 near the N-terminus of the HCV core protein interact specifically with DDX3X both in vitro and in vivo. Replication of HCV replicon NNeo/C-5B RNA (genotype 1b) is significantly suppressed in HuH-7-derived cells expressing green fluorescent …

New Views On Strand Asymmetry In Insect Mitochondrial Genomes, Shu-Jun Wei, Min Shi, Xue-Xin Chen, Michael J. Sharkey, Cornelis Van Achterberg, Gong-Yin Ye, Jun-Hua He

Entomology Faculty Publications

Strand asymmetry in nucleotide composition is a remarkable feature of animal mitochondrial genomes. Understanding the mutation processes that shape strand asymmetry is essential for comprehensive knowledge of genome evolution, demographical population history and accurate phylogenetic inference. Previous studies found that the relative contributions of different substitution types to strand asymmetry are associated with replication alone or both replication and transcription. However, the relative contributions of replication and transcription to strand asymmetry remain unclear. Here we conducted a broad survey of strand asymmetry across 120 insect mitochondrial genomes, with special reference to the correlation between the signs of skew values and …