Life Sciences Commons^™

Effect Of Assay Medium Ph On Inhibitory Ability Of Streptomyces, Trevor Swan, Miriam Gieske

Undergraduate Research Symposium 2024

Streptomyces bacteria from soil often produce antibiotics which inhibit growth of other microbes. When comparing Streptomyces’ inhibitory ability between different soils, it may be important to match the pH of the medium used in assays to the pH of the soil they came from. We assayed Streptomyces isolates collected from a long-term agricultural experiment with nitrogen-fertilized and non-fertilized treatments to determine their ability to inhibit growth of other bacteria by producing antibiotics. Average soil pH was 6.8 in fertilized soil and 7.2 in non-fertilized soil. We dotted isolates on a glucose-asparagine agar medium adjusted to different pH values and overlaid …

Isolation And Analysis Of R130d Malate Dehydrogenase (Mdh), Hayley Brunette, Abby Doyle, Ilsa Hoaglund, Danielle Bolland

Undergraduate Research Symposium 2024

Malate Dehydrogenase (MDH) is the enzyme that catalyzes the ninth step of the citric acid cycle, a regenerative step in the metabolism of glucose in which malate is converted to oxaloacetate. Conformational changes in the active loop region of MDH along with the coenzyme NAD+ drive catalysis. Previous studies suggested that mutating positively charged amino acids to negatively charged amino acids at residue 130 decreased the enzymatic activity of MDH. We hypothesized that if we change arginine 130 (positively charged amino acid) to aspartate (negatively charged amino acid), then the enzymatic activity of MDH would significantly decrease. In e. Coli …

Site-Directed Mutagenesis Of Lysine 125 In Malate Dehydrogenase, Taylor Prieve, Cathryn Wallmow

Undergraduate Research Symposium 2023

Malate dehydrogenase is a multimeric enzyme among living organisms that catalyzes the reverse transformation of malate and oxaloacetate using the reduction of NAD+ to NADH. This reaction plays a role in metabolic pathways including the citric acid cycle, gluconeogenesis, and anaerobic metabolism. MDH shares a similar 3-dimensional structure and mechanism with lactate dehydrogenase. Knowing the structure is important when it comes to the redesign of enzyme mutations, which can be a useful method for studying the catalysis of small substrates. Physiological effects of the amino acid sequence alterations are easier to predict when the structure is known. The active site …

Can Diet Affect Coloration In Tiger Salamanders?, Katherine Novak

Undergraduate Research Symposium 2018

Amphibians are the fastest known declining taxonomic group in the world with 48% of populations in decline (Stuart et. al. 2004). These declines in amphibian populations are partially due to the lack of basic life history data (Semlitsch 2003). For example, amphibians are known for their bright coloration and ability to rapidly change color. Coloration is key to amphibian survival in terms of defense (as camouflage or a warning sign to predators), thermoregulation (darker skin warms faster), and communication (primarily mating displays) (Rudh and Qvanstrom 2013). One aspect of amphibian coloration that is poorly understood is how much the environment …

Leaf Litter Decomposition In The Pomme De Terre River, Lily Fulton

Undergraduate Research Symposium 2018

We studied the role of riverbank plant leaves as habitat and food for macroinvertebrates in the Pomme de Terre River. Our objectives were to characterize tree cover along the riverbank using GIS, the decomposition of leaves of 4 native and invasive plant species, and the abundance and diversity of macroinvertebrates colonizing experimental leaf packs. Leaf packs contained boxelder, cottonwood, buckthorn or cattail leaves. Leaves were dried, put into mesh bags and attached to submerged logs in the river. Paper punchers were used to take leaf samples. Tree cover varied among counties. Macroinvertebrate abundance differed significantly between leaf species (ANOVA, p= …

Impact Of Fertilizer, Corn Residue, And Cover Crops On Mycorrhizal Inoculum Potential And Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Associations, Rachel Brockamp

Undergraduate Research Symposium 2017

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) can associate with roots of most land plants, helping to take up water and nutrients. Intensive agricultural practices like fallow treatments and adding inorganic nutrients reduce soil AMF. The purpose of my research was to examine whether three factors influenced AMF-crop associations: 1) fertilizer type and application rate 2) inclusion of cover crops that do or do not associate with AMF, and 3) impacts of corn residue. Soil Mycorrhizal Inoculum Potential (MIP) was measured to test treatment differences. MIP is the ability for soil AMF to infect roots. Roots grown in soil from the different treatments …

The Influence Of Spines On Predation And Survivorship Of Devonian Brachiopods, Broc S. Kokesh

Undergraduate Research Symposium 2016

Brachiopods are small animals that live on the seafloor and are abundant in the Devonian fossil record (420 to 360 million years ago), making them excellent subjects for studying evolution in ancient marine environments. Some species sported large spines that cover their exterior surfaces, although these spines are typically broken off during fossilization. Paleontologists have hypothesized that these spines developed as an evolutionary response to predation, yet few studies have tested this idea due to the scarcity of specimens with intact spines. Recent work has been able to get around this problem by examining injury markings caused by predators that …

The Influence Of Spines On Predation Of Devonian Brachiopods, Broc S. Kokesh

Undergraduate Research Symposium 2015

Brachiopods are small animals that live on the seafloor and are prominent in the Devonian fossil record from 420 to 360 million years ago. An interesting feature of some species is that large spines develop on their exterior surfaces and are thought to have evolved for defense against predators. Fortunately, this hypothesis can be tested by observing wound marks indicative of attempted predation as described by Zhang et al. (2011). In this study, I examined wound marks on fossils of the spiny brachiopod Atrypa rockfordensis and the spineless Atrypa devoniana. Results show that A. rockfordensis only experienced attacks at …

The Effects Of Water Quality On The Habitat Use Of Tiger Salamanders In Prairie Wetlands, Broc S. Kokesh

Undergraduate Research Symposium 2015

The tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) is a wide-ranging amphibian of North America common to prairie wetlands. Nevertheless, little is actually known about their ecology, including what water quality conditions are desirable and what effects water quality may have on established populations. In this study, I assessed how water quality parameters affect salamander survival and microhabitat use in the prairie pothole region of Western Minnesota. My goal was to assess if differences in water quality between ponds act as potential indicators of microhabitat preferences among salamander populations. I took water quality samples and trapped salamanders from four ponds with …

Tracking Movements Of Ambystoma Tigrinum Using Radio Telemetry, Heather L. Waye, Kirsten T. Sharpe

Undergraduate Research Symposium 2014

The eastern tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) is a widely distributed amphibian ranging from Northern Minnesota, down to Florida, and over to the east coast of the United States (Oldfield and Moriarty, 1994). As populations within the species are diverse and seldom studies have been done in the area of radio telemetry in tiger salamanders, there is a need for information in this field. This project was the first of its kind to be implemented in Minnesota.

In an effort to more fully understand the ecology of this species, this research attempts to provide vital information that will allow a better …