Life Sciences Commons^™

Lateral Hypothalamic Signaling Mechanisms Underlying Feeding Stimulation: Differential Contributions Of Src Family Tyrosine Kinases To Feeding Triggered Either By Nmda Injection Or By Food Deprivation, Arshad Khan, Herman Cheung, Elizabeth Gillard, Jennifer Palarca, Derek Welsbie, James Gurd, B. Stanley

Selected Works Temporary Series

No abstract provided.

Lateral Hypothalamic Signaling Mechanisms Underlying Feeding Stimulation: Differential Contributions Of Src Family Tyrosine Kinases To Feeding Triggered Either By Nmda Injection Or By Food Deprivation, Khan, Herman Cheung, Elizabeth Gillard, Jennifer Palarca, Derek Welsbie, James Gurd, B. Stanley

Departmental Papers (Biology)

No abstract provided.

Smokejumper Obituary: Deguire, Michael A. (Missoula 1974), National Smokejumper Association

Smokejumper Obituaries

No abstract provided.

Rhodobacter Capsulatus Porphobilinogen Synthase, A High Activity Metal Ion Independent Hexamer, David Bollivar

Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Reconstitution Of Copii Vesicle Fusion To Generate A Pre-Golgi Intermediate Compartment, Dalu Xu, Jesse C. Hay

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

What is the first membrane fusion step in the secretory pathway? In mammals, transport vesicles coated with coat complex (COP) II deliver secretary cargo to vesicular tubular clusters (VTCs) that ferry cargo from endoplasmic reticulum exit sites to the Golgi stack. However, the precise origin of VTCs and the membrane fusion step(s) involved have remained experimentally intractable. Here, we document in vitro direct tethering and SNARE-dependent fusion of endoplasmic reticulum-derived COPII transport vesicles to form larger cargo containers. The assembly did not require detectable Golgi membranes, preexisting VTCs, or CON function. Therefore, COPII vesicles appear to contain all of the …

Landscape Assessment For The Buckskin Mountain Area, Wildlife Habitat Improvement, Bureau Of Land Management

All U.S. Government Documents (Utah Regional Depository)

No abstract provided.

Evaluating Forensic Dna Evidence: Essential Elements Of A Competent Defense Review, Dan E. Krane

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Smokejumper Obituary: Neufeld, Frank E. (Missoula 1944), National Smokejumper Association

Smokejumper Obituaries

No abstract provided.

Bicistronic And Fused Monocistronic Transcripts Are Derived From Adjacent Loci In The Arabidopsis Genome, Jyothi Thimmapuram, Hui Duan, Lei Liu, Mary A. Schuler

Cyber Center Publications

Comparisons of full-length cDNAs and genomic DNAs available for Arabidopsis thaliana described here indicate that some adjacent loci are transcribed into extremely long RNAs spanning two annotated genes. Once expressed, some of these transcripts are post-transcriptionally spliced within their coding and intergenic sequences to generate bicistronic transcripts containing two complete open reading frames. Others are spliced to generate monocistronic transcripts coding for fusion proteins with sequences derived from both loci. RT-PCR of several P450 transcripts in this collection indicates that these extended transcripts exist side by side with shorter monocistronic transcripts derived from the individual loci in each pair. The …

Red Rock Desert Learning Center Core Group Meeting: November 16, 2004, Red Rock Desert Learning Center

Reports (RRLC)

1. Introductions (5 min.)
2. Approval of Minutes from October 19 Meeting (5 minutes)
3. Presentation of Biology Curriculum Strands – Paul Buck (15 min.)
4. Discussion of Possible Advisory Board Structures – Michael Reiland (15 min.)
5. Update from Line and Space Architects – Les Wallach/Henry Tom (20 min.)
6. Discussion of Student Risk Analysis/Liability Issues (15 min.)
7. Standing Reports (10 minutes)
   A. UNLV/CESU Update – Nancy Flagg
   B. BLM Update – Michael Reiland
8. Committee Reports (5 min.)
   A. Building Committee – Angie Lara
9. Open Discussion / New Business (5 min.)
   A. January Meeting – Tuesday, January 18, 10:30 a.m., UNLV Paradise
   Campus
   B. Core …

Microarray Profiling For Differential Gene Expression In Ovaries And Ovarian, A. R. Caetano, R. K. Johnson, J. J. Ford, Daniel Pomp

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

A unique index line of pigs created by long-term selection ovulates on average 6.7 more ova than its randomly selected control line. Expression profiling experiments were conducted to identify differentially expressed genes in ovarian tissues of the index and control lines during days 2–6 of the follicular phase of the estrous cycle. Fluorescently labeled cDNAs derived from ovary and follicle RNA were cohybridized on microarray slides (n = 90) containing 4608 follicle-derived probes printed in duplicate. Statistical analysis of the resulting ~1.6 million data points with a mixed-model approach identified 88 and 74 unique probes, representing 71 and 59 …

A Bayesian Method For Finding Interactions In Genomic Studies, Wei Chen, Debashis Ghosh, Trivellore E. Raghuanthan, Sharon Kardia

The University of Michigan Department of Biostatistics Working Paper Series

An important step in building a multiple regression model is the selection of predictors. In genomic and epidemiologic studies, datasets with a small sample size and a large number of predictors are common. In such settings, most standard methods for identifying a good subset of predictors are unstable. Furthermore, there is an increasing emphasis towards identification of interactions, which has not been studied much in the statistical literature. We propose a method, called BSI (Bayesian Selection of Interactions), for selecting predictors in a regression setting when the number of predictors is considerably larger than the sample size with a focus …

Evidence For And Characterization Of Ca2+ Binding To The Catalytic Region Of Arabidopsis Thaliana Phospholipase Dβ, Xuemin Wang

Biology Department Faculty Works

Most types of plant phospholipase D (PLD) require Ca2+ for activity, but how Ca2+ affects PLD activity is not well understood. We reported previously that Ca2+ binds to the regulatory C2 domain that occurs in the N terminus of the Ca2+-requiring PLDs. Using Arabidopsis thaliana PLDβ and C2-deleted PLDβ (PLDβcat), we now show that Ca2+ also interacts with the catalytic regions of PLD. PLDβcat exhibited Ca2+-dependent activity, was much less active, and required a higher level of Ca2+ than the full-length PLDβ. Ca2+ binding of the proteins was stimulated by phospholipids; phosphatidylserine was the most effective among those tested. Scatchard …

Structural Mimicry In Class A G Protein-Coupled Receptor Rotamer Toggle Switches, Sean D. Mcallister, Dow P. Hurst, Judy Barnett-Norris, Diane L. Lynch, Patricia H. Reggio, Mary E. Abood

Faculty Articles

In this study, we tested the hypothesis that a CB₁ TMH3-4-5-6 aromatic microdomain, which includes F3.25(190), F3.36(201), W5.43(280), and W6.48(357), is centrally involved in CB₁ receptor activation, with the F3.36(201)/W6.48(357) interaction key to the maintenance of the CB₁-inactive state. We have shown previously that when F3.36(201), W5.43(280), and W6.48(357) are individually mutated to alanine, a significant reduction in ligand binding affinity is observed in the presence of WIN 55,212-2 and SR141716A but not CP55,940 and anandamide. In the work presented here, we report a detailed functional analysis of the F3.36(201)A, F3.25(190)A, W5.43(280)A, and W6.48(357)A mutant receptors …

Identification And Phenotypic Characterization Of The Cell-Division Protein Cdpa, Eric Altermann, B. Logan Buck, Raul Cano, Todd R. Klaenhammer

Biological Sciences

Analysis of the automated computer annotation of the early draft phase genome of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM revealed the previously discovered S-layer gene slpA and an additional partial ORF with weak similarities to S-layer proteins. The entire gene was sequenced to reveal a 1799-bp gene coding for 599 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 64.8 kDa. No transcription or translation signals could be determined in close proximity to the 5′-region. However, a strong putative terminator with a free energy of −16.84 kcal/mol was identified directly downstream of the gene. A PSI-Blast analysis showed similarities to members of S-layer proteins, …

Electrotransformation Of Clostridium Thermocellum, Michael V. Tyurin, Sunil G. Desai, Lee R. Lynd

Dartmouth Scholarship

Electrotransformation of several strains of Clostridium thermocellum was achieved using plasmid pIKm1 with selection based on resistance to erythromycin and lincomycin. A custom-built pulse generator was used to apply a square 10-ms pulse to an electrotransformation cuvette consisting of a modified centrifuge tube. Transformation was verified by recovery of the shuttle plasmid pIKm1 from presumptive transformants of C. thermocellum with subsequent PCR specific to the mls gene on the plasmid, as well as by retransformation of Escherichia coli. Optimization carried out with strain DSM 1313 increased transformation efficiencies from <1 to (2.2 􏰍 0.5) 􏰎 105 transformants per 􏰃g of plasmid DNA. Factors conducive to achieving high transformation efficiencies included optimized periods of incubation both before and after electric pulse application, chilling during cell collection and washing, subculture in the presence of isoniacin prior to electric pulse application, a custom-built cuvette embedded in an ice block during pulse application, use of a high (25-kV/cm) field strength, and induction of the mls gene before plating the cells on selective medium. The protocol and preferred conditions developed for strain DSM 1313 resulted in transformation efficiencies of (5.0 􏰍 1.8) 􏰎 104 transformants per 􏰃g of plasmid DNA for strain ATCC 27405 and 􏰁1 􏰎 103 transformants per 􏰃g of plasmid DNA for strains DSM 4150 and 7072. Cell viability under optimal conditions was 􏰁50% of that of controls not exposed to an electrical pulse. Dam methylation had a beneficial but modest (7-fold for strain ATCC 27405; 40-fold for strain DSM 1313) effect on transformation efficiency. The effect of isoniacin was also strain specific. The results reported here provide for the first time a gene transfer method functional in C. thermocellum that is suitable for molecular manipulations involving either the introduction of genes associated with foreign gene products or knockout of native genes.

A Large-Sample Qtl Study In Mice: Iii. Reproduction, Joao L. Rocha, Eugene J. Eisen, Frank Siewerdt, L. Dale Van Vleck, Daniel Pomp

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Using lines of mice having undergone long-term selection for high and low growth, a large-sample (n ≈ 1000 F₂) experiment was conducted to gain further understanding of the genetic architecture of complex polygenic traits. Composite interval mapping on data from 10-week-old F2 females (n = 439) detected 15 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) on 5 chromosomes that influence reproduction traits characterized at day 16 of gestation. These QTL are broadly categorized into two groups: those where effects on the number of live fetuses (LF) were accompanied by parallel effects on the number of dead fetuses (DF), and those free …

A Genome Scan For Quantitative Trait Loci And Imprinted Regions Affecting Reproduction In Pigs, J. W. Holl, J. P. Cassady, D. Pomp, R. K. Johnson

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Quantitative trait loci for reproductive traits in a three-generation resource population of a cross between low-indexing pigs from a control line and high-indexing pigs from a line selected 10 generations for increased index of ovulation rate and embryonic survival are reported. Phenotypic data were collected in F2 females for birth weight (BWT, n = 428), weaning weight (WWT, n = 405), age at puberty (AP, n = 295), ovulation rate (OR, n = 423), number of fully formed pigs (FF, n = 370), number of pigs born alive (NBA, n = 370), number of mummified pigs (MUM, n = 370), …

National Pork Producers Council Maternal Line Genetic Evaluation: A Comparison Of Growth And Carcass Traits In Terminal Progeny, J. P. Cassidy, O. W. Robison, R. K. Johnson, J. W. Mabry, L. L. Christian, M. D. Tokach, R. K. Miller, R. N. Goodwin

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

The objective of this study was to compare growth and carcass traits of 1,252 progeny of six commercially available dam lines included in the National Pork Producers Council Maternal Line Evaluation Project. Lines compared included one maternal line supplied by each of American Diamond Swine Genetics (ADSG), Danbred NA (DB), two lines supplied by Monsanto Choice Genetics (DK and GPK347), Newsham Hybrids (NH), and Landrace × Large White females supplied by the National Swine Registry (NSR). All females were mated to DB, Duroc-Hampshire terminal sires. Traits analyzed were ADG from 56 to 115 kg live weight, days to 115 kg, …

Effects Of Different Jumping Programs On Hip And Spine Bone Mineral Density In Pre-Menopausal Women, J. Eric Strong

Theses and Dissertations

Sixty premenopausal women (age 25-50) finished a 16 week randomized controlled trial looking at the effects of different jump programs on hip and spine bone mineral density (BMD). Subjects were randomly assigned to a control group or one of two jumping groups. The Jump 10 group performed 10 jumps with 30 seconds of rest between jumps, twice daily, while the Jump 20 group performed the same protocol but with 20 jumps. At 8 weeks, BMD percent change (%Δ) at the hip was significantly different among groups when age, weight change, and subject compliance were simultaneously adjusted. In particular, the Jump …

C-Terminal 23 Kda Polypeptide Of Soybean Gly M Bd 28 K Is A Potential Allergen, Ping Xiang, Eric J. Haas, Michael G. Zeece, John P. Markwell, Gautam Sarath

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Gly m Bd 28 K is a major soybean (Glycine max Merr.) glycoprotein allergen. It was originally identified as a 28 kDa polypeptide in soybean seed flour. However, the full-length protein is encoded by an open reading frame (ORF) of 473 amino acids, and contains a 23 kDa C-terminal polypeptide of as yet unknown allergenic and structural characteristics. IgE-binding (allergenic potential) of the Gly m Bd 28 K protein including the 23 kDa C-terminal portion as well as shorter fragments derived from the full-length ORF were evaluated using sera from soy-sensitive adults. All of these sera contained IgE that …

Project Report No. 66, Metric Volume And Biomass Prediction Equations For Loblolly And Slash Pine Trees Planted In Unmanaged Pine Plantations In East Texas, Dean W. Coble, Young-Jin Lee, J. David Lenhart

Informal Project Reports

Metric equations are presented to predict the volume of wood and/or biomass contained in individual loblolly (Pinus taeda, L.) and slash (Pinus elliottii, Englem.) pine trees growing in unmanaged pine plantations in east Texas. Taper equations are also presented for both species that describe tree form in metric units.

Project Report No. 65, Stumpage Price Trends Of Sawtimber And Pulpwood In East Texas And Louisiana, Dean W. Coble, Shiaolin Cheng

Informal Project Reports

A fifteen-year stumpage price update and analysis for pine and hardwood in East Texas are reported. Thepricesofsawtimberandpulpwoodare presented for both pine and hardwood plantations by using 1988 to 2003 stumpage prices from the Texas Forest Service and Louisiana Department of Agriculture. Timber prices increased steadily from 1988 to the late 1990's, peaked, then declined into 2003 for both Louisiana and Texas. Louisiana prices, though, have remained higher than those for Texas.

Pyruvate Formate Lyase And Acetate Kinase Are Essential For Anaerobic Growth Of Escherichia Coli On Xylose, A. Hansona, Y. Kim, Frank G. Healy, L. O. Ingram, K. T. Shanmugan

Biology Faculty Research

During anaerobic growth of bacteria, organic intermediates of metabolism, such as pyruvate or its derivatives, serve as electron acceptors to maintain the overall redox balance. Under these conditions, the ATP needed for cell growth is derived from substrate-level phosphorylation. In Escherichia coli, conversion of glucose to pyruvate yields 2 net ATPs, while metabolism of a pentose, such as xylose, to pyruvate only yields 0.67 net ATP per xylose due to the need for one (each) ATP for xylose transport and xylulose phosphorylation. During fermentative growth, E. coli produces equimolar amounts of acetate and ethanol from two pyruvates, and these …

Human Fetal, Cord Blood, And Adult Lymphocyte Progenitors Have Similar Potential For Generating B Cells With A Diverse Immunoglobulin Repertoire, Grant R. Kolar, Takafumi Yokota, Maria Isabel D. Rossi, Swapan K. Nath, J. Donald Capra

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Several characteristics of the immunoglobulin (Ig) repertoire in fetuses and adults set them apart from each other. Functionally, this translates into differences in the affinity and effectiveness of the humoral immune response between adults and the very young. At least 2 possibilities could explain these differences: (1) fetal and adult lymphocyte progenitors differ significantly in their potential to form a diverse repertoire, and (2) factors extrinsic to the immunoglobulin locus are more influential to the character of the repertoire. To address this, we used nonobese diabetic-severe combined immunodeficient- β2 microglobulin knockout (NOD/SCID/β2m ^-/-) mice reconstituted with human B-cell progenitors …

Application Of Genotypic And Phenotypic Analyses To Commercial Probiotic Strain Identity And Relatedness, P. S. M. Yeung, Christopher L. Kitts, Phillip S. Tong, M. E. Sanders

Biological Sciences

Aims: The objective of this study was to generate strain-specific genomic patterns of a bank of 67 commercial and reference probiotic strains, with a focus on probiotic lactobacilli.
Methods and Results: Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used as the primary method for strain differentiation. This method was compared with carbohydrate fermentation analysis. To supplement visual comparison, PFGE patterns were analysed quantitatively by cluster analysis using unweighted pair group method with arithmetic averages. SmaI, NotI and XbaI were found to effectively generate clear and easy-to-interpret PFGE patterns of a range of probiotic strains. Some probiotic strains from different sources shared highly …

Sex Differences In Metabolic Rates In Field Crickets And Their Dipteran Parasitoids, Gita R. Kolluru, Mark A. Chappell, Marlene Zuk

Biological Sciences

Sex differences in metabolic rate (MR) can result from dimorphism in the performance of energetically demanding activities. Male crickets (Teleogryllus oceanicus) engage in costly calling and aggressive activity not performed by females. Consistent with this difference, we found higher maximal MR, factorial scope, and fat content in males than females. T. oceanicus song is also costly because it attracts the parasitoid fly Ormia ochracea. Parasitized crickets had reduced maximal MR consistent with a metabolic cost to harboring larvae. This cost was greater for females, either because females invest more heavily into reproduction at the expense of metabolic …

Alteration Of The Food Web Along The Antarctic Peninsula In Response To A Regional Warming Trend, Mark A. Moline, Herve Claustre, Thomas K. Frazer, Oscar Schofield, Maria Vernet

Biological Sciences

In the nearshore coastal waters along the Antarctic Peninsula, a recurrent shift in phytoplankton community structure, from diatoms to cryptophytes, has been documented. The shift was observed in consecutive years (1991–1996) during the austral summer and was correlated in time and space with glacial melt-water runoff and reduced surface water salinities. Elevated temperatures along the Peninsula will increase the extent of coastal melt-water zones and the seasonal prevalence of cryptophytes. This is significant because a change from diatoms to cryptophytes represents a marked shift in the size distribution of the phytoplankton community, which will, in turn, impact the zooplankton assemblage. …

Application Of Genotypic And Phenotypic Analyses To Commerical Probiotic Strain Identity And Relatedness, P.S.M. Yeung, C. L. Kitts, R. Cano, P. Tong

Biological Sciences

Aims: The objective of this study was to generate strain-specific genomic patterns of a bank of 67 commercial and reference probiotic strains, with a focus on probiotic lactobacilli.

Methods and Results: Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used as the primary method for strain differentiation. This method was compared with carbohydrate fermentation analysis. To supplement visual comparison, PFGE patterns were analysed quantitatively by cluster analysis using unweighted pair group method with arithmetic averages. SmaI, NotI and XbaI were found to effectively generate clear and easy-to-interpret PFGE patterns of a range of probiotic strains. Some probiotic strains from different sources …

Laboratory Routines Cause Animal Stress, Jonathan P. Balcombe, Neal D. Barnard, Chad Sandusky

Laboratory Experiments Collection

Eighty published studies were appraised to document the potential stress associated with three routine laboratory procedures commonly performed on animals: handling, blood collection, and orogastric gavage. We defined handling as any non-invasive manipulation occurring as part of routine husbandry, including lifting an animal and cleaning or moving an animal's cage. Significant changes in physiologic parameters correlated with stress (e.g., serum or plasma concentrations of corticosterone, glucose, growth hormone or prolactin, heart rate, blood pressure, and behavior) were associated with all three procedures in multiple species in the studies we examined. The results of these studies demonstrated that animals responded with …