Life Sciences Commons^™

Graffiti And Other Evidence Of Bulgarian Pilgrimage To Jerusalem In The Ottoman Period: A Photographic Survey, Michael Chernin, Shai Halevi

'Atiqot

This paper presents the results of a photographic survey of graffiti inscriptions on the walls of Greek Orthodox monasteries in the Old City of Jerusalem and its vicinity, dating from the Ottoman period. A unique methodology of multispectral and RTI imaging was applied to document the inscriptions, bringing to light evidence of the presence of Bulgarian pilgrims in these monasteries. Based on the corpus of inscriptions presented herein, previously documented contemporary graffiti in other Greek Orthodox compounds and historical sources, we were able to historically identify specific people and their places of origin, further allowing us to reconstruct the Bulgarian …

Sixth–Seventh-Century Ce Armenian Inscriptions Of A Monastic Community In Jerusalem, Michael E. Stone

'Atiqot

Excavations in the Musrara neighborhood of Jerusalem uncovered four Armenian inscriptions within a monastic complex founded in the fifth–sixth centuries CE. The inscriptions were found on a mosaic floor, on tombstones and on a large pottery bowl, and together with the Birds Mosaic, they probably formed part of one monastic complex, in which Armenians played a significant role. As there is no hint in the historical sources of the existence of this complex, the archaeological discovery contributes new historical information concerning the Christian, and particularly Armenian settlement in Jerusalem in the seventh century CE.

Light-Microscopic And Spectroscopic Analyses Of The Skin Materials Used In The Tefillin And Mezuzah Slips From The Judean Desert, Yonatan Adler, Theresa Emmerich Kamper

'Atiqot

Among the Dead Sea Scrolls is an assemblage of ancient tefillin and mezuzah slips—ritual artifacts composed of thin animal skins inscribed with passages from the Pentateuch. This paper presents the results of light-microscopic and spectroscopic analyses conducted on 26 tefillin and 8 mezuzot from the Judean Desert caves. These analyses provide the first opportunity to identify the following characteristics on these artifacts: animal species; skin thickness; skin layers present; tannage; side/s of skin with writing. In time, these characteristics took on ritual significance, especially in later rabbinic halakhah. A significant finding is that the ancient tefillin analyzed here were all …

Nysa-Scythopolis: Founding Cults, Gods And Emperors, Gabriel Mazor, Walid Atrash

'Atiqot

Founding narratives, rendered by historical sources and inscriptions, established the traditional ethnicity of Greco-Roman poleis and validated the early origins of their cultic practices. At Nysa-Scythopolis, this narrative was consolidated in the obscure name of the polis, bestowed at the time of its early Hellenistic founding. To better understand the city’s name and its traditional cults practiced in the various temples, historical sources and inscriptions from the site were studied, revealing the founding narrative related to the triad-legend of Dionysos, Nysa and Zeus and its cultic practice. Meaningful and significant, the founding narrative and its cult integrated gods and emperors …

An Iron Age Iib–C Hebrew Stamp Seal With Apotropaic And Prophylactic Properties From The Southwestern Corner Of The Temple Mount, Jerusalem, Filip Vukosavović, Ronny Reich, Navot Rom, Yuval Baruch

'Atiqot

An Iron Age Hebrew iconic stamp seal was uncovered near the southwestern corner of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The seal, made of black stone, depicts a winged genie and a personal name, Yehoʽezer son of Hoshaʽyahu. This is the first depiction of the winged genie iconography in the region found in an archaeological excavation. Influenced by Neo-Assyrian art, the seal was created in Jerusalem by a local artist for Hoshaʽyahu, a member of the Judean elite, during the Assyrian Century. Later on, the seal was inherited by his son, Yehoʽezer. In addition to being used as a stamp, the …

Evidence Of Worship In The Rock-Cut Rooms On The Eastern Slope Of The City Of David, Jerusalem, Eli Shukron, Liora Freud, Helena Roth, Reli Avisar, Efrat Bocher

'Atiqot

This paper presents the finds retrieved from a unique series of rock-cut rooms found on the eastern slope of the City of David. These rock-cut rooms stand out in terms of their architectural features, as well as the artifacts discovered within them, all of which reflect on their function as a cultic complex, likely constructed in the Middle Bronze Age, with its final stage in Iron Age IIB. This complex offers profound evidence for the diversity of cultic practices in the capital of the Kingdom of Judah.

Figurines And Their Makers: A View From A Canaanite Cultic Enclosure At Tel Burna, Jon Ross, Itzhaq Shai

'Atiqot

Plaque figurines are a well-established Canaanite tradition of the Late Bronze Age Southern Levant. In this paper, we go beyond typology to consider who made these ritual objects at Tel Burna, based on impressions of fingerprints from shaping these figurines using an open mold. The lack of care exhibited on the backs and sides of the plaques has enabled a fingerprint analysis using proven biometric methods to clarify the demographics of their producers and the division of labor. Such analyses, when possible, potentially add another dimension to existing debates over how these cultic objects functioned in society, who made them …

Go Figure: The Unique Trajectories Of Figurine Use And Religious Ideologies In The Middle- And Late-Bronze Age Southern Levant, Matthew Susnow, Joe Uziel

'Atiqot

This article explores the differences between cultic practices and religious ideologies as expressed in the material culture of the Middle and Late Bronze Ages in the Southern Levant. Whereas the periods share much in common in terms of material culture and political organization, we suggest that the cultic practices in the earlier period were dictated by elite ideologies aiming at social inclusion, unity, integration and group cohesion, while the Late Bronze Age viewed the distribution of such paraphernalia, particularly ceramic female figurines, as domestic in nature.

The Emergence Of Worship And Religion In The Neolithic Period: Direct And Indirect Evidence From Moẓa (Motza), Hamoudi Khalaily, Anna Eirikh-Rose, Ianir Milevski

'Atiqot

Evidence of worship and religion in the form of architectural remains is rather scanty before the shift in human behavior, from hunter-gatherers to sedentary communities, and the emergence of permanent settlements. Communal and ritual structures first appeared in the Natufian culture (12,500–9400 BCE) and expanded during the Neolithic period (9400–5300 BCE), alongside the treatment of burials linked to ritual related to ancestor worship. The excavations at Motza’s Final PPNB (7100–6700 BCE) layer exposed many non-residential structures, some presumably used for worship and ritual. Some burials, including the one interpreted here as a shaman burial, included objects of symbolic importance. Cultic …

Front Matter & Editorial, The Editorial Board

'Atiqot

No abstract provided.

Neurocognitive Outcomes And Functional Independence In Adult Survivors Of Childhood Medulloblastoma Diagnosed Over 3 Decades, Chiara Papini, Sedigheh Mirzaei, Mengqi Xing, Ingrid Tonning Olsson, Ralph Salloum, Katharine R Lange, Deokumar Srivastava, Wendy M Leisenring, Rebecca M Howell, Kevin C Oeffinger, Leslie L Robison, Gregory T Armstrong, Kevin R Krull, Tara M Brinkman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Treatment of childhood medulloblastoma has evolved to reduce neurotoxicity while improving survival. However, the impact of evolving therapies on late neurocognitive outcomes and adult functional independence remains unknown.

Methods: Adult survivors of childhood medulloblastoma (n = 505; median [minimum-maximum] age, 29 [18-46] years) and sibling controls (n = 727; 32 [18-58] years) from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study completed surveys assessing neurocognitive problems and chronic health conditions (CHCs). Treatment exposures were categorized as historical (craniospinal irradiation [CSI] ≥ 30 Gy, no chemotherapy), standard-risk (CSI > 0 to < 30 Gy + chemotherapy) and high-risk (CSI ≥ 30 Gy + chemotherapy) therapy. Latent class analysis identified patterns of functional independence using employment, independent living, assistance with routine/personal care needs, driver's license, and marital/partner status. Multivariable models estimated the risk of neurocognitive impairment in survivors versus siblings and by treatment exposure group, and associations between neurocognitive impairment, CHCs, and functional independence.

Results: Survivors in each treatment exposure group had a 4- to 5-fold elevated …

А Review Of Scorpiofauna Of China: Nomenclatural Notes And Updated Faunistic Catalogue (Arachnida: Scorpiones), Victoria Tang

Euscorpius

Two genera associated with the Chinese scorpiofauna are reviewed, Razianus Farzanpay, 1987 and Reddyanus Vachon, 1972. Holotype female of Razianus xinjianganus Lourenço et al., 2010 is presumed to be lost, as well as all type material of other Chinese scorpions described before 2020. Comments are given on the species composition of genus Reddyanus with a new synonym: Isometrus (Reddyanus) tibetanus Lourenço & Zhu, 2008 = Reddyanus assamensis (Oates, 1888) syn. n. Reddyanus kanak Lourenço, 2023 is tentatively considered as a nomen dubium. An updated catalogue of Chinese scorpiofauna is provided, including their type locality and type depository, protonym, synonym(s), …

Role Of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi In Maintaining Sustainable Agroecosystems, Anju Chaudhary, Shital Poudyal, Amita Kaundal

Plants, Soils, and Climate Faculty Publications

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi play a crucial role in maintaining sustainable agroecosystems by forming mutualistic relationships with plant roots, improving soil health, facilitating nutrient uptake, and enhancing resilience to abiotic stresses. The mutualistic relationship between AM fungi and plants promotes a balanced microbial community and improves soil structure by forming stable soil aggregates. Additionally, AM fungi can lower the adverse effects of high soil phosphorus (P) while also enhancing plant tolerance to drought, salinity, and heavy metal toxicity through osmotic regulation and antioxidant production. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi also support beneficial microorganisms, such as potassium (K)-solubilizing microbes and nitrogen (N)-transforming bacteria, …

Changes In Vertical Stratification Of Neotropical Nymphalid Butterflies At Forest Edges Are Not Directly Caused By Light And Temperature Conditions, Brian K. Oye, Ryan I. Hill

Pacific Faculty Work

Habitat fragmentation and land use changes threaten neotropical habitats and alter patterns of diversity at forest edges. Like other arthropod assemblages, neotropical fruit-feeding butterfly communities show strong vertical stratification within forests, with some recent work showing its potential role in speciation. At forest edges, species considered to be forest canopy specialists have been observed descending to the forest understory, with the similarity in light conditions between the canopy and understory strata at edges hypothesized to be responsible for this phenomenon. We conducted a study using standardized sampling to document and quantify this edge effect, characterize edge and forest strata, and …

The Eastern Oyster Behavioral Response To Low Salinity And Hypoxia In Controlled And Natural Settings, Siyah Yongue

LSU Master's Theses

Oyster aquaculture is expanding in the northern Gulf of Mexico, but climate change may challenge the sustainability of this industry. Projected increases in the frequency and intensity of low salinity and low dissolved oxygen (DO) periods could impact the behavior, metabolism, growth, and survival of oysters. Characterizing how oyster behavior links to environmental stressors could help better identify thresholds in their tolerance and inform predictive tools for aquaculture professionals. In this research, the effect of separate and concomitant exposures to low salinity and DO on the behavioral response of oysters was examined in the lab. The impact of other environmental …

Conformational Switching Of Arp5 Subunit Regulates Ino80 Chromatin Remodeling, Shagun Shukla, Somnath Paul, Jeison Garcia, Yuan Zhong, Sara Sanz Juste, Blaine Bartholomew

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The INO80 chromatin remodeler is a versatile enzyme capable of several functions, including spacing nucleosomes equal distances apart, precise positioning of nucleosomes based on DNA shape/sequence and exchanging histone dimers. Within INO80, the Arp5 subunit plays a central role in INO80 remodeling, evidenced by its interactions with the histone octamer, nucleosomal and extranucleosomal DNA, and its necessity in linking INO80's ATPase activity to nucleosome movement. We find two distinct regions of Arp5 binding near the acidic pocket of nucleosomes. One region has an arginine anchor that binds nucleosomes and is vital for INO80 mobilizing nucleosomes. The other region has a …

Gps External Load Metric Data And Game Performance In Ncaa Division I Women’S Lacrosse Athletes: A Longitudinal Study, Rachel M. Lifson, Xavier Smith, Ernest Rimer, Andreas Stamatis

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(8): 130-146, 2025. This study investigates the relationship between GPS-derived external load metrics and game performance (win/loss) in NCAA Division I women’s lacrosse athletes. Utilizing data from three seasons (2022-2024), the study analyzed 1,687 observations from 54 players to identify key performance indicators correlating with game outcomes. GPS metrics including Total Distance (TD), High-Speed Distance (HSD), Very High-Speed Efforts (VHSE), Total Player Load (TPL), High Inertial Movement Analysis (High IMAs), and Total Acceleration Load (TAL) were assessed. Multivariate logistic regression results indicate that VHSE is the most significant predictor of game success, with VHSE showing …

A Comparison Of External Loads In Division Iii Men's Lacrosse Between High Competition Matches And Low Competition Matches, Patrick M. Moore, Thomas G. Bowman, Yasmine I. Jones, Price Blair, Sean M. Collins

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(3): 158-169, 2025. Lacrosse is an open-field, invasion sport with limited knowledge of the physiological demands of gameplay at the Division III level. This study aimed to investigate the external loads of Division III men’s lacrosse players during NCAA season games. Comparisons were made between the external loads placed on the athletes in high competition versus those placed on the athletes in low competition matches. High competition matches were defined as matches against teams that qualified for the NCAA tournament whereas low competition matches included teams that did not meet high competition requirements. The dependent …

Comparison Of Virtual Vs. Traditional Cycling Exercise On Perceived Duration And Exercise Enjoyment: A Pilot Study, Kyle W. Reason, Lauren G. Killen, T. Scott Lyons, Jean A. Helm Allen, Matt Green

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(2): 147-157, 2025. Participating in regular physical activity has been shown to increases one’s quality of life. Individuals may choose not to participate in regular physical activity because of a perceived lack of time and enjoyment. With the potential of these barriers to decrease exercise adherence, the purpose of this study was to compare perceived exercise duration and enjoyment between a virtually interactive stationary bike and a clamped workload on a standard non-interactive stationary bike. Thirteen active participants completed a VO₂ peak test and four counterbalanced trials (two 20-min, two 40-min) with one trial …

The Use Of Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate Encapsulated In Organic Nanoparticles Within Boar Semen Extenders To Control Bacterial Growth And Preserve Sperm Quality During Short-Term Storage Without Antibiotics, Congbang Ngo, Naiyaphat Nittayasut, Teerapong Yata, Junpen Suwimonteerabutr, Nuvee Prapasarakul, Jane M. Morrell, Padet Tummaruk

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of adding ethyl lauroyl arginate (ELA), encapsulated in organic nanoparticles, to a semen extender without antibiotics on sperm quality and bacterial load during short-term storage. Three ejaculates from Duroc boars were divided into four equal portions and diluted with Beltsville Thawing Solution to produce semen doses containing 3 billion spermatozoa in 80 ml. The extended semen did not include antibiotics but instead incorporated different concentrations of ELA nanoparticles into the extenders: 0 ppm, 5 ppm, 10 ppm, and 15 ppm. The semen doses were stored for 4 days, with …

Examining Deep Learning Pixel-Based Classification Algorithms For Mapping Weed Canopy Cover In Wheat Production Using Drone Data, Judith N. Oppong, Clement E. Akumu, Samuel Dennis, Stephanie Anyanwu

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Deep learning models offer valuable insights by leveraging large datasets, enabling precise and strategic decision-making essential for modern agriculture. Despite their potential, limited research has focused on the performance of pixel-based deep learning algorithms for detecting and mapping weed canopy cover. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of three neural network architectures—U-Net, DeepLabV3 (DLV3), and pyramid scene parsing network (PSPNet)—in mapping weed canopy cover in winter wheat. Drone data collected at the jointing and booting growth stages of winter wheat were used for the analysis. A supervised deep learning pixel classification methodology was adopted, and the models were tested …

Resistance Training Versus Cardiovascular Training: Which Is Better For Fat Loss?: A Brief Narrative Review., Jason M. Curtis, Jose Antonio, Cassandra Evans

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

Abstract

Introduction: Obesity has risen from 30.5% to 41.9% from 2000-2017. Those who are considered severely obese increased from 4.7% to 9.2% over that same period. There are numerous fitness-center approaches to induce weight-loss or reduction of body fat. These interventions are often categorized into two general categories: Resistance training (using weighted resistance in anaerobic strength training) and cardiovascular training (aerobic training). While both fitness groups have been shown to be effective, there is a debate about which method is most effective for eliciting changes in body composition, primarily fat loss.

Methods: Google Scholar and Pubmed were scoured for …

Western Regional Agricultural Stress Assistance Iii Program, Ty Aller

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Charting A New Vision: Lessons On Vision & Change From A Network Of Biology Educators, Jeremy L. Hsu, Anjali Misra, Michael J. Wolyniak, Carlos C. Goller, Stephanie Mathews, Uma Swamy, Dina L. Newman, Michael E. Moore

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

The 2011 Vision & Change report outlined several recommendations for transforming undergraduate biology education, sparking multiple pedagogical reform efforts. Among these was the Promoting Active Learning and Mentoring (PALM) network, an NSF-funded program that provided mentorship and training to instructors on implementing active learning in the classroom. Here, we provide a perspective on how members of the biology education community in PALM view the recommendations of Vision & Change, drawing upon our experiences both as members of PALM and as leaders of an associated project funded by another NSF grant that hosted PALM alumni at various conferences. These efforts …

Pembrolizumab Plus Chemotherapy In Frontline Treatment Of Advanced Ovarian Cancer: Clinical And Translational Results From A Phase 2 Trial, Jeffrey A How, Minghao Dang, Sanghoon Lee, Bryan Fellman, Shannon N Westin, Nicole D Fleming, Ying Yuan, Jinsong Liu, Li Zhao, Joseph Celestino, Richard Hajek, Margaret B Morgan, Edwin R Parra, Caddie D Laberiano Fernandez, Claudio A Arrechedera, Luisa Maren Solis Soto, Kathleen M Schmeler, Alpa Nick, Karen H Lu, Robert Coleman, Linghua Wang, Amir A Jazaeri

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The efficacy and feasibility of pembrolizumab combined with chemotherapy in frontline management of advanced high-grade epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is unknown. Additionally, modification of the tumor microenvironment following neoadjuvant therapy is not well understood.

Methods: In this single-arm phase 2 trial (this study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02520154), eligible patients received up to 4 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval cytoreduction, 3 cycles of adjuvant intravenous carboplatin/weekly paclitaxel/pembrolizumab, and finally maintenance pembrolizumab until progression or toxicity (maximum 20 cycles). The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints included feasibility, toxicity, and overall survival (OS). PD-L1 staining, …

Integrating Ctla-4/Pd-1 Blockade Into Cervical Cancer Management: Results Of Compassion-16, Jeffrey A How, Amir A Jazaeri

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Although there is anti-tumor efficacy of dual CTLA-4/PD-1 blockade in advanced/recurrent cervical cancer, it is unclear whether combination with chemotherapy is synergistic. In COMPASSION-16, Wu et al. demonstrated improved survival outcomes of cadolinimab plus chemotherapy compared to chemotherapy alone for first-line systemic therapy for advanced/recurrent cervical cancer, suggesting a potential role of bispecific CTLA-4/PD-1 inhibitors in the frontline setting.

Superstable Lipid Vacuoles Endow Cartilage With Its Shape And Biomechanics, Raul Ramos, Kim T Pham, Richard C Prince, Leith B Leiser-Miller, Maneeshi S Prasad, Rachel C Nordberg, Jerry C Hu, Kosuke Yamaga, Ji Won Oh, Tao Peng, Rupsa Datta, Aksana Astrowskaja, Axel A Almet, John T Burns, Yuchen Liu, Christian Fernando Guerrero-Juarez, Bryant Q Tran, Yi-Lin Chu, Anh M Nguyen, Tsai-Ching Hsi, Norman T-L Lim, Sandra Schoeniger, Ruiqi Liu, Yun-Ling Pai, Chella K Vadivel, Sandy Ingleby, Andrew E Mckechnie, Frank Van Breukelen, Kyle L Hoehn, John J Rasweiler, Michinori Kohara, William J Loughry, Scott H Weldy, Raymond Cosper, Chao-Chun Yang, Sung-Jan Lin, Kimberly L Cooper, Sharlene E Santana, Jeffrey E Bradley, Michael A Kiebish, Michelle Digman, David E James, Amy E Merrill, Qing Nie, Thomas F Schilling, Aliaksandr A Astrowski, Eric O Potma, Martín I García-Castro, Kyriacos A Athanasiou, Richard R Behringer, Maksim V Plikus

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Conventionally, the size, shape, and biomechanics of cartilages are determined by their voluminous extracellular matrix. By contrast, we found that multiple murine cartilages consist of lipid-filled cells called lipochondrocytes. Despite resembling adipocytes, lipochondrocytes were molecularly distinct and produced lipids exclusively through de novo lipogenesis. Consequently, lipochondrocytes grew uniform lipid droplets that resisted systemic lipid surges and did not enlarge upon obesity. Lipochondrocytes also lacked lipid mobilization factors, which enabled exceptional vacuole stability and protected cartilage from shrinking upon starvation. Lipid droplets modulated lipocartilage biomechanics by decreasing the tissue's stiffness, strength, and resilience. Lipochondrocytes were found in multiple mammals, including humans, …

Sitravatinib In Combination With Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab In Patients With Advanced Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Phase 1 Trial, Pavlos Msaouel, Kai Yu, Ying Yuan, Jianfeng Chen, Xinmiao Yan, Fei Duan, Priya Rao, Kanishka Sircar, Amishi Y Shah, Amado J Zurita, Giannicola Genovese, Min Li, Chih-Chen Yeh, Minghao Dang, Guangchun Han, Yanshuo Chu, Max Hallin, Peter Olson, Rui Yang, Daniela Slavin, Hirak Der-Torossian, Curtis D Chin, Nizar M Tannir, Linghua Wang, Jianjun Gao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

We conducted a phase I trial to determine the optimal dose of triplet therapy with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor sitravatinib plus nivolumab plus ipilimumab in 22 previously untreated patients with advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma. The primary endpoint was safety. Secondary endpoints were objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), duration of response (DOR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), 1-year survival probability, and sitravatinib pharmacokinetics. Sitravatinib dose of 35 mg daily plus nivolumab 3 mg/kg and ipilimumab 1 mg/kg resulted in high frequency of immune-related adverse events. Subsequent dose reduction of ipilimumab to 0.7 mg/kg allowed safe …

Species Differences In The Biotransformation Of Aflatoxin B1: Primary Determinants Of Relative Carcinogenic Potency In Different Animal Species, David L. Eaton, David E. Williams, Roger A. Coulombe

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

It has been known since the early days of the discovery of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) that there were large species differences in susceptibility to AFB1. It was also evident early on that AFB1 itself was not toxic but required bioactivation to a reactive form. Over the past 60 years there have been thousands of studies to delineate the role of ~10 specific biotransformation pathways of AFB1, both phase I (oxidation, reduction) and phase II (hydrolysis, conjugation, secondary oxidations, and reductions of phase I metabolites). This review provides a historical context and substantive analysis of each of these pathways as contributors …

Tdp43 Autoregulation Gives Rise To Dominant Negative Isoforms That Are Tightly Controlled By Transcriptional And Post-Translational Mechanisms, Megan M. Dykstra, Kaitlin Weskamp, Nicolás B. Gómez, Jacob Waksmacki, Elizabeth Tank, M. Rebecca Glineburg, Allison Snyder, Emile Pinarbasi, Michael Bekier, Xingli Li, Morgan R. Miller, Jen Bai, Shameena Shahzad, Neha Nedumaran, Clare Wieland, Corey Stewart, Sydney Willey, Nikolas Grotewold, Jonathon Mcbride, John J. Moran, Aditya V. Suryakumar, Michael Lucas, Peter M. Tessier, Michael Ward, Peter K. Todd, Sami J. Barmada

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

The nuclear RNA-binding protein TDP43 is integrally involved in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). Previous studies uncovered N-terminal TDP43 isoforms that are predominantly cytosolic in localization, prone to aggregation, and enriched in susceptible spinal motor neurons. In healthy cells, however, these shortened (s)TDP43 isoforms are difficult to detect in comparison to full-length (fl)TDP43, raising questions regarding their origin and selective regulation. Here, we show that sTDP43 is created as a by-product of TDP43 autoregulation and cleared by nonsense-mediated RNA decay (NMD). sTDP43-encoding transcripts that escape NMD are rapidly degraded post-translationally via the proteasome …