Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology Commons^™

Magnetization Reversal Of Elliptical Co/Cu/Co Pseudo-Spin Valve Dots, Ngocnga Dao, Scott L. Whittenburg, Y. Hao, Leszek M. Malkinski, Jian Qing Wang, C. A. Ross

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications

We present our recent simulated results on Cr (5 nm)/ Cu (5 nm)/ Co (5 nm)/ Cu (3 nm)/ Co (2 nm) pseudo-spin valve dots. The simulated results agree qualitatively with the experimental results. Three different sizes of elliptical dots, and were simulated. Our simulations show that in these types of dots magnetization reversal occurs by the formation of domain walls: for and for No domain wall was observed in the reversal of the dots. For such dots, the simulated loops show a small two-step reversal pattern with the thin upper layer partially reversing followed by complete reversal of both …

Construction Of Rhas And Rhar Overexpression Plasmids And The Effects Of Crp Mutants On E.Coli L-Rhamnose Gene Expression, Amber Bromenshenkel, Susan Egan

Honors Capstones

Capstone submitted as a graduation requirement for the BSU Honors Program.

The Modulation And Cross-Talk Between Stat 5 And Socs-3 In Insulin And Growth Hormone Signaling In 3t3-L1 Adipocytes., David James Story

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

1080 Summary Information, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia, Department Of Conservation And Land Management, Western Australia, Department Of Health, Western Australia

Biosecurity research reports

Fluoroacetate, the active ingredient of 1080, occurs naturally in toxic plants in Australia, South Africa, and South America. Manufactured I080 underpins most vertebrate pest control programs in Australia and New Zealand. Fluoroacetate occurs naturally in about 40 plant species in Australia with most of these plants restricted to the south-west of WA.

I080 was introduced to rabbit control programs in the early 1950s and therefore has a long history of proven effectiveness and safety in Australia. There have been few repo1ted problems associated with human safety, environmental persistence, bioaccumulation or impact on populations of non-target species.

In particular, I080 baits …

Inhibition Of Apoptosis By Gamma Interferon In Cells And Mice Infected With Chlamydia Muridarum (The Mouse Pneumonitis Strain Of Chlamydia Trachomatis), Jean-Luc Perfettini, Toni Darville, Alice Dautry-Varsat, Roger G. Rank, David M. Ojcius

All Dugoni School of Dentistry Faculty Articles

The effect of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) on apoptosis due to infection by Chlamydia muridarum (the mouse pneumonitis strain of Chlamydia trachomatis) was studied in epithelial cells in culture and in the genital tracts of mice. IFN-γ concentrations that induce the formation of aberrant, persistent chlamydiae inhibit apoptosis due to C. muridarum infection. In cells treated with an IFN-γ concentration that leads to the development of a heterogenous population of normal and aberrant Chlamydia vacuoles, apoptosis was inhibited preferentially in cells that contained the aberrant vacuoles. The inhibitory effect of IFN-γ appears to be due in part to expression of host …

Vectorial Acylation In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Zhiying Zou, Fumin Tong, Nils J. Færgeman, Claus Børsting, Paul N. Black, Concetta Dirusso

Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae Fat1p and fatty acyl-CoA synthetase (FACS) are hypothesized to couple import and activation of exogenous fatty acids by a process called vectorial acylation. Molecular genetic and biochemical studies were used to define further the functional and physical interactions between these proteins. Multicopy extragenic suppressors were selected in strains carrying deletions in FAA1 and FAA4 or FAA1 and FAT1. Each strain is unable to grow under synthetic lethal conditions when exogenous long-chain fatty acids are required, and neither strain accumulates the fluorescent long-chain fatty acid C₁-BODIPY-C₁₂ indicating a fatty acid transport defect. By using these …

Comparison Of Tnf-A Levels Produced By Macrophages Treated With Brucella Abortus And Escherichia Coli Lps, Tajie Harris

Honors Capstones

Capstone submitted as a graduation requirement for the BSU Honors Program.

Murine Epidermal Cell Antigen (Skn)-Directed Autoimmunity Induced By Transfer Of Cd4+ T Cells, Susan H. Jackman, Shivaleela Keerthy, Giselle Perry

Biochemistry and Microbiology

While pathogenic T cells have been identified for several diseases with epithelial cell damage, an autoimmune T cell-mediated response targeted against a known keratinocyte antigen has not been reported. Previously we described an autoimmune response directed to the mouse epidermal cell antigens, Skn. For our murine model, primed Skn-immune lymphocytes are adoptively transferred to recipients, which develop lesions at the site of mild skin trauma. In this study we investigated the nature of the autoimmune component of the Skn response. A time-course study demonstrated a relationship between the number of primed Sknimmune cells injected and the severity of skin lesions …

Serotyping Group B Streptococci In A Small Community Hospital: An Analysis Of Distribution And Site Of Isolation, Jennifer M. Smith, Jason A. Rexroth, David G. Chaffin, Susan H. Jackman

Biochemistry and Microbiology

Objective: To determine the prevalence and site of isolation of different serotypes of group B streptococcus (GBS) colonization or infection at a small community hospital.

Methods: GBS isolates were obtained from a small community hospital and were then serotyped as la, Ib, II, III, IV, V or non-typeable. Hospital records were reviewed for patient sex, age and pregnancy status as well as the site of GBS isolation.

Results: GBS serotypes Ia, III and V were most common and accounted for over 60% of the total number of isolates. Serotype Ia was most prevalent in reproductive-age females, while serotypes V and …

The Southern African Regional Science Initiative (Safari 2000): Overview Of The Dry Season Field Campaign, R. J. Swap, H. J. Annegarn, J. T. Suttles, J. Haywood, M. C. Helmlinger, C. Hely, Peter V. Hobbs, B. N. Holben, J. Ji, M. D. King, T. Landmann, W. Maenhaut, L. Otter, B. Pak, S. J. Piketh, S. Platnick, J. Privette, D. Roy, A. M. Thompson, Darold E. Ward, Robert J. Yokelson

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications

The Southern African Regional Science Initiative (SAFARI 2000) is an international science project investigating the earth-atmosphere-human system in southern Africa. The programme was conducted over a two-year period from March 1999 to March 2001. The dry season field campaign (August-September 2000) was the most intensive activity and involved over 200 scientists from eighteen countries. The main objectives were to characterize and quantify biogenic, pyrogenic and anthropogenic aerosol and trace gas emissions and their transport and transformations in the atmosphere, and to validate NASA's Earth Observing System's satellite Terra within a scientific context. Five aircraft - two South African Weather Service …

Production Of A Monoclonal Antibody Against Benzo[Α]Pyrene Diol Epoxide Dna Adducts, Brian Peden Austin

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Benzo[α]pyrene is a ubiquitous pollutant produced from the incomplete combustion of organic material such as fossil fuels. It is found in the workplace, urban air, drinking water, and the food supply. Recently, it has been proposed that benzo[α]pyrene may be the causative agent in the formation of lung adenocarcinomas among some Taiwanese women exposed to cooking oil fumes without adequate ventilation. In this study, calf thymus DNA was modified in vitro with benzo[α]pyrene-diol epoxide (BPDE) to a level consistent with that found in biological samples. This DNA of low modification was used as an immunogen in the production of a …

Preparation Of 6-Fluoro-8-Quinolinol And Related 6-Fluoroquinolines / Herman Gershon, Donald D. Clarke, And Muriel Gershon Department Of Chemistry, Fordham University, Bronx, New York 10458 U.S.A., New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York 10458, U.S.A., Herman Gershon, Donald Dudley Clarke Phd, Muriel Gershon

Chemistry Faculty Publications

6-Fluoro-8-quinolinol was prepared from 2-amino-5-fluorophenol by a Skraup synthesis. No synergism was observed between 5-fluoro- and 6-fluoro-8-quinolinols or between 6-fluoro-8-quinolinolsuoro- and 7-fluoro-8-quinolinols against any of the six fungi in our test system (Aspergillus niger, A. oryzae, Myrothecium verrucaria, Trichoderma viride, Mucor cirinelloides, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes) in Sabouraud dextrose broth. Unlike the fluoro-8-quinolinols, the 8-quinolinols comparably substituted with chlorine or bromine did form synergistic mixtures. This is attributed to steric factors

Preparation And Antifungal Activity Of 3-Iodo- And 6-Iodo-8-Quinolinols / Herman Gershon, Donald D. Clarke, John J. Mcmahon, And Muriel Gershon Department Of Chemistry, Fordham University, Bronx, Ny 10458-9993, Usa New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, Ny 10458-9993, Usa, Herman Gershon, Donald Dudley Clarke Phd, John J. Mcmahon, Muriel Gershon

Chemistry Faculty Publications

3-Iodo- and 6-Iodo-8-quinolinols were prepared and tested against six fungi: Aspergillus niger, A. oryzae, Myrothecium verrucaria, Trichoderma viride, Mucor cirinelloides, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes in Sabouraud dextrose broth. A comparison with the previously known 5-iodo- and 7-iodo-8-quinolinols showed that the 6-iodo isomer was the most active

Familial Als-Associated Mutations Decrease The Thermal Stability Of Distinctly Metallated Species Of Human Copper/Zinc Superoxide Dismutase, Daryl K. Eggers, J. A. Rodriguez, J. S. Valentine, J. A. Roe, A. Tiwari, R. H. Brown, L. J. Hayward

Faculty Publications, Chemistry

We report the thermal stability of wild type (WT) and 14 different variants of human copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) associated with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS). Multiple endothermic unfolding transitions were observed by differential scanning calorimetry for partially metallated SOD1 enzymes isolated from a baculovirus system. We correlated the metal ion contents of SOD1 variants with the occurrence of distinct melting transitions. Altered thermal stability upon reduction of copper with dithionite identified transitions resulting from the unfolding of copper-containing SOD1 species. We demonstrated that copper or zinc binding to a subset of “WT-like” FALS mutants (A4V, L38V, G41S, G72S, D76Y, …

Calorimetric Study Of Block-Copolymers Of Poly(N-Butyl Acrylate) And Gradient Poly(N-Butyl Acrylate-Co-Methyl Methacrylate), A I. Buzin, M Pyda, P Costanzo, K Matyjaszewski, B Wunderlich

Chemistry and Biochemistry

The nanophase separation in diblock and triblock copolymers consisting of immiscible poly(n-butyl acrylate) (block A) and gradient copolymers of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and n-butyl acrylate (n BA) (block M/A) were investigated by means of their heat capacity, C_p, as a function of the composition of the blocks M/A and temperature. In all copolymers studied, both blocks are represented by their C_p and glass transition temperature, T_g, as well as the broadening of the transition-temperature range. The low-temperature transition of the blocks A is always close to that of the …

Properties Of Modified Tryptophans In A Membrane- Spanning Channel, Erin M. Scherer

Inquiry: The University of Arkansas Undergraduate Research Journal

An emerging concept in biology assigns the amino acid tryptophan specific roles at the membrane/water interface that help to determine the conformation and biological function of membrane-spanning proteins. Previous studies involving the antibiotic model system gramicidin A (gA) have illustrated the importance of the indole ring of tryptophan (Trp) in anchoring proteins to a bilayer membrane and promoting ionic currents. To further investigate these phenomena, derivatives of Trp that have lost hydrogen-bonding ability (1-methyl-Trp ), have an altered dipole moment (7-aza-Trp), or both (1-methyl-7-azaTrp) were chosen for incorporation into gA. Gramicidin analogues that incorporate these modified Trps were then analyzed …

The Effect Of Cytosine Methylation On The Structure And Geometry Of The Holliday Junction: The Structure Of D(Ccggtacm5 Cgg) At 1.5 Å Resolution, Jeff Vargason, P. Shing Ho

Faculty Publications - Department of Biological & Molecular Science

No abstract provided.

Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization On Sperm Using Alkaline Denaturation, L. J. Aridgides, M. Stacey, L. Brihn, D. Scott, C. Osgood

Bioelectrics Publications

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) permits the detection of unique DNA sequences of target DNA within single cells. FISH allows the identifica­tion of DNA sequences within individ­ual cells and readily identifies genetic changes within a mixed population of cells. However, problems arise in main­taining nuclear morphology, particular­ly following harsh denaturation proce­dures where cells are heated to 80°C, causing the nuclear boundary to be­come blurred or the cell to completely burst. In an attempt to preserve cellular morphology and high hybridization ef­ficiency, particularly in fresh tissue samples, we evaluated a FISH protocol using alkaline denaturation in place of heat.

The Atp:Co(I)Rrinoid Adenosyltransferase (Coba) Enzyme Of Salmonella Enterica Requires The 2’-Oh Group Of Atp For Function And Yields Inorganic Triphosphate As Its Reaction Byproduct, Maris V. Fonseca, Nicole R. Baun, Alexander R. Horswill, Ivan Rayment, Jorge C. Escalante-Semerena

Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications

The specificity of the ATP:corrinoid adenosyltransferase

(CobA) enzyme of Salmonella enterica serovar

Typhimurium LT2 for its nucleotide substrate was

tested using ATP analogs and alternative nucleotide donors.

The enzyme showed broad specificity for the nucleotide

base and required the 2’-OH group of the ribosyl

moiety of ATP for activity. ³¹P NMR spectroscopy

was used to identify inorganic triphosphate (PPP_i) as

the byproduct of the reaction catalyzed by the CobA

enzyme. Cleavage of triphosphate into pyrophosphate

and orthophosphate did not occur, indicating that

triphosphate cleavage was not required for release of

the adenosylcorrinoid product. Triphosphate was …

Impact Of Sea Grass Density On Carbonate Dissolution In Bahamian Sediments, David J. Burdige, Richard C. Zimmerman

OES Faculty Publications

Carbonate dissolution has been widely observed in shallow water tropical sediments. However, sediment budgets C have generally not been closed with respect to the amount of acid required to produce the observed carbonate dissolution. Recently it has been suggested that enhanced oxygen transport into sediments through the roots and rhizomes of sea grasses might play a role in resolving this mass balance problem. We conducted studies of sea grass-carbonate sediment interactions around Lee Stocking Island, Exuma Islands, Bahamas to further examine this problem. Our studies showed that alkalinity, total dissolved inorganic carbon (ΣCO₂) and Ca²⁺ increased with …

Development Of A Yeast Biosensor Strain For The Identification Of Genotoxic Compounds, Robin M. Reed

Inquiry: The University of Arkansas Undergraduate Research Journal

Advances in combinatorial chemistry have provided the pharmaceutical industry with innumerable lead compounds that could potentially serve as therapeutic agents. One of the challenges in the further development of such compounds is to rapidly, yet inexpensively, distinguish those that have undesirable effects such as genotoxicity. Thus, a simple biological assay that would permit the identification of potential DNA mutagens, and be adaptable to high-throughput technologies would be cost effective in screening such lead compounds. The current methods use the Ames and SOS tests involving prokaryotic organisms, while systems that utilize mammalian cell culture and/or animal testing are time-consuming and expensive. …

Role Of Bcl-2 Family Members In Caspase-Independent Apoptosis Due To Chlamydia Infection, Jean-Luc Perfettini, John C. Reed, Nicole Israel, Jean-Claude Martinou, Alice Dautry-Varsat, David M. Ojcius

All Dugoni School of Dentistry Faculty Articles

Infection with an obligate intracellular bacterium, the Chlamydia trachomatis lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV/L2) strain or the guinea pig inclusion conjunctivitis serovar of Chlamydia psittaci, leads to apoptosis of host cells. The apoptosis is not affected by a broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor, and caspase-3 is not activated in infected cells, suggesting that apoptosis mediated by these two strains of Chlamydia is independent of known caspases. Overexpression of the proapoptotic Bcl-2 family member, Bax, was previously shown to induce caspase-independent apoptosis, and we find that Bax is activated and translocates from the cytosol to the mitochondria in C. psittaci-infected cells. C. psittaci-induced apoptosis is …

Development Of A Chromatographic Method For The Analysis Of Carbohydrates In Posidonia Coriacea In Artificial Cultures, Olivia J. Oldfield

Theses : Honours

Carbohydrates in P. coriacea leaves were analysed to determine if, when in artificial culture, they were unable to replenish their carbohydrate stores once the seed starch reserve was consumed. While no evidence was found to suggest that this was happening, other findings were made. Soluble carbohydrates determined in P. coriacea were sucrose, fructose, glucose, trehalose, myo-inositol and mannitol. However, mannitol was only found in in situ plants sampled in June. This may be due to high epiphyte coverage elevating plant stress and therefore mannitol levels. P. coriacea grown in tissue culture has soluble carbohydrate levels up to 20-fold higher than …

Flexibility Of Biv Tar-Tat: Models Of Peptide Binding, M Hsieh, E D. Collins, T Blomquist, Brooke Lustig

Faculty Publications, Chemistry

No abstract provided.

Glass Capillary Tube Feeding: A Method For Infecting Nymphal Ixodes Scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) With The Lyme Disease Spirochete Borrelia Burgdorferi, Anne H. Broadwater, Daniel E. Sonenshine, Wayne L. Hynes, Shane Ceraul, Aravinda M. De Silva

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

We evaluated an artificial capillary feeding method to infect nymphal Ixodes scapularis (Say) ticks with Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease. Thirty to 70% of the nymphs were infected after feeding for 2.5 h from glass capillary tubes filled with a solution of spirochetes. Capillary infection was stable and persisted in the nymphs for at least 10 d after feeding. Capillary feeding also maintained natural vector competence patterns because I. scapularis ticks acquired infection unlike Dermacentor variablis (Say), which did not become infected. Capillary infected I. scapularis nymphs were capable of transmitting the infection to naive mice …

Molecular Mechanisms Involved In Human Platelet Aggregation By Synergistic Interaction Of Platelet-Activating Factor And 5-Hydroxytryptamine, B H. Shah, H Rasheed, I H. Rahman, A H. Shariff, F L. Khan, H B. Rahman, S Hanif, S A. Saeed

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Our recent studies have shown that co-activation of Gq and Gi proteins by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and adrenaline show synergism in human platelet aggregation. This study was conducted to examine the mechanism(s) of synergistic interaction of 5-HT and platelet activating factor (PAF) in human platelets. We show that PAF, but not 5-HT, increased platelet aggregation in a concentration-dependent manner. However, low concentrations of 5-HT (2 microM) potentiated platelet aggregation induced by subthreshold concentration of PAF (40 nM) indicating a synergistic interaction between the two agonists and this synergism was blocked by receptor antagonists to either 5-HT or PAF. 5-HT also potentiated …

Aerobic Biodegradation Of Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether By Aquifer Bacteria From Leaking Underground Storage Tank Sites, S. R. Kane, H. R. Beller, T. C. Legler, C. J. Koester, Holly C. Pinkart, R. U. Halden, A. M. Happel

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of the Sciences

The potential for aerobic methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) degradation was investigated with microcosms containing aquifer sediment and groundwater from four MTBE-contaminated sites characterized by oxygen-limited in situ conditions. MTBE depletion was observed for sediments from two sites (e.g., 4.5 mg/liter degraded in 15 days after a 4-day lag period), whereas no consumption of MTBE was observed for sediments from the other sites after 75 days. For sediments in which MTBE was consumed, 43 to 54% of added [U-¹⁴C]MTBE was mineralized to¹⁴CO₂. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of these sediments indicated the enrichment of species closely …

Formation Of Multistranded Structures From The Self-Assembly Of G-Rich Dna Oligomers By Various Sequence And Environmental Influences, Bryan D. Vi

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

No abstract provided.

Map Kinases In Cynomolgus Monkey Sperm Hyperactivation, Emily Nicole Haynes

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Mammalian sperm exhibit characteristic motility patterns, termed hyperactivated (HA) motility, associated with completion of capacitation. In cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) sperm, this HA motility is dependent in vitro upon the addition of exogenous cyclic nucleotide mediators, caffeine and dibutyryl-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (dbcAMP). Previous reports have shown protein tyrosine phosphorylation to be an integral component of this caffeine- and cAMP-stimulated HA motility. This study investigated the involvement of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase-signaling cascade. Semen specimens were collected in Talp-HEPES medium from proven breeders via electroejaculation. After washing, sperm were incubated in the presence and absence of the MAP …

Problem-Based Learning Variant: Transition Phase For A Large Institution, I Khan, A Fareed

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Objective: To compare students' test scores and perceptions of problem-based learning (PBL) and lecture-based learning (LBL) by applying a PBL-variant.
Method: For the transition from LBL to PBL, PBL was varied for one discipline only and for a large group of students. Two hundred forty nine second year medical students were taught a topic of Biochemistry by the LBL method and then 141 of these were taught another topic by the PBL-variant. At the conclusion of each topic an MCQ test was given. One week later a 9 item questionnaire was given to the 50 students now attending classes to …