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Full-Text Articles in Biology

Ankyrin Dependent Mitochondrial Function And Bioenergetics In The Heart, Janani Subramaniam, Janani Subramaniam Dec 2022

Ankyrin Dependent Mitochondrial Function And Bioenergetics In The Heart, Janani Subramaniam, Janani Subramaniam

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

ANK2 mutations in patients are associated with numerous arrhythmias, cardiomyopathies, and other heart defects. In the heart, AnkB, the protein encoded by ANK2, clusters relevant ion channels and cell adhesion molecules in several important domains; however, its role at Mitochondria Associated ER/SR Membranes (MAMs) has yet to be investigated. MAMs are crucial to mitochondrial function and metabolism and are signaling hubs implicated in various cardiac pathologies. Among several functions, these sites mediate the direct transfer of calcium from the ER/SR to the mitochondria to modulate ATP synthesis. Given that mitochondrial function and energy production are paramount to cardiovascular heath, …


Circadian Clock Controls Rhythms In Ketogenesis By Interfering With Ppar Alpha Transcriptional Network, Volha Mezhnina, Oghogho P. Ebeigbe, Nikkhil Velingkaar, Allan Poe, Yana I. Sandlers, Roman Kondratov Sep 2022

Circadian Clock Controls Rhythms In Ketogenesis By Interfering With Ppar Alpha Transcriptional Network, Volha Mezhnina, Oghogho P. Ebeigbe, Nikkhil Velingkaar, Allan Poe, Yana I. Sandlers, Roman Kondratov

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Ketone bodies are energy-rich metabolites and signaling molecules whose production is mainly regulated by diet. Caloric restriction (CR) is a dietary intervention that improves metabolism and extends longevity across the taxa. We found that CR induced high -amplitude daily rhythms in blood ketone bodies (beta-hydroxybutyrate [beta OHB]) that correlated with liver beta OHB level. Time-restricted feeding, another periodic fasting-based diet, also led to rhythmic beta OHB but with reduced amplitude. CR induced strong circadian rhythms in the expression of fatty acid oxidation and ketogenesis genes in the liver. The transcriptional factor peroxisome-proliferator-activated-receptor alpha (PPAR alpha) and its transcriptional target hepatokine …


Eluication Of Lipid Metabolic Pathways In Differentiating Giardia Lamblia Using High Resolution Mass Spectrometry, Cameron Ellis Aug 2022

Eluication Of Lipid Metabolic Pathways In Differentiating Giardia Lamblia Using High Resolution Mass Spectrometry, Cameron Ellis

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Giardia lamblia is an intestinal protozoan found worldwide, including the U.S. This parasite exists in two morphologic stages - a replicative trophozoite and a relatively dormant yet viable cyst. While exposures of cysts to gastric acid during passage through the human stomach induces excystation, factors in the small intestine, where trophozoites colonize trigger encystation or cyst formation. Transformation into cyst stage is essential for Giardia to survive in the environment for months before infecting new hosts. Because of its small genome size (11.7 Mb), metabolic pathways in Giardia are highly reduced. As far as lipid metabolism is concerned, only limited …


Blood Chemistry And Biliverdin Differ According To Reproduction And Tourism In A Free-Living Lizard, Susannah French Jul 2022

Blood Chemistry And Biliverdin Differ According To Reproduction And Tourism In A Free-Living Lizard, Susannah French

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Changes in the physiological health of species are an essential indicator of changing conditions and environmental challenges. Reponses to environmental challenges can often induce stress, influence physiology, and change metabolism in organisms. Here we tested blood chemistry parameters indicative of stress and metabolic activity using an i-STAT point-of-care blood analyzer in seven populations of free-ranging rock iguanas exposed to varying levels of tourism and supplemental feeding. We found significant differences in blood chemistry (glucose, oxygen, carbon dioxide, hematocrit, hemoglobin, calcium, potassium, and biliverdin levels) among populations exposed to varying levels of tourism, and also some variation between sexes and reproductive …


Selection On Dispersal Drives Evolution Of Metabolic Capacities For Energy Production In Female Wing-Polymorphic Sand Field Crickets, Gryllus Firmus, Lisa A. Treidel, Gessen S. Quintanilla Ramirez, Dillon J. Chung, Michael Menze, Jose P. Vazquez-Medina, Caroline M. Williams Mar 2022

Selection On Dispersal Drives Evolution Of Metabolic Capacities For Energy Production In Female Wing-Polymorphic Sand Field Crickets, Gryllus Firmus, Lisa A. Treidel, Gessen S. Quintanilla Ramirez, Dillon J. Chung, Michael Menze, Jose P. Vazquez-Medina, Caroline M. Williams

Faculty Scholarship

Life history and metabolism covary, but the mechanisms and individual traits responsible for these linkages remain unresolved. Dispersal capability is a critical component of life histories that is constrained by metabolic capacities for energy production. Conflicting relationships between metabolism and life histories may be explained by accounting for variation in dispersal and maximal metabolic rates. We used female wing-polymorphic sand field crickets, Gryllus firmus, selected either for long wings (LW) and flight-capability or short wings (SW) and high early lifetime fecundity to test the hypothesis that selection on dispersal capability drives the evolution of metabolic capacities. While resting metabolic …


Relating Metabolic Phenotypes To Movement Behavior In Brook Trout, Jacob E. Bowman Mar 2022

Relating Metabolic Phenotypes To Movement Behavior In Brook Trout, Jacob E. Bowman

All NMU Master's Theses

Brook trout movement-related life history strategies vary considerably and range from individuals that stay within the same 100 meters their entire life to individuals that are potamodromous or anadromous. Potential drivers of movement life histories have been the subject of much research in fish, with genetic subpopulation explanations often failing to explain the phenomenon. Metabolic phenotypes have been suggested as a possible driver for expression of different movement life histories. I investigated if metabolic phenotypes are related to movement strategies within a population of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in Unnamed Creek, a tributary to the Rock River, Alger …


Uv Exposure Causes Energy Trade-Offs Leading To Increased Chytrid Fungus Susceptibility In Green Tree Frog Larvae, Rebecca L. Cramp, Michel E. B. Ohmer, Craig E. Franklin Jan 2022

Uv Exposure Causes Energy Trade-Offs Leading To Increased Chytrid Fungus Susceptibility In Green Tree Frog Larvae, Rebecca L. Cramp, Michel E. B. Ohmer, Craig E. Franklin

Faculty and Student Publications

Levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation have increased in many parts of the world due to the anthropogenic destruction of the ozone layer. UV radiation is a potent immunosuppressant and can increase the susceptibility of animal hosts to pathogens. UV radiation can directly alter immune function via immunosuppression and photoimmunotolerance; however, UV may also influence pathogen defences by affecting the distribution of energy resources among competing physiological processes. Both defence against UV damage and repair of incurred damage, as well as the maintenance of immune defences and responding to an immune challenge, are energetically expensive. These competing demands for finite energy …


Beyond Cortisol: Indicators Of Stress And Negative Feedback In Plasma And Blubber Of Marine Mammals, Jessica Avalos Jan 2022

Beyond Cortisol: Indicators Of Stress And Negative Feedback In Plasma And Blubber Of Marine Mammals, Jessica Avalos

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Marine mammals play an important role in ecosystem stability. However, anthropogenic activity is compounding pressure on many already vulnerable populations. A potential consequence of anthropogenic disturbance is physiological stress, which can impact metabolism, immunity, and reproduction, especially if it occurs repeatedly. Previous studies on marine mammals have focused on acute stress, but the impacts of repeated stress are poorly understood. Due to its accessibility on land during haul-outs, the northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) is a good system in which to study the effects of stress in marine mammals. Stress stimulates the release of glucocorticoid hormones, primarily cortisol. Elevated cortisol …


Knockdown Of Death Receptor 5 Antisense Long Noncoding Rna And Cisplatin Treatment Modulate Similar Macromolecular And Metabolic Changes In Hela Cells, Di̇lek Cansu Gürer, İpek Erdoğan Vatansever, Çağatay Ceylan, Bünyami̇n Akgül Jan 2022

Knockdown Of Death Receptor 5 Antisense Long Noncoding Rna And Cisplatin Treatment Modulate Similar Macromolecular And Metabolic Changes In Hela Cells, Di̇lek Cansu Gürer, İpek Erdoğan Vatansever, Çağatay Ceylan, Bünyami̇n Akgül

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Despite great progress in complex gene regulatory mechanisms in the dynamic tumor microenvironment, the potential contribution of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) to cancer cell metabolism is poorly understood. Death receptor 5 antisense (DR5-AS) is a cisplatin inducible lncRNA whose knockdown modulates cell morphology. However, its effect on cell metabolism is unknown. The aim of this study is to examine metabolic changes modulated by cisplatin and DR5-AS lncRNA in HeLa cells. Materials and methods: We used cisplatin as a universal cancer therapeutic drug to modulate metabolic changes in HeLa cervix cancer cells. We then examined the extent of metabolic changes …


Rickettsial Pathogen Perturbs Tick Circadian Gene To Infect The Vertebrate Host, Supreet Khanal, Vikas Taank, John F. Anderson, Hameeda Sultana, Girish Neelakanta Jan 2022

Rickettsial Pathogen Perturbs Tick Circadian Gene To Infect The Vertebrate Host, Supreet Khanal, Vikas Taank, John F. Anderson, Hameeda Sultana, Girish Neelakanta

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Ixodes scapularis is a medically important tick that transmits several microbes to humans, including rickettsial pathogen Anaplasma phagocytophilum. In nature, these ticks encounter several abiotic factors including changes in temperature, humidity, and light. Many organisms use endogenously generated circadian pathways to encounter abiotic factors. In this study, we provide evidence for the first time to show that A. phagocytophilum modulates the arthropod circadian gene for its transmission to the vertebrate host. We noted a circadian oscillation in the expression of arthropod clock, bmal1, period and timeless genes when ticks or tick cells were exposed to alternate 12 h …