Biotechnology Commons^™

Appropriate Aims: Setting Boundaries For Reprogenetic Technology, Dana Ziker

Duke Law & Technology Review

Not too long ago, ten fingers and ten toes defined a successful birth. Not too far from now, ten fingers and ten toes will be just the beginning. Parents always hope for a healthy baby, and medical advances continue to help secure the fulfillment of this hope. But reprogenetics, a new combination of technology and science that allows us to choose the genes, and thus the traits, of the children we create, is raising new questions about what it means to have a healthy baby.

Effect Of Electrically Mediated Intratumor And Intramuscular Delivery Of A Plasmid Encoding Ifn Α On Visible B16 Mouse Melanomas, Loree C. Heller, Stephanie F. Ingram, M. Lee Lucas, Richard A. Gilbert, Richard Heller

Bioelectrics Publications

Interferon α may be used as a single agent therapy for metastatic malignant melanoma or as an adjuvant to chemotherapy. Delivery of interferon α by gene therapy offers an alternative to recombinant protein therapy. Electrically mediated delivery enhances plasmid expression in a number of tissues, for instance skin, liver, muscle and tumors including melanomas. Here we compare the effect of delivery of a plasmid encoding mouse interferon α on growth of visible B16 mouse melanomas following electrically mediated delivery to muscle or directly to the tumor. Intratumoral delivery of interferon α plasmid not only slows melanoma growth, but induces complete, …

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 …

Il-12 Plasmid Delivery By In Vivo Electroporation For The Successful Treatment Of Established Subcutaneous B16.F10 Melanoma, M. Lee Lucus, Loree Heller, Domenico Coppola, Richard Heller

Bioelectrics Publications

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) has been used in numerous immunotherapy protocols against melanoma. However, delivery of IL-12 in the form of recombinant protein can result in severe toxicity, and gene therapy has had limited success against B16.F10 murine melanoma. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of in vivo electroporation for the delivery of plasmid DNA encoding IL-12 as an antitumor agent against B16.F10 melanoma. We treated mice bearing established B16.F10 melanoma tumors with intratumoral (i.t.) or intramuscular (i.m.) injections of a plasmid encoding IL-12, followed by in vivo electroporation. For i.t. treatments, we used an applicator containing six …

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 …

Functional Requirement Of Aquaporin-5 In Plasma Membranes Of Sweat Glands, Lene N. Nejsum, Tae-Hwan Kwon, Uffe B. Jensen, Ornella Fumagalli, Jørgen Frøkiaer, Carissa M. Krane, Anil G. Menon, Landon S. King, Peter C. Agre, Søren Nielsen

Biology Faculty Publications

The distribution and function of aquaporins (AQPs) have not previously been defined in sweat glands. In this study, AQP1, AQP3, and AQP5 mRNA were demonstrated in rat paw by reverse transcription (RT)–PCR, but AQP2 and AQP4 were not. AQP1, AQP3, and AQP5 protein were confirmed in these tissues by immunoblotting. AQP1 was identified in capillary endothelial cells by immunohistochemical labeling, but not in sweat glands or epidermis. Abundant AQP3 expression was seen in basal levels of epidermis, but not in sweat glands. AQP2 and AQP4 were not observed in either skin or sweat glands. Immunohistochemical labeling revealed abundant AQP5 in …

Genetic Variability Studies In A Selected Population Of Azadirachta Excelsa (Sentang) With Aflp Marker Technology, Chiew Foan Chin

Student Works (2000-2009)

A maternal half-s/b population of Azadirachta excelsa was established from seeds in a randomised complete block design with three replicates. 100 to 200 seeds were collected from each of the 13 selected mother trees. The mother trees were categorised into three groups i.e. large, medium and small according to their girth sizes. 50 progeny seedlings from each scedlot per replicate were planted in the experimental field. Genetic studies on phenotypic measurements and molecular marker analysis were carried out on the established A. excelsa population. Measurements of quantitative traits including diameter breast height (Dbh) and total height were made. Mean Dbh …

A Note On Cascade Climbing Of Migrating Goby And Shrimp Postlarvae In Two Maui Streams, M. Eric Benbow, Leslie Luchar Orzetti, Mollie D. Mcintosh, Albert J. Burky

Biology Faculty Publications

In this study, we documented cascade climbing rates of 133 and 230 postlarvae of Lentipes concolor (O‘opu alamo‘o) and Atyoida bisulcata (Opae kahaole), respectively, from two streams on the island of Maui, Hawaii. Climbing measurements and observations were made of postlarvae at the water-substrate interface in cascade habitats of constricted water flow. Both species were observed to move in short bursts of forward progression within or above the pulsing water-substrate interface. Goby postlarval climbing rates ranged from 0.04 – 1.50 cm s–1 and were slower than shrimp rates which ranged from 0.30 – 3.06 cm s–1. The high variability is …

In Vitro Mutation Induction By Gamma Irradiation For The Improvement Of A Triploid Banana Pisang Berangan (Aaa), Shadia Aldelgadir Mohamed Rayis

Student Works (2000-2009)

Tissue culture and induced mutation techniques were used to generate variation for the improvement of Pisang Bcrangan cv. 'Intan' (AAA). Best field perform ing banana in vitroplants were multiplied and evaluated for better field performance, which included improved agronomic traits such as earliness in fruiting, short plant stature, high yielding capacity with desirable fruit quality and tolerance to Fusarium wilt. A suitable micropropagation medium for Pisang Berangan was established through modification of MS basic medium, which resulted in significant increase in shoot multiplication. Shoot-tip meristems of Pisang Berangan were then irradiated at 20, 30, 40 and 60 Gy to induce …

Egregious Error Or Admirable Advance: The Memorandum Of Understanding That Enables Federally Funded Basic Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Amy Ligler

Duke Law & Technology Review

Nothing contained herein shall be considered to be the grant of a commercial license or right under the Wisconsin Patent Rights or to Wisconsin Materials. Furthermore, nothing contained herein shall be construed to be a waiver of WiCell's patent rights under the Wisconsin Patent Rights or WiCell's property rights in Wisconsin Materials.

Patenting Resources: Biotechnology And The Concept Of Sustainable Development, Yvonne Cripps

Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies

No abstract provided.

A Reconsideration Of The Physicians’ Immunity Statute, Steve Dirksen

Duke Law & Technology Review

The author assesses the "physicians' immunity statute" from legal policy, ethical, and financial perspectives, and concludes that alternatives such as licensure and monetary incentives would better serve the goal of encouraging invention more effectively by rewarding it.

Preparing For Bioinformatics Litigation: How Will The Courts Confront The Next Generation Of Biotechnology Patents?, Scott D. Locke, David A. Kalow

Buffalo Intellectual Property Law Journal

No abstract provided.

The Clone Wars: The Growing Debate Over Federal Cloning Legislation, John Garvish

Duke Law & Technology Review

As readers of science fiction are well aware, the term "clone" refers to asexually produced offspring, that is, offspring produced by a process of cell-division which does not begin with the union of two sex cells. A clone is the genetic twin of the cell donor. Propagation of plants by this method is, of course, commonplace, but mammalian reproduction in this fashion would indeed be a revolutionary accomplishment, with profound and disturbing implications.

Salivary Acinar Cells From Aquaporin 5-Deficient Mice Have Decreased Membrane Water Permeability And Altered Cell Volume Regulation, Carissa M. Krane, James E. Melvin, Ha-Van Nguyen, Linda Richardson, Jennifer E. Towne, Thomas Doetschman, Anil G. Menon

Biology Faculty Publications

Aquaporins (AQPs) are channel proteins that regulate the movement of water through the plasma membrane of secretory and absorptive cells in response to osmotic gradients. In the salivary gland, AQP5 is the major aquaporin expressed on the apical membrane of acinar cells. Previous studies have shown that the volume of saliva secreted by AQP5-deficient mice is decreased, indicating a role for AQP5 in saliva secretion; however, the mechanism by which AQP5 regulates water transport in salivary acinar cells remains to be determined. Here we show that the decreased salivary flow rate and increased tonicity of the saliva secreted byAqp5 …

Studies On The Formation Of Dna-Cationic Lipid Composite Films And Dna Hybridization In The Composites, Murali Sastry, Vidya Ramakrishnan, Mrunalini Pattarkine, Krishna N. Ganesh

Faculty Works

The formation of composite films of double-stranded DNA and cationic lipid molecules (octadecylamine, ODA) and the hybridization of complementary single-stranded DNA molecules in such composite films are demonstrated. The immobilization of DNA is accomplished by simple immersion of a thermally evaporated ODA film in the DNA solution at close to physiological pH. The entrapment of the DNA molecules in the cationic lipid film is dominated by attractive electrostatic interaction between the negatively charged phosphate backbone of the DNA molecules and the protonated amine molecules in the thermally evaporated film and has been quantified using quartz crystal microgravimetry (QCM). Fluorescence studies …

Where The Wild Wind Blows: Genetically Altered Seed And Neighboring Farmers, Jill Sudduth

Duke Law & Technology Review

In March 2001, agro-business giant Monsanto won a victory in Canadian Federal Court over Saskatchewan farmer Percy Schmeiser. This case sets international precedent for appropriated seed cases and illustrates the primary concerns American courts must face as they consider Monsanto's prosecution of 22 cases against American farmers.

The Fate Of Gene Patents Under The New Utility Guidelines

Duke Law & Technology Review

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) recently finalized its patent utility guidelines. Promulgated by the PTO, the new guidelines will be used by patent examiners in determining whether a claimed invention should be awarded patent protection ;and will be used by patent applicants and attorneys who file patent applications. The guidelines focus primarily on the utility standards for gene and gene fragment patents, an issue that was featured in the PTO's 1999 Revised Interim Utility Guidelines and has been the subject of considerable public debate.

Construction Of A Derivative Of Agrobacterium Tumefaciens C58 That Does Not Mutate To Tetracycline Resistance, Zhao-Qing Luo, Thomas E. Clemente, Stephen K. Farrand

Nebraska Center for Biotechnology: Faculty and Staff Publications

Agrobacterium tumefaciens C58 mutates to tetracycline resistance at high frequency, complicating the use of many broad-host-range cloning and binary vectors that code for resistance to this antibiotic as the selection marker. Such mutations are associated with a resistant gene unit, tet_C58, that is present in the genome of this strain. By deleting the tet_C58 locus, we constructed NTL4, a derivative of C58 that no longer mutates to tetracycline resistance. The deletion had no detectable effect on genetic or physiological traits of NTL4 or on the ability of this strain to transform plants.

Cationic Surfactant Mediated Hybridization And Hydrophobization Of Dna Molecules At The Liquid/Liquid Interface And Their Phase Transfer, Murali Sastry, Ashavani Kumar, Mrunalini Pattarkine, Vidya Ramakrishnan, Krishna N. Ganesh

Faculty Works

Hybridization of complementary oligonucleotides mediated by a cationic surfactant at the water/hexane interface leads to hydrophobic, double-helical DNA which may be readily phase transferred to the organic phase and cast into thin films on solid substrates.

Alternative Oilseeds R&D For Biodiesel Production, Paul Carmody, Howard Carr, Anne Morcom, Graham Walton

Research Reports

Biodiesel is widely known an excellent alternative to mineral diesel and has been extensively demonstrated in the EC and the United States. It is a renewable fuel made by reacting 20 parts of Canola oil with one part methanol or ethanol (grain alcohol), injecting hot water through the mixture and allowing to cool. The Biodiesel naturally separates from the water solution, with no further refining or processing required. Biodiesel has the same combustion properties as regular diesel with considerably lower levels of polluting emissions (appendix 1). Bio-diesel has been found to be a cleaner fuel than diesel, resulting in lower …

Kajian Kultur Tisu Dan Aktiviti Sel Carnation (Dianthus Caryophyllus Linn.) Cv. Grenadin, Norfariza A. Kadir

Student Works (2000-2009)

Cellular behaviour in primary roots of standard length 11.15 ± 0.33 mm from four-day-old seedlings of Dianthus caryophyllus Linn. cv. Grenadin were studied in vivo and in vitro. Parameters such as mitotic index (MI). chromosome count the ploidy level, the mean cell and nuclear areas and the cell doub ling time (Cdt) were determined from 2 mm segments of root tips. The MI value of the root segment decreased when transferred from in vivo to Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/l NAA. The mean chromosome count were generally stable during 6 months in culture period with 2n= …

Making Sense Out Of Antisense: The Enablement Requirement In Biotechnology After Enzo Biochem V. Calgene, Matthew D. Kellam

Indiana Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Aquaporin 5-Deficient Mouse Lungs Are Hyperresponsive To Cholinergic Stimulation, Carissa M. Krane, Christopher N. Fortner, Arthur R. Hand, Dennis W. Mcgraw, John N. Lorenz, Susan E. Wert, Jennifer E. Towne, Richard J. Paul, Jeffrey A. Whitsett, Anil G. Menon

Biology Faculty Publications

Although aquaporin 5 (AQP5) is the major water channel expressed in alveolar type I cells in the lung, its actual role in the lung is a matter of considerable speculation. By using immunohistochemical staining, we show that AQP5 expression in mouse lung is not restricted to type I cells, but is also detected in alveolar type II cells, and in tracheal and bronchial epithelium. Aqp5 knockout (Aqp5−/−) mice were used to analyze AQP5 function in pulmonary physiology. Compared with Aqp5+/+ mice, Aqp5−/− mice show a significantly increased concentration-dependent bronchoconstriction to intravenously administered Ach, as shown by …

Hawaiian Freshwater Polychaeta: A Potentially Substantial Trophic Component Of Stream Depositional Habitats, M. Eric Benbow, Albert J. Burky, Carl M. Way

Biology Faculty Publications

In this paper we report the widespread occurrence of large annelids (Polychaeta: Nereididae) in Hawaiian stream depositional habitats, drawing attention to the lack of knowledge of Hawaiian stream energetics. Specimens of Namalycastis sp. were collected from five Hawaiian Islands from May–July 1995 and from the island of Maui from July–December 1999 and April–July 2000. Most specimens collected were N. hawaiiensis, while two specimens of N. abiuma were collected from a single site on the island of Molokai. Specimens were collected from elevations ranging from 3–240 m; several collections were from sites above at least one major (> 15 m …

Related Enzymatic Activities In Solid-Substrate Fermentation Of Sago Hampas With Pycnoporus Sanguineus, Rifat Ara Matta

Student Works (2000-2009)

Solid substrate fermentation (SSF) of sago pith residue known as 'hampas' with Pycnoporus sanguineus for enzyme production was carried out. Good growth of Pycnoporus sanguineus in SSF was noted on 'hampas' supplemented with 0.38% urea, 0.2% KH₂PO₄ and 0.05% MgSO₄·7H₂O over a period of 30 days. Xylanase, lignin peroxidase and laccase activities were detected in Pycnoporus sanguineus cultures. Maximum xylanase and laccase activities of 5.26U/g of substrate on day 10 of SSF and 14.35U/g on day 15 of SSF of substrate were obtained respectively. The lignin peroxidase activity was less pronounced with an activity of 1.31 U/g of substrate on …

Auditing And Biological Treatment Of Oleochemical Industry Waste, Fauziah Shahul Hamid

Student Works (2000-2009)

The utilization of renewable resources particularly from plant-based industries, such as, in the oleochemical sector makes it possible for further expansion of down-stream process products. However, to remain competitive the pollution generated from this industry should not be taken lightly. Implementation of cleaner technology into the oleochemical process will increase the efficiency of resource utilization of the industry, concurrently reducing quantity of waste generated. Waste audit conducted at Cognis Oleochemical (M) (COM) Sdn. Bhd. indicated that the major process-wastes generated by the facility were glycerol residue (GR) from Cognis Rika (M) Sdn. Bhd. (CRM) and wastewater sludge (WWS) from COM …

Immobolisation And Biochemical Characterisation Of A Selected Commercially Available Laccase, Chandra Sundaralingam

Student Works (2000-2009)

ln this study, laccase from Novo Nordisk was chosen for biochemical characterization and immobilization investigation. The specific aims of this work was to develop optimum conditions for immobilization of laccase by entrapment method using copper alginate and characterize the laccase biochemically. The pH optimum of the crude enzyme extract was 5.5 and was found to be stable over a wide range of pH values. The apparent molecular weight of this enzyme was around 79,000 Daltons. Three peaks of activity (isoenzymes) were obtained from isoelectric focusing of pH values 4.7, 5.2 and 6.0. The optimum pH of the immobilized laccase by …

Isolation, Screening And Characterisation Of Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated From Local Food Sources, Ahmad Faris Mohd. Adnan

Student Works (2000-2009)

126 bacterial isolates were isolated from several local food sources. Out of these, 55 isolates were subsequently identified as lactic acid bacteria i.e. they were gram-positive and catalase negative. These 55 isolates were put through gel plug test to distinguish between homofermentative and heterofermentative isolates. 16 of the 55 lactic acid bacteria isolates were found to be homofermentative. From the 16 homofermentative isolates, seven were chosen on the basis of origin and sugars used in the enrichment process for preliminary physiological characterisation. Several conditions were chosen such as variable temperature, lactic acid tolerance, NaCl concentration and initial pH These serve …

Fixed Bed Biosorption Of Cu(Ii) By Immobilized Biomass Of Sargassum Baccularia, Kong Fei Tan

Student Works (2000-2009)

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using the immobilized biomass of Sargassum buccularia. a brown marine macro algae. to remove and recover copper ions in a fixed bed reactor by passive adsorption. This is commonly referred to as biosorpliun. Inactivated biomass of S. baccularia were chemically modified b) immobilizing it onto polyvinyl alcohol (PVA} as a support matrix. Spherical gel beads that were produced in this manner were subjected to mass transfer and equilibrium studies. The biosorption of copper is a bi-phasic process. with an initial fast phase for the first 2 hours followed …