Cell and Developmental Biology Commons^™

Exploration In Cell Growth: Rac3 And Its Effect On Ewing Sarcomas Tumorigenic Properties, Allie Woods, Samuel De La Cruz, Catherine Garcia, Terry Jo Shackleford

Cell and Molecular Methods

Multiple experiments were conducted to measure the effectiveness of certain genes on cell growth. In the exploration of this process, RAC3 acted as the target gene and was applied to both SOX18 overexpressing and normal expressing cells (control). RAC3 is a gene that typically controls the intercellular signaling pathway of a cell. This means it helps with the movement of cells and allows for migration.The purpose of these experiments were to determine how the gene RAC3 would work when introduced to carcinogenic cells, specifically Ewing Sarcoma. Typically, RAC3 acts as a messenger for the cell, but when in conjunction with …

The Effect Of Knockdown Of Gene Kit On Sox18 Gene Expression Through The Jak2/Stat3 Signaling Pathway Within An Ewing Sarcoma Cell, Samantha Aragon, Cristina Herrera, Felicity Rodriguez, Riley Smith, Terry Jo Shackleford

Cell and Molecular Methods

Ewing sarcoma is an aggressive cancer that affects children & adolescents. Common treatments include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, yet individuals have a poor survival rate and often develop side effects from treatment, including fertility issues, secondary cancer, heart problems, and growth abnormalities.1SOX18 is a gene identified to aid in cell proliferation and cell differentiation, leading to the development of several cancers, such as gastric, bladder, and lung cancer.2,3 SOX18 resides in the JAK2/STAT3 pathway as a regulator, along with another gene named KIT that instigates the formation of the cell signaling pathway.4KIT is a transmembrane tyrosine kinase, which instigates cell …

The Effects Of Ewing Sarcoma Through The Overexpression And Knockdown Of Transcription Factors Sox18 And Stat1, Victoria Castillo, Melany Cervantes, Nicole Robles, Terry Jo Shackleford

Cell and Molecular Methods

SOX18, a transcription factor with a DNA-binding HMG domain, plays a critical role in regulatory processes linked to cancer progression. Exhibiting oncogenic properties, SOX18 has been linked to various cancers, where it promotes tumor growth by enhancing cell invasion, uncontrolled proliferation, and resistance to apoptosis through dysregulated signaling pathways. STAT1, a protein crucial for immune system regulation, is prominently expressed in immune-associated tissues like the lymph nodes, and bone marrow, suggesting it could play a role in tumor growth. Ewing Sarcoma (EWS), an aggressive cancer that targets bone and soft tissue, carries a high mortality rate of 90% without treatment …

Glutamate Receptors At The Zebrafish Neuromuscular Junction, Trenton Randall

Honors College Theses

Glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS, but at the neuromuscular junction, that role is taken by acetylcholine. However, during embryonic development, non-cholinergic receptors, including those for glutamate, are also present at the NMJ, which are not maintained unless used. These receptors can still form functional circuits, as evidenced by a process called neurotransmitter respecification, in which a neuron changes which neurotransmitter it releases, and is accompanied by the upregulation of the corresponding receptor by the muscle. This process has been observed in frogs and in rats. We predict that zebrafish also exhibit this neurotransmitter plasticity. To assess …

Neuronal And Glial Cell Alterations Involved In The Retinal Degeneration Of The Familial Dysautonomia Optic Neuropathy, Anastasia Schultz, Henar Albertos-Arranz, Xavier Sánchez Sáez, Jamie Morgan, Diane Darland, Alejandra Gonzalez-Duarte, Horacio Kaufmann, Carlos E. Mendoza-Santiesteban, Nicolás Cuenca, Frances Lefcort

Biology Faculty Publications

Familial dysautonomia (FD) is a rare genetic neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorder. In addition to the autonomic and peripheral sensory neuropathies that challenge patient survival, one of the most debilitating symptoms affecting patients' quality of life is progressive blindness resulting from the steady loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs).Within the FD community, there is a concerted effort to develop treatments to prevent the loss of RGCs. However, the mechanisms underlying the death of RGCs are not well understood. To study the mechanisms underlying RGC death, Pax6-cre;Elp1loxp/loxp male and female mice and postmortem retinal tissue from an FD patient were used to …

Elucidating The Mechanism Of Interleukin-17a Signaling In The Pathogenesis Of West Nile Virus, Farzana Nazneen

Dissertations

West Nile Virus (WNV), a neurotropic flavivirus transmitted by mosquitoes, is a leading cause of viral encephalitis in the United States and remains a significant public health concern. Unfortunately, no vaccine or therapeutic intervention is available against WNV infection. Previous studies, including ours, demonstrated that interleukin-17A (IL-17A) signaling increases the cytotoxic potential of CD8⁺ T cells to facilitate WNV and parasite clearance; however, the molecular mechanism is not understood. IL-17 receptor C (IL-17RC) is an obligatory co-receptor with IL-17 receptor A (IL-17RA) for signaling induced by IL-17A, IL-17A/F, and IL-17F. In this study, we found that IL-17RC deficient ( …

Quantitative Analysis Of Protective Effect Of Resveratrol Against Nanoplastic-Induced Oxidative Stress, Bryan Gustafson

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

Nanoplastics and microplastics are a growing ecological and health concern due to their widespread prevalence. The effects of these microscopic particles in biological systems primarily relate to their potential to produce reactive oxygen species and interactive effects with other cytotoxic agents. Of particular interest in this work is the effect on mammalian intestinal cells, due to the regular unintentional ingestion of micro- and nanoplastics in the normal western diet. In this study, Caco-2 cells were cultured and exposed to polystyrene particles in vitro as a simple model of the human digestive endothelium.

Resveratrol, a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound, has been …

Development Of An In Vitro Squamous Metaplasia Model Using Airway Basal Stem Cells, Arash Tahmasbi

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Squamous metaplasia (SM) of the airway epithelium is an abnormal condition that is caused by exposure to airborne toxicants, cigarette smoke, pollutants, and pathogens. Since SM of the airway was first documented in the 1970s, data on this epithelial disease remain limited. More research is needed to fully understand this epithelial disorder and to prevent its progression into severe illnesses such as chronic bronchitis (CB), COPD, and squamous cell carcinoma. We developed 3D models of SM using airway basal stem cells (ABSCs) isolated from lung obtained from postmortem human donors. The ABSCs were cultured at the air-liquid interface (ALI) for …

Size Matters: The Characterization Of Telomere Function In Germ Cell Development In Danio Rerio, Jessica Macneil

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Infertility is a growing problem worldwide. According to the WHO, 48 million couples across the globe suffer from infertility and many couples turn to Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) to become pregnant. One readout of gamete quality and successful ART is telomere integrity because telomeres are necessary for chromosome movements during meiosis so that the segregation of chromosomes happens correctly. Telomeres are well known for their role in aging; however, they play an important and understudied role during meiosis. In meiosis, telomeres attach to the nuclear envelope (NE) via a protein chain spanning the NE that interacts with cytoplasmic motor proteins, …

Integrated Transcriptomics And Proteomics Study Of Starvation Selected Drosophila Melanogaster, Aavash Adhikari

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Drosophila melanogaster, selected for starvation resistance exhibits phenotypic traits such as increased body size, slower development, reduced fecundity and obesity like characteristics including higher lipid reserves and cardiac dysfunction. While prior studies have explored the metabolic and biochemical changes in these flies, the underlying genetic and molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the gene expression and protein abundance in starvation-selected Drosophila through RNAseq, proteomics, and integrating both datasets using the MixOmics package in R. I found differential gene expression in the fat body at the third instar larval stage, particularly in pathways related to lipid metabolism, calcium …

Effects Of Sex, Cadmium, And High-Fat Diet On Accumulation Of Essential Metals In Mouse Kidneys., Justin Y. Xu, Adam Gaweda, Michelle Barati, Micheal Merchant, Jun Cai, Lu Cai, Madhavi J. Rane

The Cardinal Edge

Effects of cadmium and obesity on accumulation of essential metals in mouse kidney were evaluated. Starting in utero and continuing until 24 weeks postweaning, male/female mice were exposed to cadmium (0, 0.5, or 5 ppm) and were fed on Normal Diet (ND)/High-Fat Diet (HFD) post weaning. ICP-MS analysis was performed to evaluate cadmium and essential metals absorbed in the kidneys of aforementioned mice. Metals data obtained was analyzed using MANOVA with multiple comparisons (Bonferroni correction with p

Old Vs. New: An Experiment On The Efficacy Of Complexity-Focused Reproductive Biology Lectures For Undergraduate Biology Students, Ive N. Muse, Shraddha Patel, Linda Fuselier

The Cardinal Edge

Old vs. New: An Experiment on the Efficacy of Complexity-focused Reproductive Biology Lectures for Undergraduate Biology Students

Muse, Ive N.; Patel, Shraddha; Fuselier, Linda

Abstract

Undergraduate reproductive biology courses are traditionally taught in a reductive manner, prioritizing a binary understanding of sex which oversimplifies reproductive behaviors and reproductive system development across diverse taxa. Although this binary approach to lessons on reproduction is intended to benefit students in learning foundational human reproductive concepts, it does not teach the most recent research in reproductive biology, which identifies reproductive variation as the norm. The current study designed and implemented a lesson on reproductive …

A Hopeful Overview On Aging, Rafael Demarco

The Cardinal Edge

N/A

Phagolysosomes Break Down The Membrane Of A Non-Apoptotic Corpse Independent Of Macroautophagy, Shruti Kolli, Cassidy J. Kline, Kimya M. Rad, Ann M. Wehman

Biological Sciences: Faculty Scholarship

Cell corpses must be cleared in an efficient manner to maintain tissue homeostasis and regulate immune responses. Ubiquitin-like Atg8/LC3 family proteins promote the degradation of membranes and internal cargo during both macroautophagy and corpse clearance, raising the question how macroautophagy contributes to corpse clearance. Studying the clearance of non-apoptotic dying polar bodies in Caenorhabditis elegans embryos, we show that the LC3 ortholog LGG-2 is enriched inside the polar body phagolysosome independent of autophagosome formation. We demonstrate that ATG-16.1 and ATG-16.2, which promote membrane association of lipidated Atg8/LC3 proteins, redundantly promote polar body membrane breakdown in phagolysosomes independent of their role …

Srebp Versus Nrf1 Behavior Based On Cholesterol Sensing In Niemann-Pick Type C Using A Cos-7 Model, Christine Tran, Jacob Mcintyre, Felicity Sterling Phd

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC) is a rare genetic disorder where cholesterol and lipid transport are blocked leading to accumulation in the lysosomes (National Organization of Rare Diseases (NORD), 2024; Boston Children’s Hospital). This accumulation can lead to neurological issues, such as developmental delay, ataxia, seizures, and early onset of dementia (Patterson, 2000). To study this disease more in depth, scientists have identified a drug called U18666A that induces NPC in the cells it is administered to (Lu, et al., 2015) which allows for the study of other structures and biomolecules in the sterol sensing and transport pathways.

Cholesterol has …

Characterization Of Developmentally Downregulated Nfe2l3 In Retinal Ganglion Cell Survival And Axon Regeneration, Lucy Homer

Holster Scholar Projects

Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are central nervous system projection neurons essential for transmitting visual information from the eye to the brain. Damage to RGCs, caused by conditions such as glaucoma and traumatic optic neuropathy (TON), may lead to vision loss or blindness, as adult RGCs lack regenerative capacity. This study focuses on Nfe2l3 (Nrf3), a developmentally downregulated transcription factor known to mediate cellular responses to oxidative stress, a key pathological event following optic nerve injury. We hypothesized that overexpressing Nfe2l3 in RGCs would enhance their survival and promote axon regeneration after optic nerve crush (ONC) injury. To test this, we …

Metabolic Crossroads: Gaba Synthesis In Trichomonas Vaginalis Infection, Yesha Dhruv

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

This study examines the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) synthesis pathway in Trichomonas vaginalis infection of human HCT-8 cells, focusing on key enzymatic processes in glutamate conversion to GABA and metabolic adaptations. The hypothesis tested was that T. vaginalis modulates GABA metabolism to enhance host cell invasion and adaptation. Infection time-point studies, RNA sequencing, and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) assays were conducted. Comparisons between T. vaginalis strains Casu 2 and Casu 2/MOZ 2 revealed distinct infection dynamics. Casu 2 rapidly attached and replicated within an hour, peaking at 24 hours, while Casu 2/MOZ 2 exhibited delayed replication, peaking at 48 to 72 hours, …

Examination Of Oncogenic Effects Of Environmental Pollutants, Andrew Ackerman, Matthew Behling, Brock Earley, Janay Vacharasin

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

Chemical byproducts produced by surrounding industrial complexes have polluted the local estuaries of Georgetown, South Carolina for several decades¹. Previous studies completed by the EPA and SCDNR showed that the estuaries contained carcinogenic pollutants released from the local manufacturing plants¹. One of the mentioned pollutants was dioxins which are produced during the paper bleaching process². Dioxins are highly toxic compounds that have various carcinogenic effects on the organisms that inhabit the area. These previous studies were conducted over thirty years ago. Therefore, a current study to determine if chemical byproducts are contaminating local estuaries …

Autophagy And Meiotic Fidelity In C. Elegans, Kaitlin E. Kosinski

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved multi-step recycling process in which cellular material is enclosed in the double membrane-bound autophagosome, which fuses with the lysosome to degrade its contents. Autophagy is essential for development and cellular adaptation to environmental or intracellular stress and is an important regulator of germline stem cell homeostasis in the model nematode C. elegans. We sought to determine if autophagy is important for genome stability during meiosis and found that the core adult C. elegans autophagy genes bec-1, atg-7, unc-51, and atg-18 were all required for proper meiotic development of oocytes. Loss of these …

Application Of The Method Cell Biology, Terry Shackleford

San Jose - Lonergan Chair in Catholic Philosophy

Summer 2024, Application of the Method Cell Biology

Students in the Fall 2023 semester "Mechanisms of Disease Course" were given a practical assignment that in turn allowed for discussion on gathering data on orphan diseases and covering what the disease is, how the disease progresses, who is affected by the disease, and what is the effect of the disease on their life.

Unraveling The Role Of Hid-1: Insights Into Sgii Regulation, Breanna L. Sellers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The regulated secretory pathway is important for the secretion of hormones and neuropeptides from large dense core vesicles (LDCVs). Dysregulation of the biogenesis of LDCVs can result in metabolic and neurological diseases. Recent studies have suggested that the peripheral membrane protein HID-1 plays a role in the sorting and storage of granins which contribute to LDCV biogenesis. To further understand how HID-1 influences the regulation of granins, we investigated potential HID-1 interactors. We determined that while HID-1 is likely functioning in the same pathway as USP25, a deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB), the cause of reduced cellular SgII levels is likely not …

A Comparison Of Diploid And Triploid Eastern Oysters For Aquaculture Production Under Extreme Temperatures And Salinities, Joshua H. Kim

LSU Master's Theses

Off-bottom aquaculture of Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) is a nascent industry that is increasingly supported by the use of triploid oysters, which grow faster than diploids. Despite their growth advantage, elevated triploid mortality compared to diploids under high temperature, low salinity, or a combination of these conditions challenge consistent triploid production. Identifying the environmental thresholds at which differential triploid mortality occurs and predicting its economic impact are important to informing decision-making in oyster aquaculture. The goal of this thesis was to compare the biological and economic performance of diploid and triploid oysters under high temperature and low salinity conditions. …

Investigating The Cellular Mechanisms Of Intracellular Ph Regulation During Exposure To High Co2., Dillon Flowers

Biology Theses

There are at least two different strategies of pH regulation among fish. The first is coupled pH regulation (CPR), where regulation of blood pH facilitates tissue pH regulation; and the second is preferential intracellular pH (pHi) regulation (PPR), where tissue pH remains tightly regulated despite a sustained reduction in blood pH. The cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the differences in pHi regulation are currently unknown. I investigated the mechanisms of pH regulation in fishes using Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) which use CPR and PPR, respectively. Fish were exposed to elevated CO …

Corneal Epithelial Tissue Engineering Approaches To Treat Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency, Sasirekha K

Theses and Dissertations

A clear healthy cornea is essential for visual acuity. As a self-renewing and regenerating tissue, the corneal epithelium has a stem cell pool, the limbus that acts as its proliferative reservoir. When limbal epithelial stem cells are destroyed or become dysfunctional, a pathological state known as limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) manifests. Damaged corneas have been successfully reconstructed by transplanting the cultured limbal epithelial stem cells. Limbal stem cell transplantation (LSCT) is one of the applicable and most challenging procedures in clinical ophthalmology for the reconstruction of the stratified ocular surface epithelium in patients with LSCD. Given the above challenge, …

Manipulation Of Cellular Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (Pcna) During Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Infection, Jessica Packard, Jill A. Dembowski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a double stranded DNA virus that replicates within the nucleus of host cells. Using accelerated native isolation of proteins on nascent DNA (aniPOND), cellular proteins were found to associate with HSV-1 replication forks. One host factor of interest is proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), the DNA sliding clamp that tethers DNA polymerases and DNA damage response proteins to replicating cellular DNA. Although HSV-1 encodes its own DNA polymerase processivity factor (UL42), PCNA plays a key role in HSV-1 infection. We used commercially available PCNA inhibitors and short hairpin RNAs (shRNA) to investigate how …

Early Onset Alzheimer’S Disease Markers In Mouse Hippocampus Unveiled By Single-Cell Transcriptomic Analysis Following Cranial Radiotherapy, Tuba Aksoy

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Cranial radiation therapy plays an integral role in the treatment of brain tumors but can lead to progressive cognitive deficits in survivors by mechanisms that are poorly understood. To develop preventive or mitigative strategies, it is crucial to better understand the underlying pathogenesis of radiation-induced cognitive impairments. The study investigated single-cell transcriptomics and DNA methylation changes as potential drivers of persistent cellular dysfunction after radiation exposure, specifically concentrating on the CA1-3 regions of the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex due to their role in cognitive functions. Thirteen-week-old mice underwent whole-brain radiation at clinically relevant doses. Following whole-brain radiation, an assessment …

Genetics Of Mdh In Humans, Adam Haberman, Celeste N. Peterson

Biology: Faculty Scholarship

Malate dehydrogenase (MDH) performs key roles in metabolism, but little is known about its function specifically in human health and disease. In this minireview, we describe the incomplete state of our knowledge of human MDH genetics. Humans have three MDH genes with a total of four validated isoforms. MDH1 and MDH2 are widely expressed, while MDH1B is only expressed in a small subset of tissues. Many mutations in MDH1 and MDH2 have been identified in patients, but only a few have been studied to determine what symptoms they cause. MDH1 has been associated with cancer and a neurodevelopmental disorder. MDH2 …

Role Of Sds-22/Pp1 Phosphatase In Polarizing The Germplasm Of Caenorhabditis Elegans Embryo, Aparna Nurni Ravi

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

During asymmetric cell division, cell polarity and cell cycle are tightly coupled to ensure robust segregation of cell fate determinants and generation of cellular diversity. In the one-cell C. elegans embryo, multiple cell cycle kinases regulate cell polarization and posterior segregation of germline fate determinants (germplasm). For example, PLK-1 kinase inhibits the retention of its germplasm substrate POS-1 in the anterior, driving POS-1 segregation to the posterior (Han et al., 2018). Additionally, MBK-2 kinase disassembles P granules in the anterior through phosphorylation of the P granule scaffold MEG-3, helping to drive P granule segregation to the posterior (Wang et al., …

Development Of Anti-Fibrotic Agents For Potential Use In Glaucoma Filtration Surgery To Prevent Scar Formation, Nikhala Shree S

Theses and Dissertations

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness with irreversible vision loss. It is marked by the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells, which results in optic nerve head damage. Intraocular pressure (IOP) is a prime risk factor of glaucoma controlled by various treatment regimens i.e., medication, laser, and/ or surgery. It is reported that longterm exposure to anti-glaucoma medications (AGM) may subtle the surgical success rate leading to postoperative fibrosis. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) is a growth factor that plays an important role in the development of glaucoma and promotes fibrosis.

This study is aimed at developing peptides to …

Neuroinflammation In Alzheimer’S Disease Mouse Brain Following Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Lujain Almuhanna

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a common form of head injury, with mild TBIs (mTBIs) making up 75-90% of the TBI severity scale. It’s been suggested that repetitive mild TBIs (rmTBIs) may enhance effects of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). With dementia linking TBI and AD together, we investigated the memory hub of the brain - the hippocampus. Astrocytes and microglia are two glial cells that respond to neuroinflammation and therefore imaged in hippocampal regions of the 3xTg-AD mouse brain. We hypothesized that AD brain pathology (i.e., neuroinflammation) would be accelerated in 3xTg-AD mice following rmTBIs early in life. Analyses revealed that …