Medical Sciences Commons^™

Dabigatran Reduced Acute Microgliosis In A Mouse Model With Tbi, Nicholas R. Eltman, Rashmeena Abbasi, Mary C. Kosciuk, Syed Ahmed, Jose L. Pascual, Randel L. Swanson, Nimish K. Acharya

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Objective:

The study objective was to investigate the acute anti-inflammatory effects of dabigatran in a preclinical mouse controlled cortical impact (CCI) model of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Design

Mice were separated into three groups: controlled cortical impact (CCI) with dabigatran (drug treatment, n=5), CCI with saline (positive control, n=5), and sham CCI without saline or dabigatran (negative control, n=3). Dabigatran (80mg/kg) or saline was administered orally at 2, 10, 18, 26, 34, and 42 hours following experimental CCI in the drug treatment or positive control groups, respectively. Animals in the negative control group received sham CCI only. 48h following …

Exploring Intracellular Signaling Responses To Ks18, A Potent Mcl-1 Inhibitor, In Multiple Myeloma, Emily Nelson, Omar S Al-Odat, Dhruti A. Brahmbhatt, Tulin Budak-Alpdogan, Subash Jonnalagadda, Manoj Kumar Pandey

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Multiple myeloma (MM), a cancer of plasma B cells, is a hematological malignancy in which patients inevitably relapse and develop drug resistance. Mcl-1, a member of the anti-apoptotic subgroup of Bcl-2 family proteins, plays a critical role in the progression of multiple myeloma and contributes significantly to drug resistance. Elevated Mcl-1 expression is observed in approximately 52% of MM patients at diagnosis, increasing to 81% at relapse. Given its driving role in disease progression and therapy resistance, Mcl-1 inhibition has emerged as a promising therapeutic target, prompting ongoing research into the development and clinical evaluation of Mcl-1 inhibitors, particularly for …

Examining The Relationship Between Sleep Habits And Caffeine Consumption, Daniel Calaff, Rachel Pruchno

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Sleep is essential for cognitive function, mood regulation, immune defense, and metabolic health. Despite widespread caffeine use, its impact on sleep remains debated. It was initially hypothesized that higher caffeine consumption would correlate with greater sleep disturbances. This study explored the relationship between caffeine consumption and sleep habits in a general adult population using a Qualtrics-based self-report survey. Participants (n=93) reported average hours slept per night, time to fall asleep, and number of nighttime awakenings. Caffeine consumption was calculated based on reported intake and categorized into four dosage groups. Sleep outcomes were statistically compared using ANOVA, t-tests, and Pearson correlation. …

The Correlation Between A Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Deficiency In Autism Spectrum Disorder Patients And The Presence Of Mental Health Disorders, Hinal Joshi, Andrea Iannuzzelli

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

• Currently little literature exists on connection between Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) deficiency and mental health disorders

• Reduced enzyme activity associated with certain MTHFR variants contributes to altered folate metabolism, elevated homocysteine levels, and disrupted DNA methylation, all of which are implicated in mental health disorders

• Identifying genetic risk factors could facilitate earlier diagnosis and intervention, leading to improved outcomes

• Relevant results could help reduce stigma and promote greater understanding of challenges faced by patients on the spectrum

Effect Of Time-Restricted Feeding On Anthropometric, Metabolic, And Fitness Parameters: A Systematic Review, Brian Fardman, Jie Kang, Nicholas Ratamess, Avery Faigenbaum, Jill Bush, Noah Beller, Ariselle Vargas, Tyler Andriopoulos

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Time restricted feeding (TRF) as a form of intermittent fasting (IF) has gained popularity because its ability to reduce body mass (BM) without an emphasis on caloric restriction. However, how this dietary protocol may affect health, fitness, and performance in a relatively healthy cohort remains less clear. The purpose of this article was to systematically review the current literature concerning the effect of TRF on anthropometric, metabolic, and fitness parameters in normal-weight adults and overweight and obese individuals. A systematic search of English literature was conducted through databases including PubMed, CINAHL, and Google Scholar. The search was facilitated by using …

Effects Of Social Isolation On Cecum Opioid Receptor Expression And Affective Behavior, Jordan Riser, John Tkaczynski, Nicole Shellenbarger, Maya Patel, Daniel Chandler, Daniel Manvich

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

BACKGROUND

Psychological stress can induce gastrointestinal symptoms and exacerbate existing gastrointestinal disorders, indicating an interaction between the central and enteric nervous systems. Central nervous system activation of opioid receptors stimulates sympathetic outflow to the enteric nervous system, delaying motility and reducing gastrointestinal secretions, producing a similar clinical presentation to IBS.

HYPOTHESIS

We hypothesize that social isolation induces anxiety states, disrupting homeostatic noradrenergic activity in the brain and gut, leading to neurophysiological changes in the cecum characterized by altered expression of opioid receptors.

METHODS

Sprague-Dawley rats were housed in either group (control) or socially isolated conditions. Affective behavior was assessed using …

Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Examining If Hyperplasia Occurs In Humans In Response To Resistance Exercise, Hitesh Gowda, Scott Dankel, Harshal Parmar, Nicholas Barton

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: It is commonly believed that resistance exercise in humans induces muscle growth primarily via muscle hypertrophy, but there is some debate as to whether muscle hyperplasia occurs. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to quantitively assess whether the presence of muscle hyperplasia occurs in humans performing resistance training.

Methods: Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched on May 17, 2024. Studies that assessed muscle fiber number pre and post resistance training were included in a three-level random effects model to assess changes in muscle fiber number.

Results: A total of 11 studies met the search criteria, with all …

Heart To Heart: Exploring Why Cardiovascular Risk Is Higher In South Asians, Jasjeet Kaur Dhaliwal

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading global cause of mortality, but South Asians experience a disproportionately high burden of disease, often developing CVD at younger ages and with lower body mass indices compared to other populations. This project explores the underlying genetic and lifestyle factors contributing to elevated cardiovascular risk in South Asians, aiming to highlight the need for targeted prevention strategies and policy reforms.

A literature review was conducted using peer-reviewed studies, meta-analyses, and reviews published between 2007 and 2024. After screening 47 initial articles, 18 were selected for analysis based on their relevance to genetic and lifestyle risk …

Acetylcholine Release In The Dorsal Lateral Straitum During Social Approach Task, Taylor Good, Oyku Dinckol, Noah Wenger, Jake Caselli, Munir Gunes Kutlu

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Nicotine Decreases ACh Release in the DS leading to a Serenic Effect during Social Approach Task

Acetylcholine (ACh) regulates attention, learning, and stress responses (Benarroch E. E., 2012). The dorsal striatum (DS), essential for stimulus-response learning, is also linked to anxiety and compulsivity (Casado-Sainz et al., 2021). We used behavioral pharmacology and in vivo fiber photometry to study ACh responses during social approach tasks in the dorsal striatum. Male and female C57BL/6J mice underwent stereotaxic surgeries to inject a fluorescent ACh sensor (ACh.Sn.Fr) and implant fiber optic cannulas in the DS. Using in vivo fiber photometry, we tracked ACh release …

Modulation Of Opioid Receptor Expression In The Ventral Tegmental Area Following Stress Exposure In Rats, Maya Patel, John Tkaczynski, Jordan Riser, Nicole Shellenbarger, Jin Park, Daniel Manvich, Daniel J. Chandler

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: The ventral tegmental area (VTA) contains dopamine-producing neurons projecting to various brain regions. VTA dysfunction is linked to addiction and depression. Delta opioid receptor upregulation relates to chronic pain, inflammation, cancer, and early adversity. Kappa receptors in the VTA influence stress, drug-seeking, mood, and reward. Notably, chronic substance abuse upregulates the κ-receptor/dynorphin system, and the opioid system regulates social interaction needs.

Hypothesis: Stress will upregulate opioid receptors.

Methods: We compared group-housed and individually-housed rats using stress tests, analyzing behavior and quantifying VTA opioid receptor expression.

Results: Social isolation upregulated delta and kappa opioid receptors in …

Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor: An Update Of Current Management Practices, Ahmed Gawash, Alexa Simonetti, Brandon J Goodwin, Alissa Brotman O'Neill

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

BACKGROUND: Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) poses a diagnostic challenge, initiating with imaging techniques like ultrasound, CT, MRI, and PET scans, with CT being the primary choice for abdominal tumor visualization. Despite advances, the absence of a standardized staging system complicates the diagnostic process.

METHODS: A comprehensive literature review and search strategy, encompassing databases like PubMed and Cochrane was performed.

RESULTS: Systemic chemotherapy, notably the P6 regimen, is the cornerstone of DSRCT treatment, while other options, including CDK4/6 inhibitors, antibody-drug conjugates, and anlotinib present varying efficacy. A novel chemotherapeutic agent, ONC-201, exhibits promise, inhibiting tumor growth in preclinical models. …

Robust Sex Determination In The Caenorhabditis Nigoni Germ Line, Jonathan P Harbin, Yongquan Shen, Shin-Yi Lin, Kevin Kemper, Eric S Haag, Erich M Schwarz, Ronald E Ellis

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Sexual characteristics and reproductive systems are dynamic traits in many taxa, but the developmental modifications that allow change and innovation are largely unknown. A leading model for this process is the evolution of self-fertile hermaphrodites from male/female ancestors. However, these studies require direct analysis of sex-determination in male/female species, as well as in the hermaphroditic species that are related to them. In Caenorhabditis nematodes this has only become possible recently, with the discovery of new species. Here, we use gene editing to characterize major sex-determination genes in C. nigoni, a sister to the widely studied hermaphroditic species C. briggsae. These …

Investigating The Effects Of Sex And Estrous Cycle On The Incubation Of Cue-Induced Oxycodone Craving, Bhumiben Pradipkumar Patel

Theses and Dissertations

The overprescription and misuse of opioids like oxycodone has played a significant role in the ongoing opioid crisis. While effective painkillers, drugs like oxycodone are also reinforcing and often misused. While sex and ovarian hormones can impact the analgesic effects of these drugs, the impact of these factors on oxycodone reinforcement are not fully understood. This relationship between ovarian hormones and opioid reward is further complicated by the fact that opioid use can disrupt ovarian hormone levels and produce reproductive cycle irregularities. Using a rat model of drug craving and relapse vulnerability, we found that chronic oxycodone exposure produced reproductive …

Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex: An Anatomical And Medical Illustration Study., Hallie Tiburzi, Carlos A G Machado, Massimo S D'Antoni, R Shane Tubbs

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Recent advances in small-joint arthroscopy and cutting-edge magnetic resonance imaging systems have enabled orthopedic surgeons to perform more complex repairs of the wrist. Such repairs can include those of the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) of the wrist that necessitates a reappraisal of its morphometry with special emphasis on the relationship between its articular disc (AD) and surrounding tissues. The TFCC AD is a fibrocartilaginous, biconcave structure located between the ulnar styloid process and the carpal bones of the wrist. We carefully dissected and measured the ADs of 58 wrists from 34 embalmed cadavers (20 females, 14 males) and fabricated three-dimensional …

Longitudinal Changes In Aerodigestive Responses To Varying Nipple Properties In Infant Pigs, François D H Gould, Christopher Mayerl, Khaled Adjerid, Jessica Reibel, Nichole Charles, Chloe Edmonds, Rebecca Z German

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Coordination of respiration and swallowing is critical for survival in infant mammals and changes throughout infant maturation. Infants show sensorimotor feeding responses to changes in physical properties of nipples. Commercial nipples are promoted as improving aerodigestive coordination. However, it is unknown how nipple properties influence coordination of respiration and swallowing. Furthermore, how infant-nipple interactions change throughout maturation is not well understood. We designed and manufactured four silicone nipples of the same shape that varied in two parameters: nipple opening diameter and nipple stiffness. We used our validated infant pig model to test the impact of nipple parameters on aerodigestive coordination …

Effects Of Social Isolation On Locus Coeruleus Opioid Receptor Expression And Affective Behavior, John Tkaczynski, Jordan Riser, Maya Patel, Nicole Shellenbarger, Jin Park, Daniel Manvich, Daniel J Chandler

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Social isolation is a stressor that impairs homeostatic neuroendocrine functions and is associated with the development of several mood disorders characterized by persistent negative affect. Persistent feelings of loneliness have been growing public health concerns for several years and were greatly exacerbated by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The problem has grown so severe the U.S. Surgeon General recently declared loneliness to be an epidemic health concern that is associated with poor mental and somatic health outcomes. Therefore, identifying mechanisms of neuroadaptation that contribute to the development of persistent negative affect is a critical step in the identifying better …

Behavioral And Neuroactivational Correlates Of Psychosocial Stress-Induced Cocaine Seeking In The Rat, Nicole Hinds

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract Nicole Maria Hinds BEHAVIORAL AND NEUROACTIVATIONAL CORRELATES OF PSYCHOSOCIAL STRESS-INDUCED COCAINE SEEKING IN THE RAT 2024 Molecular Cell Biology & Neuroscience Doctor of Philosophy Cocaine Use Disorder is characterized by a high risk for relapse that can persist over extended periods of abstinence. Psychosocial stressors are well-established to promote drug craving and relapse in humans but have rarely been employed in preclinical relapse models. Consequently, the underlying neural circuitry by which these stressors drive cocaine seeking has not yet been thoroughly explored. This project aimed to identify brain regions recruited during psychosocial stress-induced cocaine seeking in rats, with a …

An In Vivo Study Of Lns8801, A Gper Agonist, In A Spontaneous Melanoma-Prone Mouse Model, Tgs., Christina Marinaro, John Sauer, Christopher A Natale, Todd Ridky, Suzie Chen

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Melanoma is the most aggressive and deadly form of skin cancer that arises from the transformation of melanocytes, the pigment producing cells of the skin. In the year 2024 there will be approximately 10,000 new cases of melanoma diagnosed and approximately 8,000 deaths attributed to melanoma in the United States. In this study we treated a group of male and female transgenic mice that spontaneously develop metastatic melanoma, TGS, with a G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor agonist LNS8801 to assess the efficacy on disease progression. A second group of male and female TGS mice was also exposed to UVB irradiation to mimic …

Single-Molecule Studies Reveal The Off-Pathway Early Paused State Intermediates As A Target Of Streptolydigin Inhibition Of Rna Polymerase And Its Dramatic Enhancement By Gre Factors, Anatolii Arseniev, Mikhail Panfilov, Georgii Pobegalov, Alina Potyseva, Polina Pavlinova, Maria Yakunina, Jookyung Lee, Sergei Borukhov, Konstantin Severinov, Mikhail Khodorkovskii

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Antibiotic streptolydigin (Stl) inhibits bacterial transcription by blocking the trigger loop folding in the active center of RNA polymerase (RNAP), which is essential for catalysis. We use acoustic force spectroscopy to characterize the dynamics of transcription elongation in ternary elongation complexes (ECs) of RNAP in the presence of Stl at a single-molecule level. We found that Stl induces long-lived stochastic pauses while the instantaneous velocity of transcription between the pauses is unaffected. Stl enhances the short-lived pauses associated with an off-pathway early paused state intermediates of the RNAP nucleotide addition cycle. Unexpectedly, we found that transcript cleavage factors GreA and …

Sk609, A Novel Dopamine D3 Receptor Agonist And Norepinephrine Transporter Blocker With Putative Pro-Cognitive Actions, Does Not Induce Psychostimulant-Like Increases In Risky Choice During Probabilistic Discounting, Christopher P. Knapp, Brooke Fallon, Sandhya Kortagere, Barry D. Waterhouse, Stan B Floresco, Rachel L Navarra

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

RATIONALE: Psychostimulants, such as amphetamine (AMPH) and methylphenidate (MPH), non-selectively elevate extracellular concentrations of the catecholamine neurotransmitters, dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE), and are common pharmacological strategies used to improve prefrontal cortex (PFC)-dependent cognitive dysfunction. However, this approach can be problematic given AMPH has been shown to increase preference for risky choices in a rodent assay of risk/reward decision making. SK609 is a novel NE reuptake blocker that selectively activates DA D3 receptors without affinity for the DA transporter. SK609 has been shown to improve cognitive performance without increasing psychostimulant-like spontaneous locomotor activity, suggesting SK609 may benefit neurocognitive function without …

Effects Of Sex And Estrous Cycle On Extended-Access Oxycodone Self-Administration And Cue-Induced Drug Seeking Behavior, Bhumiben P Patel, Jessica A Loweth

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

INTRODUCTION: Increasing evidence indicates that sex is a factor that impacts the abuse liability and relapse vulnerability of prescription opioids like oxycodone. However, while women are more likely than men to be prescribed and to use these drugs, the impact of sex and ovarian hormones on prescription opioid use and relapse vulnerability remains unclear. Accurately assessing these measures is complicated by the fact that chronic opioid exposure can lower ovarian hormone levels and cause cycle irregularities.

METHODS: Adult male and female Sprague-Dawley rats self-administered oxycodone (0.1 mg/kg/infusion) under extended-access conditions (6 h/day, 10 days) followed by forced abstinence. Separate groups …

Mechanisms Of Extracellular Vesicle Uptake And Implications For The Design Of Cancer Therapeutics, Stephanie R Jackson Cullison, Joseph P Flemming, Kubra Karagoz, Peter J Wermuth, Mỹ G Mahoney

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

The translation of pre-clinical anti-cancer therapies to regulatory approval has been promising, but slower than hoped. While innovative and effective treatments continue to achieve or seek approval, setbacks are often attributed to a lack of efficacy, failure to achieve clinical endpoints, and dose-limiting toxicities. Successful efforts have been characterized by the development of therapeutics designed to specifically deliver optimal and effective dosing to tumour cells while minimizing off-target toxicity. Much effort has been devoted to the rational design and application of synthetic nanoparticles to serve as targeted therapeutic delivery vehicles. Several challenges to the successful application of this modality as …

Effects Of Cadherin Mediated Contact Normalization On Oncogenic Src Kinase Mediated Gene Expression And Protein Phosphorylation, Rachel E Nicoletto, Cayla J Holdcraft, Ariel C Yin, Edward P Retzbach, Stephanie A Sheehan, Amanda A Greenspan, Christopher M Laugier, Jason Trama, Caifeng Zhao, Haiyan Zheng, Gary S Goldberg

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Nontransformed cells form heterotypic cadherin junctions with adjacent transformed cells to inhibit tumor cell growth and motility. Transformed cells must override this form of growth control, called "contact normalization", to invade and metastasize during cancer progression. Heterocellular cadherin junctions between transformed and nontransformed cells are needed for this process. However, specific mechanisms downstream of cadherin signaling have not been clearly elucidated. Here, we utilized a β-catenin reporter construct to determine if contact normalization affects Wnt signaling in transformed cells. β-catenin driven GFP expression in Src transformed mouse embryonic cells was decreased when cultured with cadherin competent nontransformed cells compared to …

Emerin Deficiency Drives Mcf7 Cells To An Invasive Phenotype, Emily Hansen, Christal Rolling, Matthew Wang, James M Holaska

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

During metastasis, cancer cells traverse the vasculature by squeezing through very small gaps in the endothelium. Thus, nuclei in metastatic cancer cells must become more malleable to move through these gaps. Our lab showed invasive breast cancer cells have 50% less emerin protein resulting in smaller, misshapen nuclei, and higher metastasis rates than non-cancerous controls. Thus, emerin deficiency was predicted to cause increased nuclear compliance, cell migration, and metastasis. We tested this hypothesis by downregulating emerin in noninvasive MCF7 cells and found emerin knockdown causes smaller, dysmorphic nuclei, resulting in increased impeded cell migration. Emerin reduction in invasive breast cancer …

In Search Of The Locus Coeruleus: Guidelines For Identifying Anatomical Boundaries And Electrophysiological Properties Of The Blue Spot In Mice, Fish, Finches, And Beyond, Amelien Vreven, Gary Aston-Jones, Anthony E Pickering, Gina R Poe, Barry Waterhouse, Nelson K Totah

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Our understanding of human brain function can be greatly aided by studying analogous brain structures in other organisms. One brain structure with neurochemical and anatomical homology throughout vertebrate species is the locus coeruleus (LC), a small collection of norepinephrine (NE)-containing neurons in the brainstem that project throughout the central nervous system. The LC is involved in nearly every aspect of brain function, including arousal and learning, which has been extensively examined in rats and nonhuman primates using single-unit recordings. Recent work has expanded into putative LC single-unit electrophysiological recordings in a nonmodel species, the zebra finch. Given the importance of …

Assessing The Effects Of Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury On Risk/Reward Decision Making And Catecholamine Associated Proteins, Christopher Knapp

Theses and Dissertations

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) disrupts cognitive processes that influence risk taking behavior; however, the effects of repetitive mild injury (rmTBI) or whether these outcomes are sex specific are unknown. Risk/reward decision making is mediated by the prefrontal cortex (PFC), which is densely innervated by catecholaminergic fibers. Aberrant PFC catecholamine activity has been documented following TBI and may underlie TBI-induced risky behavior. Here, we exposed rats to sham (no injury), single, or three closed-head controlled cortical impact (CH-CCI) injuries to characterize the effects of rmTBI on 1) risk/reward decision making behavior using a probabilistic discounting task (PDT) and 2) levels …

A Homogeneous Time-Resolved Fluorescence Screen To Identify Sirt2 Deacetylase And Defatty-Acylase Inhibitors, Jie Yang, Joel Cassel, Brian C Boyle, Daniel Oppong, Young-Hoon Ahn, Brian P Weiser

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Human sirtuin-2 (SIRT2) has emerged as an attractive drug target for a variety of diseases. The enzyme is a deacylase that can remove chemically different acyl modifications from protein lysine residues. Here, we developed a high-throughput screen based on a homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence (HTRF) binding assay to identify inhibitors of SIRT2's demyristoylase activity, which is uncommon among many ligands that only affect its deacetylase activity. From a test screen of 9600 compounds, we identified a small molecule that inhibited SIRT2's deacetylase activity (IC50 = 7 μM) as well as its demyristoylase activity (IC50 = 37 μM). The inhibitor was composed …

Distinct Expression Patterns Of Hedgehog Signaling Components In Mouse Gustatory System During Postnatal Tongue Development And Adult Homeostasis, Archana Kumari, Nicole E Franks, Libo Li, Gabrielle Audu, Sarah Liskowicz, John D Johnson, Charlotte M Mistretta, Benjamin L Allen

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

The Hedgehog (HH) pathway regulates embryonic development of anterior tongue taste fungiform papilla (FP) and the posterior circumvallate (CVP) and foliate (FOP) taste papillae. HH signaling also mediates taste organ maintenance and regeneration in adults. However, there are knowledge gaps in HH pathway component expression during postnatal taste organ differentiation and maturation. Importantly, the HH transcriptional effectors GLI1, GLI2 and GLI3 have not been investigated in early postnatal stages; the HH receptors PTCH1, GAS1, CDON and HHIP, required to either drive HH pathway activation or antagonism, also remain unexplored. Using lacZ reporter mouse models, we mapped expression of the HH …

Rewiring The Sex-Determination Pathway During The Evolution Of Self-Fertility., Yongquan Shen, Shin-Yi Lin, Jonathan Harbin, Richa Amin, Allison Vassalotti, Joseph Romanowski, Emily Schmidt, Alexis Tierney, Ronald E Ellis

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Although evolution is driven by changes in how regulatory pathways control development, we know little about the molecular details underlying these transitions. The TRA-2 domain that mediates contact with TRA-1 is conserved in Caenorhabditis. By comparing the interaction of these proteins in two species, we identified a striking change in how sexual development is controlled. Identical mutations in this domain promote oogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans but promote spermatogenesis in Caenorhabditis briggsae. Furthermore, the effects of these mutations involve the male-promoting gene fem-3 in C. elegans but are independent of fem-3 in C. briggsae. Finally, reciprocal mutations in these genes show …

Maackia Amurensis Seed Lectin (Masl) And Soluble Human Podoplanin (Shpdpn) Sequence Analysis And Effects On Human Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (Oscc) Cell Migration And Viability, Ariel C Yin, Cayla J Holdcraft, Eamonn J Brace, Tyler J Hellmig, Sayan Basu, Saumil Parikh, Katarzyna Jachimowska, Evelyne Kalyoussef, Dylan Roden, Soly Baredes, Eugenio M Capitle, David I Suster, Alan J Shienbaum, Caifeng Zhao, Haiyan Zheng, Kevin Balcaen, Simon Devos, Jurgen Haustraete, Mahnaz Fatahzadeh, Gary S Goldberg

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Maackia amurensis lectins serve as research and botanical agents that bind to sialic residues on proteins. For example, M. amurensis seed lectin (MASL) targets the sialic acid modified podoplanin (PDPN) receptor to suppress arthritic chondrocyte inflammation, and inhibit tumor cell growth and motility. However, M. amurensis lectin nomenclature and composition are not clearly defined. Here, we sought to definitively characterize MASL and its effects on tumor cell behavior. We utilized SDS-PAGE and LC-MS/MS to find that M. amurensis lectins can be divided into two groups. MASL is a member of one group which is composed of subunits that form dimers, …