Developmental Biology Commons^™

The Ecology And Evolution Of Rare, Soil Specialist Astragalus Plants In The Arid Western U.S., Joseph M. Statwick

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Organisms that specialize in uncommon habitats are, by their very nature, inherently uncommon. Specialization has its advantages, namely reduced competition and predation, but it also incurs costs. Specialists often have small population sizes, narrow ranges, and fragmented habitat, all of which engender negative consequences on an evolutionary timescale. Herein, I examine benefits and costs of specialization in selenium-hyperaccumulating plants in the genus Astragalus (Fabaceae). These plants are disproportionately likely to be rare and of conservation concern. Thus, I optimized germination pretreatments for Astragalus species such that seed loss can be minimized during ex situ cultivation, and found that physical scarification …

Functional Analysis Of Rpl22: Coordinating Differentiation Signals And Developmental Gene Translation To Promote Cell Fate Decisions, Stephen Kim

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Theses and Dissertations

The execution of meiosis and spore formation in S. cerevisiae requires a transient transcription program that is initiated by Ime I-dependent destruction of the repressor Ume6. IMEJ transcription is tightly contro1led by both cell type and nutritional cues but how its translation is regulated has been unknown. This study demonstrates that Rpl22A and Rpl22B, eukaryotic-specific ribosomal protein paralogs of the 60S large subunit, are required for efficient Ime I translation. While IME1 mRNA is induced normally in the absence of both para logs following transfer to sporulation medium, Ume6 remains stabilized, downstream early meiotic gene remain repressed, and development is …

Roles Of Planar Cell Polarity Proteins In Copa Axon Pathfinding, Ashley Morgan Purdy

Theses and Dissertations

In zebrafish, CoPA (Commissural Primary Ascending) is the first among ascending commissural axons to pathfind anteriorly and form the spinal commissure. One pathway that guides their anterior growth is the planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling pathway, but it is not fully known how PCP signaling regulates anterior guidance. We examined CoPA pathfinding in various PCP mutants to determine if anterior-posterior (A-P) guidance of CoPAs is dependent on PCP signaling. We found that certain PCP mutants exhibited anterior pathfinding defects, with approximately half of all affected CoPAs migrating incorrectly posteriorly. By using a translation-blocking DCC (Deleted in …

Evolution Of The Vertebrate Claudin Gene Family: Insights From A Basal Vertebrate, The Sea Lamprey, Christian Mukendi, Nicholas Dean, Rushil Lala, Jeramiah J. Smith, Marianne E Bronner, Natalya V. Nikitina

Biology Faculty Publications

Claudins are major constituents of tight junctions, contributing both to their intercellular sealing and selective permeability properties. While claudins and claudin-like molecules are present in some invertebrates, the association of claudins with tight junctions has been conclusively documented only in vertebrates. Here we report the sequencing, phylogenetic analysis and comprehensive spatiotemporal expression analysis of the entire claudin gene family in the basal extant vertebrate, the sea lamprey. Our results demonstrate that clear orthologues to about half of all mammalian claudins are present in the lamprey, suggesting that at least one round of whole genome duplication contributed to the diversification of …

Investigation Into The Function Of Endothelial Cells And Their Signaling In Early Salivary Gland Development, Hae Ryong Kwon

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Functional vasculature regulates organ formation and regeneration. Perfusion-independent and nutrition-independent endothelial regulation of epithelial patterning is of considerable interest for application in restoring parenchymal function. During murine submandibular salivary gland development, the vasculature co-develops with the epithelium; however, it is still unknown if the vasculature has instructive effects on the epithelium. A systems biological study revealed that endothelial genes are enriched in epithelial clefts, suggesting a potential involvement of endothelial cells in early morphogenesis. Using immunodepletion of the endothelial cells from the mesenchyme of reconstituted glands, a requirement for endothelial cells in epithelial patterning was demonstrated. Specifically, lobule formation was …

Regulators Of Ins-6, A Major Node Of The Insulin-Like Peptide Network For Developmental Plasticity, Lisa Li

Wayne State University Theses

In C. elegans, an insulin-like peptide (ILP) network coordinates various physiological

processes, including developmental plasticity, to enhance survival under different environments. During stressful conditions, such as high temperatures, low food and high population density, first-stage larval worms enter an alternative developmental arrest program called dauer. When ideal environmental conditions are restored, worms exit from the dauer stage to go through reproductive adulthood. Different subsets of ILPs regulate the entry into versus the exit from the dauer state. For example, the ILP ins-6 plays a minor role in inhibiting dauer entry from the ASI sensory neurons, but a more primary role …

The Role Of Notch Signaling On Heart Rate And Atrial Conduction, Somya Bhatnagar

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide and can result in arrhythmias, or dysregulation in the electrical activation of the heart. Sick Sinus Syndrome (SSS) is characterized by sinus bradycardia (slowed heart rate, HR), slowed conduction through atrial myocardium, and can predispose to the development of atrial fibrillation. A developmental signaling pathway, Notch, regulates cellular identity through differentiation of cardiomyocytes (CMs) into cardiac conduction system-like cells. Previous data show that Notch electrically remodels the right atrium, causing slowed conduction velocity (CV) and hallmarks of SSS including sinus pauses, sinus bradycardia and a predisposition to atrial fibrillation. However, the …

The Role Of Sox4 In Regulating Choroid Fissure Closure And Retinal Neurogenesis, Wen Wen

Theses and Dissertations--Biology

The development of the vertebrate eye is tightly controlled by precise genetic regulations. From a single ocular primordium to bilateral eyes with complex structures and cell types, it requires intensive proliferation and migration for cells in both the ectoderm and mesoderm to accomplish ocular morphogenesis, and during this process cell differentiation and interaction takes place to establish the complex composition of ocular cell types and cellular connections. Genetic defects can lead to severe abnormalities in eye morphogenesis and cell differentiation during ocular development. A tremendous amount of work has been done to identify both intrinsic and extrinsic factors that regulate …

Mfge8 Regulates Tgf-Β-Induced Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition In Endometrial Epithelial Cells In Vitro, Liang Yu, Rong Hu, Claretta Sullivan, R. James Swanson, Sergio Oehninger, Ying-Pu Sun, Silvina Bocca

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

This study investigated the role of milk fat globule-epidermal growth factor-factor 8 (MFGE8) in TGF-β-induced epithelial– mesenchymal transition (EMT) of endometrial epithelial cells. These were in vitro studies using human endometrial epithelial cells and mouse blastocysts. We investigated the ability of TGF-β to induce EMT in endometrial epithelial cells (HEC-1A) by assessment of cytological phenotype (by light and atomic force microscopy), changes in expression of the markers of cell adhesion/differentiation E- and N-cadherin, and of the transcription factor Snail (by immunofluorescence and immunoblotting), and competence to support embryo attachment in a mouse blastocyst outgrowth assay. We also studied the effects …

Characterization Of Somatically-Eliminated Genes During Development Of The Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon Marinus), Stephanie A. Bryant

Theses and Dissertations--Biology

The sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) undergoes programmed genome rearrangements (PGRs) during early development that facilitate the elimination of ~20% of the genome from the somatic cell lineage, resulting in distinct somatic and germline genomes. To improve our understanding of the evolutionary/developmental logic of PGR, we generated computational predictions to identify candidate germline-specific genes within a transcriptomic dataset derived from adult germline and the embryonic stages encompassing PGR. Validation studies identified 44 germline-specific genes and characterized patterns of transcription and DNA loss during early embryogenesis. Expression analyses reveal that several of these genes are differentially expressed during early embryogenesis …

Confirmation Of Emx2 Protein Binding Partners, Cody Gillman

All Master's Theses

The neocortex is a structure within mammalian brains that processes sensory input from eyes, ears, and touch receptors and mediates the conscious use of skeletal muscles. The processing of information related to each of these types of functions is localized within discrete areas of the neocortex, which are separated by sharp borders. Proper development of these functional areas is regulated during embryogenesis by several transcription factors that are expressed in distinct gradients across the progenitor layer of the neocortex, the ventricular zone. Despite the vast amount of progress that has been made in describing how these transcription factors impact the …

An Investigation Of Juvenile Alewife (Alosa Pseudoharengus) Habitat Use And Growth Using Natural Markers, Gregory Norman Labonte Ms

All Student Scholarship

This research attempts to connect patterns in growth and migration of an anadromous species. The goal of this research was to understand habitat movements and growth of juvenile alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus) in the Penobscot Estuary and Bay through the use of otolith microchemistry, otolith growth increments, and a laboratory stable isotope turnover study. Understanding the connection between growth and movement of juvenile alewives may lead to more accurate and sophisticated conservation and restoration methods for anadromous species.

Fibronectin Contributes To Notochord Intercalation In The Invertebrate Chordate, Ciona Intestinalis, F. Segade, C. Cota, A. Famiglietti, A. Cha, Bradley Justin Davidson , '91

Biology Faculty Works

Background: Genomic analysis has upended chordate phylogeny, placing the tunicates as the sister group to the vertebrates. This taxonomic rearrangement raises questions about the emergence of a tunicate/vertebrate ancestor. Results: Characterization of developmental genes uniquely shared by tunicates and vertebrates is one promising approach for deciphering developmental shifts underlying acquisition of novel, ancestral traits. The matrix glycoprotein Fibronectin (FN) has long been considered a vertebrate-specific gene, playing a major instructive role in vertebrate embryonic development. However, the recent computational prediction of an orthologous “vertebrate-like” Fn gene in the genome of a tunicate, Ciona savignyi, challenges this viewpoint suggesting that Fn …

Identification Of Size And Shape Changes In Orofacial Development And Disease, Allyson E. Kennedy

Theses and Dissertations

Among the most prevalent and devastating types of human birth defects are those affecting the mouth and face, such as orofacial clefts. Children with malformed orofacial structures undergo multiple surgeries throughout their lifetime and struggle with facial disfigurements, speech, hearing, and eating problems. Therefore, facilitating new research in cranio- and orofacial development is paramount to prevention and treatment of these types of birth defects in humans. Xenopus laevis has emerged as a new tool for dissecting the mechanisms governing facial development. Thus, molecular analyses accompanied by quantitative assessment of morphological changes during orofacial development of this species could be very …

Homocysteine And Csrp-3 Protein In Migrating Neural Crest Cells: A Quantitative And Qualitative Confocal Microscopy Study, Allysan R. White

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Congenital heart defects are one of the leading causes of infant death. High maternal blood serum levels of the amino acid homocysteine and the frequency of heart defects are correlated, but the immediate cause is unknown. During early embryonic development, a distinctive population of cells arises dorsally as the neural tube closes, forming the brain and spinal cord. These are the neural crest cells, which play a crucial role in the development of the nervous system, head skeletal, certain endocrine and connective tissues, and, notably, the heart’s outflow region. These migratory cells will follow specific pathways and respond to signals …

The Effect Of Rearing Temperature On Somite Formation And Skeletal Development In The Zebrafish, Danio Rerio, Sarah Jean Freeland

Honors Program Theses

The purpose of this study is to explore the effect temperature may have on development of elements of the Weberian apparatus in relation to the other regions of the vertebral column. The goals of this study were three-fold 1. To test rapid whole-mount staining techniques to quickly determine effect of temperature on somite number. 2. To examine the effect of extreme low and extreme high rearing temperature on somite formation. 3. To examine the effect of extreme low and extreme high rearing temperature on skeletal development in the Weberian apparatus

Excess Folic Acid As A Potential Competitor Of Glutamate May Interfere With Neural Development, Benjamin Fick

Honors Program Theses

Folic acid, Vitamin B9, is strongly advised as a supplement taken by pregnant woman to maintain the health of the embryo, and deficiency increases the risk of neural tube defects. However, a safe upper limit of folate to consume has not been established, and an excess of dietary folate may interfere with neurodevelopmental metabolism, increasing the risk of adverse outcomes, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It has been suggested that folate affects connectivity among neurons as the brain develops. Glutamate is important in the regulation of neural tissue development, as it is a common excitatory neurotransmitter that binds to synaptic …

Potential For Aerobic Exercise To Release Growth Factors To Induce Cognitive Changes In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Maya Harrington

Undergraduate Research Posters

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is becoming increasingly prevalent among adolescents, and while the number of individuals diagnosed with the disorder grows, there continues to be no cure or even a clear treatment path for ASD. This study analyzes the biological stimulations that create cognitive changes—which are induced by intensive aerobic exercise—within the brains of individuals ages 8-18 diagnosed with autism. I studied journal articles on the current treatments available for ASD, the increasing prevalence of the disease, the cognitive alterations of the autistic brain relative to the brains of individuals without the disease, the release of growth factors due to …

Atypical Protein Kinase C Dependent Polarized Cell Division Is Required For Myocardial Trabeculation, Derek L. Passer

Theses & Dissertations

A hallmark of cardiac development is the formation of myocardial trabeculations exclusively from the luminal surface of the primitive heart tube. Although a number of genetic defects in the endocardium (Grego-Bessa et al., 2007; Liu et al., 2010) and cardiac jelly (Camenisch et al., 2000) disrupt myocardial trabeculation, the role of cell polarity machinery in driving this process remains unclear. Herein, we demonstrate that atypical protein kinase C iota (Prkci) and its interacting partners of Par polarity complex are localized to the luminal side of luminal myocardial cells. Remarkably, a subset of these cells undergoes polarized cell division with the …

Problem Solving Skill And Obesity In Children, Caitlin R. Spano

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Abstract:

Introduction: Childhood obesity is a problem that leads to many serious health effects including early maturation, decreased quality of life and increased risk for cardiovascular disease. In 2012, over one third of children were considered obese (Childhood Obesity Facts 2015). Efforts have been made to reduce this number but they have not been fully successful (Nutrition Standards for School Meals 2015, Prevalence of Childhood obesity in the United States 2011-2012 2015). What other factors are causing kids to choose foods that lead to weight gain.

Literature Review: In research regarding psychological motivations of overeating, there has been a correlation …