Inferring Tunicate Relationships And The Evolution Of The Tunicate Hox Cluster With The Genome Of Corella Inflata,
2020
Swarthmore College
Inferring Tunicate Relationships And The Evolution Of The Tunicate Hox Cluster With The Genome Of Corella Inflata, M. B. Debiasse, William N. Colgan , '19, Lincoln J. Harris , '17, Bradley Justin Davidson , '91, J. F. Ryan
Biology Faculty Works
Tunicates, the closest living relatives of vertebrates, have served as a foundational model of early embryonic development for decades. Comparative studies of tunicate phylogeny and genome evolution provide a critical framework for analyzing chordate diversification and the emergence of vertebrates. Towards this goal, we sequenced the genome of Corella inflata (Ascidiacea, Phlebobranchia), so named for the capacity to brood self-fertilized embryos in a modified, “inflated” atrial chamber. Combining the new genome sequence for Co. inflata with publicly available tunicate data, we estimated a tunicate species phylogeny, reconstructed the ancestral Hox gene cluster at important nodes in the tunicate tree, and …
Role Of Bet Inhibitors In Triple Negative Breast Cancers,
2020
Tennessee State University
Role Of Bet Inhibitors In Triple Negative Breast Cancers, Durga Khandekar, Venkataswarup Tiriveedhi
Biology Faculty Research
Bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) proteins have evolved as key multifunctional super-regulators that control gene expression. These proteins have been shown to upregulate transcriptional machinery leading to over expression of genes involved in cell proliferation and carcinogenesis. Based on favorable preclinical evidence of BET inhibitors in various cancer models; currently, 26 clinical trials are underway in various stages of study on various hematological and solid organ cancers. Unfortunately, preliminary evidence for these clinical studies does not support the application of BET inhibitors as monotherapy in cancer treatment. Furthermore, the combinatorial efficiency of BET inhibitors with other chemo-and immunotherapeutic agents remain …
To Mid-Cell And Beyond: Characterizing The Roles Of Gpsb And Ypsa In Cell Division Regulation In Gram-Positive Bacteria,
2020
University of South Florida
To Mid-Cell And Beyond: Characterizing The Roles Of Gpsb And Ypsa In Cell Division Regulation In Gram-Positive Bacteria, Robert S. Brzozowski
USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations
The bacterial cell division protein FtsZ is a tubulin homolog that forms a ring-like structure at the site of cell division in most bacterial species. There it acts as a scaffold, aiding in the recruitment of other divisome proteins to the site of cell division. Furthermore, studies focusing on the role of FtsZ treadmilling and septal peptidoglycan synthesis implicates that FtsZ plays a direct role in the ultimate closure of the division septum. Thus, many studies in the field of bacterial cell division have focused on FtsZ in terms of its spatial and temporal regulation as well as its ability …
Metabolic Reprogramming By C-Met Inhibition As A Targetable Vulnerability In Glioblastoma,
2020
Columbia University
Metabolic Reprogramming By C-Met Inhibition As A Targetable Vulnerability In Glioblastoma, Trang Thi Thu Nguyen, Enyuan Shang, Georg Karpel-Massler, Markus D. Siegelin
Publications and Research
The elucidation of better treatments for solid tumors and especially malignant glial tumors is a priority. Better understanding of the molecular underpinnings of treatment response and resistance are critical determinants in the success for this endeavor. Recently, a battery of novel tools have surfaced that allow to interrogate tumor cell metabolism to more precise extent than this was possible in the earlier days. At the forefront of these developments are the extracellular flux and carbon tracing analyses. Through utilization of these techniques our group made the recent observation that acute and chronic c-MET inhibition drives fatty acid oxidation that in …
Functional Blockade Of E-Selectin In Tumor-Associated Vessels Enhances Anti-Tumor Effect Of Doxorubicin In Breast Cancer,
2020
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Functional Blockade Of E-Selectin In Tumor-Associated Vessels Enhances Anti-Tumor Effect Of Doxorubicin In Breast Cancer, Yoshihiro Morita, Macall Leslie, Hiroyasu Kameyama, Ganesh L R Lokesh, Norihisa Ichimura, Rachel Davis, Natalie Hills, Nafis Hasan, Roy Zhang, Yuji Kondo, David G Gorenstein, David E Volk, Inna Chervoneva, Hallgeir Rui, Takemi Tanaka
Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Faculty Papers
Chemotherapy is a mainstay of treatment for solid tumors. However, little is known about how therapy-induced immune cell infiltration may affect therapy response. We found substantial CD45+ immune cell density adjacent to E-selectin expressing inflamed vessels in doxorubicin (DOX)-treated residual human breast tumors. While CD45 level was significantly elevated in DOX-treated wildtype mice, it remained unchanged in DOX-treated tumors from E-selectin null mice. Similarly, intravenous administration of anti-E-selectin aptamer (ESTA) resulted in a significant reduction in CD45+ immune cell density in DOX-treated residual tumors, which coincided with a delay in tumor growth and lung metastasis in MMTV-pyMT mice. Additionally, both …
Mob Family Proteins: Regulatory Partners In Hippo And Hippo-Like Intracellular Signaling Pathways,
2020
Thomas Jefferson University
Mob Family Proteins: Regulatory Partners In Hippo And Hippo-Like Intracellular Signaling Pathways, Juan Carlos Duhart, Laurel A. Raftery
Life Sciences Faculty Research
Studies in yeast first delineated the function of Mob proteins in kinase pathways that regulate cell division and shape; in multicellular eukaryotes Mobs regulate tissue growth and morphogenesis. In animals, Mobs are adaptors in Hippo signaling, an intracellular signal-transduction pathway that restricts growth, impacting the development and homeostasis of animal organs. Central to Hippo signaling are the Nuclear Dbf2-Related (NDR) kinases, Warts and LATS1 and LATS2, in flies and mammals, respectively. A second Hippo-like signaling pathway has been uncovered in animals, which regulates cell and tissue morphogenesis. Central to this emergent pathway are the NDR kinases, Tricornered, STK38, and STK38L. …
Investigating The Role Of Torc1 And The Transcription Factor Sfp1p In The Regulation Of Hmo1 Gene In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae,
2020
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College
Investigating The Role Of Torc1 And The Transcription Factor Sfp1p In The Regulation Of Hmo1 Gene In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Mathew Damien Smith
LSU Master's Theses
HMGB proteins are eukaryotic, chromatin-associated proteins that play roles in both DNA dynamics and transcription regulation. Hmo1p is an HMGB protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that behaves somewhat like a hybrid between mammalian HMGB proteins and the metazoan linker histone H1. mTORC1, a protein complex containing the Tor1p kinase and a major regulator of cellular growth, is inhibited by both rapamycin and stress. It has also been shown to not only associate with Hmo1p at various gene promoters, but also regulate the HMO1 gene itself through direct binding. In this study, the Hmo1p-mTORC1 relationship was further investigated through two questions: 1) …
Characterization Of Extracellular Vesicles Isolated From Human Milk Using A Precipitation-Based Method,
2020
Chapman University
Characterization Of Extracellular Vesicles Isolated From Human Milk Using A Precipitation-Based Method, Diana C. Bickmore, John Miklavcic
Food Science Faculty Articles and Research
Extracellular vesicles (EV) function in intercellular communication, and those in human milk may confer immunologic benefits to infants. Methods of EV isolation such as ultracentrifugation (UC) may not be feasible for the study of EVs in human milk due to the need for large sample volume. A technique to isolate EVs from a small volume of human milk using a precipitation reagent is described herein. Electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and semi-quantitative antibody array were conducted to confirm isolation of human milk EVs. Count, size, protein content, and fatty acid quantification of EVs were determined. This isolation technique yielded 8.9 …
The Role Of Apkcs And Apkc Inhibitors In Cell Proliferation And Invasion In Breast And Ovarian Cancer,
2020
University of South Florida
The Role Of Apkcs And Apkc Inhibitors In Cell Proliferation And Invasion In Breast And Ovarian Cancer, Tracess B. Smalley
USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations
Research has demonstrated that the atypical protein kinase C-zeta (PKC-ζ) is a component of many dysregulated pathways in breast and ovarian cancer, including cellular proliferation, survival, and cell cycle upregulation. Breast and ovarian cancers affect women every day and are second and fifth leading cause of cancer death. Women who seek treatments are commonly met with invasive surgeries or chemotherapy. Protein kinase C (PKC) is a family of serine and threonine phosphorylating kinases that have been shown to modulate and transduce signaling cascades that play roles in the development and survival of cancers. Atypical PKC (aPKC), have been heavily suggested …
Functions Of Cdk/Cyclin Complexes In Endoreplication Regulation By The Cdk Inhibitor Siamese,
2020
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College
Functions Of Cdk/Cyclin Complexes In Endoreplication Regulation By The Cdk Inhibitor Siamese, Kai Wang
LSU Doctoral Dissertations
Arabidopsis trichome (leaf hair) is a specialized single cell extended from epidermal cell on the leaves, which is a typical endoreplication and is also known as endoreduplication. Several D-type cyclins were tested to check the cell division in trichome, and the trichome expressing either CYCB1;2 or CDKB2;2 cannot trigger cell division, even if simultaneous expression of CYCB1;2 and CDKB2;2 failed to produce mitosis in trichome. Only CYCD3;1 specifically promotes multicellular trichome. cdkb1;1cdbk1;2 double mutants and sim cdkb1;1cdkb1;2 triple mutants exhibit the phenotype similar to the wild type and very limited cell division respectively. Overexpression of a CDKB1;1 dominant-negative construct that …
Editorial: The Role Of Breast Cancer Stem Cells In Clinical Outcomes,
2020
University of Toledo
Editorial: The Role Of Breast Cancer Stem Cells In Clinical Outcomes, Dayanidhi Raman, Amit K. Tiwari, Venkataswarup Tiriveedhi, Julie A. Rhoades
Biology Faculty Research
No abstract provided.
Variation In Brown Rat Cranial Shape Shows Directional Selection Over 120 Years In New York City,
2020
University of Memphis
Variation In Brown Rat Cranial Shape Shows Directional Selection Over 120 Years In New York City, Emily E. Puckett, Emma Sherratt, Matthew Combs, Elizabeth J. Carlen, William Harcourt-Smith, Jason Munshi-South
Publications and Research
Urbanization exposes species to novel environments and selection pressures that may change morphological traits within a population. We investigated how the shape and size of crania and mandibles changed over time within a population of brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) living in Manhattan, New York, USA, a highly urbanized environment. We measured 3D landmarks on the cranium and mandible of 62 adult individuals sampled in the 1890s and 2010s. Static allometry explained approximately 22% of shape variation in crania and mandible datasets, while time accounted for approximately 14% of variation. We did not observe significant changes in skull size through time …
Dibutyltin Alters Immune Cell Production Of The Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines Interleukin (Il) 1Β And Il-6: Role Of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases And Changes In Mrna,
2020
Tennessee State University
Dibutyltin Alters Immune Cell Production Of The Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines Interleukin (Il) 1Β And Il-6: Role Of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases And Changes In Mrna, Linda B Sushak, Sahra Gabure, Jaquel Maise, Jessica Arnett, Margaret Whalen
Chemistry Faculty Research
Dibutyltin (DBT) is used to stabilize plastics and as a deworming agent in some poultry. It is found in human blood (levels as high as 0.3 μM). Interleukin (IL) 1β (IL-1β) and IL-6 are pro-inflammatory cytokines produced by lymphocytes, monocytes, and other cells. Elevated levels of IL-1β and IL-6 have been associated with pathologies including rheumatoid arthritis and cancers. DBT was shown to decrease IL-1β and IL-6 secretion from immune cells at higher concentrations while causing increases at lower concentrations. However, it was not clear if these changes were due to DBT's alteration of the secretory process or due its …
Perplexing Role Of P-Glycoprotein In Tumor Microenvironment,
2020
Tennessee State University
Perplexing Role Of P-Glycoprotein In Tumor Microenvironment, Kianna Robinson, Venkataswarup Tiriveedhi
Biology Faculty Research
Development of multidrug resistance (MDR) still remains a major obstacle to the long-term success of cancer therapy. P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is a well-identified membrane transporter with capability to efflux drug molecules out of the cancer cell leading to reduced efficiency of chemotherapy. Cancer cells upregulate P-gp expression as an adaptive response to evade chemotherapy mediated cell death. While several P-gp inhibitors have been discovered by in silico and pre-clinical studies, very few have successfully passed all phases of the clinical trials. Studies show that application of P-gp inhibitors in cancer therapy regimen following development of MDR achieved limited beneficial outcomes. While, …
Modulation Of The Pol Ii Ctd Phosphorylation Code By Rac1 And Cdc42 Small Gtpases In Cultured Human Cancer Cells And Its Implication For Developing A Synthetic-Lethal Cancer Therapy,
2020
Wenzhou-Kean University
Modulation Of The Pol Ii Ctd Phosphorylation Code By Rac1 And Cdc42 Small Gtpases In Cultured Human Cancer Cells And Its Implication For Developing A Synthetic-Lethal Cancer Therapy, Bo Zhang, Xuelin Zhong, Moira Sauane, Yihong Zhao, Zhi-Liang Zheng
Publications and Research
Rho GTPases, including Rho, Cdc42, Rac and ROP subfamilies, are key signaling molecules in RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcriptional control. Our prior work has shown that plant ROP and yeast Cdc42 GTPases similarly modulate Ser2 and Ser5 phosphorylation status of the C-terminal domain (CTD) of the Pol II largest subunit by regulating CTD phosphatase degradation. Here, we present genetic and pharmacological evidence showing that Cdc42 and Rac1 GTPase signaling modulates a similar CTD Ser2 and Ser5 phosphorylation code in cultured human cancer cells. While siRNA knockdown of Cdc42 and Rac1, respectively, in HeLa cells increased the level of CTD …
A Positive Feedback Loop Of Hippo- And C-Jun-Amino-Terminal Kinase Signaling Pathways Regulates Amyloid-Beta-Mediated Neurodegeneration,
2020
University of Dayton
A Positive Feedback Loop Of Hippo- And C-Jun-Amino-Terminal Kinase Signaling Pathways Regulates Amyloid-Beta-Mediated Neurodegeneration, Madison Irwin, Meghana Tare, Aditi Singh, Oorvashi Roy Puli, Neha Gogia, Matthew Riccetti, Prajakta Deshpande, Madhuri Kango-Singh, Amit Singh
Biology Faculty Publications
Alzheimer's disease (AD, OMIM: 104300) is an age-related disorder that affects millions of people. One of the underlying causes of AD is generation of hydrophobic amyloid-beta 42 (Aβ42) peptides that accumulate to form amyloid plaques. These plaques induce oxidative stress and aberrant signaling, which result in the death of neurons and other pathologies linked to neurodegeneration. We have developed a Drosophila eye model of AD by targeted misexpression of human Aβ42 in the differentiating retinal neurons, where an accumulation of Aβ42 triggers a characteristic neurodegenerative phenotype. In a forward deficiency screen to look for genetic modifiers, we identified a molecularly …
Pan-Cancer Analysis Reveals Cooperativity Of Both Strands Of Microrna That Regulate Tumorigenesis And Patient Survival,
2020
Thomas Jefferson University
Pan-Cancer Analysis Reveals Cooperativity Of Both Strands Of Microrna That Regulate Tumorigenesis And Patient Survival, Ramkrishna Mitra, Clare M. Adams, Wei Jiang, Evan J. Greenawalt, Christine M. Eischen
Department of Cancer Biology Faculty Papers
Recently, both 5p and 3p miRNA strands are being recognized as functional instead of only one, leaving many miRNA strands uninvestigated. To determine whether both miRNA strands, which have different mRNA-targeting sequences, cooperate to regulate pathways/functions across cancer types, we evaluate genomic, epigenetic, and molecular profiles of >5200 patient samples from 14 different cancers, and RNA interference and CRISPR screens in 290 cancer cell lines. We identify concordantly dysregulated miRNA 5p/3p pairs that coordinately modulate oncogenic pathways and/or cell survival/growth across cancers. Down-regulation of both strands of miR-30a and miR-145 recurrently increased cell cycle pathway genes and significantly reduced patient …
Comparative Proteomics Of Root Apex And Root Elongation Zones Provides Insights Into Molecular Mechanisms For Drought Stress And Recovery Adjustment In Switchgrass,
2020
Tennessee State University
Comparative Proteomics Of Root Apex And Root Elongation Zones Provides Insights Into Molecular Mechanisms For Drought Stress And Recovery Adjustment In Switchgrass, Zhujia Ye, Sasikiran Reddy Sangireddy, Chih-Li Yu, Dafeng Hui, Kevin Howe, Tara Fish, Theodore W. Thannhauser, Suping Zhou
Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research
Switchgrass plants were grown in a Sandwich tube system to induce gradual drought stress by withholding watering. After 29 days, the leaf photosynthetic rate decreased significantly, compared to the control plants which were watered regularly. The drought-treated plants recovered to the same leaf water content after three days of re-watering. The root tip (1cm basal fragment, designated as RT1 hereafter) and the elongation/maturation zone (the next upper 1 cm tissue, designated as RT2 hereafter) tissues were collected at the 29th day of drought stress treatment, (named SDT for severe drought treated), after one (D1W) and three days (D3W) of re-watering. …
A Native Function For Ran Translation And Cgg Repeats In Regulating Fragile X Protein Synthesis,
2020
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
A Native Function For Ran Translation And Cgg Repeats In Regulating Fragile X Protein Synthesis, Caitlin M. Rodriguez, Shannon E. Wright, Michael G. Kearse, Jill M. Haenfler, Brittany N. Flores, Yu Liu, Marius F. Ifrim, M. Rebecca Glineburg, Amy Krans, Paymaan Jafar-Nejad, Michael A. Sutton, Gary J. Bassell, Jack M. Parent, Frank Rigo, Sami J. Barmada, Peter K. Todd
Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research
Repeat-associated non-AUG-initiated translation of expanded CGG repeats (CGG RAN) from the FMR1 5′-leader produces toxic proteins that contribute to neurodegeneration in fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome. Here we describe how unexpanded CGG repeats and their translation play conserved roles in regulating fragile X protein (FMRP) synthesis. In neurons, CGG RAN acts as an inhibitory upstream open reading frame to suppress basal FMRP production. Activation of mGluR5 receptors enhances FMRP synthesis. This enhancement requires both the CGG repeat and CGG RAN initiation sites. Using non-cleaving antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), we selectively blocked CGG RAN. This ASO blockade enhanced endogenous FMRP expression in human …
Cysteine Dioxygenase Enzyme Activity And Gene Expression In The Dimorphic Pathogenic Fungus Histoplasma Capsulatum Is In Both The Mold And Yeast Morphotypes And Exhibits Substantial Strain Variation,
2020
Southwest MS Community College
Cysteine Dioxygenase Enzyme Activity And Gene Expression In The Dimorphic Pathogenic Fungus Histoplasma Capsulatum Is In Both The Mold And Yeast Morphotypes And Exhibits Substantial Strain Variation, Melissa Adams, Glen Shearer
Faculty Publications
In the dimorphism (mold/yeast) Histoplasma capsulatum (Hc) literature are reports that yeast (the so-called pathogenic form) uniquely expresses a cysteine dioxygenase (CDO, approx. 10,500 dal) activity which the mold morphotype (the so-called saprophytic soil form) does not express (C.F., Kumar et al., Biochem 22, 762, 1983). This yeast-specific CDO activity is postulated to play a critical role in the mold-to-yeast shift. A number of years ago, our lab isolated the gene encoding the Hc cysteine dioxygenase (CDO1, Genbank accession AY804144) and noted significant expression in the mold morphotype of several Histoplasma strains and also determined that the predicted protein would …
