Cell and Developmental Biology Commons^™

Non-Naturally Occurring Porcine Reproduction And Respiratory Syndrome Virus (Prrsv) And Methods Of Using, Hiep Lai Xuan Vu, Fernando Osorio, William W. Laegreid, Asit K. Pattnaik, Fangrui Ma

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

A non-naturally occuring porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is provided herein, and methods of making and using the non-naturally occurring PRRSV also are provided.

Diversity Of Trna Clusters In The Chloroviruses, Garry A. Duncan, David D. Dunigan Ph. D., James L. Van Etten

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Viruses rely on their host’s translation machinery for the synthesis of their own proteins. Problems belie viral translation when the host has a codon usage bias (CUB) that is different from an infecting virus due to differences in the GC content between the host and virus genomes. Here, we examine the hypothesis that chloroviruses adapted to host CUB by acquisition and selection of tRNAs that at least partially favor their own CUB. The genomes of 41 chloroviruses comprising three clades, each infecting a different algal host, have been sequenced, assembled and annotated. All 41 viruses not only encode tRNAs, but …

Cornus Officinalis Promotes Igfbp2 And Autophagy In Human 1.1b4 Pancreatic Cell Line As Revealed By Employing A Global Proteomic Approach Via Mass Spectrometry, Arielle Elizabeth Tawfik, Jennifer Guergues, Stanley M. Stevens Jr, Brant Roger Burkhardt

Molecular Biosciences Faculty Publications

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) results in the loss of pancreatic beta cells and subsequent loss of insulin production. Exogenous insulin is the only effective treatment, but there is still no cure or interventional therapy available to inhibit progression of T1D. Successful T1D interventional therapy must protect pancreatic beta cells from autoimmunity while enhancing beta cell survival and function. Our data suggests Cornus officinalis (CO) may be a candidate for interventional therapy to protect pancreatic beta cells from autoimmune attack and increase their function. CO has been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for over 2,000 years and has shown characteristics …

Distal Urogenital Anatomy Of Male Prairie Racerunners, Aspidoscelis Sexlineatus Viridis (Reptilia: Sauria: Teiidae), Stanley E. Trauth

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

I examined histologically the distal urogenital anatomy in male Prairie Racerunners (Aspidoscelis sexlineatus viridis) from a small seasonal sample of individuals collected in Arkansas in order to provide additional information regarding squamate urogenital anatomy. Specifically, I focused on the basic anatomy and positioning of posterior ducts and associated structures in this teiid lizard. The anatomical structures included the ductus deferens, ampulla ductus deferens, ampulla urogenital papilla (Aup), ureter, inner core tissue mass, urodaeum, and the urogenital papilla. The two Aup, which are small complimentary blind pouches representing the terminal repositories for products released by urogenital ducts, are striking …

In Situ Analysis Of Line-1 Promoter Activity Using Lacz Transgenic Mice, Partha Sarathi Saha

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Apart from an evolutionary role, transposable elements have been implicated in animal development and also in pathophysiology. Non-LTR retrotransposons– LINE-1, Alu and SVA - are responsible for over 120 cases of human genetic diseases as heritable insertions, and are emerging as an important etiological factor for cancer and neurological disorders as somatic mutations. It is estimated that among the total number of 500,000 LINE-1s presents in the human genome, 80-100 LINE-1s remain competent for retrotransposition. Retrotransposition is only possible when LINE-1 is expressed. Because LINE-1 transcription is regulated by its 5’UTR promoter, it is essential to understand the spatiotemporal control …

The Role And Molecular Mechanisms Of Wss1 In Preserving Genomic Stability, Daniel Kwesi Sam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cells are constantly under threat from both exogenous and endogenous sources of DNA damage. Eukaryotic organisms, however, possess conserved mechanisms that accurately and faithfully respond to DNA damage. The inability to effectively remove DNA lesions can lead to an accumulation of mutations which can compromise cellular viability. The DNA damage response is conserved from bacteria to eukaryotic organisms and have been well characterized, however, how covalently crosslinked proteins are removed from DNA remains enigmatic This thesis provides genetic and biochemical evidence implicating Wss1, a yeast metalloprotease in genome maintenance. We have identified SUMOylation to be an important signal that mediates …

Exploring The Properties Of Chitin For Promoting Tissue Engineering And Repair, M. Jahir Raihan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Characterization Of The Influences Of Human Cytomegalovirus Glycoprotein O (Go) Expression On Gh/Gl Complexes Assembly And Its Polymorphisms On Cell-Free And Cell-To-Cell Spread, And Antibody Neutralization., Le Z. Day

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is widely spread throughout the world and immunocompromised individuals can suffer severe diseases from HCMV infection. Once the infection is established, HCMV can spread through the body and infect many major somatic cell types. The glycoproteins H and L (gH/gL) on HCMV envelope can be bound by either gO or the UL128-131 proteins to form complexes gH/gL/gO and gH/gL/UL128-131 that are critical for viral entry and spread, and these two complexes are important targets of neutralizing antibodies. Strains of HCMV vary considerably in the levels of gH/gL/gO and gH/gL/UL128-131. gO is one of the most diverse loci …

Dynein Light Chain 1 Functions As A Cofactor For Post-Transcriptional Mrna Regulation And Rna Granule Assembly, Nicholas Day

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Gene regulation is essential for ensuring maintenance, proliferation, and proper development of a cell. RNA binding proteins (RBPs) regulate gene expression by targeting and binding mRNAs to control their translation and often localize to cytoplasmic assemblies of protein and RNA called RNA granules to facilitate post-transcriptional mRNA regulation. Using C. elegans as a model organism, we report on the function of dynein light chain 1 (DLC-1), a subunit of the dynein motor complex, in post-transcriptional mRNA regulation in the gonad. Previous work suggests that DLC-1 is an RBP cofactor that functions independent of the dynein motor. It is unknown how …

Bone Morphogenic Proteins Are Immunoregulatory Cytokines Controlling Foxp3+ TReg Cells, Lauren M. Browning, Caroline Miller, Michal Kuczma, Maciej Pietrzak, Yu Jing, Grzegorz Rempala, Pawel Muranski, Leszek Ignatowicz, Piotr Kraj

Bioelectrics Publications

Bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs) are members of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) cytokine family promoting differentiation, homeostasis, and self-renewal of multiple tissues. We show that signaling through the bone morphogenic protein receptor 1α (BMPR1α) sustains expression of FOXP3 in T_reg cells in peripheral lymphoid tissues. BMPR1α signaling promotes molecular circuits supporting acquisition and preservation of T_reg cell phenotype and inhibiting differentiation of pro-inflammatory effector Th1/Th17 CD4+ T cell. Mechanistically, increased expression of KDM6B (JMJD3) histone demethylase, an antagonist of the polycomb repressive complex 2, underlies lineage-specific changes of T cell phenotypes associated with abrogation of BMPR1α signaling. …

Characterizing Changes In The Colonic Epithelium Of Lrig3 Null Mice, Natalie Pedicino

Scripps Senior Theses

The lining of the colon, or colonic epithelium, is a very dynamic and highly regulated tissue in the human body. Colonic stem cells are a key component of this tissue, and they make up the stem cell niche, which is found at the base of the colonic crypt. Regeneration of the colonic epithelium, which occurs on a weekly basis, is a complex process, and proteins responsible for directing regeneration are still being discovered. Two critical regulatory proteins, Lrig1 and Lrig3, have been shown to modulate the EGFR pathway, a key signaling pathway for growth, differentiation, and regeneration. Data from the …

Development And Validation Of Gene Delivery Methods For ​Crassostrea Virginica, Adrienne N. Tracy

Honors Theses

The Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) is an important part of the East Coastal USA economy because aquaculture creates jobs. Sadly, the oysters are under constant threat due to increasing pollution, red tides, and diseases. Bivalves, and oysters in particular, are also becoming potential model organisms in medical research. With the sequencing of the oyster genome, scientists are focusing on deciphering the function of the predicted genes. However, the limited number of molecular and cellular tools available makes functional annotation of the genome challenging. A consistent, replicable gene delivery system needs to be developed to assess gene function and understand the …

The Human Intermediate Prolactin Receptor: A Breast Cancer Proto-Oncogene, Jacqueline M. Grible

Theses and Dissertations

The hormone prolactin (PRL) and its receptor (hPRLr) are significantly involved in breast cancer pathogenesis. The intermediate hPRLr (hPRLrI) is an alternatively-spliced isoform, capable of stimulating cellular viability and proliferation. An analogous truncated mouse PRLr (mPRLr) was recently found to be oncogenic when co-expressed with wild-type mPRLr. hPRLrI co-expression with full-length hPRLr (hPRLrL) in MCF10AT cells resulted in robust in vivo and in vitro transformation, while hPRLrI knock-down in MCF7 cells significantly decreased in vitro malignant potential. hPRLrL+I heterodimers displayed greater stability than hPRLrL homodimers, and while being capable of activating Jak2, Ras, and MAPK, they were unable to induce …

The Origin And Evolution Of Flower Characters In Angiosperms With A Case Study On The Genetic Basis Of Zygomorphic Corolla Development In Bee And Hummingbird Pollinated Species Of Schizanthus (Solanaceae), Ghadeer Bukhari

Theses and Dissertations

This Ph.D. dissertation investigates two main projects separated into two chapters, one for each. The first chapter explores the evolution of flowering plants (angiosperms), a macro-scale study. The second project is on a micro-scale that focus on exploring the genes that regulate the similarities and the differences of flower morphology reflecting their different pollination syndromes in two species of Schizanthus (Solanaceae), i.e., S. pinnatus, a bee-pollinated flower, and S. grahamii, a hummingbird- pollinated flower.

In the first chapter, I used floral diagrams to study the origin and the evolution of floral traits in angiosperms, a new set of morphological data …

Anti-Tumor Functions Of Sphingosine Kinase 1 And Sphingosine Kinase 2 In Breast Cancer Development, Melissa A. Maczis

Theses and Dissertations

Bioactive sphingolipid metabolite sphingosine-1‐phosphate (S1P) circulating levels have been implicated in breast cancer (BC) progression. BCs usually respond to 17β-Estradiol (E2) through canonical receptor ERα66 for genomic effects, however, E2 also triggers rapid, non-genomic responses. E2 has been shown to activate sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1), increasing S1P for S1P receptors signaling important for BC. The E2 receptor activating SphK1 has not been identified. We demonstrate triple negative BC cells, expressing only novel ERα splice variant ERα36, E2-induced SphK1 activation for S1P secretion. Tamoxifen, first-line BC endocrine therapy, an ERα66 antagonist but ERα36 agonist, activates SphK1 and increases S1P secretion in …

Crispr/Cas9 Whole Genome Screens Reveal Novel Regulators Of Endocytic Processes In Macrophages, Jared Wollman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Macrophages maintain tissue homeostasis by identifying and eliminating threats within their tissue microenvironment. Pattern recognition receptors allow macrophages to recognize and internalize specific ligands while macropinocytosis allows the internalization of all extracellular solutes from their environment. Without pattern recognition receptors, pathogens may grow unchecked if they cannot be detected, and without macropinocytosis, macrophages struggle to detect and move around their environment. This thesis presents the results of CRISPR/Cas9 whole-genome screens used to identify the regulators of both endocytosis (Chapter 2) and macropinocytosis (Chapter 3). In Chapter 2, we report genes regulating dextran uptake in primary murine macrophages and reveal Mrc1-mediated …

Investigating The Role Of The 5’Utr Region Of Tmev In Viral Myocarditis, Maryam Alqahtani

Master's Theses

Viral myocarditis is described as the inflammation of the heart muscle, and it is a common condition that can affect the heart. It is estimated that myocarditis causes 1.5 million deaths annually. In mice, Theiler’s encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) is a common cause of myocarditis. This non-attenuated virus can be used in a cell culture model system to study viral replication and persistence. These processes have been linked to the severity of the heart damage, which in most clinical scenarios, can lead to dilated cardiomyopathy. The 5’ untranslated region (5‘UTR) found in the viral genome of TMEV is well known to …

The Stromal Response In Salivary Gland Injury, Kevin O'Keefe

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Abstract

Tfap2e/Ap-2e Is A Transcriptional Regulator Controlling Neuronal Identity And Circuitry Formation In The Mouse Accessory Olfactory System, Jennifer M. Lin

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Developmental progression is driven by specific spatiotemporal gene expression, which give rise to consistently patterned organisms despite environmental and genetic variation. The specific activation of robust gene regulatory networks that define tissue structure and individual cellular identity are necessary for tissue and cell specific programs to be activated. Cellular specification is guided by the interplay of intrinsic and extrinsic signals at specific developmental timepoints. The molecular mechanisms underlying the acquisition and maintenance of individual cellular identity remains a fundamental question across biological systems. Understanding the regulatory networks controlling the acquisition of neuronal identity, diversity, and connectivity in the formation of …

Launching The Next Generation : Transcriptional Regulation During Oogenesis, Alicia K. Mccarthy

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Germ cells give rise to gametes and link generations by passing genetic information from parent to offspring. Gametes arise from, in many sexually reproducing organisms, germline stem cells (GSCs) which are set aside early during development. GSCs have an amazing capacity to undergo self-renewal to give rise to a pool of undifferentiated cells, while also differentiating to generate specialized germ cells such as haploid gametes. Upon female GSC differentiation, mitotically dividing germ cells can initiate meiosis, and mature within a follicle. During maturation, the specified oocyte is provided with a trust fund of RNAs and proteins for the next generation …