The Effect Of Acp1-Ada1 Genetic Interaction On Human Life Span,
2012
Laboratory of Human Genetics, School of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Via Gentile III da Varano, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
The Effect Of Acp1-Ada1 Genetic Interaction On Human Life Span, Nazzareno Lucarini, Valerio Napolioni, Andrea Magrini, Fulvia Gloria
Human Biology Open Access Pre-Prints
Acid phosphatase (ACP1) is a polymorphic enzyme which catalyzes the conversion of flavinmononucleotide (FMN) to riboflavin and regulates the cellular concentration of flavin-adeninedinucleotide (FAD) and, consequently, energy metabolism. Its activity is modulated by adenosine deaminase (ADA1) genotype. Aim of our work is to verify whether individuals with a high proportion of ACP1 f isozyme and carrying ADA*2 allele, displaying the highest phosphatase activity, may have a higher life expectancy. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of 569 females and 509 males (18-106 years) randomly recruited from Central Italy. These samples were subdivided into three sexspecific age groups …
Endogenous Inhibitor Proteins That Connect Ser/Thr Kinases And Phosphatases In Cell Signaling.,
2012
Thomas Jefferson University
Endogenous Inhibitor Proteins That Connect Ser/Thr Kinases And Phosphatases In Cell Signaling., Masumi Eto, David L Brautigan
Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Faculty Papers
Protein phosphatase activity acts as a primary determinant of the extent and duration of phosphorylation of cellular proteins in response to physiological stimuli. Ser/Thr protein phosphatase-1 (PP1) belongs to the PPP superfamily, and is associated with regulatory subunits that confer substrate specificity, allosteric regulation, and subcellular compartmentalization. In addition, all eukaryotic cells contain multiple heat-stable proteins that originally were thought to inhibit phosphatase catalytic subunits released from the regulatory subunits, as a fail-safe mechanism. However, discovery of C-kinase-activated PP1 inhibitor, Mr of 17 kDa (CPI-17) required fresh thinking about the endogenous inhibitors as specific regulators of particular phosphatase complexes, acting …
Rapid Range Expansion In The Great Plains Narrow-Mouthed Toad (Gastrophryne Olivacea) And A Revised Taxonomy For North American Microhylids,
2012
University of Richmond
Rapid Range Expansion In The Great Plains Narrow-Mouthed Toad (Gastrophryne Olivacea) And A Revised Taxonomy For North American Microhylids, Jeffrey W. Streicher, Christian L. Cox, Jonathan A. Campbell, Eric N. Smith, Rafael O. De Sá
Biology Faculty Publications
We investigated genetic variation within the Great Plains narrow-mouthed toad, Gastrophryne olivacea, across its geographic range in the United States and Mexico. An analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from 105 frogs revealed remarkably low levels of genetic diversity in individuals inhabiting the central United States and northern Mexico. We found that this widespread matrilineal lineage is divergent (ca. 2% in mtDNA) from haplotypes that originate from the western United States and western coast of Mexico. Using a dataset that included all five species of Gastrophryne and both species of the closely related genus Hypopachus, we investigated the phylogenetic …
A Novel Allosteric Inhibitor Of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (Mif),
2012
University of Southern Mississippi
A Novel Allosteric Inhibitor Of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (Mif), Fengwei Bai, Oluwatoyin A. Asojo, Pier Cirillo, Mihai Ciustea, Michel Ledzidet, Paul A. Aristoff, Lin Leng, Raymond A. Koski, Thomas J. Powell, Richard Bucala, Karen G. Anthony
Faculty Publications
Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a catalytic cytokine and an upstream mediator of the inflammatory pathway. MIF has broad regulatory properties, dysregulation of which has been implicated in the pathology of multiple immunological diseases. Inhibition of MIF activity with small molecules has proven beneficial in a number of disease models. Known small molecule MIF inhibitors typically bind in the tautomerase site of the MIF trimer, often covalently modifying the catalytic proline. Allosteric MIF inhibitors, particularly those that associate with the protein by noncovalent interactions, could reveal novel ways to block MIF activity for therapeutic benefit and serve as chemical …
Sex Determination In Beetles: Production Of All Male Progeny By Parental Rnai Knockdown Of Transformer,
2012
University of Kentucky
Sex Determination In Beetles: Production Of All Male Progeny By Parental Rnai Knockdown Of Transformer, Jayendra Nath Shukla, Subba Reddy Palli
Entomology Faculty Publications
Sex in insects is determined by a cascade of regulators ultimately controlling sex-specific splicing of a transcription factor, Doublesex (Dsx). We recently identified homolog of dsx in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Tcdsx). Here, we report on the identification and characterization of a regulator of Tcdsx splicing in T. castaneum. Two male-specific and one female-specific isoforms of T. castaneum transformer (Tctra) were identified. RNA interference-aided knockdown of Tctra in pupa or adults caused a change in sex from females to males by diverting the splicing of Tcdsx pre-mRNA to male-specific isoform. All the pupa and adults developed from Tctra …
Oncolytic Virotherapy Of Ovarian Cancer,
2012
University of Florida
Oncolytic Virotherapy Of Ovarian Cancer, Shoudong Li, Jessica Tong, Masmudur M. Rahman, Trevor G. Shepherd, Grant Mcfadden
Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications
In the past two decades, more than 20 viruses with selective tropism for tumor cells have been developed as oncolytic viruses (OVs) for treatments of a variety of malignancies. Of these viruses, eleven have been tested in human ovarian cancer models in preclinical studies. So far, nine phase I or II clinical trials have been conducted or initiated using four different types of OVs in patients with recurrent ovarian cancers. In this article, we summarize the different OVs that are being assessed as therapeutics for ovarian cancer. We also present an overview of recent advances in identification of key genetic …
Membrane Properties Involved In Calcium-Stimulated Microparticle Release From The Plasma Membranes Of S49 Lymphoma Cells,
2012
Brigham Young University - Provo
Membrane Properties Involved In Calcium-Stimulated Microparticle Release From The Plasma Membranes Of S49 Lymphoma Cells, Lauryl Elizabeth Campbell
Theses and Dissertations
The mechanism of microparticle shedding from the plasma membrane of calcium-loaded cells has been investigated in erythrocytes and platelets. Recent studies have revealed the physiological and clinical importance of microparticle release from nucleated cells such as lymphocytes and endothelium. The experiments of this study were designed to address whether simple mechanisms discovered in platelets and erythrocytes also apply to the more complex nucleated cells. Four such mechanisms were addressed: potassium efflux, transbilayer phosphatidylserine migration, cytoskeleton degradation, and membrane lipid order. The rate and amount of microparticle release in the presence of a calcium ionophore, ionomycin, was assayed by light scatter …
Breast Tumour Initiating Cell Fate Is Regulated By Microenvironmental Cues From An Extracellular Matrix,
2012
University of South Carolina - Columbia
Breast Tumour Initiating Cell Fate Is Regulated By Microenvironmental Cues From An Extracellular Matrix, Sharmistha Saha, Pang-Kuo Lo, Xinrui Duan, Hexin Chen, Qian Wang
Faculty Publications
Cancer stem cells, also known as tumour-initiating cells (TICs), are identified as highly tumorigenic population within tumours and hypothesized to be main regulators in tumour growth, metastasis and relapse. Evidence also suggests that a tumour microenvironment plays a critical role in the development and progression of cancer, by constantly modulating cell–matrix interactions. Scientists have tried to characterize and identify the TIC population but the actual combination of extracellular components in deciphering the fate of TICs has not been explored. The basic unanswered question is the phenotypic stability of this TIC population in a tissue extracellular matrix setting. The in vivo …
Quantification And In Vitro Analysis Of Nanolipoproteins (Nlps) Containing Adjuvants,
2012
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Quantification And In Vitro Analysis Of Nanolipoproteins (Nlps) Containing Adjuvants, Purna Venkataraman, Craig Blanchette, Nicholas O. Fischer
STAR Program Research Presentations
Nanolipoprotein particles (NLPs) self-assemble into nanoscale structures that can be used as vaccines or drug delivery agents. Due to the nature of the NLPs, a variety of immune stimulating compounds or adjuvants can be readily incorporated into NLPs: a characteristic difficult to engineer into most other nanoscale platforms. In light of this, a method for quantifying the amount adjuvant actually incorporated into NLPs is a question of high importance. Through the use of reverse phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and an Evaporative Light Scattering Detector (ELSD), standard curves can be constructed by analyzing mixtures of NLP components of known concentration, …
Developing Monitoring Methods For Leptasterias Spp. As Sentinel Species In Detecting Local Environmental Changes,
2012
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
Developing Monitoring Methods For Leptasterias Spp. As Sentinel Species In Detecting Local Environmental Changes, Zachary Sturbaum, Kathryn Nuessly, Riley J. Smith, C. Sarah Cohen
STAR Program Research Presentations
Leptasterias spp., a six-rayed sea star, is found in rocky intertidal habitats ranging from Alaska to central California. Leptasterias spp. can be monitored on a broad scale throughout their range by a variety of means using timed counts and random plot censusing in order to detect both large-scale and local-level changes in the environment due to climate change, land-based human activity, or other environmental events. Leptasterias brood their young externally until the embryos grow into fully developed juveniles. These juveniles disperse by crawling away, limiting their dispersal potential. This localized dispersal provides an opportunity to use Leptasterias spp …
Endothelin-1 Induced Phosphorylation Of Erk1/2 In Bovine Corneal Endothelial Cells,
2012
Western Kentucky University
Endothelin-1 Induced Phosphorylation Of Erk1/2 In Bovine Corneal Endothelial Cells, Akhila Bethi
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
The purpose of this study was to determine whether Endothelin-1 (ET-1) induced cellular responses in bovine corneal endothelial cells (BCECs) involves MAPK pathway by phosphorylating ERK1/2 protein kinase and to find out the phosphorylation patterns of ERK1/2 in confluent and sub-confluent cells. BCECs were isolated from bovine corneas and cultured in medium supplemented with 10% serum. Confluent (contact inhibited) and sub-confluent (actively growing cells) serum starved cells grown in T-75 flasks were treated with 10nM Endothelin-1. The control cells were left untreated. Total cellular protein was isolated using RIPA buffer and quantified according to the Peterson modification of the Lowry …
Plant-Like Cryptochrome Does Not Promote Blue Light-Induced Resetting Of The Circadian Clock In Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii,
2012
Western Kentucky University
Plant-Like Cryptochrome Does Not Promote Blue Light-Induced Resetting Of The Circadian Clock In Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii, Jonathan Howton
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
The circadian clock is an endogenous timer that allows an organism to anticipate and properly prepare for the daily changes in the environment. This preparation occurs in the form of daily rhythms in metabolism, physiology, and behavior. These approximately 24-hour rhythms are reset upon environmental time cues such as the daily light/dark and temperature cycles. The unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a useful model organism for circadian clock research. It shows several well-characterized circadian rhythms of behavior, and the monitoring of its rhythm of phototaxis, or swimming towards light, has been automated. The receptors involved in entraining the clock …
Next Generation Sequencing Reveals Gene Expression Patterns In The Zebrafish Inner Ear Following Growth Hormone Injection,
2012
Western Kentucky University
Next Generation Sequencing Reveals Gene Expression Patterns In The Zebrafish Inner Ear Following Growth Hormone Injection, Gopinath Rajadinakaran
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
Loss of hair cells due to acoustic trauma results in the loss of hearing. In humans, unlike other vertebrates, the mechanism of hair cell regeneration is not possible. The molecular mechanisms that underlie this regeneration in nonmammalian vertebrates remain elusive. To understand the gene regulation during hair cell regeneration, our previous microarray study on zebrafish inner ears found that growth hormone (GH) was significantly upregulated after noise exposure. In this current study, we utilized Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) to examine the genes and pathways that are significantly regulated in the zebrafish inner ear following sound exposure and GH injection. Four …
Inhibition Of Burkholderia Multivorans Adhesion To Lung Epithelial Cells By Bivalent Lactosides,
2012
Institute of Technology Tallaght
Inhibition Of Burkholderia Multivorans Adhesion To Lung Epithelial Cells By Bivalent Lactosides, Ciara Wight, Rosaria Leyden, Paul V. Murphy, Máire Callaghan, Trinidad Velasco-Torrijos, Siobhan Mcclean
Articles
Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) is an opportunistic pathogen in cystic fibrosis patients which is inherently resistant to antimicrobial agents. The mechanisms of attachment and pathogenesis of Bcc, a group of 17 species, are poorly understood. The most commonly identified Bcc species in newly colonised patients, Burkholderia multivorans, continues to be acquired from the environment. Development of therapies which can prevent or reduce the risk of colonization on exposure to Bcc in the environment would be a better alternative to antimicrobial agents. Previously, it has been shown that Bcc strains bound to many glycolipid receptors on lung epithelia. Using a …
Catalytic Engineering Of The Flagellin Protein,
2012
Western Michigan University
Catalytic Engineering Of The Flagellin Protein, Alexandra M. Haase
Masters Theses
Flagellin is the protein monomer that comprises the bacterial flagella for most bacteria, including Salmonella typhimurium. This protein has attracted attention for protein engineering because it is exported out of the cell, polymerized into stable fibers, is produced in large quantities and is relatively simple to purify. Using rational design with computer modeling, potential active sites in the flagellin protein structure were modeled after the human carbonic anhydrase II tetrahedral zinc binding site. In total, three locations were selected as potential active sites and the necessary mutations were successfully introduced. Flagella formation for the flagellin variants was demonstrated through …
Generation Of Tanapoxvirus Ankyrin Repeat Gene Deletion Mutant For Evaluating Its Role In Cell Tropism,
2012
Western Michigan University
Generation Of Tanapoxvirus Ankyrin Repeat Gene Deletion Mutant For Evaluating Its Role In Cell Tropism, Yogesh Suryawanshi
Masters Theses
The host range of poxviruses is highly regulated and is limited to certain hosts. A number of genes in different poxviruses have been identified that contribute to cell tropism. The ankyrin (ANK) repeat genes encode for proteins characterized by the repetitive motifs in its amino acid sequence. These genes have been found to play a role in determining the ability of poxviruses to replicate in certain cell types. Tanapoxvirus (TPV) Kenya genome analysis indicated the presence of six ANK repeat genes of which T146R, T147R and T148R are present in the terminal part of the TPV-Kenya genome. To understand the …
Condensin Ii Promotes The Formation Of Chromosome Territories By Inducing Axial Compaction Of Polyploid Interphase Chromosomes,
2012
University of Arizona
Condensin Ii Promotes The Formation Of Chromosome Territories By Inducing Axial Compaction Of Polyploid Interphase Chromosomes, Christopher R. R. Bauer, Tom A. Hartl, Giovanni Bosco
Dartmouth Scholarship
The eukaryotic nucleus is both spatially and functionally partitioned. This organization contributes to the maintenance, expression, and transmission of genetic information. Though our ability to probe the physical structure of the genome within the nucleus has improved substantially in recent years, relatively little is known about the factors that regulate its organization or the mechanisms through which specific organizational states are achieved. Here, we show that Drosophila melanogaster Condensin II induces axial compaction of interphase chromosomes, globally disrupts interchromosomal interactions, and promotes the dispersal of peri-centric heterochromatin. These Condensin II activities compartmentalize the nucleus into discrete chromosome territories and indicate …
Melanopsin Mediates Retrograde Visual Signaling In The
Retina,
2012
Oakland University
Melanopsin Mediates Retrograde Visual Signaling In The Retina, Dao-Qi Zhang, Michael A. Belenky, Patricia J. Sollars, Gary E. Pickard, Douglas G. Mcmahon
School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications
The canonical flow of visual signals proceeds from outer to inner retina (photoreceptors→bipolar cells→ganglion cells). However, melanopsin-expressing ganglion cells are photosensitive and functional sustained light signaling to retinal dopaminergic interneurons persists in the absence of rods and cones. Here we show that the sustained-type light response of retinal dopamine neurons requires melanopsin and that the response is mediated by AMPA-type glutamate receptors, defining a retrograde retinal visual signaling pathway that fully reverses the usual flow of light signals in retinal circuits.
Regulation Of Foxc2 Expression And Function During Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition By Gsk-3Β,
2012
The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston
Regulation Of Foxc2 Expression And Function During Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition By Gsk-3Β, Maryam Shariati
Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)
Metastasis is the ultimate cause for the majority of cancer-related deaths. The forkhead box transcription factor FOXC2 is known to be involved in regulating metastasis as well as a variety of developmental processes, including the formation of lymphatic and cardiovascular systems. Previous studies have shown that FOXC2 protein is localized either in the nucleus and/or in the cytoplasm of human breast tumor cells. This pattern of localization is similar to that of another forkhead family member, FOXO3a. Additionally, localization of FOXO3a is known to be differentially regulated by upstream kinase AKT. Therefore, I investigated whether FOXC2 localization could also be …
Role Of Stat3 In Keratinocyte Stem Cells During Skin Tumorigenesis,
2012
The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston
Role Of Stat3 In Keratinocyte Stem Cells During Skin Tumorigenesis, Dharanija Rao
Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)
STATs play crucial roles in a wide variety of biological functions, including development, proliferation, differentiation, migration and in cancer development. In the present study, we examined the impact of Stat3 deletion or activation on behavior of keratinocytes, including keratinocyte stem cells (KSCs). Deletion of Stat3 specifically in the bulge region of the hair follicle using K15.CrePR1 X Stat3fl/fl mice led to decreased tumor development by altering survival of bulge region KSCs. To further understand the role of KSCs in skin tumorigenesis, K5.Stat3C transgenic (Tg) mice which express a constitutively active/dimerized form of Stat3 called Stat3C via the bovine keratin …
