Notch Signaling Is Important In The Survival, Proliferation, And Self-Renewal Of The Putative Breast Cancer Stem Cell Population,
2010
Loyola University Chicago
Notch Signaling Is Important In The Survival, Proliferation, And Self-Renewal Of The Putative Breast Cancer Stem Cell Population, Peter Grudzien
Dissertations
Numerous studies have identified stem-like cells, termed cancer stem cells (CSCs), in breast tumors and established cell lines. It has been hypothesized that CSCs are responsible for breast cancer formation, progression and recurrence; therefore, a deeper understanding of the signaling pathways regulating CSC survival will benefit development of novel therapeutic strategies. Notch signaling, which is dysregulated in breast cancer and has been implicated in mammary stem cell self-renewal, and can be effectively blocked by gamma-secretase inhibitors (GSIs). While GSIs are currently in clinical trials for breast cancer, it is not fully understood how these compounds will affect CSCs or if …
Formation Of The Neural Tube Epithelium Basement Membrane During Secondary Neurulation In The Chick Embryo,
2010
University of Northern Iowa
Formation Of The Neural Tube Epithelium Basement Membrane During Secondary Neurulation In The Chick Embryo, Leslie Ann Mataya
Honors Program Theses
Neurulation, the formation of the neural tube, is an important process in the development of vertebrates. Because this organ ultimately becomes the central nervous system of the organism, the proper development of a fully-functioning neural tube is paramount to its survival. Neural tube defects, like spina bifida and anencephaly, are among the most common congenital malformations present in live human births. The prevalence of these defects is a definite concern to medicine and human health.
The Differential Roles Of D-Pax2 Variants In Regulating Drosophila Eye And Bristle Development,
2010
Colby College
The Differential Roles Of D-Pax2 Variants In Regulating Drosophila Eye And Bristle Development, Colin J. O’Shea
Honors Theses
The ability to appropriately interact with the environment is crucial to an organism’s survival. The establishment of functional sensory systems, such as the bristles and eyes in Drosophila, is a critical event during the development of the organism. The transcription factor D Pax2 is involved in the differentiation of the shaft and glial cells in the developing bristle (Kavaler et al., Dev, 126:2261-2272, 1999) and of the cone and primary pigment cells in the developing eye (Fu and Noll, Genes Dev, 11:389-405, 1997). How D-Pax2 contributes to distinct differentiative pathways in different cell types is not known. Recent work by …
Neuroaids In Africa,
2010
University of North Carolina
Neuroaids In Africa, Kevin Robertson, Jeff Liner, James Hakim, Jean-Louis Sankalé, Igor Grant, Scott Letendre, David Clifford, Amadou Gallo Diop, Assan Jaye, Georgette Kanmogne, Alfred Njamnshi, T. Dianne Langford, Tufa Gemechu Weyessa, Charles Wood, Mwanza Banda, Mina Hosseinipour, Ned Sacktor, Noeline Nakasuja, Paul Bangirana, Robert Paul, John Joska, Joseph Wong, Michael Boivin, Penny Holding, Betsy Kammerer, Annelies Van Rie, Prudence Ive, Avindra Nath, Kathy Lawler, Clement Adebamowo, Walter Royal Iii, Jeymohan Joseph
Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications
In July 2009, the Center for Mental Health Research on AIDS at the National Institute of Mental Health organized and supported the meeting “NeuroAIDS in Africa.” This meeting was held in Cape Town, South Africa, and was affiliated with the 5th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention. Presentations began with an overview of the epidemiology of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, the molecular epidemiology of HIV, HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HANDs), and HAND treatment. These introductory talks were followed by presentations on HAND research and clinical care in Botswana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, …
Pattern Recognition In Cytopathology For Papanicolaou Screening,
2010
Technological University Dublin
Pattern Recognition In Cytopathology For Papanicolaou Screening, Jonathan Blackledge, Dmitriy Dubovitskiy
Conference papers
A unique space oriented filer is presented in order to detect and isolate the cell of a nucleus for applications in cytopathology. A classification method for nuclei is then considered based on the application of a set of features which includes certain fractal parameters. Segmentation algorithms are considered in which a self-adjustable sharpening filter is designed to enhance object location. Although the methods discussed and the algorithms developed have a range of applications, in this work we focus the engineering of a system for automating a Papanicolaou screening test using standard optical images
Chapter 27 – Studying Plus-End Tracking At Single Molecule Resolution Using Tirf Microscopy,
2010
Washington University in St Louis
Chapter 27 – Studying Plus-End Tracking At Single Molecule Resolution Using Tirf Microscopy, Ram Dixit, Jennifer L. Ross
Biology Faculty Research
The highly dynamic microtubule plus-ends are key sites of regulation that impact the organization and function of the microtubule cytoskeleton. Much of this regulation is performed by the microtubule plus-end tracking (+TIP) family of proteins. +TIPs are a structurally diverse group of proteins that bind to and track with growing microtubule plus-ends in cells. +TIPs regulate microtubule dynamics as well as mediate interactions between microtubule tips and other cellular structures. Most +TIPs can directly bind to microtubules in vitro; however, the mechanisms for their plus-end specificity are not fully understood. Cellular studies of +TIP activity are complicated by the fact …
A Chemical Genetics Approach To Elucidate Mechanisms Of The Fission Yeast Polo Kinase In Cell Division,
2010
Grand Valley State University
A Chemical Genetics Approach To Elucidate Mechanisms Of The Fission Yeast Polo Kinase In Cell Division, Jennifer Phelan, Dawn Clifford Hart
Student Summer Scholars Manuscripts
Cell division is a fundamental biological event that underlies the growth and development of all organisms. Because human and fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe) cells divide symmetrically through constriction of the actomyosin ring, fission yeast provides an ideal model system to reveal conserved cell cycle properties. In fission yeast, an evolutionarily conserved protein, Mid1, plays a critical role in organizing the early steps of contractile ring formation. Mid1 functions as a scaffold to bridge the cell cortex with the contractile ring. Cells lacking mid1 form off-centered, highly disorganized ring structures and exhibit severe cell division defects. Our previous research …
The Cellular And Genetic Mechanisms Underlying Morphological Diversity Of Insects,
2010
Wayne State University
The Cellular And Genetic Mechanisms Underlying Morphological Diversity Of Insects, Nataliya Turchyn
Wayne State University Dissertations
The vast diversity of insect appendages provides an excellent model for examining the cellular and molecular basis of phenotypic changes in nature. One of the hallmarks of evolution of insect appendages is the differential enlargement of hind (T3) legs compared to their fore (T1) and mid (T2) counterparts. While basic information regarding the genetic mechanisms that regulate the size of the T3 legs became available in the past several years, virtually nothing is known about cellular mechanisms involved. To address this issue, we measured the relative mitotic activity (RMA) in Acheta domesticus (house cricket) and Oncopeltus fasciatus (milkweed bug), two …
Regulatory And Functional Aspects Of Foxo3a Transcription Factor And Their Implications In Prostate Cancer,
2010
Wayne State University
Regulatory And Functional Aspects Of Foxo3a Transcription Factor And Their Implications In Prostate Cancer, Melissa Elise Dobson
Wayne State University Dissertations
The P13K/Akt pathway is a critical mediator of growth factor signaling involving many cellular functions. The deregulation of this pathway has been shown to be involved in the development of various cancers. One of the main targets of this pathway is FoxO3a, a transcription factor whose target genes are involved in important cellular processes such as apoptosis, cell cycle control, and glucose metabolism. FoxO3a is regulated by various post translational modifications including acetylation, ubiquitination and phosphorylation. The transcription factor is directly phosphorylated by Akt on 3 residues: Threonine 32, Serine 253 and Serine 315. Phosphorylation by Akt generates binding sites …
Method For Identification Of Virulence Determinants,
2010
Lincoln, NE
Method For Identification Of Virulence Determinants, Raul G. Barletta, Beth Harris
School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications
Disclosed are methods for the determination of virulence determinants in bacteria and in particular bacteria of the genus Mycobacterium. Also disclosed are compositions and methods for stimulating an immune response in an animal using bacteria and virulence determinants identified by the methods of the present invention.
Adjacent Slice Prostate Cancer Prediction To Inform Maldi Imaging Biomarker Analysis,
2010
Old Dominion University
Adjacent Slice Prostate Cancer Prediction To Inform Maldi Imaging Biomarker Analysis, Shao-Hui Chuang, Xiaoyan Sun, Lisa Cazares, Julius Nyalwidhe, Dean Troyer, O. John Semmes, Jiang Li, Frederic D. Mckenzie, Nico Karssemeijer (Ed.), Ronald M. Summers (Ed.)
Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications
Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer among men in US [1]. Traditionally, prostate cancer diagnosis is made by the analysis of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and histopathological images of biopsy samples under microscopes. Proteomic biomarkers can improve upon these methods. MALDI molecular spectra imaging is used to visualize protein/peptide concentrations across biopsy samples to search for biomarker candidates. Unfortunately, traditional processing methods require histopathological examination on one slice of a biopsy sample while the adjacent slice is subjected to the tissue destroying desorption and ionization processes of MALDI. The highest confidence tumor regions gained from the …
Expression Of Hcmv Ie1 In The U87mg Cell Line Augments Resistance To Temozolomide ,
2010
Northern Michigan University
Expression Of Hcmv Ie1 In The U87mg Cell Line Augments Resistance To Temozolomide , Richard A. Rovin, Johnathan Lawrence, Justin J. Segula, Robert J. Winn
Journal Articles
INTRODUCTION: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) DNA and protein are found in gliomas but not in normal brain or other primary brain tumors. The role of HCMV infection in glioma biology is unclear. While it is unlikely that HCMV infection causes glioma, viral proteins might impart a proliferative and antiapoptotic phenotype that confers a survival advantage. Does this oncomodulation translate into a clinically relevant effect in glioma cells? To answer this question, we compared the response of the U87IE1 and U87MG malignant glioma cell lines to temozolomide. U87IE1 cells are U87MG cells that have been genetically engineered to produce HCMV IE1 protein. …
Phosphorylation Of The Glycine Transporter 1,
2010
University of Texas at El Paso
Phosphorylation Of The Glycine Transporter 1, Javier Vargas Medrano
Open Access Theses & Dissertations
The extracellular levels of the neurotransmitter glycine in the brain are tightly regulated by the high-affinity glycine transporter 1 (GlyT1) and the clearance of glycine depends on its rate of transport and the levels of cell surface GlyT1. Over the past years, it has been shown that PKC activation diminishes the activity and promoted phosphorylation of several neurotransmitter transporters including the dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine transporters however, its role is unknown for the glycine transporter. To get insights into the role of PKC activation on GlyT1 regulation, we used three N-terminus GlyT1 isoforms stably expressed in porcine aortic endothelial (PAE) …
Matriptase/Pdgf D/Beta-Pdgfr Signaling Axis In Human Prostate Cancer: The Role Of Pten In The Regulation Of Pdgf D Expression,
2010
Wayne State University
Matriptase/Pdgf D/Beta-Pdgfr Signaling Axis In Human Prostate Cancer: The Role Of Pten In The Regulation Of Pdgf D Expression, M. Katie Conley-Lacomb
Wayne State University Dissertations
Platelet Derived Growth Factor (PDGF) is a family of mesenchymal growth factors that regulate cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Unlike the classic PDGF ligands A and B, which are secreted as active dimers, PDGF D must undergo extracellular proteolytic processing to remove its N-terminal CUB domain from the C-terminal PDGF growth domain before the ligand is able to stimulate its receptor, PDGF receptor beta (?-PDGFR). Importantly, recent clinical studies have shown that ?-PDGFR is upregulated in primary prostate cancer and bone metastases. However, PDGF B, formerly thought to be the sole ligand for ?-PDGFR, is not expressed in clinical prostate …
Mitochondrial Physiology Of Diapausing And Developing Embryos Of The Annual Killifish Austrofundulus Limnaeus: Implications For Extreme Anoxia Tolerance,
2010
George Fox University
Mitochondrial Physiology Of Diapausing And Developing Embryos Of The Annual Killifish Austrofundulus Limnaeus: Implications For Extreme Anoxia Tolerance, Jeffrey M. Duerr, Jason E. Podrabsky
Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations
Diapausing embryos of the annual killifish Austrofundulus limnaeus have the highest reported anoxia tolerance of any vertebrate and previous studies indicate modified mitochondrial physiology likely supports anoxic metabolism. Functional mitochondria isolated from diapausing and developing embryos of the annual killifish exhibited VO2, respiratory control ratios (RCR), and P:O ratios consistent with those obtained from other ectothermic vertebrate species. Reduced oxygen consumption associated with dormancy in whole animal respiration rates are correlated with maximal respiration rates of mitochondria isolated from diapausing versus developing embryos. P:O ratios for developing embryos were similar to those obtained from adult liver, but were diminished in …
Afm Study Of Structural Changes In Supported Planar Dppc Bilayers Containing General Anesthetic Isofluorane (Plus Additional Afm Experiments),
2010
Brigham Young University
Afm Study Of Structural Changes In Supported Planar Dppc Bilayers Containing General Anesthetic Isofluorane (Plus Additional Afm Experiments), Chad Mckell, Hiram Conley, David D. Busath
Faculty Publications
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a remarkable tool for assessing the structural properties of supported lipid planar bilayers under different physiological conditions. Previous work has shown that incorporation of anesthetics into artificial lipid bilayers results in domain formation [1], destruction of lipid aggregates and patches [2], anesthetic-lipid mixed micelle formation [2], and the development of interdigitated phases of reduced thickness compared to anesthetic-free bilayers [3]. In particular, these interdigitated phases are suspected to affect the structure and activity of membrane proteins, such as ion channels, and thus further research with proteinembedded bilayers exposed to anesthetics could reveal the mechanism responsible …
Real-Time Pcr Method For The Quantification Of Burkholderia Cepacia Complex Attached To Lung Epithelial Cells And Inhibitionn Of That Attachment,
2010
Institute of Technology Tallaght
Real-Time Pcr Method For The Quantification Of Burkholderia Cepacia Complex Attached To Lung Epithelial Cells And Inhibitionn Of That Attachment, Ciara Wight, Gillian Herbert, Ruth Pilkington, Máire Callaghan, Siobhan Mcclean
Articles
To develop a rapid method to quantify the attachment of the cystic fibrosis pathogen, Burkholderia multivorans, to lung epithelial cells (16HBE14o(-)) using real-time PCR with a view to monitoring potential inhibition of lung cell attachment. Mammalian and bacterial DNA were purified from bacteria attached to lung epithelial cells. The relative amount of bacteria attached was determined by amplification of the recA gene relative to the human GAPDH gene, in the presence of SYBR Green. The method was thoroughly validated and shown to correlate well with traditional plating techniques. Inhibition of bacterial attachment with simple sugars was then evaluated by real-time …
Ornithine Decarboxylase (Odc) Regulation By Mtor: New Insights From Tsc1 Knockout Cells,
2010
University of Northern Iowa
Ornithine Decarboxylase (Odc) Regulation By Mtor: New Insights From Tsc1 Knockout Cells, Alyssa Mae Cates
Honors Program Theses
The polyamine pathway, when improperly regulated, is one central cause of skin carcinogenesis. The purpose of this project was to investigate the relationship between two biochemical signaling pathways, the mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) pathway and the polyamine pathway. It is known that the protein mTOR serves to regulate a key protein in the polyamine pathway, ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), but the precise mechanism remains unclear. It has been postulated that mTOR acts to regulate ODC through two RNA binding proteins, HuR (a member of the Hu family of proteins) and TIP (tristetraprolin). The project entailed characterizing that relationship using TSCl …
Functional Properties Of The Hiv-1 Subtype C Envelope
Glycoprotein Associated With Mother-To-Child Transmission,
2010
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Functional Properties Of The Hiv-1 Subtype C Envelope Glycoprotein Associated With Mother-To-Child Transmission, Hong Zhang, Marzena Rola, John T. West, Damien C. Tully, Piotr Kubis, Jun He, Chipepo Kankasa, Charles Wood
Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications
Understanding the properties of viruses capable of establishing infection during perinatal transmission of HIV-1 is critical for designing effective means of limiting transmission. We previously demonstrated that the newly transmitted viruses (in infant) were more fit in growth, as imparted by their envelope glycoproteins, than those in their corresponding mothers. Here, we further characterized the viral envelope glycoproteins from six mother-infant transmission pairs and determined whether any specific envelope functions correlate with HIV-1 subtype C perinatal transmission. We found that most newly transmitted viruses were less susceptible to neutralization by their maternal plasma compared to contemporaneous maternal viruses. However, the …
Induction Of Interferon And Interferon Signaling Pathways By
Replication Of Defective Interfering Particle Rna In Cells
Constitutively Expressing Vesicular Stomatitis Virus
Replication Proteins,
2010
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Induction Of Interferon And Interferon Signaling Pathways By Replication Of Defective Interfering Particle Rna In Cells Constitutively Expressing Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Replication Proteins, Debasis Panda, Phat X. Dinh, Lalit Beura, Asit K. Pattnaik
School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications
We show here that replication of defective interfering (DI) particle RNA in HEK293 cells stably expressing vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) replication proteins potently activates interferon (IFN) and IFN signaling pathways through upregulation of IFN- promoter, IFN-stimulated response element (ISRE) promoter, and NF-κB promoter activities. Replication of DI particle RNA, not mere expression of the viral replication proteins, was found to be critical for induction of IFN and IFN signaling. The stable cells supporting replication of DI RNA described in this report will be useful in further examining the innate immune signaling pathways and the host cell functions in viral genome …
