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- Title
- Investigation of talin head-tail interactions.
- Creator
- Butyn, Amber., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Abstract/Description
-
Talin is a ubiquitous, high-molecular-weight, flexible protein that plays a critical role in focal adhesions by activating, as well as connecting, integrins to the actin cytoskeleton. Talin's inactive auto-inhibitory state is speculated to be one of its modes of regulation inside the cell and is achieved through its head-tail interactions. In order to decipher the stability of this interaction, the head domain (residues 206-405) was cloned into a modified pET28m vector while the tail domains ...
Show moreTalin is a ubiquitous, high-molecular-weight, flexible protein that plays a critical role in focal adhesions by activating, as well as connecting, integrins to the actin cytoskeleton. Talin's inactive auto-inhibitory state is speculated to be one of its modes of regulation inside the cell and is achieved through its head-tail interactions. In order to decipher the stability of this interaction, the head domain (residues 206-405) was cloned into a modified pET28m vector while the tail domains (residues 1654-2344 and 2225-2344) were cloned into the pET32a vector to obtain octa-histidine tagged and un-tagged peptide, respectively. Neither co-expression nor pull-down using the His-tagged head domain was successful in purifying a stable head-tail complex. Our results indicate rather weak interactions between the talin head and rod domains and hence, under our experimental conditions, do not lead to a stable auto-inhibitory complex that can be purified for further studies.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2009
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/209984
- Subject Headings
- Membrane proteins, Structure-activity relationships, Cell membranes, Physiology, Molecular biology, Cell interaction, Developmental cytology
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Creation of an aconitase overexpression strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for lifespan analysis.
- Creator
- Nunes, Steve., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Abstract/Description
-
In my thesis work, I attempted to construct a plasmid that would allow stable integration of genes into the Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast genome under the control of the repressible TetO promoter. The yeast ACO1 gene was cloned under the control of the TetO operator and the tTA transactivator. This construct was inserted into yeast cells in order to observe the effects of aconitase overexpression on aging. Unfortunately, the transformed cells appeared incapable of aconitase expression as...
Show moreIn my thesis work, I attempted to construct a plasmid that would allow stable integration of genes into the Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast genome under the control of the repressible TetO promoter. The yeast ACO1 gene was cloned under the control of the TetO operator and the tTA transactivator. This construct was inserted into yeast cells in order to observe the effects of aconitase overexpression on aging. Unfortunately, the transformed cells appeared incapable of aconitase expression as determined by glutamic acid auxptrophy, a phenotype of aconitase mutants. We have sequenced the pIT1ACO1 plasmid and have found many abnormalities in the promoter region. If the plasmid can be made to function as intended, the resulting yeast strain can be used in the future to determine if aconitase plays an important role in cellular aging.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3359306
- Subject Headings
- Yeast fungi, Research, Methodology, Microbial genetics, Genetic engineering, Aging, Molecular aspects, Cell metabolism, Mutation (Biology)
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- The effect of mutated aconitase on yeast longevity.
- Creator
- Kwan, CJ., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Abstract/Description
-
Aconitase is an important enzyme in the citric Acid Cycle, is needed for maintenance of mitochondrial DNA, is a key regulator of iron in the cell, and is very sensitive to oxidative stress. We have isolatd the yeast ACO1 gene, which codes for aconitase, and randomly mutated it to create a mutant library of cells each expressing a different version of ACO1. We will select for oxidative stress resistant aconitase in S. cerevisiae by subjecting strains to successive rounds of heat shock and...
Show moreAconitase is an important enzyme in the citric Acid Cycle, is needed for maintenance of mitochondrial DNA, is a key regulator of iron in the cell, and is very sensitive to oxidative stress. We have isolatd the yeast ACO1 gene, which codes for aconitase, and randomly mutated it to create a mutant library of cells each expressing a different version of ACO1. We will select for oxidative stress resistant aconitase in S. cerevisiae by subjecting strains to successive rounds of heat shock and competitive growth against other mutants. The "winner" of this competition will then be analyzed for which version of aconitase it is expressing, which may lead to increased longevity.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3359310
- Subject Headings
- Yeast fungi, Research, Microbial genetics, Aging, Molecular aspects, Mutation (Biology), Cell metabolism
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Developmental delays in methionine sulfoxide reductase mutants in Drosophila Melanogaster.
- Creator
- Hausman, William, Binninger, David, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
-
Aging is a biological process that has many detrimental effects due to the accumulation of oxidative damage to key biomolecules due to the action of free radicals. Methionine sulfoxide reductase (Msr) functions to repair oxidative damage to methionine residues. Msr comes in two forms, MsrA and MsrB, each form has been shown to reduce a specific enantiomer of bound and free oxidized methionine. Effects of Msr have yet to be studied in the major developmental stages of Drosophila melanogaster...
Show moreAging is a biological process that has many detrimental effects due to the accumulation of oxidative damage to key biomolecules due to the action of free radicals. Methionine sulfoxide reductase (Msr) functions to repair oxidative damage to methionine residues. Msr comes in two forms, MsrA and MsrB, each form has been shown to reduce a specific enantiomer of bound and free oxidized methionine. Effects of Msr have yet to be studied in the major developmental stages of Drosophila melanogaster despite the enzymes elevated expression during these stages. A developmental timeline was determined for MsrA mutant, MsrB mutant, and double null mutants against a wild type control. Results show that the Msr double mutant is delayed approximately 20 hours in the early/mid third instar stage while each of the single mutants showed no significant difference to the wild type. Data suggests that the reasoning of this phenomenon is due to an issue gaining mass.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004200, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004200
- Subject Headings
- Aging -- Molecular aspects, Cellular signal transduction, Drosophila melanogaster -- Genetics, Mitochondrial pathology, Mutation (Biology), Oxidative stress
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Genetic differentiation among populations of bald eagles, Haliaeetus leucocephalus.
- Creator
- Helmick, Ericka Elizabeth., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
-
The bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, population declined dramatically in the early 20th century reducing the population from tens of thousands of birds within the lower 48 states, to
Show moreThe bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, population declined dramatically in the early 20th century reducing the population from tens of thousands of birds within the lower 48 states, to <450 pairs of birds, effectively inducing a population bottleneck. The overall population has recovered and was removed from the endangered species list in 2007. This study investigates whether such overall population statistics are appropriate descriptors for this widespread species. I investigated the genetic differentiation between three populations of bald eagles from Alaska, North Florida and Florida Bay using both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA loci to determine whether discrete subpopulations comprise the broad range. Significant FST values, for both mtDNA and microsatellites, were found between both Florida populations and Alaska, but not within Florida populations. Results indicate that there is strong population structure, rejecting the null hypothesis of a panmictic population. Future conservation efforts should focus on subpopulations rather than the overall population.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2011
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3171395
- Subject Headings
- Wildlife conservation, Birds, Molecular genetics, Gene targeting, Developmental biology, Biochemical markers
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Autophagy gene atg-18 regulates C. elegans lifespan cell nonautonomously by neuropeptide signaling.
- Creator
- Minnerly, Justin, Jia, Kailiang, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
-
In the round worm C. elegans, it has recently been shown that autophagy, a highly conserved lysosomal degradation pathway that is present in all eukaryotic cells, is required for maintaining healthspan and for increasing the adult lifespan of worms fed under dietary restriction conditions or with reduced IGF signaling. It is currently unknown how extracellular signals regulate autophagy activity within different tissues during these processes and whether autophagy functions cell-autonomously...
Show moreIn the round worm C. elegans, it has recently been shown that autophagy, a highly conserved lysosomal degradation pathway that is present in all eukaryotic cells, is required for maintaining healthspan and for increasing the adult lifespan of worms fed under dietary restriction conditions or with reduced IGF signaling. It is currently unknown how extracellular signals regulate autophagy activity within different tissues during these processes and whether autophagy functions cell-autonomously or nonautonomously. We have data that for the first time shows autophagy activity in the neurons and intestinal cells plays a major role in regulating adult lifespan and the longevity conferred by altered IGF signaling and dietary restriction, suggesting autophagy can control these phenotypes cell non-autonomously. We hypothesize that autophagy in the neurons and intestinal cells is an essential cellular process regulated by different signaling pathways to control wild type adult lifespan, IGF mediated longevity and dietary restriction induced longevity. Excitingly we also have found that in animals with reduced IGF signaling autophagy can control longevity in only a small subset of neurons alone. Autophagy in either specific individual chemosensory neurons or a small group of them is completely sufficient to control IGF mediated longevity. This work provides novel insight to the function and regulation of autophagy which will help shed light on understanding this essential process in higher organisms, including mammals.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004862, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004862
- Subject Headings
- Caenorhabditis elegans--Molecular genetics., Aging--Molecular aspects., Life cycles (Biology), Cell death., Gene expression., Autophagic vacuoles., Apoptosis., Eukaryotic cells.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Hurst analysis applied to the study of single calcium-activated potassium channel kinetics.
- Creator
- Liebovitch, Larry S., Figueiroa, Josed N., Nogueira, Romildo A., Varanda, Wamberto A.
- Date Issued
- 2000-10-07
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/165249
- Subject Headings
- Ion channels-Mathematical models, Memory, Chemical kinetics, Calcium channels, Fractals, Markov processes, Leydig cells, Molecular biology--Statistical methods
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- A Study on Reversing the Immunosuppressive Phenotype of Tumor Associated Macrophages.
- Creator
- Liddle, Genevieve M., Hartmann, James X., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
-
Extracellular stimuli may influence the M1/M2 phenotypic polarization of macrophages. We examined M1/M2 biomarkers, phagocytic activity, and tumoricidal activity in RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages. Macrophages were treated with conditioned media (CM) from 4T1 breast cancer cells, curcumin, 22-oxacalcitriol, LPS, or a combination of the previously listed. Arginase activity, a M2 phenotypic biomarker, was upregulated by the treatment of macrophages with conditioned media. Curcumin, 22-...
Show moreExtracellular stimuli may influence the M1/M2 phenotypic polarization of macrophages. We examined M1/M2 biomarkers, phagocytic activity, and tumoricidal activity in RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages. Macrophages were treated with conditioned media (CM) from 4T1 breast cancer cells, curcumin, 22-oxacalcitriol, LPS, or a combination of the previously listed. Arginase activity, a M2 phenotypic biomarker, was upregulated by the treatment of macrophages with conditioned media. Curcumin, 22- oxacalcitriol, and LPS partially inhibited RAW 264.7 arginase activity in the presence of 4T1 breast cancer media. 22-oxacalcitriol increased the phagocytic ability of RAW 264.7 macrophages in the presence of M2 polarizing substances produced by the 4T1 breast cancer cells. Also, LPS increased RAW 264.7 phagocytic ability in the presence of 4T1 breast cancer CM. This study looked at the potential substances that would possibly reverse the M2 tumor promoting macrophage phenotype seen in the breast cancer tumor environment.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004867
- Subject Headings
- Macrophages., Breast--Cancer--Treatment., Tumors--Immunological aspects., Cancer--Immunological aspects., Biological response modifiers., Cancer--Molecular aspects.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Molecular and phenotypic characterization of MsrA MsrB mutants of Drosophila melanogaster.
- Creator
- Robbins, Kelli., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
-
Aging is a multifactoral biological process of progressive and deleterious changes partially attributed to a build up of oxidatively damaged biomolecules resulting from attacks by free radicals. Methionine sulfoxide reductases (Msrs) are enzymes that repair oxidized methionine (Met) residues found in proteins. Oxidized Met produces two enantiomers, Met-S-(o) and Met-R-(o), reduced by MsrA and MsrB respectively. Unlike other model organisms, our MsrA null fly mutant did not display increased...
Show moreAging is a multifactoral biological process of progressive and deleterious changes partially attributed to a build up of oxidatively damaged biomolecules resulting from attacks by free radicals. Methionine sulfoxide reductases (Msrs) are enzymes that repair oxidized methionine (Met) residues found in proteins. Oxidized Met produces two enantiomers, Met-S-(o) and Met-R-(o), reduced by MsrA and MsrB respectively. Unlike other model organisms, our MsrA null fly mutant did not display increased sensitivity to oxidative stress or shortened lifespan, suggesting that in Drosophila, having either a functional copy of either Msr is sufficient. Here, two Msr mutant types were phenotypically assayed against isogenic controls. Results suggest that only the loss of both MsrA and MsrB produces increased sensitivity to oxidative stress and shortened lifespan, while locomotor defects became more severe with the full Msr knockout fly.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2009
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/359920
- Subject Headings
- Genetic regulation, Oxidation-reduction reaction, Proteins, Chemical modification, Aging, Molecular aspects, Mutation (Biology), Cell metabolism, Mitochondrial DNA
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- The Impact of Pharmacological Targeting of Abnormal Tumor Metabolism with 3-Bromopyruvate on Dendritic Cell Mediated Tumoral Immunity.
- Creator
- Lang, Kevin, Hartmann, James X., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
-
Studies have shown that tumor cells are susceptible to pharmacological targeting of their altered glycolytic metabolism with a variety of compounds that result in apoptosis. One such compound, 3-bromopyruvate (3-BP), has been shown to eradicate cancer in an animal model. However, no studies have shown whether the apoptotic fragments resulting from 3-BP treatment have the capacity to elicit an immunogenic cell death that activates dendritic cells, the primary antigen presenting cell in the...
Show moreStudies have shown that tumor cells are susceptible to pharmacological targeting of their altered glycolytic metabolism with a variety of compounds that result in apoptosis. One such compound, 3-bromopyruvate (3-BP), has been shown to eradicate cancer in an animal model. However, no studies have shown whether the apoptotic fragments resulting from 3-BP treatment have the capacity to elicit an immunogenic cell death that activates dendritic cells, the primary antigen presenting cell in the immune system. Immunogenic cell death is critical to eliciting an effective adaptive immune response that selectively kills additional target cells and generates immunological memory. We demonstrated that 3-bromopyruvate induced apoptosis in a number of different murine breast cancer cell lines, including the highly metastatic 4T1 line. The dying tumor cells stimulated immature dendritic cells (DCs) of the immortal JAWS II cell line to produce high levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-12, and increased their expression of key co-stimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86. The activated dendritic cells showed increased uptake of fragments from dying tumor cells that correlated with the increased levels of calreticulin on the surface and release of high group motility box 1 (HMGB1) of the latter following 3-BP treatment. Additionally, the anti-phagocytic signal CD47 present on breast cancer cells was reduced by treatment with 3-bromopyruvate when compared to the levels on untreated 4T1 cells. 3-BP treated breast cancer cells were able to activate dendritic cells through TLR4 signaling. Signaling was dependent on both the expression of surface calreticulin and on the extracellular release of high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) during the process of immunogenic cell death. Killing by 3-BP was compared to mitoxantrone and doxorubicin, among the few chemotherapeutics that induce immunogenic cell death. 3-BP killing was likewise compared to camptothecin, a compound that fails to induce immunogenic cell death. Importantly, 3-BP did not markedly decrease the levels of the key peptide presenting molecule MHC I on DCs that were co-cultivated with dying tumor cells. Treatment of the highly aggressive triple negative BT-20 human breast cancer cell line with 3-BP also induced an immunogenic cell death, activating human dendritic cells in vitro.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004834
- Subject Headings
- Apoptosis., Cellular signal transduction., Cell death., Breast--Cancer--Treatment., Carrier proteins., Cancer--Molecular aspects., Biological interfaces.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- The effects of Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists on human nicDC-NK mediated memory/effector T-cell development.
- Creator
- Tamjidi, Saba, Nouri-Shirazi, Mahyar, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Department of Biomedical Science
- Abstract/Description
-
There is compelling evidence that smokers are less responsive to vaccination. We reported that both therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines fail to protect and cure animals from disease due to negative effects of nicotine on DCs’ ability to generate effector T cells. We have been investigating whether vaccine formulated with TLR agonist(s) could potentially overcome the immunosuppressive effects of nicotine on human DC-NK cross-talk essential for effector T cell generation. Monocyte-derived DCs...
Show moreThere is compelling evidence that smokers are less responsive to vaccination. We reported that both therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines fail to protect and cure animals from disease due to negative effects of nicotine on DCs’ ability to generate effector T cells. We have been investigating whether vaccine formulated with TLR agonist(s) could potentially overcome the immunosuppressive effects of nicotine on human DC-NK cross-talk essential for effector T cell generation. Monocyte-derived DCs and nicDCs were stimulated with individual and combined TLR agonists prior to co-culture with purified T cells. The phenotypes and cytokine profiles of T cell were assessed using Flow Cytometry and ELISA, respectively. We found nicDCs cultured with TLR-8/7 alone or in combination with TLR-3 produce quantitatively and qualitatively similar IFN-γ producing effector T cells when compared to control DCs. Our data suggest that the addition of appropriate TLR agonist to vaccine formulation could potentially overcome the immunosuppression seen in smokers, thereby containing the spread of infectious disease to vulnerable population
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004469, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004469
- Subject Headings
- Cell membranes, Cell receptors, Evidence based medicine, Immune system, Molecular biology, T cells -- Receptors, Tobacco -- Physiological effects
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Role of methionine sulfoxide reductase in thermal-induced spreading depression coma in Drosophila melanogaster.
- Creator
- Schey, Karin., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
-
Drosophila melanogaster encounter periods of increased temperature or decreased oxygen in its native environment. One consequence of these environmental stresses is increased production of reactive oxygen species that damage major molecules within cells. Another consequence is that flies fall into a protective coma where biological functions are minimized to conserve energy expenditures. This biological phenomenon is called spreading depression. The overarching aim of this project is to...
Show moreDrosophila melanogaster encounter periods of increased temperature or decreased oxygen in its native environment. One consequence of these environmental stresses is increased production of reactive oxygen species that damage major molecules within cells. Another consequence is that flies fall into a protective coma where biological functions are minimized to conserve energy expenditures. This biological phenomenon is called spreading depression. The overarching aim of this project is to determine if methionine sulfoxide reductases affect entrance or exit from the protective coma induced by acute thermal stress. The data revealed that complete deficiency of Msr in young flies causes a faster induction of the coma. In both young and old flies, Msr does not affect average recovery time but does affect the pattern of recovery from coma. Entrance into the coma is age dependent with young flies maintaining activity longer than before entering into the coma as compared to old flies.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3355873
- Subject Headings
- Cellular signal transduction, Proteins, Chemical modification, Spreading cortical depression, Oxidation-reduction reaction, Aging, Molecular aspects, Mutation (Biology)
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Methionine sulfoxide reductase (MSR) modulates lifespan andLocomotion in drosophila melanogaster.
- Creator
- Bruce, Lindsay, Binninger, David, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
-
Oxidative stress is considered a major factor in the etiology of age related diseases and the aging process itself. Organisms have developed mechanisms to protect against oxidative damage resulting from increased production of reactive oxygen species during aging. One of the major antioxidant systems is the methionine sulfoxide reductase (Msr) enzyme family. The two major Msr enzymes, MsrA and MsrB, can stereospecifically reduce the S and R epimers, respectively, of methionine sulfoxide in...
Show moreOxidative stress is considered a major factor in the etiology of age related diseases and the aging process itself. Organisms have developed mechanisms to protect against oxidative damage resulting from increased production of reactive oxygen species during aging. One of the major antioxidant systems is the methionine sulfoxide reductase (Msr) enzyme family. The two major Msr enzymes, MsrA and MsrB, can stereospecifically reduce the S and R epimers, respectively, of methionine sulfoxide in proteins back to methionine. This study, using Drosophila melanogaster, decribes the first animal system lacking both MsrA and MsrB. The loss of either MsrA or MsrB had no effect on lifespan in Drosophila, but loss of MsrB results in a slight decrease in locomotor activity from middle age onward. Double mutants lacking both forms of Msr have a significantly decreased lifespan and decreased locomotor activity at all ages examined. The double Msr mutants had no detectable increase in protein oxidation or decrease in mitochondrial function and were not more sensitive to oxidative stress. These results suggested that other cellular antioxidant systems were protecting the flies against oxidative damage and the decreased life span observed in the double knockouts was not due to widespread oxidative damage. However, one cannot exclude limited oxidative damage to a specific locus or cell type. In this regard, it was observed that older animals, lacking both MsrA and MsrB, have significantly reduced levels of dopamine, suggesting there might be oxidative damage to the dopaminergic neurons. Preliminary results also suggest that the ratio of F to G actin is skewed towards G actin in all mutants. The present results could have relevance to the loss of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson’s disease.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004431, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004431
- Subject Headings
- Aging -- Molecular aspects, Cellular signal transduction, Drosophila melanogaster -- Genetics, Mitochondrial pathology, Mutation (Biology), Oxidative stress, Proteins -- Chemical modification
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Phenotypic and behavioral effects of methionine sulfoxide reductase deficiency and oxidative stress in Drosophila melanogaster.
- Creator
- Mulholland, Kori., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
-
Harman's theory of aging proposes that a buildup of damaging reactive oxygen species (ROS) is one of the primary causes of the deleterious symptoms attributed to aging. Cellular defenses in the form of antioxidants have evolved to combat ROS and reverse damage; one such group is the methionine sulfoxide reductases (Msr), which function to reduce oxidized methionine. MsrA reduces the S enantiomer of methionine sulfoxide, Met-S-(o), while MsrB reduces the R enantiomer, Met-R-(o). The focus of...
Show moreHarman's theory of aging proposes that a buildup of damaging reactive oxygen species (ROS) is one of the primary causes of the deleterious symptoms attributed to aging. Cellular defenses in the form of antioxidants have evolved to combat ROS and reverse damage; one such group is the methionine sulfoxide reductases (Msr), which function to reduce oxidized methionine. MsrA reduces the S enantiomer of methionine sulfoxide, Met-S-(o), while MsrB reduces the R enantiomer, Met-R-(o). The focus of this study was to investigate how the absence of one or both forms of Msr affects locomotion in Drosophila using both traditional genetic mutants and more recently developed RNA interference (RNAi) strains. Results indicate that lack of MsrA does not affect locomotion. However, lack of MsrB drastically reduces rates of locomotion in all age classes. Furthermore, creation of an RNAi line capable of knocking down both MsrA and MsrB in progeny was completed.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2013
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3362558
- Subject Headings
- Drosophila melanogaster, Genetics, Aging, Molecular aspects, Oxidative stress, Mitochondrial pathology, Cellular signal transduction, Oxidation-reduction reaction, Biochemical markers, Mutation (Biology)
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Reduced Reproductivity and Larval Locomotion in the Absence of Methionine Sulfoxide Reductase in Drosophila.
- Creator
- Singkornrat, Diana, Binninger, David, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
-
The inevitable aging process can be partially attributed to the accumulation of oxidative damage that results from the action of free radicals. Methionine sulfoxide reductases (Msr) are a class of enzymes that repair oxidized methionine residues. The two known forms of Msr are MsrA and MsrB which reduce the R- and S- enantiomers of methionine sulfoxide, respectively. Our lab has created the first genetic animal model that is fully deficient for any Msr activity. Previously our lab showed that...
Show moreThe inevitable aging process can be partially attributed to the accumulation of oxidative damage that results from the action of free radicals. Methionine sulfoxide reductases (Msr) are a class of enzymes that repair oxidized methionine residues. The two known forms of Msr are MsrA and MsrB which reduce the R- and S- enantiomers of methionine sulfoxide, respectively. Our lab has created the first genetic animal model that is fully deficient for any Msr activity. Previously our lab showed that these animals exhibit a 20 hour delay in development of the third instar larvae (unpublished data). My studies have further shown that the prolonged third-instar stage is due to a reduced growth rate associated with slower food intake and a markedly slower motility. These Msr-deficient animals also exhibit decreased egg-laying that can be attributed to a lack of female receptivity to mating.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2016
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004777, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004777
- Subject Headings
- Proteins--Chemical modification., Oxidative stress., Oxidation-reduction reaction., Drosophila melanogaster--Genetics., Mitochondrial pathology., Cellular signal transduction., Mutation (Biology), Aging--Molecular aspects.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
