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Title: Nucleic acids for detecting colon cancer related gene (CCRG) and methods of use.
Creator: Narayanan, Ramaswamy, Florida Atlantic University
Date Issued: 2004-06
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/15816
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Electric Field Detection in Sawfish and Shovelnose Rays.
Creator: Wueringer, Barbara E., Squire, Lyle, Jr., Kajiura, Stephen M., Tibbetts, Ian R., Hart, Nathan S., Collin, Shaun P., Laudet, Vincent
Abstract/Description: In the aquatic environment, living organisms emit weak dipole electric fields, which spread in the surrounding water. Elasmobranchs detect these dipole electric fields with their highly sensitive electroreceptors, the ampullae of Lorenzini. Freshwater sawfish, Pristis microdon, and two species of shovelnose rays, Glaucostegus typus and Aptychotrema rostrata were tested for their reactions towards weak artificial electric dipole fields. The comparison of sawfishes and shovelnose rays sheds...
Show moreIn the aquatic environment, living organisms emit weak dipole electric fields, which spread in the surrounding water. Elasmobranchs detect these dipole electric fields with their highly sensitive electroreceptors, the ampullae of Lorenzini. Freshwater sawfish, Pristis microdon, and two species of shovelnose rays, Glaucostegus typus and Aptychotrema rostrata were tested for their reactions towards weak artificial electric dipole fields. The comparison of sawfishes and shovelnose rays sheds light on the evolution and function of the elongated rostrum (‘saw’) of sawfish, as both groups evolved from a shovelnose ray-like ancestor. Electric stimuli were presented both on the substrate (to mimic benthic prey) and suspended in the water column (to mimic free-swimming prey). Analysis of around 480 behavioural sequences shows that all three species are highly sensitive towards weak electric dipole fields, and initiate behavioural responses at median field strengths between 5.15 and 79.6 nVcm^-1. The response behaviours used by sawfish and shovelnose rays depended on the location of the dipoles. The elongation of the sawfish’s rostrum clearly expanded their electroreceptive search area into the water column and enables them to target free-swimming prey.
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Date Issued: 2012-07-25
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000073
Format: Citation

Title: Effect of rainfall on loggerhead turtle nest temperatures, sand temperatures and hatchling sex.
Creator: Lolavar, Alexandra, Wyneken, Jeanette
Date Issued: 2015-10-07
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000220
Format: Citation

Title: Context-specific comparison of sleep acquisition systems in Drosophila.
Creator: Garbe, D. S., Bollinger, W. L., Vigderman, A., Masek, P., Gertowski, J., Sehgal, A., Keene, A. C.
Date Issued: 2015-11-15
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000222
Format: Citation

Title: Co-Cultures of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Roseobacter denitrificans Reveal Shifts in Gene Expression Levels Compared to Solo Cultures.
Creator: Conway, Crystal A., Esiobu, Nwadiuto, Lopez, Jose V.
Abstract/Description: Consistent biosynthesis of desired secondary metabolites (SMs) from pure microbial cultures is often unreliable. In a proof-ofprinciple study to induce SM gene expression and production, we describe mixed “co-culturing” conditions and monitoring of messages via quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Gene expression of model bacterial strains (Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and Roseobacter denitrificans Och114) was analyzed in pure solo and mixed cocultures to infer the effects of interspecies...
Show moreConsistent biosynthesis of desired secondary metabolites (SMs) from pure microbial cultures is often unreliable. In a proof-ofprinciple study to induce SM gene expression and production, we describe mixed “co-culturing” conditions and monitoring of messages via quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Gene expression of model bacterial strains (Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and Roseobacter denitrificans Och114) was analyzed in pure solo and mixed cocultures to infer the effects of interspecies interactions on gene expression in vitro, Two P. aeruginosa genes (PhzH coding for portions of the phenazine antibiotic pathway leading to pyocyanin (PCN) and the RhdA gene for thiosulfate: cyanide sulfurtransferase (Rhodanese)) and two R. denitrificans genes (BetaLact formetallo-beta-lactamase and the DMSP gene for dimethylpropiothetin dethiomethylase) were assessed for differential expression. Results showed that R. denitrificans DMSP and BetaLact gene expression became elevated in a mixed culture. In contrast, P. aeruginosa co-cultures with R. denitrificans or a third species did not increase target gene expression above control levels. This paper provides insight for better control of target SM gene expression in vitro and bypass complex genetic engineering manipulations.
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Date Issued: 2012
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000016
Format: Citation

Title: Atrial myxoma presenting with orthostatic hypotension in an 84-year-old Hispanic man: a case report.
Creator: Vicari, Ralph M., Polanco, Enrique, Schechtmann, Norberto, Santiago, Jose O., Shaurya, Kautilya, Halstead, Michael, Marszal, Danielle, Grosskreutz, Tamsin, Thareja, Shalini
Date Issued: 2009-12-14
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3327069
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Experimental drying intensifies burning and carbon losses in a northern peatland.
Creator: Turetsky, Merritt R., Donahue, W.F., Benscoter, Brian
Abstract/Description: For millennia, peatlands have served as an important sink for atmospheric CO2 and today represent a large soil carbon reservoir. While recent land use and wildfires have reduced carbon sequestration in tropical peatlands, the influence of disturbance on boreal peatlands is uncertain, yet it is important for predicting the fate of northern high-latitude carbon reserves. Here we quantify rates of organic matter storage and combustion losses in a boreal peatland subjected to long-term...
Show moreFor millennia, peatlands have served as an important sink for atmospheric CO2 and today represent a large soil carbon reservoir. While recent land use and wildfires have reduced carbon sequestration in tropical peatlands, the influence of disturbance on boreal peatlands is uncertain, yet it is important for predicting the fate of northern high-latitude carbon reserves. Here we quantify rates of organic matter storage and combustion losses in a boreal peatland subjected to long-term experimental drainage, a portion of which subsequently burned during a wildfire. We show that drainage doubled rates of organic matter accumulation in the soils of unburned plots. However, drainage also increased carbon losses during wildfire ninefold to 16.8 ± 0.2 kg C m^-2, equivalent to a loss of more than 450 years of peat accumulation. Interactions between peatland drainage and fire are likely to cause long-term carbon emissions to far exceed rates of carbon uptake, diminishing the northern peatland carbon sink.
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Date Issued: 2011-11-01
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000002
Format: Citation

Title: On the Myths of Indicator Species: Issues and Further Consideration in the Use of Static Concepts for Ecological Applications.
Creator: Zettler, Michael L., Proffitt, C. Edward, Darr, Alexander, Degraer, Steven, Devriese, Lisa, Greathead, Clare, Kotta, Jonne, Magni, Paolo, Martin, Georg, Reiss, Henning, Speybroeck, Jeroen, Tagliapietra, Davide, Van Hoey, Gert, Ysebaert, Tom, Thompson, Fabiano
Abstract/Description: The use of static indicator species, in which species are expected to have a similar sensitivity or tolerance to either natural or human-induced stressors, does not account for possible shifts in tolerance along natural environmental gradients and between biogeographic regions. Their indicative value may therefore be considered at least questionable. In this paper we demonstrate how species responses (i.e. abundance) to changes in sediment grain size and organic matter (OM) alter along a...
Show moreThe use of static indicator species, in which species are expected to have a similar sensitivity or tolerance to either natural or human-induced stressors, does not account for possible shifts in tolerance along natural environmental gradients and between biogeographic regions. Their indicative value may therefore be considered at least questionable. In this paper we demonstrate how species responses (i.e. abundance) to changes in sediment grain size and organic matter (OM) alter along a salinity gradient and conclude with a plea for prudency when interpreting static indicator-based quality indices. Six model species (three polychaetes, one amphipod and two bivalves) from the North Sea, Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean Sea region were selected. Our study demonstrated that there were no generic relationships between environment and biota and half of the studied species showed different responses in different seas. Consequently, the following points have to be carefully considered when applying static indicatorbased quality indices: (1) species tolerances and preferences may change along environmental gradients and between different biogeographic regions, (2) as environment modifies species autecology, there is a need to adjust indicator species lists along major environmental gradients and (3) there is a risk of including sibling or cryptic species in calculating the index value of a species.
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Date Issued: 2013-10-16
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000046
Format: Citation

Title: Seasonal trends in nesting leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) serum proteins further verify capital breeding hypothesis.
Creator: Perrault, Justin R., Wyneken, Jeanette, Page-Karjian, A., Merrill, Anita, Miller, Debra L.
Date Issued: 2014-02-19
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000177
Format: Citation

Title: Seasonal Variation in Sea Turtle Density and Abundance in the Southeast Florida Current and Surrounding Waters.
Creator: Bovery, Caitlin M., Wyneken, Jeanette, Thuesen, Erik V.
Abstract/Description: Assessment and management of sea turtle populations is often limited by a lack of available data pertaining to at-sea distributions at appropriate spatial and temporal resolutions. Assessing the spatial and temporal distributions of marine turtles in an open system poses both observational and analytical challenges due to the turtles’ highly migratory nature. Surface counts of marine turtles in waters along the southern part of Florida’s east coast were made in and adjacent to the southeast...
Show moreAssessment and management of sea turtle populations is often limited by a lack of available data pertaining to at-sea distributions at appropriate spatial and temporal resolutions. Assessing the spatial and temporal distributions of marine turtles in an open system poses both observational and analytical challenges due to the turtles’ highly migratory nature. Surface counts of marine turtles in waters along the southern part of Florida’s east coast were made in and adjacent to the southeast portion of the Florida Current using standard aerial surveys during 2011 and 2012 to assess their seasonal presence. This area is of particular concern for sea turtles as interest increases in offshore energy developments, specifically harnessing the power of the Florida Current. While it is understood that marine turtles use these waters, here we evaluate seasonal variation in sea turtle abundance and density over two years. Density of sea turtles observed within the study area ranged from 0.003 turtles km-2 in the winter of 2011 to 0.064 turtles km-2 in the spring of 2012. This assessment of marine turtles in the waters off southeast Florida quantifies their in-water abundance across seasons in this area to establish baselines and inform future management strategies of these protected species.
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Date Issued: 2015-12-30
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000066
Format: Citation

Title: Molecular Assessment of Mating Strategies in a Population of Atlantic Spotted Dolphins.
Creator: Green, Michelle L., Herzing, Denise L., Baldwin, John D., Wang, Hanping
Abstract/Description: Similar to other small cetacean species, Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) have been the object of concentrated behavioral study. Although mating and courtship behaviors occur often and the social structure of the population is well-studied, the genetic mating system of the species is unknown. To assess the genetic mating system, we genotyped females and their progeny at ten microsatellite loci. Genotype analysis provided estimates of the minimum number of male sires necessary to...
Show moreSimilar to other small cetacean species, Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) have been the object of concentrated behavioral study. Although mating and courtship behaviors occur often and the social structure of the population is well-studied, the genetic mating system of the species is unknown. To assess the genetic mating system, we genotyped females and their progeny at ten microsatellite loci. Genotype analysis provided estimates of the minimum number of male sires necessary to account for the allelic diversity observed among the progeny. Using the estimates of male sires, we determined whether females mated with the same or different males during independent estrus events. Using GERUD2.0, a minimum of two males was necessary to account for the genetic variation seen among progeny arrays of all tested females. ML-RELATE assigned the most likely relationship between offspring pairs; half or full sibling. Relationship analysis supported the conservative male estimates of GERUD2.0 but in some cases, half or full sibling relationships between offspring could not be fully resolved. Integrating the results from GERUD2.0, ML-RELATE with previous observational and paternity data, we constructed two-, three-, and four-male pedigree models for each genotyped female. Because increased genetic diversity of offspring may explain multi-male mating, we assessed the internal genetic relatedness of each offspring’s genotype to determine whether parent pairs of offspring were closely related. We found varying levels of internal relatedness ranging from unrelated to closely related (range -0.136–0.321). Because there are several hypothesized explanations for multi-male mating, we assessed our data to determine the most plausible explanation for multi-male mating in our study system. Our study indicated females may benefit from mating with multiple males by passing genes for long-term viability to their young.
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Date Issued: 2015-02-18
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000070
Format: Citation

Title: Moderate drop in water table increases peatland vulnerability to post-fire regime shift.
Creator: Kettridge, N., Turetsky, Merritt R., Sherwood, J. H., Thompson, D. K., Miller, C. A., Benscoter, Brian, Flannigan, Michael D., Wotton, B. M., Waddington, J. M.
Abstract/Description: Northern and tropical peatlands represent a globally significant carbon reserve accumulated over thousands of years of waterlogged conditions. It is unclear whether moderate drying predicted for northern peatlands will stimulate burning and carbon losses as has occurred in their smaller tropical counterparts where the carbon legacy has been destabilized due to severe drainage and deep peat fires. Capitalizing on a unique long-term experiment, we quantify the post-wildfire recovery of a...
Show moreNorthern and tropical peatlands represent a globally significant carbon reserve accumulated over thousands of years of waterlogged conditions. It is unclear whether moderate drying predicted for northern peatlands will stimulate burning and carbon losses as has occurred in their smaller tropical counterparts where the carbon legacy has been destabilized due to severe drainage and deep peat fires. Capitalizing on a unique long-term experiment, we quantify the post-wildfire recovery of a northern peatland subjected to decadal drainage. We show that the moderate drop in water table position predicted for most northern regions triggers a shift in vegetation composition previously observed within only severely disturbed tropical peatlands. The combined impact of moderate drainage followed by wildfire converted the low productivity, moss-dominated peatland to a non-carbon accumulating shrub-grass ecosystem. This new ecosystem is likely to experience a low intensity, high frequency wildfire regime, which will further deplete the legacy of stored peat carbon.
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Date Issued: 2015-07-27
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000003
Format: Citation

Title: The coelacanth rostral organ is a unique low-resolution electro-detector that facilitates the feeding strike.
Creator: Berquist, Rachel M., Galinsky, Vitaly L., Kajiura, Stephen M., Frank, Lawrence R.
Abstract/Description: The cartilaginous and non-neopterygian bony fishes have an electric sense typically comprised of hundreds or thousands of sensory canals distributed in broad clusters over the head. This morphology facilitates neural encoding of local electric field intensity, orientation, and polarity, used for determining the position of nearby prey. The coelacanth rostral organ electric sense, however, is unique in having only three paired sensory canals with distribution restricted to the dorsal snout,...
Show moreThe cartilaginous and non-neopterygian bony fishes have an electric sense typically comprised of hundreds or thousands of sensory canals distributed in broad clusters over the head. This morphology facilitates neural encoding of local electric field intensity, orientation, and polarity, used for determining the position of nearby prey. The coelacanth rostral organ electric sense, however, is unique in having only three paired sensory canals with distribution restricted to the dorsal snout, raising questions about its function. To address this, we employed magnetic resonance imaging methods to map electrosensory canal morphology in the extant coelacanth, Latimeria chalumnae, and a simple dipole ‘rabbit ears’ antennae model with toroidal gain function to approximate their directional sensitivity. This identified a unique focal region of electrosensitivity directly in front of the mouth, and is the first evidence of a low-resolution electro-detector that solely facilitates prey ingestion.
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Date Issued: 2015-08-11
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000024
Format: Citation

Title: Transsynaptic Coordination of Synaptic Growth, Function, and Stability by the L1-Type CAM Neuroglian.
Creator: Enneking, Eva-Maria, Kudumala, Sirisha R., Moreno, Eliza, Stephan, Raiko, Boerner, Jana, Godenschwege, Tanja A., Pielage, Jan, Bellen, Hugo J.
Date Issued: 2013-04-16
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000106
Format: Citation

Title: The Lack of CuZnSOD Leads to Impaired Neurotransmitter Release, Neuromuscular Junction Destabilization and Reduced Muscle Strength in Mice.
Creator: Shi, Yun, Ivannikov, Maxim V., Walsh, Michael E., Liu, Yuhong, Zhang, Yiqiang, Jaramillo, Carlos A., Macleod, Gregory, Van Remmen, Holly, Phillips, William
Abstract/Description: Elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and ROS-dependent protein damage is a common observation in the pathogenesis of many muscle wasting disorders, including sarcopenia. However, the contribution of elevated ROS levels to –a breakdown in neuromuscular communication and muscle atrophy remains unknown. In this study, we examined a copper zinc superoxide dismutase [CuZnSOD (Sod1)] knockout mouse (Sod1-/-), a mouse model of elevated oxidative stress that exhibits accelerated loss of...
Show moreElevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and ROS-dependent protein damage is a common observation in the pathogenesis of many muscle wasting disorders, including sarcopenia. However, the contribution of elevated ROS levels to –a breakdown in neuromuscular communication and muscle atrophy remains unknown. In this study, we examined a copper zinc superoxide dismutase [CuZnSOD (Sod1)] knockout mouse (Sod1-/-), a mouse model of elevated oxidative stress that exhibits accelerated loss of muscle mass, which recapitulates many phenotypes of sarcopenia as early as 5 months of age. We found that young adult Sod1-/- mice display a considerable reduction in hind limb skeletal muscle mass and strength when compared to age-matched wild-type mice. These changes are accompanied by gross alterations in neuromuscular junction (NMJ) morphology, including reduced occupancy of the motor endplates by axons, terminal sprouting and axon thinning and irregular swelling. Surprisingly however, the average density of acetylcholine receptors in endplates is preserved. Using in vivo electromyography and ex vivo electrophysiological studies of hind limb muscles in Sod1-/- mice, we found that motor axons innervating the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and gastrocnemius muscles release fewer synaptic vesicles upon nerve stimulation. Recordings from individually identified EDL NMJs show that reductions in neurotransmitter release are apparent in the Sod1-/- mice even when endplates are close to fully innervated. However, electrophysiological properties, such as input resistance, resting membrane potential and spontaneous neurotransmitter release kinetics (but not frequency) are similar between EDL muscles of Sod1-/- and wild-type mice. Administration of the potassium channel blocker 3,4-diaminopyridine, which broadens the presynaptic action potential, improves both neurotransmitter release and muscle strength. Together, these results suggest that ROS-associated motor nerve terminal dysfunction is a contributor to the observed muscle changes in Sod1-/- mice.
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Date Issued: 2014-06-27
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000036
Format: Citation

Title: daf-31 Encodes the Catalytic Subunit of N Alpha-Acetyltransferase that Regulates Caenorhabditis elegans Development, Metabolism and Adult Lifespan.
Creator: Chen, Di, Zhang, Jiuli, Minnerly, Justin, Kaul, Tiffany, Riddle, Donald L., Jia, Kailiang, Kim, Stuart K.
Date Issued: 2014-10-16
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000115
Format: Citation

Title: RanBP9 Plays a Critical Role in Neonatal Brain Development in Mice.
Creator: Palavicini, Juan Pablo, Lloyd, Brandon N., Hayes, Crystal D., Bianchi, Elisabetta, Kang, David E., Dawson-Scully, Ken, Lakshmana, Madepalli K., Okazawa, Hitoshi
Abstract/Description: RanBP9 is known to act as a scaffolding protein bringing together a variety of cell surface receptors and intracellular targets thereby regulating functions as diverse as neurite and axonal outgrowth, cell morphology, cell proliferation, myelination, gonad development, myofibrillogenesis and migration of neuronal precursors. Though RanBP9 is ubiquitously expressed in all tissues, brain is one of the organs with the highest expression levels of RanBP9. In the neurons, RanBP9 is localized...
Show moreRanBP9 is known to act as a scaffolding protein bringing together a variety of cell surface receptors and intracellular targets thereby regulating functions as diverse as neurite and axonal outgrowth, cell morphology, cell proliferation, myelination, gonad development, myofibrillogenesis and migration of neuronal precursors. Though RanBP9 is ubiquitously expressed in all tissues, brain is one of the organs with the highest expression levels of RanBP9. In the neurons, RanBP9 is localized mostly in the cytoplasm but also in the neurites and dendritic processes. We recently demonstrated that RanBP9 plays pathogenic role in Alzheimer’s disease. To understand the role of RanBP9 in the brain, here we generated RanBP9 null mice by genetrap based strategy. Most of Ran-/- mice die neonatally due to defects in the brain growth and development. The major defects include smaller cortical plate (CP), robustly enlarged lateral ventricles (LV) and reduced volume of hippocampus (HI). The lethal phenotype is due to a suckling defect as evidenced by lack of milk in the stomachs even several hours after parturition. The complex somatosensory system which is required for a behavior such as suckling appears to be compromised in Ran-/- mice due to under developed CP. Most importantly, RanBP9 phenotype is similar to ERK1/2 double knockout and the neural cell adhesion receptor, L1CAM knockout mice. Both ERK1 and L1CAM interact with RanBP9. Thus, RanBP9 appears to control brain growth and development through signaling mechanisms involving ERK1 and L1CAM receptor.
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Date Issued: 2013-06-26
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000081
Format: Citation

Title: Glial Hsp70 Protects K+ Homeostasis in the Drosophila Brain during Repetitive Anoxic Depolarization.
Creator: Armstrong, Gary A. B., Xiao, Chengfeng, Krill, Jennifer L., Seroude, Laurent, Dawson-Scully, Ken, Robertson, R. Meldrum, Roman, Gregg
Abstract/Description: Neural tissue is particularly vulnerable to metabolic stress and loss of ion homeostasis. Repetitive stress generally leads to more permanent dysfunction but the mechanisms underlying this progression are poorly understood. We investigated the effects of energetic compromise in Drosophila by targeting the Na+/K+-ATPase. Acute ouabain treatment of intact flies resulted in subsequent repetitive comas that led to death and were associated with transient loss of K+ homeostasis in the brain. Heat...
Show moreNeural tissue is particularly vulnerable to metabolic stress and loss of ion homeostasis. Repetitive stress generally leads to more permanent dysfunction but the mechanisms underlying this progression are poorly understood. We investigated the effects of energetic compromise in Drosophila by targeting the Na+/K+-ATPase. Acute ouabain treatment of intact flies resulted in subsequent repetitive comas that led to death and were associated with transient loss of K+ homeostasis in the brain. Heat shock pre-conditioned flies were resistant to ouabain treatment. To control the timing of repeated loss of ion homeostasis we subjected flies to repetitive anoxia while recording extracellular [K+] in the brain. We show that targeted expression of the chaperone protein Hsp70 in glial cells delays a permanent loss of ion homeostasis associated with repetitive anoxic stress and suggest that this is a useful model for investigating molecular mechanisms of neuroprotection.
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Date Issued: 2011-12-12
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000078
Format: Citation

Title: Pushing the limit: Examining factors that affect anoxia tolerance in a single genotype of adult D. melanogaster.
Creator: Benasayag Meszaros, Raquel, Risley, Monica G., Hernandez, Priscilla, Fendrich, Margo, Dawson-Scully, Ken
Abstract/Description: Drosophila melanogaster is a promiscuous species that inhabits a large range of harsh environments including flooded habitats and varying temperature changes. To survive these environments, fruit flies have adapted mechanisms of tolerance that allow them to thrive. During exposure to anoxic stress, fruit flies and other poikilotherms enter into a reversible, protective coma. This coma can be manipulated based on controlled environmental conditions inside the laboratory. Here we utilize a...
Show moreDrosophila melanogaster is a promiscuous species that inhabits a large range of harsh environments including flooded habitats and varying temperature changes. To survive these environments, fruit flies have adapted mechanisms of tolerance that allow them to thrive. During exposure to anoxic stress, fruit flies and other poikilotherms enter into a reversible, protective coma. This coma can be manipulated based on controlled environmental conditions inside the laboratory. Here we utilize a common laboratory raised strain of D. melanogaster to characterize adaptation abilities to better understand coma recovery and survival limitations. Our goal is to mimic the fly’s natural environments (wet anoxia) and relate findings to a typical gas induced environment (dry anoxia) that is commonly used in a laboratory. Despite the abundance of research regarding acute and chronic anoxic exposure and cold stress, the literature is lacking evidence linking anoxic stress with variable environmental conditions such as animal age and stress duration. We present novel ways to assess coma recovery and survival using readily available laboratory tools. Our findings suggest that younger age, exposure to colder temperatures and wet environments increase resistance to anoxic stress.
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Date Issued: 2015-08-17
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000065
Format: Citation

Title: New Tools for Targeted Disruption of Cholinergic Synaptic Transmission in Drosophila melanogaster.
Creator: Mejia, Monica, Heghinian, Mari D., Mari, Frank, Godenschwege, Tanja A., McCabe, Brian D.
Abstract/Description: Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are pentameric ligand-gated ion channels. The a7 subtype of nAChRs is involved in neurological pathologies such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, addiction, epilepsy and autism spectrum disorders. The Drosophila melanogaster a7 (Da7) has the closest sequence homology to the vertebrate a7 subunit and it can form homopentameric receptors just as the vertebrate counterpart. The Da7 subunits are essential for the function of the Giant Fiber...
Show moreNicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are pentameric ligand-gated ion channels. The a7 subtype of nAChRs is involved in neurological pathologies such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, addiction, epilepsy and autism spectrum disorders. The Drosophila melanogaster a7 (Da7) has the closest sequence homology to the vertebrate a7 subunit and it can form homopentameric receptors just as the vertebrate counterpart. The Da7 subunits are essential for the function of the Giant Fiber circuit, which mediates the escape response of the fly. To further characterize the receptor function, we generated different missense mutations in the Da7 nAChR’s ligand binding domain. We characterized the effects of targeted expression of two UAS-constructs carrying a single mutation, D197A and Y195T, as well as a UAS-construct carrying a triple D77T, L117Q, I196P mutation in a Da7 null mutant and in a wild type background. Expression of the triple mutation was able to restore the function of the circuit in Da7 null mutants and had no disruptive effects when expressed in wild type. In contrast, both single mutations severely disrupted the synaptic transmission of Da7-dependent but not glutamatergic or gap junction dependent synapses in wild type background, and did not or only partially rescued the synaptic defects of the null mutant. These observations are consistent with the formation of hybrid receptors, consisting of D197A or Y195T subunits and wild type Da7 subunits, in which the binding of acetylcholine or acetylcholine-induced conformational changes of the Da7 receptor are altered and causes inhibition of cholinergic responses. Thus targeted expression of D197A or Y195T can be used to selectively disrupt synaptic transmission of Da7-dependent synapses in neuronal circuits. Hence, these constructs can be used as tools to study learning and memory or addiction associated behaviors by allowing the manipulation of neuronal processing in the circuits without affecting other cellular signaling.
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Date Issued: 2013-05-30
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000083
Format: Citation

FAU Theses and Dissertations (426)	+ -
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Cellular signal transduction (31)	+ -
Predation (Biology) (30)	+ -
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