bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Carotenoid content and characteristic profile of Zimbabwean Brassica oleracea green vegetables (645.3)
Authors: Muzhingi Tawanda , Tang Guangwen 
Published: June 2021

Green vegetables of the brassica oleracea family are an important part of Zimbabwean diet, consumed daily as casseroles together with the maize based staple food. These green vegetables are rich in carotenoids such as lutein and β‐carotene which are important for macula health and as precursors of vitamin A. In this study five different brassica oleracea vegetable commonly grown and consumed in Zimbabwe where identified as chou mollier, covo, rugare, viscose and drum head cabbage. The green leafy vegetables were cut into pieces and ground into a puree; the carotenoids were extracted with methanol and tetrahydrofuran (THF). The carotenoid contents and profile were compared to kale grown and consumed in the US. Statistical Analysis was conducted with SAS (SAS Inc., NC) using descriptive statistics and ANOVA. All brassica oleracea vegetables analyzed contained lutein, trans β‐carotene and 9 cis β‐carotene with the contents being significantly different among the 6 varieties. Kale grown in the USA had the highest content of lutein (12.5 ±1.3) and β‐carotene (8.5 ±0.8) mg/100g fresh weight respectively. Among the Zimbabwean green vegetables covo variety had the highest contents of lutein (10.4±0.5) and β‐carotene (7.8±0.4) mg/100g fresh weight. rugare (5.2 ±0.3) and cabbage (6.0 ±0.2) mg/100g fresh weight had the lowest trans β‐carotene content. Zimbabwe green vegetable had a 13 cis β‐carotene isomer as opposed to the US kale. Zimbabwe Viscose variety also had phytene and phytophlene carotenoid compounds. The Zimbabwean brassica oleracia vegetable are a very good source of provitamin A carotenoids and lutein. The provitamin A carotenoids content is sufficient enough to justify the promotion of these vegetables as part of a diet to combat vitamin A deficiency which is a public health problem in Zimbabwe. Funding support from International Atomic Agency and USDA Financial support USDA contract #58‐1950‐0‐014Grant Funding Source: Supported by USDA #58‐1950‐0‐014: IAEA
Cranberry extract promotes anti‐inflammatory activity of Lactobacillus plantarum on HT‐29 human colon cancer cells (647.35)
Authors: Nguyen Thuy , Kimble Lindsey , Mathison Bridget , Chew Boon 
Published: June 2021

Probiotics modulate gastrointestinal inflammation by converting non‐digestible dietary nutrients into metabolites for colon epithelial health. Cranberry proanthocyanidins (PACs) can prevent urinary tract infection; however, the role of PACs as a prebiotic in the gastrointestinal tract is unclear. We studied the prebiotic effect of cranberry extract in promoting the anti‐inflammatory activity of Lactobacillus plantarum (Lp) on HT‐29 human colon cancer cells. Lp was incubated overnight with HT‐29 cells at a 10:1 ratio in the presence of 0, 0.01, or 0.1 mg PAC/mL cranberry extract. The presence of Lp decreased (P<0.05) IL‐1β, IL‐2, IL‐6, and TNF‐α production by HT‐29 cells, indicating anti‐inflammatory activity. Addition of cranberry extract to HT‐29+Lp co‐cultures decreased (P<0.05) NF‐κB and IL‐1β gene expression in HT‐29 cells in a dose‐dependent manner when compared to Lp alone. Cranberry extract (0.1 mg PAC/mL) downregulated (P<0.05) COX‐2, and upregulated (P<0.05) IL‐10 expression and superoxide dismutase activity in HT‐29 cells compared to Lp alone, suggesting enhanced antioxidant activity. Cranberry extract at 0.01 mg PAC/mL decreased (P<0.05) while at 0.1 mg PAC/mL increased (P<0.05) IL‐4 and IL‐8 production compared to Lp alone. Therefore, cranberry extract has a potential anti‐inflammatory and anti‐oxidant role in promoting Lp probiotic activity on HT‐29 cells.Grant Funding Source: Supported by ARC, Washington State University
Preserved mitochondrial calcium retention capacity in summer‐active Arctic ground squirrels undergoing normothermic myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (663.9)
Authors: Dulai Gurpreet , Quinones Quintin , Podgoreanu Mihai , Barnes Brian , Riess Matthias 
Published: June 2021

Arctic Ground Squirrels (AGS) exhibit a high degree of endogenous resistance against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury compared to the best protected rat strain (Brown Norway, BN). We tested if this species‐specific myocardial protection is associated with increased mitochondrial calcium retention capacity (CRC). Isolated hearts from BN (n=15) and summer‐active AGS (n=11) underwent 45 min global cardioplegic ischemia and 60 min reperfusion with Krebs solution containing 7.5 mM glucose or 1% Intralipid in addition. Left ventricular pressure was measured isovolumetrically. Cardiac mitochondria were isolated and CRC was measured by spectrofluorometry of calcium green at 503/532 nm excitation/emission for complex I and II substrates in response to intermittent calcium boluses. While multiple regression analysis revealed intralipid, female gender and species (AGS) as predictors of better myocardial function following IR, predictors of improved CRC were AGS and mitochondrial substrate only. These results add to our previous reports of species‐dependent mitochondrial coupling of oxidative phosphorylation as the most important predictor of cardioprotection in our model and underline the importance of broadly preserved mitochondrial function as a key element of attenuated IR injury. Supported by Department of Veterans Affairs (CARA‐026‐10F), NSF, NIH, USAMRMC, FAER and institutional funds.Grant Funding Source: Supported by Department of Veterans Affairs, NSF, NIH, USAMRMC, and FAER.
Ubiquinol reduces leukocyte‐endothelium interactions in the mesenteric microcirculation following hemorrhagic shock and fluid resuscitation (667.1)
Authors: Shen Qiuhua , Holloway Naomi , Thimmesch Amanda , Wood John , Clancy Richard , Pierce Janet 
Published: June 2021

Hemorrhagic shock (HS) and fluid resuscitation (FR) generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) which is a major factor in post‐hemorrhage inflammation and tissue injury. The hypoxia created by HS/reperfusion injury (RI) alters the microvascular blood flow and microvascular oxygen. The objective of the study was to determine if ubiquinol (reduced form of coenzyme Q10) reduces leukocyte‐endothelium interaction following HS/FR. Intravital microscopy was used to measure leukocyte‐endothelium interactions in the rat mesentery following 1‐hour HS and 2‐hour post FR with or without ubiquinol. HS was induced by removing ~40% of the rats’ blood volume resulting in a mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) being ~44 mmHg for 1‐hour. Immediately afterwards ubiquinol (1 mg/100 g body weight) was infused intra‐arterially. RI was produced by replacing the shed blood and Lactate Ringer’s. Below are the findings (n=6, *p < 0.05):

Group
Leukocyte Adherence
Mast Cell Degranulation
Reactive Oxygen Species
Vascular Permeability

Control
10.8 ± 2.3
1.36 ± 0.03
427 ± 82
0.54 ± 0.05

Ubiquinol
2.3 ± 2.0 *
1.02 ± 0.01*
159 ± 23*
0.34 ± 0.02*

These results indicate that ubiquinol protects endothelial function following HS/RI through its antioxidant and its anti‐inflammatory properties.Grant Funding Source: Supported by DOD, TSNRP, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (HU0001‐11‐1‐TS09).
Cardiomyocyte sialylation and complex N‐glycosylation protect against dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure (697.2)
Authors: Deng Wei , Ednie Andrew , Bennett Eric 
Published: June 2021

Human congenital disorders of glycosylation are characterized by variably reduced glycoprotein glycosylation resulting in multi‐system effects, including cardiac dysfunction. We seek to understand whether and how reduced glycosylation contributes to cardiac symptoms and reported previously that the reduced glycoprotein sialylation that results from the global gene deletion of a cardiac expressing sialyltransferase, ST3Gal4, contributed to pressure‐induced heart failure (FASEB J, 2013, 27:595.2). Here we questioned whether cardiomyocyte‐specific (αMHC‐Cre) deletion of mannosyl (alpha‐1,3‐)‐glycoprotein beta‐1,2‐N‐acetylglucosaminyltransferase, Mgat1, responsible for initiating synthesis of complex and hybrid N‐glycans, contributes to the onset of dilated cardiomyopathy. At age 16 weeks (earliest time point tested), homozygous floxed Mgat1 and αMHC‐Cre positive mice, Mgat1F/FαMHC‐Cre, showed significantly reduced ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS) compared to littermate controls (in %, for controls (n=8), EF = 73.8 ± 2.1, FS = 42.5 ± 1.8; for Mgat1F/FαMHC‐Cre mice (n=7), EF = 61.4 ± 2.3; FS = 32.8 ± 1.6; p<0.002). Systolic function of Mgat1F/FαMHC‐Cre mice, but not of control mice, continued to deteriorate with age (at 30 weeks, Mgat1F/FαMHC‐Cre mice (n=5) in %: EF = 38.2 ± 4.5; FS = 18.8 ± 2.5; p<0.0005). Mgat1F/FαMHC‐Cre mice presented with apparent dilated cardiomyopathy indicated by reduced systolic function, a thinner wall and larger internal diameter of the left ventricle (p<0.0005) with no apparent increase in left ventricular mass index, and marked right and left ventricular dilatation observed during necropsy. Together, our data suggest sialylation and complex N‐glycosylation are necessary for normal cardiac function, and reduced cardiomyocyte N‐glycosylation contributes to the onset of significant ventricular systolic dysfunction consistent with dilated cardiomyopathy leading to heart failure.Grant Funding Source: Supported by NSF grant # IOS‐1146882
Early life nutrition influences physical activity level and the contractile and metabolic phenotype of the mouse plantaris (706.17)
Authors: Ferguson David , Martinez C.J. , Scull Brooks , Fiorotto Marta 
Published: June 2021

The objective was to determine the effects of postnatal nutrition on skeletal muscle composition and voluntary physical activity. Newborn FVB female pups (n=18) were fostered by dams fed a control (CON; 20% protein) or protein‐restricted (PR; 8% protein) diet. After 3 wks all pups were weaned to a CON diet and individually housed with locked (SEDentary) or free‐moving (EX) running wheels. After 3 wks the contractile and metabolic properties of the plantaris were characterized by immunohistochemistry for myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) enzyme. Compared to SED CON, SED PR pups had a 60% higher proportion of oxidative fibers (P=0.03), 16% more intermediate fibers (P=0.06), and fewer glycolytic fibers (P=0.01); SED PR mice had 11% fewer MHC IIB fibers (P=0.03), 40% more IIX fibers (P=0.001) and similar IIA fibers. In EX CON pups the proportion of oxidative (P=0.024) and IIA fibers increased by 70% and 75%, respectively (p=0.001), and glycolytic, IIB (p=0.003) and IIX (p=0.005) fibers decreased. There was no effect of EX on the metabolic composition of the fibers in PR mice, whereas the changes in MHC were similar to those of EX CON mice. PR mice ran less than CON pups (55.2±4.8 vs 130.1 ± 5.1 km, respectively; P<0.001).Thus, early postnatal PR appears to result in the dissociation between the metabolic and contractile properties of skeletal muscle that may contribute to impaired wheel running.Grant Funding Source: Supported by USDA
Co‐administration of Neptazane and aminophylline to men abrogates the decline in endurance exercise performance in simulated high‐altitude (708.6)
Authors: Scalzo Rebecca , Binns Scott , Giordano Gregory , Paris Hunter , Sevits Kyle , Beals Joseph , Biela Laurie , Larson Dennis , Luckasen Gary , Irwin David , Schroeder Thies , Hamilton Karyn , Bell Christopher 
Published: June 2021

During a sojourn to high altitude, endurance exercise performance is diminished; pharmacotherapy may abrogate this performance deficit. We hypothesized oral administration of Neptazane (N), Aminophylline (A), and/or N combined with A would attenuate hypoxia‐mediated decrements in endurance exercise performance in humans. Healthy males (26±1 years, body mass index: 24.9±0.4 kg/m2; mean±SE) were randomly assigned to one of four treatments: placebo (n=9), N (250 mg; n=10), A (400 mg; n=9), or N (250 mg) combined with A (400 mg; n=8). On two separate occasions, the first in normoxia (21% O2) and the second in hypoxia (15% O2), participants sat for 4.5 hours before completing a standardized exercise bout (30 min, stationary cycling, 100 W) followed by a time trial (time to cycle 12.5 km). The magnitude of time trial performance decrement in hypoxia did not differ (P>0.09) between placebo (+3.0±1.0 min), N (+1.4±0.5 min) and A (+1.8±0.4 min), however the performance decrement with N combined with A was less than placebo (+0.6±0.5 min; P=0.01). This improvement may have been partially mediated by increased SpO2 in hypoxia with N combined with A, compared with placebo (73±1 vs. 79±2%; P<0.02). In adult men, N combined with A abrogated the hypoxia‐mediated decrement in endurance exercise performance. Co‐administration of N and A may promote endurance exercise performance during a sojourn to high altitude.Grant Funding Source: Supported by DARPA: N66001‐10‐C‐2134
Dibutyl phthalate and chromium, contaminants found in urban rivers, increase aggressive behavior of the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (728.26)
Authors: Vicente Laura , Pérez Erick , Hernández Andrea , Sosa María , Rivera Nilsa 
Published: June 2021

Freshwater ecosystems are being affected by many sources of pollution related to anthropogenic activities, particularly in highly developed urbanized areas. Dominance and fighting behavior in crustaceans vary depending on a number of circumstances such as food availability, shelter, reproductive partners, environment, health status, and exposure to contaminants. The impact of urban contaminants on crustacean behavior has not been thoroughly studied yet and may serve as a means to monitor potential contamination in rivers in highly populated regions, such as the island of Puerto Rico, We hypothesized that organic compounds, such as phthalates, and heavy metal contaminants present in urban rivers of Puerto Rico can affect interactive behaviors of the freshwater prawn even at relatively low concentrations. Submissive prawns of interacting pairs were injected with dibutyl phthalate (DBP) or chromium (Cr III), at levels allowed by the Environmental Protection Agency for drinking water. Results show that low concentrations of both DBP and Cr III increase levels of aggression of submissive prawns in a reversible and repeatable manner. It is possible that these contaminants may have an effect in the mechanisms and neural circuitry underlying aggression in the freshwater prawn. Additional studies using immunohistochemistry and electrophysiology approaches will be conducted to test this possibility.Grant Funding Source: NSF HRD‐1137725; NSF DBI‐0932955; NIH NIGMS 5SC3GM084763
The E. coli single stranded DNA binding protein SSB interacts with the UmuD polymerase manager protein (735.7)
Authors: Naniong MarkVic , Silva Michelle , DiBenedetto Arianna , Dang Celeste , Alves Christine , Chang Monyrath , Beuning Penny 
Published: June 2021

Escherichia coli single‐stranded DNA binding protein (SSB) binds to and protects the ssDNA present in various DNA processing mechanisms. It has been shown that SSB inhibits replication by binding to the C‐terminal domain of the α subunit of DNA polymerase III, the main replicative polymerase in E. coli. Though this interaction between SSB and α occurs through the globular N‐terminal domain of SSB, it has also been shown that SSB serves as a hub for different proteins involved in DNA processing pathways, through interaction with its C‐terminal tail. One such protein is DNA polymerase V, a Y‐family polymerase encoded by the umuDC genes. The interactions between UmuC, the polymerase subunit of DNA pol V, and SSB have been shown to increase access to the primer termini, and thereby increase the efficiency of pol V. In addition to the previously observed interaction of UmuC with SSB (Arad 2008 JBC 283:8274), we have determined that UmuD also physically interacts with SSB, which is weakened by the SSB‐113 (P177S) mutation. We are currently further characterizing this interaction. Supported by NSF and the American Cancer Society.Grant Funding Source: NSF and American Cancer Society
N‐terminal conserved cysteines of Env7 are palmitoylated and direct its stability, localization, and vacuolar fusion regulation in S. cerevisiae (739.12)
Authors: Gharakhanian Editte , Manandhar Surya , Calle Erika 
Published: June 2021

Palmitoylation at cysteine residues is the only known reversible lipid modification and has been implicated in protein membrane association as well as function. There is growing evidence that many palmitoylated proteins have regulatory roles in dynamic cellular functions including membrane fusion. Recently, we identified Env7 as a palmitoylated vacuolar membrane protein‐kinase involved in negative regulation of vacuolar fusion. Our phylogenetic analyses have established Env7 as an ortholog of human STK16, an endomembrane kinase with no known function. Env7 contains a conserved palmitoylation consensus sequence and substitution of the three consecutive cysteines (Cys13‐15) within that domain renders the protein non‐palmitoylated and cytoplasmic. In this study, we further dissect and define the role of individual cysteines of the consensus sequence in vivo. Our results indicate that all three cysteines serve as palmitoylation substrates, and any pairwise combination is essential and sufficient for near wild type levels of Env7 palmitoylation, membrane association, phosphorylation, and fusion regulatory function. Furthermore, individually, each can serve as a minimum requirement for distinct properties of Env7 in cells. Cys13 is sufficient for membrane association, Cys15 is essential for the fusion/fission regulatory function, and Cys14 or Cys15 is essential for protection of membrane bounded Env7 from proteasomal degradation. A role for Cys14 and Cys15 in correct sorting at the membrane is discussed. Thus, Env7 palmitoylation at the N‐terminal triple cysteines directs not only its membrane association, but also its stability, phosphorylation, and cellular function.Grant Funding Source: Supported by National Science Foundation
Role of superoxide dismutases and alkyl hydroperoxidases in pathogenesis of Pseudomonas syringae (741.1)
Authors: Bile Ernest , Guo Ming , Becker Will , Alfano Jim 
Published: June 2021

Plants, such as Arabidopsis thaliana, release reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as the superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical, and hydroxyl ion as a defense mechanism when they are infected with microorganisms. The production of ROS results in restriction of the growth of pathogens like Pseudomonas syringae. In order to be a successful pathogen, P. syringae must suppress these responses when it infects plants. P. syringae has evolved redox‐related enzymes to detoxify ROS. The sods and Ahps are able to relieve oxidative stresses by detoxifying ROS into less reactive molecules using these redox‐related enzymes during infection. However, it remains unclear whether Sods and Ahp(s) also play a role in pathogenesis.In this project, we set out to1) Clone and express sodA, sodB and sodC genes in E. coli, 2) Perform pathogenicity assay with the sodC mutant, and 3) Generate deletion mutants lacking both AhpC and AhpF. We successfully cloned the sodA, sodB and sodC genes using plasmid pLN615, and verified their authenticity by immunoblot of the expression extract. Pathogenicity assays revealed that the sodC mutant did not show significant differences in virulence from the wild type strain DC3000 in Arabidopsis plants. This suggests that the sodC gene may be redundant with the sodA and sodB in DC3000. We were also successful in generating P. syringae mutant lacking both AhpC and AhpF using an unmarked mutagenesis approach.Grant Funding Source: NSF
High‐throughput discovery of post‐transcriptional regulatory elements (741.3)
Authors: Wissink Erin , Fogarty Elizabeth , Grimson Andrew 
Published: June 2021

Our objective is to identify novel sequence elements that control mammalian post‐transcriptional gene regulation of messenger RNAs (mRNAs). To do so, we created a high‐throughput, fluorescence‐based screening technology. We used this screen to measure the regulatory potential of thousands of short sequences in the context of a specific position within one human 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR). From this screen, we discovered hundreds of previously unknown regulatory elements and validated dozens of them in an orthogonal reporter assay. To then test the importance of these novel elements in the post‐transcriptional regulation of endogenous human genes, we chose a subset of validated elements and identified human 3′UTRs containing that sequence, and we showed that mutating the identified element disrupts the expression of the tested gene. We are now using our screening technology to examine the importance of local 3′UTR context on the regulatory impact our candidate regulatory elements. Our preliminary data indicate that some elements function in all of the 3′UTRs we have tested, whereas others require specific local context to function. In conclusion, it is clear that many post‐transcriptional regulatory elements remain elusive, and our technology can discover them.Grant Funding Source: Supported by NIGMS, NSF, and the American Cancer Society
The balance between protein folding and aggregation in the early stages of a protein’s life: role of the ribosome and molecular chaperones (752.6)
Authors: Liu Yue , Cavagnero Silvia 
Published: June 2021

Protein biosynthesis takes place within the ribosomal machinery in the presence of the molecular chaperones trigger factor (TF) and DnaK, which are involved in the early stages of a protein’s life in bacteria. To date, the role of the ribosome, DnaK and TF in preventing co‐ and post‐translational protein aggregation is poorly understood. In this study, we used sperm whale apomyoglobin as a model protein to investigate how the ribosome, trigger factor and DnaK affect the balance between protein folding and aggregation, in the context of an E. coli cell free system. We detected both the soluble and insoluble fractions of newly synthesized apomyoglobin in a cell‐free transcription‐translation environment in the presence and absence of TF and DnaK. We took advantage of in situ labeling the N‐terminal methionine via the unnatural BODIPY‐tRNA fMet. Given that the genes encoding TF and DnaK cannot be both knocked out within the same cell strain, we developed a short peptide that can specifically inhibit DnaK activity, and added it into the cell free extract of a tig knock out strain to explore the translation in the absence of both DnaK and trigger factor. We also studied how these two chaperones and the ribosome affect incomplete nascent protein aggregation by examining the solubility of different truncated apomyoglobin constructs. Our results show that elimination of both TF and DnaK activity leads to accumulation of insoluble truncated polypeptides but does not affect the solubility of the full‐length protein. Our findings demonstrate that molecular chaperones are important for preventing any post‐translational aggregation of incomplete polypeptides but the ribosome alone suffices in promoting the successful folding of the full‐length protein.Grant Funding Source: Supported by NSF grant