APEX Presentations
November 7, 2005
Comparative Bone Histology of Extant and Extinct Taxa
Name: Kimberly Kainec
Major: Biology
Academic Advisor: Dr. Greg Szulgit
APEX Advisor: Dr. Sandy Madar
Location: Hiram College
Dr. Sandy Madar, Associate Professor & Assoc. Dean
Hiram College, Hiram, OH 44234
330.569.5261
madarsi@hiram.edu
Source of Funding: Howard Hughes Medical Institute Grant
Thin sections from nine distinct Archaeocete taxa as well as nine extant mammal species were produced using epithin-epoxy mounting protocol. The prehistoric whales present within the collection, obtained from previous paleontological excavation in Pakistan and India, were provided by Dr. Sandra Madar. Extant specimens were obtained from various locals over the course of the internship.
Through the histological observation of several taxa of extant mammals and extinct archaeocetes, comparisons of bone osteogenesis between available species were obtained. Extant species included mammals with variation in habitat ranging from terrestrial to fully-aquatic. With known habitats and methods of locomotion of extant species, educated inferences on extinct species’ locomotory means and bone development were suggested. Conclusions were drawn based on similarities observed within the bone matrices.
Farm Animal Rehabilitation in a Sanctuary Setting
Name: Amanda Brenneman
Major: Psychobiology
Academic and APEX Advisor: Dr. Kimberley Phillips
Location: Happy Trails Farm Animal Sanctuary, Ravenna, OH
Annette Fischer, Executive Director
5623 New Milford Rd, Ravenna, OH
330.296.5914
annettehorse@earthlink.net
Based on 120 hours of observational research at the Happy Trails Farm Animal Sanctuary in Ravenna, Ohio, the current study examined the rehabilitation of abused or neglected farm animals in the sanctuary setting. Physical and behavioral rehabilitation methods will be discussed in this presentation. Each type will be addressed in regards to specific cases of two animals residing at the shelter for the duration of the research. The cases include: Raynee, a 20 year old grade quarter horse mare that showed signs of abuse resulting from her prior occupation of barrel-racing; and Walton, a 28 year old quarter horse gelding who suffered from malnutrition and starvation due to neglect.
Battling Alien Invaders: Protecting Ecosystems against Non-Native Invasive Plants through Monitoring and Management
Name: Julie Wnuk
Major: Biology
Academic and APEX Advisor: Dr. Matthew Hils
Locations: Wayne National Forest and
James H. Barrow Field Station, Hiram College
Cheryl Coon, Botanist
Wayne National Forest Supervisor’s Office
13700 U.S. Highway 33, Nelsonville, OH 45764
740.753.0558
ccoon@fs.fed.us
Source of Funding: Wayne National Forest internship program
Biological invasions of natural ecosystems by non-native plant species can incur significant environmental and economic consequences. Controlling exotic species in order to conserve native biodiversity and maintain traditional ecosystem functions presents a special challenge to ecologists and land managers. In order to maximize the effectiveness of control measures, it is critical to develop an informed strategy for management and monitoring. This presentation will describe experience with non-native plant management gained this summer through work at the Wayne National Forest, and will examine how this experience can be applied to a project at the James H. Barrow Field Station.
Functional Differences Between the Two Aconitases of A. tumefaciens C58
Name: Terrence Johnson
Major: Biochemistry
Academic and APEX Advisor: Dr. Prudence Hall
Location: Hiram College
Dr. Brad Goodner
Associate Professor
Hiram College, Hiram, OH 44234
330.569.5260
GoodnerBW@hiram.edu
Source of Funding: Howard Hughes Medical Institute Grant
Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a plant pathogen that causes the formation of crown gall disease in a wide variety of dicotyledonous plants especially those in the rose family such as roses, apples, raspberries, and pears. A separate strain, known as biovar 3, also causes crown galls on grapevines. Crown gall is caused by a mechanism in which A. tumefaciens transfers part of its DNA to a plant and the DNA gets incorporated into the plant’s genome resulting in tumors.
Aconitases are monomeric iron-sulfur proteins whose primary function is to catalyze the interconversion of citrate to isocitrate in the citric acid cycle. Most members of the Bacteria domain have two aconitases, AcnA and AcnB. According to a model developed in E. coli and B. subtilis, a second function of aconitases is to monitor oxidative stress and post-transcriptionally regulate the synthesis of additional aconitase protein as well as cellular processes such as motility. In E. coli, AcnA is induced during periods of stress while AcnB is the major enzyme involved in exponential growth. Mutations in acnA have no impact on motility, while mutations in acnB decrease motility.
Unlike the E. coli model, the sequenced members of the alpha-Proteobacteria have only a acnA gene except for A. tumefaciens C58 which has both acnA and acnB. To analyze the role of the two aconitases in A. tumefaciens C58, we generated mutations in each gene (AGR_C_4866 = acnA; AGR_L_294 = acnB). Contrary to the E. coli model, the acnA- mutant is an auxotroph on minimal media and it shows a very hypermotile phenotype on rich medium. The acnB- mutant shows only a mild hypomotile phenotype. I will present data on motility as well as other experiments to dissect the role of the two aconitases.
Tracking Cyclura lewisi
Name: Paul Watler
Major: Biology
Academic and APEX Advisor: Dr. Dennis Taylor
Location: Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Fred Burton, Director
Blue Iguana Recovery Program, PO BOX 10308 APO
GRAND CAYMAN, CAYMAN ISLANDS
345.947.6050
fjburton@blueiguana.ky
Source of Funding: Charitable Donations
Cyclura lewisi, the Grand Cayman Blue Rock Iguana is the singularly most endangered iguana in the world primarily due to its small geographic range, isolation, and threats due to introduced pets. Volunteers assisted the Blue Iguana Recovery Programme last summer in radio tracking surveys in two different areas of the island. I report on studies in an isolated area, a dirt road bisecting prime habitat for the blue iguana. The movements of three wild iguanas were monitored every forty-five minutes by radio receiver. I also monitored blue iguanas in the northern sector of the Salina Reserve, where younger individuals from a "head start program" were released the year before. I tracked about 20 iguanas, noting details about posture, substrate, and shade level with time.
I also participated in a captive breeding program at the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, where young Blue Iguanas are raised prior to being released. In all, about two hundred Blue Iguanas were fed and watered daily. The captive breeding and monitoring programs are of vital importance to the continued existence of this species. Participation of volunteers in the Blue Iguana Recovery Programme is setting the stage for one of the greatest survival stories of our time.
Protein-Protein Interactions in Mitochondrial Fission
Name: Brian Watkins
Major: Biochemistry
Academic and APEX Advisor: Dr. Prudence Hall
Location: University of South Alabama
Dr. Mikhail Alexeyev, Assistant Professor
Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience
University of South Alabama, Mobile AL 36688
251.460.6789
malexeye@jaguar1.usouthal.edu
Source of Funding: National Science Foundation
Abstract: Mammalian mitochondria are dynamic entities that regularly undergo fission and fusion. This process is thought to be mediated by interactions of various proteins on the mitochondrial surface. In this study a yeast two-hybrid library screen is performed to find any potential interacting partners for the proteins hFis1 and Drp1, two proteins known to be involved in mitochondrial fission. Two different stringencies for screening were tested for hFis1 and Drp1. High stringency screening was used to select for Drp1 interactions. In this case very few colonies were produced and no interactions were found. A lower stringency screening was then chosen for hFis1.
Several colonies were produced with this screen and many potential interactions were found. Sequencing results found positively interacting genes: mitochondrial ribosomal protein L41, CREB3, annexin A11, CD74 antigen, CD68 antigen, F0 ATP synthase, reticulon 3, CD151 antigen, WAC, Titin, CD36 antigen, ARPC2, CD99 antigen, CD164 antigen (sialomucin). Genes are still being sequenced and it is expected that other potential interactions will be found as well. As for Drp1, it is reasonable to believe that a lower stringency selection may provide results.