Moving North

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Mathematically modeled herring and mackerel fish migrations in the North and Norwegian Seas, related it to global temperature rise and and how it will affect the small Scottish fishing industry. This project was for a mathematical modeling competition for HSU.

Multifaceted: SEM analysis of Entolomatoid basidiospores

Casey Ledford , Biological Sciences Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

The Entomlomataceae (Agaricales, Basidiomycota) are a relatively speciose and highly variant family of fungi. They are identified by their salmon-pink pigmented basidiospores that are multifaceted/multiangular in polar or in all views. Known complexities in erecting species concepts and deciphering taxonomic groups exist, including extensive phenotypic plasticity. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images portraying basidiospore morphological nuances may serve as a powerful tool in solving the taxonomy of the group.

Mycoremediation and TEK Implemented into Ecological Restoration Practices

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Mycoremediation and traditional ecological knowledge or TEK implemented within Indigenous communities and blended with accepted ecological restoration methods in order to restore the health of damaged and contaminated ecosystems.

Nanodisc assisted terbinafine transport into Saccharomyces cerevisiae

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

We wish to answer whether or not nanodiscs make an effective means of transporting medication, specifically in the treatment of fungal infections, seeing as research is currently examining its effectiveness in the transport of chemotherapy drugs to prevent collateral cell death. We tested nanodisc transport of the antifungal terbinafine, which is often used as a topical ointment for direct application, to determine if naondiscs improve its effectiveness as a fungal killer. We treated cultured samples of Brewer's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) with DMPC lipid nanodiscs wrapped in Apo-A1 protein and loaded with terbinafine and observed fungal cell death, as compared to direct application.

Nanodiscs Stabilize Anabaena Sensory Rhodopsin for Transcriptional Regulation Studies

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Anabaena Sensory Rhodopsin (ASR) is a retinal containing membrane protein from Anabaena nostoc. ASR undergoes an orange-light induced conformational change from an all trans form to a 13-cis form, which is associated with the release of a bound transducer protein ASRT. It is proposed that the ASR/ASRT complex directly controls the transcription of phycocyanin (cpc-gene) and phycoerythrocyanin (pec-gene). In order to study this protein complex, ASR nanolipoprotein particles (nanodiscs) were assembled, which allows both ends of the ASR protein to be studied. These particles will enable, the main goal of this research, which is to identify the mechanism of the ASR/ASRT control of transcription.

Nanodiscs Stabilize Anabaena Sensory Rhodopsin for Transcriptional Regulation Studies

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Anabaena Sensory Rhodopsin (ASR) is a retinal containing photoactive membrane protein from the cyanobacterium Anabaena. ASR is part of a protein complex which has been proposed, but never demonstrated, to control the transcription of the cpc-genes involved in chromatic adaption. We isolated and characterized ASR from engineered E. coli for construction of protein lipid nanodiscs. Our ASR nanodiscs were soluble and allow for protein access from the top and bottom of the bilayer. Our next steps will involve examination of the lipid environment and to investigate DNA binding. Results of these studies may allow for future use of these proteins as photo-active transcriptional regulators.

Nanodiscs stabilize Anabaena sensory rhodopsin trimers for regulatory binding studies

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Anabaena Sensory Rhodopsin (ASR), a photoactive membrane protein, undergoes light induced conformational change associated with release of a transducer protein, ASRT. This complex is proposed to control transcription. However, DNA binding to ASR has not been demonstrated. We prepared ASR in soluble nanodiscs. Our data show ASR nanodiscs had a retinal absorbance shift (≈548 - 537 nm). DLS of ASR nanodiscs, separated by SEC, displayed two populations (21.9 ± 6.3 and 31.1 ± 12.5 nm). These populations may represent varying oligomeric states. Preliminary data from crosslinking studies suggest ASR exist in a trimeric state. We conclude ASR is stabilized in the nanodiscs, enabling studies of ASR.

Nanoscale Modifications to the RsaA S-Layer Protein Enhance Lead Binding in Caulobacter Vibriodes

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Heavy metal contamination of soils and waterways due to industrial processes continues to be a problem in the United States. Recent reports indicate that microbial surface layers (S-layers) can bind and sequester heavy metals, thereby removing them from the environment. Our approach is to enhance this process for lead bioremediation. Through this study, C. vibrioides strains were morphologically characterized through transmission and scanning electron microscopy, and recombinant surface layer export was genetically verified. Using a fluorescence-based assay, we show that our engineered strains were 10% more effective in bioremediating lead than the wildtype in nanomolar concentrations.

Nanoscale Modifications to the RsaA S-Layer Protein Enhance Lead Binding in Whole Cells

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Due to the many industrial processes of modern America, heavy metal contamination of our waterways, specifically in densely populated areas, has become a major issue. The Prokaryotic species Caulobacter vibrioides exhibits a surface layer protein, RsaA, forming a 2-D crystallin array above the cell membrane. RsaA can be modified to exhibit a high binding potential with many of the charged ions, such as heavy metals, which are found in waterways. Here we show through an quantitative fluorescence assay that upon exposure to 39.063nM Pb solution, engineered C. vibrioides strains Hcm 027, and 028 remediated approximately 10% more Pb than the wildtype, Hcm 009.

Nanoscale Modifications to the RsaA S-Layer Protein Enhance Lead binding in Whole Cells

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Heavy metal contamination of soils and waterways due to industrial processes, continues to be a problem in the United States. Recent reports indicate that microbial surface layers (S-layers) are able to bind and sequester heavy metals, thereby removing them from the environment. Our approach is to enhance this process for heavy metal bioremediation. Using a highly sensitive fluorescent dye, lead remediation was measured in the nanomolar range. Results show that upon exposure to 39.0 nM Pb solution engineered C. vibrioides strains Hcm 027,028, remediated the solution to, 9.6 ± 0.3 nM, 9.0 ± 0.2 nM respectively and 13.3 ± 0.1 nM for the wild type.