Data management plan for the grant, "Structural and mechanistic studies of oxalate catabolism." Biologically derived oxalic acid has been shown to have a negative impact on crop production and human health. Oxalate present in plant foods can decrease their nutritional value by binding to calcium and rendering that calcium unavailable for nutritional absorption. This project will study the structure and function of key enzymes in oxalate turnover to understand their biological functions and mechanisms, facilitating metabolic engineering of plants toward improving nutritional quality and production of plant derived foods.

Data management plan for the grant, "Chemical-Guided Identification of Primary Metabolic Targets for Improvement of Hydroxy Fatty Acid Synthesis in Physaria fendleri." Research on the identification of primary metabolic targets using chemical-guided identification. The first objective of this research is to conduct metabolomics analysis on P. fendleri embryos cultured with two identified chemical regulators of fatty acid metabolism. The second objective of this research is to generate a metabolic flux map of embryos treated with these regulatory compounds in order to determine how metabolic rates and carbon flow can be manipulated to improve HFA production in this species and increase its commercial viability. With properties that could replace imported castor oil, research on the crop in discussion is situated directly in the scope of the USDA-AFRI Education and Workforce Development goals.

Data management plan for the grant, "Non-Genetic Inheritance of Hypoxia Tolerance in Fishes: Dynamics and Mechanisms." Research quantifying the inheritance of tolerance to low oxygen in a model fish and then determine the tolerance mechanisms, at organismal to molecular levels, that are passed on from parents to their offspring. The investigators will not only focus on conventional, well-studied genetic mechanisms for inheritance, but will explore so-called “epigenetic” forms of inheritance that may transfer parental characteristics for only a generation or two. Such “temporary inheritance” might actually require less energy and be more beneficial to a species than the more permanent form of genetic inheritance. This project will quantify non-genetic inheritance of hypoxia tolerance in zebrafish as a model organism and then identify underlying mechanisms, at organismal to molecular levels, in parents and in their progeny. Specifically, this project will quantify non-genetically inherited traits that allow hypoxia tolerance, determine “wash-in” and “wash-out” (i.e., the dynamics) of hypoxia-tolerant phenotypes across multiple generations, and establish epigenetic mechanism(s) of non-genetic inheritance in subsequent generations. The information provided by this project will allow biologists to better predict, and perhaps even mitigate, the negative consequences of future episodes of low oxygen in rivers and lakes.

This article reports on the characterization of the different antioxidant mechanisms of tomato plants subjected to heat stress, salinity stress, or a combination of both stresses.

One preserved mussel specimen including the right valve only. The specimen exhibits a quadrate shape; thick shell; single looped beak sculpturing; white internal coloring; external sculpturing in the form of ridges. Collected in the Colorado basin. The specimen measures between 60 - 100 mm in length and was assessed to be subfossil when collected.

One preserved mussel specimen including the right valve only. The specimen exhibits a quadrate shape; thick shell; single looped beak sculpturing; white internal coloring; external sculpturing in the form of ridges. Collected in the Colorado basin. The specimen measures between 60 - 100 mm in length and was assessed to be subfossil when collected.

One preserved mussel specimen including the right valve only. The specimen exhibits an elliptical shape; moderately thick shell; white internal coloring; no external sculpturing. Collected in the Colorado basin. The specimen measures between 0 - 60 mm in length and was assessed to be very-long dead when collected.

One preserved mussel specimen including the right valve only. The specimen exhibits an elliptical shape; thick shell; white internal coloring; tan external coloring; no external sculpturing. Collected in the Colorado basin. The specimen measures between 60 - 100 mm in length and was assessed to be long dead when collected.

One preserved mussel specimen including the right valve only. The specimen exhibits an elliptical shape; thin shell; double looped beak sculpturing; bluish-white internal coloring; tan external coloring; no external sculpturing. Collected in the Colorado basin. The specimen measures between 0 - 60 mm in length and was assessed to be long dead when collected.