Data management plan for the research grant "Generating pathogen- / pest-resistant non-GMO cotton through targeted genome editing of oxylipin signaling pathways."

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.

Article presents a study where whole transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) and differential expression analysis were used to identify early (1–3 hr) transcriptional changes induced by the exogenous treatment of NAE 18:2 and NAE 18:3 in cotyledons, roots, and seedlings.

The article looks at antitumor activity using a matched pair of cell lines MDA-MB-231 cells that are estrogen-independent, estrogen receptor negative and MCF-7 cells, a cell line that is estrogen receptor (ER) positive. Those polyethers that contained a O-phenyl unit were able to significantly inhibit the non-estrogen sensitive cell line but were much less effective against the estrogen sensitive cell line; that is, the human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 showed better test results for polymers derived from diols containing the O-phenyl moiety than the breast cancer cell line MCF-7, a well-characterized estrogen receptor positive control cell line.

Data management plan for the grant, "Novel regulators of Slo2 potassium channels"

Data management plan for the grant, "Collaborative Research: LTREB Renewal - River ecosystem responses to floodplain restoration." This project centers on researching the metabolic transformations of the metal-contaminated Upper Clark Fork River in western Montana, USA, that are shifting with environmental restoration efforts. Specifically, the work conducted at UNT includes dissolved organic matter (DOM) chemical characterization of river samples along a 200 km transect from the Upper Clark Fork River, metal concentration analysis, and short-term incubation experiments on the river water (30 days of microbial processes) using multiple analytical chemistry techniques such as absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopy and atomic absorption spectroscopy or inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Data will be analyzed to identify chemical and biological signals of restoration and assess ecosystem health.

Article investigating exposure to traffic-generated emissions and the potential to alter lung microbiota and immune defenses. Results show that the combined effects of ME and HF diet result in decreased immune surveillance and lung bacterial dysbiosis, which is of significance in lung diseases.

Article on a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase commonly used for negative selection in transgenic plants causing growth anomalies by disrupting brassinosteroid signaling.

Article describing a novel S6 kinase isolated from human placenta which autoactivates through autophosphorylation in vitro. The data supports the hypothesis that this previously uncharacterized S6 kinase belongs to a unique family of protein kinases which utilize autophosphorylation as part of their in vivo activation mechanism.

This article shows that both Cys-EC and 4β-(S-cysteinyl)-catechin (Cys-C) are present in grapevine. The data from this study advance knowledge of PA building blocks and LAR function and provide targets for grapevine breeding to alter PA composition.

Article discussing research on BOV, a web-based BLAST output visualization tool.

Data management plan for the grant, "NSFDEB-NERC: Collaborative Research: Wildlife corridors: do they work and who benefits?" Research on the impact of wildlife corridors using genetics as the measure of effectiveness. The study will use 20 independent landscapes to quantify how corridor traits affect gene flow, and will use non-flying mammals as focal species because they are strongly affected by fragmentation. The research team hypothesizes (1) a strong non-linear decline in success (gene flow) with corridor length, reflecting the skewed distribution of dispersal distances within species; (2) success will drop steeply as corridor width falls below a threshold, with the threshold determined by species traits; and (3) species that are bigger, are habitat specialists, or have greater dispersal abilities (relative to brain size or reproductive rate) will benefit more from corridors. Testing these hypotheses will allow generalization to a wide range of mammal species not included in this project. It will use highly flexible Random Forest models to answer the overarching question: What landscape traits (e.g., corridor width, degree of human disturbance) and species traits (mobility, affinity to particular land cover types) are associated with effective corridors?

Data management plan for the grant, "Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP): Landscape genetics of wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) in Texas."

This article presents a study in which an in silico genome-scale metabolic model of steroidogenesis is used to investigate the effects of hypoxic stress on steroid hormone productions in fish. This article introduces a powerful model for pathway analysis that can lend insights on the effects of various stressor scenarios on metabolic functions.

Data management plan for the grant, "Development of advanced biocatalyst tools and resources to enable biogas-based biomanufacturing."

Data management plan for the grant "Elucidating Cyclic Fatty Acid Biosynthesis and Compartmentalization to Improve Cottonseed Value." Cotton is an important oilseed crop in the U.S. economy. Cotton seed and other vegetative tissues produce unusual chemicals called cyclic fatty acids that have wide-ranging potential uses from high-value industrial properties to nutrition-oriented uses. This project focuses on identifying genes that contribute to the production and storage of these high value bioproducts.

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.

This article determines the circulating leukocyte subset response to completing the 2013 Hotter'N Hell Hundred recreational 164-km road cycle event in a hot and humid environmental condition.

This article measures the cardiac performance of Newfoundland Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). The results: (1) show that maximum performance of the isolated cod heart is not compromised by exposure to cold temperatures; and (2) support data from other studies, which show that, in contrast to salmonids, cod cardiac performance/myocardial contractility is not dependent upon humoral adrenergic stimulation.

Presentation for the 2010 University Scholars Day at the University of North Texas discussing the purification and analysis of mycobacteriophage Alice.

This paper discusses research on the purification and analysis of mycobacteriophage Alice. The purpose of this research is to expand the knowledge of mycobacteriophage and analyze a single mycobacteriophage genome to be archived for future use.

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.

This article contains a study to determine if 30-d of oral spore-based probiotic supplementation could reduce dietary endotoxemia.

Poster presentation for the 2010 University Scholars Day at the University of North Texas discussing research on the isolation of a new strain of mycobacteriophage from soil collection using a Mycobacterium smegmatis host strain and an enrichment protocol.