TENNESSEE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
West Tennessee Regional Collegiate Meeting
April 9, 2011
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
College of Graduate Health Sciences
Memphis, TN
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Welcome to
The West Tennessee Regional Collegiate Division
of the Tennessee Academy of Sciences
At the University of Tennessee Health Science Center
April 9, 2011
The Academy encourages undergraduate science students to plan, execute, present and publish original basic science and/or clinical research as part of their prescience and/or preclinical undergraduate development. As an active and salient component of this process we are happy to have thirty-six student presenters registered for the 2011 West Tennessee Regional Collegiate Division of the Tennessee Academy of Sciences.
We have attempted to provide a mentoring apprenticeship ambience to facilitate interaction between visiting faculty and students. Our hope is that you enjoy the Memphis and University of Tennessee Health Science Center communities and that visitors and presenting students will seriously consider the graduate and clinical programs at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
~Eldridge F. Johnson
Professor and Director of the Prescience Program, UTHSC
Co-Director, West Tennessee Regional Division, Tennessee Academy of Sciences
Program Schedule
Registration 8:30 – 9:00 am
(General Education Building Lobby)
Welcome and Introduction 9:00 – 9:15 am
(General Education Building A102)
Poster Presentations 9:15-10:00 am
(General Education Building Lobby)
Student Presentations 10:00 am- 12:15 pm
Session 1: Animal Behavior/ Ecology (GEB A310)
Session 2: Genetics/Cell& Molecular Biology 1 (GEB A312)
Session 3A: Clinically Related Investigations (GEB A313)
Session 3B: Cell & Molecular Biology 2 (GEB A313)
Session 4: Chemistry (GEB A315)
Graduate School Workshop 12:30 – 1:00 pm
Hear from Graduate School Faculty, Post-Doctorate Fellows, and Graduate Students about what Grad. School is really like: Donald Thomason, Ph.D., James Fells, Ph.D., and Jennifer Paxson Saputua (PhD candidate)
(General Education Building A102)
Keynote Speaker 1:00 – 1:30 pm
(General Education Building A102)
Dr. Isaac Donkor
Professor and Vice Chair, Pharmaceutical Sciences &
Associate Dean, Health Career Programs
“Synthesis and In Vitro Antitumor Activity of Peptidomimetic Calpain Inhibitors
with P2-Proline Derivatives”
Lunch 12:15 – 2:00 pm
(General Education Building Lobby & A102)
Awards Announced 1:30 – 2:00 pm
(General Education Building A102)
Key Note Speaker
GEB A 102
1:00-1:30
Dr. Isaac Donkor
Professor and Vice Chair, Pharmaceutical Sciences &
Associate Dean, Health Career Programs
“Synthesis and In Vitro Antitumor Activity of Peptidomimetic Calpain Inhibitors
with P2-Proline Derivatives”
SYNTHESIS AND IN VITRO ANTITUMOR ACTIVITY OF PEPTIDOMIMETIC CALPAIN INHIBITORS WITH P2-PROLINE MIMETICS. Isaac O. Donkor, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee. Calpain is a class of Ca2+-dependent cysteine proteases that have attracted considerable attention in the scientific literature due to their role in the modulation of various aspects of cell physiology, including apoptosis, cell migration and cell proliferation. Deregulation of calpain function has been implicated in a variety of human disease including neurological disorders, retinopathies, diabetes, and cancer. There is ample evidence indicating that inhibition of calpain suppresses cell growth and promotes apoptosis in a variety of human cancer cell lines. Calpain inhibitors are therefore of interest as anticancer agents. As part of our efforts to develop novel calpain inhibitors as tools for studying calpain function and as potential therapeutic agents, we synthesized compounds 1-4 that incorporate constrained residues at the P2 as peptidomimetic inhibitors of calpain. The Ki values of the compounds for inhibition of calpain I ranged from 0.076 μM to 0.54 μM. The synthesis, cytotoxicity, apoptosis induction potential, and anti-migration activity of the compounds will be presented.
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Acknowledgements
The West Tennessee Regional Collegiate Division of the Tennessee Academy of Sciences would like to thank the following people for their dedication, donations, hard work and sponsorship throughout the conference:
DONORS & SPONSORS:
The College of Graduate Health Sciences, UTHSC
Health Career Programs, UTHSC
Pamela Houston, Director of Special Events/Community Affairs, Student Life, Office of the Chancellor, UTHSC
JUDGES
Tade Adedokum, PhD – Lane College
Jeremy Armstrong, PhD candidate – University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Charles Biggers, PhD- University of Memphis
John Buolanwini, PhD – University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Erika A. Dillard, MD, PhD Candidate – University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Kristin Hamre, PhD – University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Paul Herron, PhD – University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Scott A. Heldt, PhD – University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Enitra N. Jones, PhD candidate – University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Craig Lafferty, DPM – University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Paul Madubuonwu, MD – University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Satish Mahajan, PhD – Lane College
Pat Martin, PhD – University of Tennessee, Martin
Teri J Mason, PhD – Christian Brothers University
Beth Nelson, PhD – Christian Brothers University
Sherry Painter, PhD – Lemoyne Owen College
Frank Yeh, PhD – Rust College
John Young, PhD – Christian Brothers University
ORGANIZERS
Malinda Fitzgerald, PhD, Christian Brothers University/ University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Eldridge F. Johnson, PhD, University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Donald Thomason, PhD, University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Constance Tucker, MA, University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Nicole Smithson, University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Presentation Overview
Poster Presentations 9:15-10:00 am General Education Building Lobby
Brittney Boyd, LOC
Latia Johnson, LOC
Jeremy O'Riley, Rust
Student Presentations 10:00 am- 12:15 pm
Session 1: Animal Behavior/ Ecolog GEB A310
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10:00 Joseph V. Alfonso, CBU
10:15 Ben Chism, CBU
10:30 Jennifer Cobb, CBU
10:45 Meagan E. Lamica, CBU
11:00 Vanessa K. Walker, CBU
11:15 Cheryl Clausel, CBU
11:30 Phillip Lyons, Rhodes
11:45 Jessica Seay, Lane
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Session 2: Genetics/Cell& Molecular Biology 1 GEB A312
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10:00 Bridgett R. Sharp, CBU
10:15 Mary J. Dickey, CBU
10:30 Rachel E. Hagg, CBU
10:45 Dominique Garcia Robles, CBU
11:00 Natalie E. Hurt, CBU
11:15 Matthew G. Charles, CBU
11:30 Carrie A. Le, CBU
11:45 Larry J. Anderson, CBU
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Session 3A: Clinically Related Investigations GEB A313
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10:00 Brea T. Bowers, CBU
10:15 Kathleen Nelson, CBU
10:30 Matt Jackson, CBU
10:45 Kyle Hayes, CBU
11:00 Bowei Deng, WSHS
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Session 3B: Cell & Molecular Biology 2 GEB A313
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11:15 Casey Carr, CBU
11:30 Amanda Fitzgerald, CBU
11:45 Cathlyn Chan, CBU
12:00 Veronica Shields, LOC
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Session 4: Chemistry GEB A315
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10:00 Joshua W. Cooper, Union
10:15 Megan Mathis, Union
10:30 Molly Mitchell, Union
10:45 Erik Scott, CBU
11:00 Trey Smith, Union
11:15 Justin Burt, CBU
11:30 Brandon Maharrey, CBU
11:45 Madison T. Cao, CBU
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Student Abstracts
Student Poster Presentations
9:15-10:00 – Lobby of the GEB
Judges: Drs. Charles Biggers, Eldridge Johnson, Enitra N. Jones, and Craig Lafferty
#1 TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR-Α INHIBITS NA+-GLUTAMINE COTRANSPORT IN INTESTINAL EPITHELIAL CELLS Brittney Boyd*, Ashley Griffin, and Jamilur R. Talukder, LeMoyne-Owen College, Memphis, Tennessee. Background: Gut mucosal Na+-Glu cotransport is important in the absorption of exogenous Glu that the body requires during extreme conditions. TNF-α is an important immunoregulatory cytokine that induces apoptotic cell death. Aim: To examine the effect of TNF-α on Na+-dependent Glu cotransport in enterocytes. Methods: Rat small intestinal epithelial (IEC-6) cell were grown on plates and were treated with TNF-α or placebo. [3H]-L-Glu uptake was performed in the presence or in the absence of Na+. Na+/K+-ATPase activity, B0AT1 mRNA abundance by qRT-PCR, and protein expression by Western blotting were measured. Results: Na+-Glu cotransporter activity present in IEC-6 cells, was inhibited 75% by TNF-α exposure. TNF-α did not alter either B0AT1 mRNA abundance, protein expression or Na+/K+-ATPase activity. In addition, kinetic studies revealed that TNF-α inhibited Na+-Glu cotransport by reducing the affinity of B0AT1 for Glu. Conclusion: We speculate that TNF-α might regulate B0AT1 by second messenger mediated signal transduction process (es).
#2 ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF MOUSE INTESTINAL STEM CELLS Latia Johnson*, Nabil A. Bayakly, and Jamil Talukder, LeMoyne-Owen College, Memphis, Tennessee. Background: The intestinal crypt contains the stem cells and continuously provides the new cells to villus. To understand the mechanism of any events specifically proliferation, subculture of stem cells is an important step. Aim: To isolate, characterize, and perform the long-term subculture on stem cells. Methods: Mouse intestinal crypt was isolated by Ca2+ chelation, differential centrifugation techniques, and individualized using collagenase. The cells were grown on petridishes in MEBM media containing growth factors in a humidified CO2 incubator. Results: Many cells were found dead except those have potentials to survive and were attached to the bottom of the petridish. Some of the survived cells were fibroblast. Survived epithelial cells continued to grow after trypsinization and splitting into new plates and showed the properties of stem cells. Conclusion: We speculate that future studies will provide us insight into the intestinal stem cells, and how they are turned into tumor and/or cancerous.
#3 ANALYSIS OF GAIT CHARACTERISTICS IN PEOPLE WITH HEMOPHIIA. Jeremy O'Riley*, Audrey Zucker-Levin, and Ruth Mulvany, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee. Purpose: People with hemophilia (PWH) often sustain joint damage that results in gait abnormalities requiring intervention. Objectives: Data from ten years of physical therapy GAITRite™ studies on PWH was consolidated to compare the gait of PWH with matched control subjects. Results: t-test revealed significant differences (P=0.01) in step length and walking velocity between the groups. Average walking velocity for PWH was slower, (88.8 ± 27.3 cm/sec), than controls, (126.5 ± 17.0 cm/sec). PWH had significantly shorter step length, (56.5 ± 10.5 cm), than controls, (68.2 ± 10.5 cm). Conclusion: Gait parameters of PWH differed from their matched controls in ways that affect function. The data base will be mined for further analyses of gait and possible management strategies for the gait difficulties of PWH.
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Student PowerPoint Presentations
Session One: Animal Behavior/ Ecology – GEB A310
Judges: Drs. Kristin Hamre, Teri Mason, and Beth Nelson
Moderator: Dr. Eldridge Johnson
10:00 TESTING THE DETECTION RANGE OF VEMCO VR2W ACOUSTIC RECEIVERS USED TO STUDY LARGE SCALE MOVEMENTS OF SPOTTED SEATROUT (CYNOSCION NEBULOSUS) IN SOUTH TEXAS ESTUARIES. Joseph V. Alfonso*, Gregory W. Stunz, and Laura Bivins. Christian Brothers University, Memphis, Tennessee, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas. In recent years, acoustic telemetry has become a widely employed method to document fish movements and habitat use. The movement patterns of spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) in South Texas bays and estuaries are currently being tracked by an array of 24 Vemco VR2W acoustic receivers. Range testing was carried out on 9 receivers to assess the detection capability in varying estuarine conditions. Although the receivers were rated by the manufacturer to detect signals from transmitters up to 1000m away, the maximum detection range of the deployed receivers was 100 to 260m. The current array has documented good movement data from 70% of the seatrout implanted with acoustic transmitters despite the shorter detection range. While natural and anthropogenic noise interference, current and wind turbulence, and underwater topography can affect the detection capability of the receivers, the collected data shows that these were not major factors in disrupting signal detection. Supported by: Texas AM SURF
10:15 THE EFFECTS OF LAND FRAGMENTATION ON MAMMAL POPULATION DENSITIES AT THE SOURCE OF THE ARAGUAIA RIVER. Ben Chism*, Marina Zanin, Natalia M. Torres and Leandro Silveira, Christian Brothers University, Memphis, Tennessee, Jaguar Conservation Fund, Emas, Brasil. Land fragmentation has had a major impact on the biodiversity of mammalian species throughout the Cerrado of Brazil. This region is under constant habitat conversion, which threatens the growth and survival of some keystone species. The purpose of this study was to estimate mammalian richness and abundance at the source of the Araguaia river. We surveyed 29 locations during the dry season of the Brazilian cerrado in 2010 using 29 camera traps. Seven different species of mammals and one species of bird were detected with these cameras. The data obtained revealed a relative even distribution among the animals surveyed throughout the study area. This information will allow scientists and conservationists to determine the necessary precautions regarding the management of this territory in the future. Supported by: NIH 5 T37 MD001378-10 (BC, PI MEC Fitzgerald)
10:30 THE IMPORTANCE OF MANED-WOLF FRUIT (SOLANUM LYCOCARPUM) FOR MAMMALS OF THE BRAZILIAN CERRADO. Jennifer Cobb*, Marina Zanin, Natalia M. Torres and Leandro Silveira, Christian Brothers University, Memphis, Tennessee. Jaguar Conservation Fund, Emas, Brasil. This study employed camera trapping in Emas National Park to record the number of mammalian species that visited Solanum lycocarpum for fruit, and the frequencies of each. This has implications for food competition and potential seed dispersion. Ten locations of S. lycocarpum were located on the north side of the park, and two motion-sensor camera traps were installed facing the tree on either side. The cameras operated during June-July 2010 and could take up to 37 pictures. Five animal species were photographed at S. lycocarpum, listed from most to least frequent: Chrysocyon brachyurus, Dusicyon thous, Tolypeutes tricinctus, Dusicyon vetulus, and Leopardus pardalis. The results for the canids confirmed previous studies, but T. tricinctus showed new information. L. pardalis is a carnivore, and it was probably hunting for prey near S. lycocarpum. This study revealed information about plant and animal interactions that could help conservationists take action to preserve the cerrado biome. Supported by: NIH 5 T37 MD001378-10 (JC, PI MEC Fitzgerald)
10:45 THE HUMAN IMPACT ON SEA TURTLES IN THE GULF Meagan E. Lamica*, and Danielle O’Neil, Christian Brothers University, Memphis, Tennessee, and Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Clearwater, Florida. Sea turtle populations in the Gulf of Mexico are dwindling due not only to natural cause but also due to the threats people pose to them. The research conducted delves into what those threats are and exactly how much of an effect they have on sea turtle populations. Using surveys and research on primary literature from 2010, I was able to find how many sea turtles were affected by human influence, which led me to the conclusion that humans do have an impact on sea turtle populations. However, more detailed research needs to be done to determine exactly how much of an influence that is. If the threats humans pose can be ascertained as well as the consequences of those threats, we can go about making changes to our behavior to support recovery of the endangered sea turtle populations.
11:00 EXTINCTION OF OLFACTORY FEAR CONDITIONING IN RATS. Vanessa K. Walker*, A.P. Carobrez, Rimenez de Souza, and Julianna Kroon. Christian Brothers University, Memphis, Tennessee (VW), Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil (AC, RS, JK). The association between an odor, as a conditioned stimulus (CS), and electrical footshock, as an unconditioned stimulus (US), is an effective model to study fear-induced behavior. By re-exposing the CS in many trials without the US, an extinction process will appear. This study was outlined to evaluate the extinction of olfactory fear conditioning (OFC) using a two compartment apparatus (odor box), one preferred (enclosed) and one avoided (opened) by the rat. Male Wistar rats received five pairings of footshock (US) and amylacetate odor (CS). The extinction of OFC was detected in the odor box where the CS was placed in the enclosed compartment and light in the open space was set to 100 lux. Results showed that subjects preferred to stay inside the enclosed compartment. We suggest that by adjusting the fear level in both compartments, this protocol could be an experimental approach to study the extinction of fear memories. Supported by: NIH 5 T37 MD001378-10 (DGR, PI MEC Fitzgerald)