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An NSF-Supported Research
Experience for Undergraduates (REU)
hosted
by the biology departments at James Madison University,
Bridgewater
College and Eastern Mennonite University
Dr.
Alex Bannigan (JMU), Molecular
motors in plant mitosis.
During mitosis,
microtubules co-operate with dozens of molecular motor proteins to
divide the cell’s chromosomes between the two daughter cells.
This research project focuses on a mutant of the plant Arabidopsis thaliana. The
mutant, which is called rsw7,
is defective in one mitotic motor protein, and the mitotic spindles are
massively disrupted, usually collapsing into a monopolar spindle before
the chromosomes can be separated. For this project I have
developed a line of plants that express both GFP-tubulin and
YFP-chromatin, which will allow us to see both the spindle and the
chromosomes in living, dividing cells. Using the confocal
microscope, we can make movies of cells as they progress through
mitosis and answer questions about the molecular mechanisms of the
spindle and cell cycle in plants.
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Dr. Stephen Baron
(BC), PHA
Depolymerase in Streptomyces: Cloning and Regulation.
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are plastic-like polymers produced by soil
bacteria. Biodegradation of PHAs is carried out by extracellular
PHA depolymerases secreted by many soil microorganisms. My lab
studies how PHA depolymerase synthesis is regulated in the soil
bacterium, Streptomyces sp. 5A. Our objectives are: 1) to
clone and sequence the gene encoding the PHA depolymerase (phaZ);
2) to identify upstream sequences that might be involved in
transcriptional regulation; 3) to isolate mutants of the organism
deficient in glucose repression of PHA depolymerase synthesis; and 4)
to
isolate and characterize PHA-binding proteins that might be involved in
induction of PHA depolymerase synthesis.
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Dr.
Marta Bechtel
(JMU),
Molecular biology and mechanical properties of cartilage tissue.
A recent research focus is studying cartilage tissue as a tissue
engineering model system to better understand basic cell and molecular
biology of chondrocytes, the cell population present in cartilage
tissue, and to learn more about the biomechanical properties of
cartilage tissue. Tissue engineering requires an understanding of
the structure and organization of a tissue's extracellular matrix, what
the role is for the cells that reside in the tissue, and what part the
mechanics and dynamics of the three-dimensional structure play in the
function of a tissue. One goal of this research is to help
further delineate the role of chondrocytes in forming and organizing
the extracellular matrix that comprises cartilage tissue.
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Dr.
Tim Bloss (JMU), Control of
Apoptotic Cell Death
Apoptosis is a ubiquitous cell death process that removes unnecessary
or badly damaged cells throughout the life of an organism. This
mechanism of cell killing plays a central role in both development and
cellular homeostasis, and proper control of apoptosis, both positive
and negative, is required for survival. My lab studies control of
apoptosis in C. elegans, a small roundworm, and we have identified two
novel repressors of apoptosis, ICD-1 and -2, which appear to repress
apoptosis in every cell of the worm. We are using RNA interference, DNA
cloning and western analysis along with other techniques to determine
how ICD proteins repress apoptosis, and how this repression is released
in cells fated to die.
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Dr.
Justin Brown (JMU), The Role of Medullary
Serotonin in Thermoregulatory Effector Pathways.
The primary goal of
this research project is to determine the role of serotonin (5HT) in
the neural control of thermoregulatory responses to stress. 5HT
may act as a relay station for a variety of autonomic responses
including sweating, shivering, and seeking warmer/cooler ambient
temperatures. Students will measure body core and preferred
ambient temperatures in rats surgically instrumented with
state-of-the-art biotelemetry techniques following injection of
serotonergic blockers into the brainstem. This will decrease 5HT
release and help to determine the role of 5HT in thermoregulatory
responses to stress.
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Dr. Steve Cresawn (JMU), Genomics
of Phages Infecting Mycobacteria
Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that infect bacteria. Because they
kill bacterial cells, phages and the genes found in their genomes are
of great interest as potential clinical and diagnostic tools. My lab
studies phages that infect Mycobacterium smegmatis, a soil bacterium
related to the human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Students in
my lab will learn molecular biology and genomics techniques as they
characterize phage genomes.
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Dr.
Susan Halsell (JMU), Genetic and Molecular
Characterization of Shape Remodeling during Development
Morphogenetic
processes remodel the shape of an embryo, generating the complex forms
and structures that characterize the mature organism. Defects in
morphogenesis give rise to birth defects such as spina bifida. Work in
my laboratory focuses on a key cellular aspect of morphogenesis, the
generation of cell shape changes. Specifically, we study the
signal transduction molecule, RhoA. My research exploits the powerful
molecular and classical genetic techniques afforded by the model
organism, Drosophila melanogaster
(a.k.a., the fruit fly). Because the molecules and cellular
processes that direct morphogenesis are so similar between fruit flies
and mammals, these studies have broad relevance. Our
investigations and characterizations of morphogenesis are important
steps in understanding how to overcome birth defects.
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Dr.
Jim Herrick (JMU), The Ecology
and Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance and Virulence in Native and
Naturalized Populations of Bacteria in Streams Impacted by Agricultural
Runoff
In our laboratory we combine ecological field studies with genetic and
molecular methods such as plasmid capture, real-time PCR amplification
from environmental samples, and DNA fingerprinting to study the
distribution and transfer of antibiotic resistance plasmids and other
mobile genetic elements in freshwater bacterial populations. We are
also interested in the distribution of virulence genes in E. coli naturalized in streams and
whether fecal pathogens can persist and take up antibiotic resistance
genes via conjugation.
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Dr. Greta Ann
Herin
(EMU), Electrophysiological
investigations of Glutamate Receptor Function.
My lab is interested in the function of glutamate receptors, which are
critical for brain function. This includes investigation of control
mechanisms of the NMDA subtype of glutamate receptor. The NMDA receptor
is very highly regulated by chemicals in the extracellular fluid
including reducing and oxidizing agents (redox). We will study NMDA
receptor mutants to determine amino structures critical for redox
modulation of NMDA receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes. This project
will involve the techniques of pharmacology, some molecular biology,
and electrophysiology (the measurement of electrical signaling across
biological membranes).
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Dr.
Chris Lantz (JMU), Identification
of hookworm immunomodulatory proteins.
Studies of the
development of nematodes have led to fundamental discoveries in
zoology. Hookworms, members of the order Stongylida, have a complex
life cycle that involves hatched eggs undergoing a series of molts that
occur both within and outside a host organism. Free-living third-stage
larvae are developmentally arrested but continue their growth once they
have contacted a suitable host. The identity and function of the
hookworm proteins required to initiate various stages of development is
unknown. This project envisions taking advantage of the rapidly growing
mass of genomic data now available to develop a novel proteomic
approach to studying interactions between stage-specific hookworm
proteins and select host cell types.
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Dr.
Jon Monroe (JMU), Functional
Genomics of beta-Amylases in
Arabidopsis.
Plants accumulate starch in various tissues and at various times in
order to store reduced carbon for later use. The pathway for
starch degradation is not completely understood, but it is known to
involve hydrolysis by beta-amylases
located in plastids. The Arabidopsis
thaliana genome contains
nine beta-amylase genes but only three have been characterized.
We are constructing transgenic plants
expressing each beta-amylase as a GFP fusion protein and will use
confocal
microscopy to determine which of the proteins
are located in plastids. We also have knockout mutants in each
gene and are characterizing their phenotypes. Knowledge about the
roles of these beta-amylases will aid not only our understanding of
plant physiology but also efforts to better utilize plant biomass for
energy production.
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Dr. Robyn
Puffenbarger (BC), Transcriptional Control of the Peripheral
Cannabinoid Receptor Gene.
Macrophages are
sentinel cells that communicate threat signals to the rest of the
organism. A number of chemicals can enhance or reduce the ability
of macrophages to respond to threats, including cannabinoids.
Students in the lab learn to culture and care for macrophages, then
they design a project to help understand how the amount of the protein
that responds to cannabinoids, the CB2 receptor, is produced and
controlled by macrophages.
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Dr.
Terrie Rife (JMU), Understanding
Transcriptional and Translational Controls of Nitric Oxide
Synthase I.
Transcriptional and
translational regulation of the enzyme Nitric Oxide Synthase I
(NOS1) is important for many physiological processes such as
brain development and muscle movement. Student researchers
in my lab uses rodent cell culture models, cloning, reverse-
transcription, and PCR techniques to study the causes of these
changes. Our lab is currently studying four different promoters
that regulate gene transcription and we have found a novel exon
for which we are trying to find a function.
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Dr.
Louise Temple (JMU), Studying Respiratory
Disease in Poultry Caused by Bordetella
avium.
Commercially grown turkeys frequently get infectious diseases, and one
of the most common infectious agents is a bacterium called Bordetella avium. In our lab
we study how the bacterium causes the disease and how the ciliated
tracheal cells are killed, in an effort to create an effective vaccine
to prevent the disease. We use molecular biology tools as well as
field work to compare different isolates of the bacterium from sick
turkeys and apparently healthy wild birds. Students learn
microbiology, biochemistry, and DNA/protein handling techniques in our
lab.
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For information contact:
Sheila Santee
540-568-6225 or 6733
Dept. Fax:
540-568-3333
Web site maintained by:
Jon Monroe
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Mailing address:
Department of Biology
MSC 7801
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA 22807 USA |
Express mailing address:
Department of Biology
Burruss Hall, Room 243
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA 22807 USA
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@ 2005-2008,
Department of Biology. All rights reserved. Privacy
Statement
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