DNA sequencing and site-directed mutagenesis of the drug-metabolizing enzyme, cytochrome P450-2B4

This project focuses on the development of an undergraduate-level laboratory procedure involving EMU\u27s new automated DNA sequencer. The gene used for this procedure is CYP2B4 from the rabbit genome, which codes for Cytochrome P450-2B4 (CVP450). Cytochrome P450s are an important class of proteins found in many species throughout the animal kingdom, including humans. The wild-type CYP2B4 will be sequenced, and then mutated to replace threonine-302 with alanine. Threonine-302 is suspected to playa key role in P450 function. Thus far, procedures have been developed for site-directed mutagenesis to convert threonine-302 to an alanine residue, transformation of bacteria with the target gene, isolation of the plasmid from the transformed bacteria, harvesting the bacteria to express the gene, and preparation of the protein for spectrophotometric analysis. While development of a viable DNA sequencing protocol has met with limited success, the protocol used for the site-directed mutagenesis of CVP2B4 has brought promising results

Is There Anything New under the Sun? (Ecclesiastes 1:9): A Local Report on the Research Practices of Scholars in Religion and Theology

This study of research support services for scholars in religion and theology was sponsored by Ithaka S&R and three professional associations (the American Theological Library Association, the American Academy of Religion, and the Society of Biblical Literature). The Burke Library (Columbia University Libraries) was one of eighteen participating libraries. The overall goals of the study were (1) to understand the research habits and needs of scholars in the fields of religion and theology, and (2) to develop recommendations and strategies for libraries (the Burke Library in particular and ATLA libraries in general) that address these needs by either improving current services or developing new services

The Southeast Alaska Tribal Ocean Research (SEATOR) Partnership: Addressing Data Gaps in Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring and Shellfish Safety in Southeast Alaska

Many communities in Southeast Alaska harvest shellfish such as mussels and clams as an important part of a subsistence or traditional diet. Harmful algal blooms (HABs) of phytoplankton such as Alexandrium spp. produce toxins that can accumulate in shellfish tissues to concentrations that can pose a hazard for human health. Since 2013, several tribal governments and communities have pooled resources to form the Southeast Alaska Tribal Ocean Research (SEATOR) network, with the goal of minimizing risks to seafood harvest and enhancing food security. SEATOR monitors toxin concentrations in shellfish and collects and consolidates data on environmental variables that may be important predictors of toxin levels such as sea surface temperature and salinity. Data from SEATOR are publicly available and are encouraged to be used for the development and testing of predictive algorithms that could improve seafood risk assessment in Southeast Alaska. To date, more than 1700 shellfish samples have been analyzed for paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) in more than 20 locations, with potentially lethal concentrations observed in blue mussels (Mytilus trossulus) and butter clams (Saxidomus gigantea). Concentrations of PSTs exhibit seasonality in some species, and observations of Alexandrium are correlated to sea surface temperature and salinity; however, concentrations above the threshold of concern have been found in all months, and substantial variation in concentrations of PSTs remain unexplained.Funding: The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not reflect the views of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Funding for this work was provided by the Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program (Award NA17NMF4270238). Gribble’s e ort was supported by grants from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (R01ES029165 and P30ES019776).Ye

The Southeast Alaska Tribal Ocean Research (SEATOR) Partnership: Addressing Data Gaps in Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring and Shellfish Safety in Southeast Alaska.

Many communities in Southeast Alaska harvest shellfish such as mussels and clams as an important part of a subsistence or traditional diet. Harmful algal blooms (HABs) of phytoplankton such as Alexandrium spp. produce toxins that can accumulate in shellfish tissues to concentrations that can pose a hazard for human health. Since 2013, several tribal governments and communities have pooled resources to form the Southeast Alaska Tribal Ocean Research (SEATOR) network, with the goal of minimizing risks to seafood harvest and enhancing food security. SEATOR monitors toxin concentrations in shellfish and collects and consolidates data on environmental variables that may be important predictors of toxin levels such as sea surface temperature and salinity. Data from SEATOR are publicly available and are encouraged to be used for the development and testing of predictive algorithms that could improve seafood risk assessment in Southeast Alaska. To date, more than 1700 shellfish samples have been analyzed for paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) in more than 20 locations, with potentially lethal concentrations observed in blue mussels (Mytilus trossulus) and butter clams (Saxidomus gigantea). Concentrations of PSTs exhibit seasonality in some species, and observations of Alexandrium are correlated to sea surface temperature and salinity; however, concentrations above the threshold of concern have been found in all months, and substantial variation in concentrations of PSTs remain unexplained