Seek: research magazine for Kansas State University. [Introductory matter] Spring 2021

Introductory material for the Spring 2021 issue of Seek, including the table of contents and a letter from Interim Vice President for Research Beth Montelone

Infectious disease research and one health education programs

One Health refers to the interconnected nature of the health and well-being of people, animals and the environments that they share. Central to this idea, is the realization that adverse health-effects in one area are linked to adverse effects in other area. Therefore, sustainable human health is intimately linked with sustainable animal and environmental health. This panel will include discussions of important and emerging aspects of One Health by experts in this field, each with specializations in different, but complementary, aspects of One Health that covers a wide range of disciplines and areas of expertise

The rem Mutations in the ATP-Binding Groove of the Rad3/XPD Helicase Lead to Xeroderma pigmentosum-Cockayne Syndrome-Like Phenotypes

The eukaryotic TFIIH complex is involved in Nucleotide Excision Repair and transcription initiation. We analyzed three yeast mutations of the Rad3/XPD helicase of TFIIH known as rem (recombination and mutation phenotypes). We found that, in these mutants, incomplete NER reactions lead to replication fork breaking and the subsequent engagement of the homologous recombination machinery to restore them. Nevertheless, the penetrance varies among mutants, giving rise to a phenotype gradient. Interestingly, the mutations analyzed reside at the ATP-binding groove of Rad3 and in vivo experiments reveal a gain of DNA affinity upon damage of the mutant Rad3 proteins. Since mutations at the ATP-binding groove of XPD in humans are present in the Xeroderma pigmentosum-Cockayne Syndrome (XP-CS), we recreated rem mutations in human cells, and found that these are XP-CS-like. We propose that the balance between the loss of helicase activity and the gain of DNA affinity controls the capacity of TFIIH to open DNA during NER, and its persistence at both DNA lesions and promoters. This conditions NER efficiency and transcription resumption after damage, which in human cells would explain the XP-CS phenotype, opening new perspectives to understand the molecular basis of the role of XPD in human disease.Research was funded by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (BFU2010-16372), the Junta de Andalucía (CVI4567) and the European Union (FEDER).Peer reviewe

Mixed Method Study of impact of KS-LSAMP summer research experiences on STEM students from underrepresented groups.

The Kansas Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (KS-LSAMP) provides opportunities for URM students to engage in faculty-led individual research projects during both the academic year and the summer. The summer opportunities, called RiPS (Research immersion: Pathways to STEM) are part of a new program to be developed by the Alliance. Students transferring to KSU from one of the Alliance partner institutions as well as eligible students who entered KSU as freshmen are invited to participate in a summer research experience. Students, with the help and support of their research mentor, conduct an independent research project related to their area of focus and gain invaluable insight and skills in the areas of STEM in which they are most interested. Ongoing data are collected to study the impacts of participation in the KS-LSAMP summer RiPS program on the interest in STEM education, interest in and commitment to STEM careers, STEM self-efficacy and postsecondary education success efficacy, etc. The research utilizes a quasi-experimental design and mixed methodology. For each summer cohort, data are collected before and after the summer experience (one group pre-post comparison) and once a year annually for the duration of the project (time series design). This study describes the study methodology and the findings for the first two cohorts of students. Pre-post survey data showed positive changes in student interest, attitudes and self-efficacy related to STEM. Students who participated in the first two RiPS cohorts responded favorably and enthusiastically to the experience. In a focus group conducted at the conclusion of the summer RiPS program, students expressed that the program was a positive, unique experience that made them want to continue in the STEM field and return to K-State

Analysis of TFIIH recruitment to promoters in <i>rad3</i> mutants.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis of Tfb4-TAP. Cells were grown in synthetic complete (SC) medium until the exponential phase. ChIP analysis was performed at the <i>ALG9</i> promoter and normalized with respect to the <i>MFA2</i> promoter in <i>MAT</i><b>α</b> cells, which is constitutively repressed. (<b>B</b>) ChIP analysis of Tfb4-TAP after UV damage. Cells were grown in SC medium until the exponential phase, and then irradiated with 80 J/m². Analysis of the different time-point samples was performed at the <i>GRX1</i> promoter and normalized with respect to the <i>MFA2</i> promoter in <i>MAT</i><b>α</b> cells, which is constitutively repressed. The mean and the SD of triplicate assays of four independent experiments are depicted for each condition. *, p<0.05, **, p<0.01 (Student's t-test).</p