Megan Bailey worked under the direction of Dr. Catherine Prody and Dr. Jianyi Zhang in the Cardiovascular Division, University of Minnesota Medical School. Her goal was to identify novel genes that are associated with the dysfunction of hearts with congestive heart failure. To identify cDNAs differentially expressed in the failing heart, Megan used a differential screening method on subtractive libraries of clones. Once she isolated the genes that were differentially expressed, those results were sequenced and entered into a computer database called Genebank. Genebank compared the possible novel gene sequences with DNA sequences of genes known to be associated with heart failure. The results of this research project may lead to better diagnostic and therapeutic modalities for heart failure. Megan found her research to be extremely interesting! The helpful direction of both Dr. Prody and Dr. Zhang created a very positive scientific experience for Megan.
Laura Egerdal conducted her research in the Biochemistry Department of the University of Minnesota, under the direction of Dr. David Thomas. She investigated the effects of storage on muscle fibers by measuring the remaining amount of reactive cysteines in muscle proteins. As these fibers are stored, the amount of reactive cysteines decrease, making it hard to conduct accurate experiments. Her research had a special impact on muscular aging studies, which require unaffected cysteines to measure muscle oxidation. To investigate this effect, Laura used solius muscles from old and young rats, either flash frozen in liquid nitrogen, stored in glycerol, or fresh. Then, using fluorescent dyes and several enzyme linked assays, she was able to measure the protein and cysteine content of the fibers. Laura has said that she had a remarkable opportunity to gain a great background in biochemistry and valuable training in the research field.
Laura Gingras worked under the supervision of Dr. Osha Roopnarine in Dr. David Thomas’s lab at the University of Minnesota. She used site-directed mutagenesis to create plasmid DNA containing one of the mutations that causes a type of human heart disease called Familial Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (FHC). Laura transformed this DNA into E.coli, causing the bacteria to express mutant myosin protein, one of the major components of human cardiac muscle. Laura’s research focused on the structure and function of this mutant protein and its role in FHC disease.
Adam Jones worked in Dr. Jeffrey McCullough’s
lab at the University of Minnesota.Umbilical cord blood has recently been
found to have high counts of hematopoetic stem cells, which have the potential
to cure many fatal illnesses through blood transfusions. Due to this potential,
it is vital that ord blood banks be created. Umbilical cord blood must
be able to be transported long distances without causing damage to the
blood. This where Adam’s research came in. Adam’s experiments
worked to create a storage solution that did not adversely affect any
aspects of the blood.
Adam Kramer worked at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Minneapolis in the laboratory of Dr. Billington. His research focused on the expression of c-fos cells in certain regions of a rat brain. The rats were injected with the chemicals NPY, seretonin, or a combination of both. The brain tissues were then stained for c-fos cells using an antibody that would make the cells visible when magnified. Adam then examined rat tissue and counted the c-fos cells in different regions of the brain. His data showed that when NPY and seretonin were injected together, the c-fos count was higher than when either chemical was injected alone.
Michael Min conducted his research in Dr. Philip Peterson's Neurology Laboratory at Hennepin County Medical Center. Michael's project was to determine the neuropathogenesis of a virus known as Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) on mouse brains. HSV is a very common virus, but infection of this virus on the Central Nervous System (CNS) is rare and fatal. The results of Michael's project showed that in the infected astrocyte and neuron cultures, there were signs of viral infection and viral replication. Microglias, however, showed no signs of viral replication. Using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Michael detected the production of cytokine from the infected microglia culture. From these results, Michael hypothesized that the cytokine production of microglias may have a close relationship to its immunity from viral replication.
Ashley Nazarian greatly enjoyed her opportunity to work at the University of Minnesota under the supervision of Dr. Dave Thomas and Dr. Greg Hunter. She researched the effect of varying salt concentrations on phospholamban's (PLB) ability to inhibit the calcium ATPase pump. This is a mechanism located in the membrane of cardiac and skeletal muscle that transfers calcium ions from outside in the cytoplasm to inside storage sacks, known as sarcoplasmic reticulem. Ashley reconstituted four sets of membranes, two as controls. At low ionic strength there was one membrane with PLB and one without to act as a control. The same was done for high ionic strength. Ashley found that, surprisingly, there was little difference in pump activity with and without phosphplamban at high ionic strength. This research will advance our understanding on how the human body works.
Cara Sandberg conducted Monarch butterfly larvae research at Dr. Karen Oberhauser’s lab at the University of Minnesota under the guidance of Michelle Solensky. Cara studied the effect of a toxic, genetically engineered corn pollen, Bacillus thurengiensis (Bt), on Monarch larvae in three different life stages. Many Midwestern cornfields are planted with Bt corn, and when the pollen spreads, it lands on milkweed plants in the cornfields, which are the Monarch’s primary food source. Cara’s results suggest that the Bt pollen greatly affects surviving Monarch larvae developmentally. Cara’s study showed significant effects on the Monarch larvae used, and helped to prove that the Bt corn is destructive to Monarch butterfly larvae.
Charlie Shaw worked at the Bakken Library
and Museum under the supervision of Riley Hendrickson. Charlie. He investigated
several relatively new forms of robotic locomotion designed to traverse
uneven terrain. Of particular interest was the SHRIMP Wheeled Rover. Charlie
then modified the original design by adapting the SHRIMP to an underwater
environment. He found the rover to be nearly as effective underwater,
but it was somewhat limited when attempting to travel across the sandy
floor of many natural bodies of water.
Kathryn Struthers conducted her research at the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Child Development under the supervision of Dr. Patricia J. Bauer. She was part of a memory study done on children aged 20 and 27 months. Kathryn examined the children’s ability at 27 months to verbalize the events encoded at 20 months. She analyzed videotapes of children’s exposures to novel toys with specific language. Kathryn’s results showed that the children who had seen the toys at 20 months used more of the specific language than the children who only saw the toys at 27 months. Kathryn had a great time working in Dr. Bauer’s lab this summer, and she enjoyed all of the people with whom she worked.
Zebulon Thomas worked in the computational chemistry lab of Dr. Darrin York at the University of Minnesota. Working with graduate student Evelyn Mayaan, he used the molecular dynamics program CHARMM to simulate a catalytic piece of RNA called the hammerhead ribozyme. Being the smallest known ribozyme, the hammerhead has been frequently used in computer simulations. Zeb's project was part of a long-term project with the goal of gaining insight into the mechanism of self-cleavage for this ribozyme, which is known to require divalent metal ions. In this project, Zeb and Evelyn used three different crystal structures in varied conditions. Zeb spent the summer equilibrating the water molecules solvating the hammerhead.
Nicolas Ward worked with Dr. Vikki Korman under the supervision of Dr. David Thomas at his biochemistry lab at the University of Minnesota. The purpose of Nick’s research was to determine the effects of cysteine labeling and mutation on yeast actin filament structure. He examined and photographed the filaments with a transmission electron microscope. His results clearly show that these changes cause filament instability by changing the shape of individual monomers. Nick is glad he had the chance to work in a college setting with professional scientific researchers, and looks forward to participating in a similar program as a college student.
