A5067218522- Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Biomedical Research
- Biomedical and Engineering Education
- Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
- RNA Research and Splicing
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Fungal and yeast genetics research
- Virus-based gene therapy research
- Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics
- Plant Disease Resistance and Genetics
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- Nuclear Structure and Function
- Plant Virus Research Studies
- Innovative Human-Technology Interaction
- Interdisciplinary Research and Collaboration
- DNA Repair Mechanisms
- Gene Regulatory Network Analysis
- Biomedical Ethics and Regulation
- Scientific Computing and Data Management
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Microbial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction
- Design Education and Practice
- Insect behavior and control techniques
- Research Data Management Practices
- Forensic Entomology and Diptera Studies
- Persona Design and Applications
Loyola University Maryland
2010-2024
University of Maryland, College Park
2022
Johns Hopkins University
2006-2014
High Throughput Biology (United States)
2006-2014
Johns Hopkins Medicine
2007-2008
Pennsylvania State University
2002-2006
Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology
2002
Designer Chromosome One of the ultimate aims synthetic biology is to build designer organisms from ground up. Rapid advances in DNA synthesis has allowed assembly complete bacterial genomes. Eukaryotic organisms, with their generally much larger and more complex genomes, present an additional challenge biologists. Annaluru et al. (p. 55 , published online 27 March) designed a eukaryotic chromosome based on yeast III. The chromosome, shorn destabilizing transfer RNA genes transposons, ∼14%...
Whether synthetic genomes can power life has attracted broad interest in the biology field. Here, we report de novo synthesis of largest eukaryotic chromosome thus far, synIV, a 1,454,621-bp yeast resulting from extensive genome streamlining and modification. We developed megachunk assembly combined with hierarchical integration strategy, which significantly increased accuracy flexibility construction. Besides drastic sequence changes, further manipulated 3D structure synIV to explore...
The retroviral Gag polyprotein directs budding from the plasma membrane of infected cells. Until now, it was believed that proteins type C retroviruses, including prototypic oncoretrovirus Rous sarcoma virus, were synthesized on cytosolic ribosomes and targeted directly to membrane. Here we reveal a previously unknown step in subcellular trafficking protein, transient nuclear localization. We have identified targeting signal within N-terminal matrix domain facilitates active import...
We designed and synthesized synI, which is ∼21.6% shorter than native chrI, the smallest chromosome in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. SynI was for attachment to another synthetic due concerns surrounding potential instability karyotype imbalance now attached synIII, yielding first yeast fusion chromosome. Additional chromosomes were constructed study nuclear function. ChrIII-I chrIX-III-I have twisted structures, depend on silencing protein Sir3. As a smaller chromosome, chrI also faces special...
A major challenge in undergraduate life science curricula is the continual evaluation and development of courses that reflect constantly shifting face contemporary biological research. Synthetic biology offers an excellent framework within which students may participate cutting-edge interdisciplinary research therefore attractive addition to curriculum. This new discipline promise a deeper understanding gene function, order, chromosome structure through de novo synthesis genetic information,...
The retroviral Gag polyprotein orchestrates the assembly and release of virus particles from infected cells. We previously reported that nuclear transport Rous sarcoma (RSV) protein is intrinsic to pathway. To identify cis- trans-acting factors governing nucleocytoplasmic trafficking, we developed novel vectors express regions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. localization proteins was examined wild type mutant strains deficient members importin-beta family. confirmed Crm1p dependence identified...
ABSTRACT The Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) Gag polyprotein undergoes transient nuclear trafficking as an intrinsic part of the assembly pathway. Nuclear export is crucial for efficient production viral particles and accomplished through action a leptomycin B (LMB)-dependent signal (NES) in p10 domain (L. Z. Scheifele, R. A. Garbitt, J. D. Rhoads, L. Parent, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99: 3944-3949, 2002). We have now mapped activity to C-terminal portion sequence identified four hydrophobic amino...
Mobile elements are important components of our genomes, with diverse and significant effects on phenotype. Not only can transposons inactivate genes by direct disruption shuffle the genome through recombination, they also alter gene expression subtly or powerfully. Currently active highly polymorphic in host populations, including, among hundreds others, L1 Alu humans Ty1 yeast. For this reason, we wished to develop a simple genome-wide method for identifying all any given sample. We have...
Abstract Animal remains represent ephemeral resources that provide nutrients to a wide range of organisms. On death, vertebrate carrion is immediately colonized with variety microorganisms (typically obligate or facultatively anaerobic bacteria from the air, insects, corpse itself), which produce odors through breakdown tissues, alteration volatile chemicals present in environment, both. Within minutes, certain necrophagous flies are attracted by these chemical signals, resulting waves...
ABSTRACT Nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of the Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) Gag polyprotein is an integral step in particle assembly. A nuclear export signal (NES) was previously identified within p10 domain RSV Gag. mutants containing deletions NES or mutations critical hydrophobic residues at positions 219, 222, 225, 229 become trapped nucleus and exhibit defects efficiency release. To investigate other potential roles for trafficking replication, we created viruses bearing mutant proteins....
Yeast and mammalian genomes are replete with nearly identical copies of long dispersed repeats in the form retrotransposons. Mechanisms clearly exist to maintain genome structure face potential rearrangement between repeats, but nature this machinery is poorly understood. Here we describe a series distinct “retrotransposon overdose” (RO) lineages which number Ty1 elements Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been increased by as much 10 fold. Although these RO strains remarkably normal growth rate,...
The highly specialized nature of scientific research has erected substantial barriers between professional scientists and the laity, who have become distanced from process discovery. Do-It-Yourself Biology movement seeks to remove these impediments, with community laboratories serving as vehicles for public engagement participation in inquiry. We describe our experience establishing maintaining BUGSS lab Baltimore. While each is distinct its structure, culture, programming, we hope that this...
Hybrid interactive systems that combine living and digital components can engage, educate, inform users, are of growing interest in the HCI community. Advances synthetic biology transforming what is possible to do with these media interfaces (LMIs). Bioart a practice which artists, often using methods, work organisms creatively explore human relationship nonhuman organisms. We present results from an interview study expert bioartists as well our hands-on experience bioart project where we...
As exploration of living media, biology, and biotechnology advances HCI, researchers call attention to implications for ethics. We respond with a qualitative study audience engagement multimedia bioart installation. Bioart comprises transdisciplinary practice that brings diverse perspectives in art, science, technology into dialogue engages audiences. Understanding exemplar, Raaz, as disrupting habitual modes being, we investigate experiences three contexts, elaborating community takes...
The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged undergraduate instructors and students in an unprecedented manner.
Synthetic biology projects aim to produce physical DNA that matches a designed target sequence. Chemically synthesized oligomers are generally used as the starting point for building larger and sequences. Due error rate of chemical synthesis, these can have many differences from As joined together make synthetic intermediates, it becomes essential perform quality control eliminate intermediates with errors retain only those molecules free respect target. This step is often performed by...
ABSTRACT Budding of C-type retroviruses begins when the viral Gag polyprotein is directed to plasma membrane by an N-terminal membrane-binding (M) domain. While dispersed basic amino acids within M domain are critical for stable association and consequent particle assembly, additional residues or motifs may be required specific targeting binding. We have identified assembly-defective Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) mutant that retains significant affinity despite having a deletion fourth...
Living organisms and their biological properties, including the capacity for transformation representation of information, offer exciting inspiring opportunities transdisciplinary art design explorations. While an emerging body work is increasingly investigating possibilities at intersection interactive computing, biology, art, more needed to investigate potential these approaches supporting community public engagement participation in science, technology. In this project, we describe a...
Summary Whether synthetic genomes can power life has attracted broad interest in the biology field, especially when are extensively modified with thousands of designer features. Here we report de novo synthesis largest eukaryotic chromosome thus far, synIV , a 1,454,621-bp Saccharomyces cerevisiae resulting from extensive genome streamlining and modification. During construction developed megachunk assembly combined hierarchical integration strategy, which significantly increased accuracy...
Informal learning environments play a critical role in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics across the lifespan are consequential informing public understanding engagement. This can be difficult to accomplish life science where expertise thresholds logistics involved with handling biological materials restrict access. Community laboratories informal that provide access resources necessary carry out pursuits using enabling biotechnologies. We investigate group of these spaces...
Abstract Community biology labs are locally organized spaces for research, tinkering, and innovation, which important improving the accessibility of biological research transferability scientific knowledge. These promote citizen science by providing resources education to community members. For deliver consistent reliable results, they would ideally be based on an adaptive robust foundation: Enterprise Systems Thinking (EST) framework. This paper follows a descriptive methodology apply EST...
Abstract The Elizabeth W. Jones Award for Excellence in Education recognizes individuals or groups who have had significant, sustained impact on genetics education at any level, from K-12 through graduate school and beyond. 2024 recipient Jef Boeke considers himself a geneticist turned engineer. He transformed his landmark synthetic yeast genome project into research-heavy teaching course, revolutionizing molecular biology education. Build-A-Genome course was developed to teach students...
Whether synthetic genomes can power life has attracted broad interest in the biology field, especially when are extensively modified with thousands of designer features. Here we report de novo synthesis largest eukaryotic chromosome thus far, synIV, a 1,454,621-bp Saccharomyces cerevisiae resulting from extensive genome streamlining and modification. During construction developed megachunk assembly method, combined hierarchical integration strategy. This strategy significantly increased...
The skill of analyzing and interpreting research data is central to the scientific process, yet it one hardest skills for students master. While instructors can coach through analysis that they have either generated themselves or obtained from published articles, burgeoning availability preprint articles provides a new potential pedagogical tool. We developed method in which use cognitive apprenticeship model uncover how experts analyzed paper compare professional’s approach their own....