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INTRODUCTION |
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Grant |
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Lincoln Public Schools Foundation Grant:
LHS/UNL Collaboration
Research Experience for Advanced Chemistry Students.
PDF Format
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Introduction |
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Prostanglandin biosynthesis requires an organism to supply a ready source
of arachidonic acid (C20:4). The
specific tissue contains low-level titers of C20:4 stored in the forms of
phospholipids (PLs) and diacylglycerols (DGs).
The mobilization of these fatty acids requires phospholipase activity. We
are interested in seeing if the midgut of M.Sexta contains enough C20:4 within
the tissue to metabolize prostaglandins as compared to in vitro
metabolism.
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Participants |
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2001-2002
LHS Advanced Chemistry Class
L-R.
Nghia Le, Mr. Sean Putnam, Dimi Hua, Kristin Williams,
Lien
Phun, Angela Maske, Huong Le, Tri Huynh.
Not
pictured. Jenny Truong
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Itinerary |
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Friday,
April 26th
8:30 Arrive at UNL, Plant Industry.
orientation, project outline & prep insect for
dissection.
8:45 Introduction by Dr. Stanley. Insects
as models for physiological & biochemical research.
9:00 Dissection,
protein extraction/analysis & lipid extraction
-Team 1: Prostaglandin Biosynthesis
-Team 2: Fatty Acid Analysis
10:45 Prostaglandin
biosynthesis & isolate lipid sample (TLC)
12:00 Lunch: Plant Industry
Meeting Room.
12:20 Seminar: Physiology of Prostaglandins.
Dr. Stanley
12:45 Extraction of
prostaglandin samples & methylation of lipids
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Saturday,
April 27th.
9:45 Recap experiment & overview of chromatography
10:00
Samples preparation for chromatography. Diazomethane & BSTFA reactions with
PGs
10:30 Begin running standards on GC & GC/MS
12:45 Begin running samples on GC & GC/MS
12:00 Lunch.
12:30 Seminar: How insect immunity correlates mammalian immunity.
1:00 Finish sample analysis and data processing
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Acknowledgments
& Contributors |
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Dr. David Stanley & UNL Entomology Department
Dr. Stanley was a co-author of this grant and host for the
Advanced Chemistry students into his lab.
The UNL Entomology Department provided facilities for the
research and seminars. |
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Dr. Hasan Tunaz
Dr.Tunaz provided guidance to the Advanced Chemistry students
during the synthesis of the prostaglandins. |
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Lincoln Public Schools Foundation
Provided funding for this experience. |
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| Student Comments &
Perceptions |
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These students wrote their
thoughts and perceptions of the project and their experience
associated with doing this research. Read
their comments and see what they thought of this. As a
consequence of activities such as these, we anticipate students
have a better understanding of the research process. |
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| Future
Work |
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Three students involved in
this project (Dimi Hua, Huong Le, & Lien Phun) continued
this line of research in hopes of identifying elongation and
desaturation activity of deuterated linoleic acid in the midgut
of Manduca sexta. These students are able to independently
conduct research using all the practices and protocols used
within this project. Results of this work will hopefully
be written up sometime soon. |
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