1998 — 2000 |
Stewart, Jennifer |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Powre: Phenylethanolamine N-Methyl Transferase in Brain Lymphoid Tissues @ Virginia Commonwealth University
Stewart IBN 9870382 Phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) is the final enzyme required for synthesis of the stress hormone epinephrine. Recent studies indicate that the PNMT gene is expressed in mammalian lymphoid organs, such as spleen, thymus and lymph nodes, but it is unclear what types of cells in these organs produce PNMT and whether the PNMT in these areas has other functions in addition to synthesis of epinephrine. Similarly, PNMT and epinephrine are found in the brains of vertebrates, but the functions of epinephrine in the brain have never been clarified. The goals of the proposed project are to (1) identify cells that express the PNMT gene in the central nervous system and lymphoid tissues of rats and mice, (2) investigate the regulation of PNMT and epinephrine in these areas and (3) explore model systems for studying the function of epinephrine in these tissues. These studies will increase our understanding of the role of PNMT and epinephrine in both the nervous system and the immune system. Because epinephrine is present in the vertebrate brain and in immune cells of organisms as diverse as primates and molluscs, the findings will have broad implications for regulatory mechanisms in many species.
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0.931 |
2002 — 2006 |
Stewart, Jennifer Fischer-Stenger, Krista |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Catecholamines in Macrophages @ Virginia Commonwealth University
Catecholamines, such as dopamine and norepinephrine, are regulatory molecules produced by neurons and the adrenal gland. Recently, investigators discovered that selected cells of the immune system not only take up catecholamines, but also synthesize these molecules. There is no information, however, on the regulation of catecholamine synthesis and release in these cells. Furthermore, the functions of catecholamines released by immune cells are not clear. The goal of this project is to investigate the molecular regulation of catecholamine synthesis, storage, and release in the RAW264.7 macrophage cell line and in peritoneal macrophages isolated from mice. The autocrine and paracrine actions of macrophage-derived catecholamines also will be investigated.
Macrophages are important cells in the immune system, and catecholamines are important molecules produced by neural and endocrine cells. Based on new evidence that immune cells produce catecholamines, this project will explore the synthesis and function of these molecules in macrophages. Results of this study will contribute to our understanding of macrophage functions and provide clues to links between the nervous, endocrine and immune systems.
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0.931 |
2008 |
Stewart, Jennifer Lynn |
F31Activity Code Description: To provide predoctoral individuals with supervised research training in specified health and health-related areas leading toward the research degree (e.g., Ph.D.). |
The Role of Ethanol in Nrf2-Are Mediated Neuroprotection. @ University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr San Ant
[unreadable] DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal is formatted with three Specific Aims designed to determine the mechanisms by which ethanol induces Nrf2 mediated ARE activation of genes which regulate cellular glutathione (GSH) levels and are components of the neuroprotective Y-glutamyl cycle. It is hypothesized that ethanol induces activation of an astrocyte Nrf2-ARE dependant neuroprotective pathway which acts as a cellular redox switch to up-regulate components of the y-glutamyl cycle thereby controlling GSH homeostasis in neurons. The overall objective of this proposal is to elucidate mechanisms underlying protection against ethanol- induced neuroapoptosis in the developing brain. Components of the neuroprotective Y-glutamyl cycle are present on astrocytes and mediate neuron GSH-homeostatic machinery which can be highly regulated to enhance its neuroprotective capacity. The importance of this pathway is that it is a rapid response mechanism by which astrocyte components of the Y-glutamyl cycle can be augmented for neuroprotection. Regulation and/or manipulation of systems responsible for coordinated enhancement of astrocyte glutathione-homeostatic machinery which provides neuroprotection, can be further exploited to protect against a myriad of diseases in which neuronal oxidative damage is implicated. Specific Aim I will extend preliminary data to determine the underlying mechanism of ethanol induced Nrf2 protein. Specific Aim II will address the hypothesis that ethanol induces the dissociation of the Nrf2/Keap1 complex and elucidate the specific mechanisms by which this occurs. Specific Aim III will extend preliminary data to characterize ethanol's effect on Nrf2-ARE binding and activation, and ultimately neuroprotection. This aim will also extend in vitro studies to the whole animal. We will utilize an in-vivo imaging technique that will allow for monitoring of real time effects in the living cerebral cortex. The significance of the proposed studies is to define the underlying mechanisms by which the neuroprotective capacity of astrocytes can be enhanced to protect against ethanol mediated oxidative stress and apoptotic death. Ultimately, sites of augmentation of anti-oxidant pathways that are neuroprotective can be translated into points of clinical intervention. The specific aims described above will characterize a critical neuroprotective pathway that impacts a broad range of neuropathologies connected to oxidative stress. These include cancer, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, stroke, and aging. [unreadable] [unreadable] [unreadable]
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0.937 |
2013 — 2017 |
Stewart, Jennifer |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Sees Fellows: Development of a Novel Algal Harvesting and Dewatering Method For the Economically Feasible Production of Biofuels From Microalgae Growing On Industrial Emissions
In this Award from the NSF Science, Engineering and Education for Sustainability Fellows (SEES Fellows Program) Dr. Jennifer Stewart from the University of Delaware will study the impact of changes in the environment upon the risks for emerging infectious diseases, in particular zoonotic and vector-borne diseases. This award has support from: the Directorate for Biological Sciences, the Directorate for Engineering, and the Office of the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).
Dr. Stewart will study the biological mechanisms that drive the nitric-oxide (NO) induced flocculation of the photosynthetic algae Heterosigma akashiwo and she will work with students at Delaware Technical and Community College to develop a pilot-scale algal harvesting and dewatering system for production of biomass for production of photosynthetic fuels. Dr. Stewart will study the cellular processes and products important to downstream biofuel production will be examined using a multidisciplinary "whole cell" approach that incorporates physiological, biochemical, and molecular analyses. This approach will include a comparative transcriptome analysis to identify genes and gene pathways involved in flocculation, and define the optimal conditions for flocculation and harvesting of high quality biomass.
The aim of studies like this is to develop alternative (renewable) sources of high quality liquid fuels that can be easily incorporated into existing infrastructure. Algal biofuels show some promise, but production of algal biofuels are not yet economically viable on a commercial scale. The flocculation and dewatering methods that Dr. Stewart is studying could help to reduce the price of separation and removal of water in the processing of algal biofuels.
Dr. Stewart will be working with collaborators Kathryn Coyne of the University of Delaware and Doug Hicks, Department of Chemical Engineering Technology at Delaware Technical and Community College. Dr. Stewart will also be building an exhibit to include in "Coast Day," a public outreach event at the University of Delaware.
This project is supported under the NSF Science, Engineering and Education for Sustainability Fellows (SEES Fellows) program, with the goal of helping to enable discoveries needed to inform actions that lead to environmental, energy and societal sustainability while creating the necessary workforce to address these challenges. With SEES Fellows support, this project will enable a promising early career researcher to establish themselves in an independent research career related to sustainability.
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0.961 |