Nancy Trun E-Mail

Nancy J. Trun
Assistant Professor
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, Pa 15282

Education

B.S. Microbiology, Ohio State University 1982
Ph.D. Molecular Biology, Princeton University 1988
Post Doctorate, National Institutes of Health 1993

Telephone: (412) 396-1853
Fax: (412) 396-5907
Email: trun@duq.edu

Research Interests: Folding of chromosomes in bacteria and communicable diseases in feral cat populations.Chromosome Folding. Chromosomes are long very thin molecules that must be folded correctly in order to be functional and to fit inside of the cell. Using the model system E. coli, we have identified a family of small DNA binding proteins, called Csp proteins, which help fold the chromosome. E. coli K-12 encodes nine csp genes that are expressed at different times during cell growth. Some are induced by cold shock, some by nutritional deprivation, some by stationary phase and some are expressed throughout the growth curve. The cell requires the presence of Csp proteins for viability, however no individual Csp has been shown to be essential.

We are currently studying:

1) The biochemistry of CspE to determine what nucleic acid substrates it will bind to and what the requirements for binding are.
2) The phenotypes associated with overproduction of wild-type and mutant cspE genes to determine the role(s) it plays in vivo .
3) The consequences associated with deleting multiple csp genes.
4) Mutants in CspE that distinguish between its roles in gene regulation and the effects they have on DNA topography.

Feral cats. We have recently begun a project to look at the number and type of communicable disease carried by feral cats. It is estimated that there are approximately 100 million free-roaming and feral cats in the United States alone. These animals live in every setting you could possibly imagine yet very little is known about them. In conjunction with Dr. Lisa Ludvico , Dr. Becky Morrow and a non-profit organization that employs the Trap-Neuter-Return approach to the animals, we are investigating the genetic relatedness of individual members of cat colonies, the health of each animal and the number and types of communicable diseases that they carry. We are comparing the data from feral populations to client-owned indoor cats.

Teaching Interests. I teach a variety of upper level microbiology related courses including traditional lecture courses and a semester-long in depth laboratory class. My interests lie in engaging the students in my class material so that they want to learn. I am currently piloting service-learning in the study of the feral cats. My lab course is full research project with each student conducting a part of the feral cat work. The students are also required to spend a given number of hours each semester with either the Trap-Neuter-Return non-profit or a local animal shelter we work with. These experiences are incorporated into the lab in the form of projects the students complete. These additions to a traditional lab allow the students to see first hand what the problem is and how they can help solve it.

Selected Publications

1. Hu, K., Liu, E. Dean, K. Gingras, M., DeGraff, W. and Trun , N.J. Overproduction of three genes leads to camphor resistance and chromosome condensation in E. coli. Genetics 143:1521-1532, 1996.
2. Trun, N.J. and Marko, J. The architecture of a functional chromosome. ASM News. 64 (5): 276-283, 1998.
3. Sand, O., Gingras, M., Beck, N., Hall, C., and Trun , N.J. The E. coli chromosome condensing proteins, CrcA, CspE and CrcB can partially substitute for mutations in topoisomerase IV, MukB, Fis, IHF, HU and HNS in vivo. Microbiology 149:2107-2117, 2003.
4. Trun, N.J. and Johnston, D. Folding chromosomes in bacteria: Examining the role of Csp proteins and other small nucleic acid-binding proteins. Current Topics in Develop. Biology 55:173-201, 2003.
Textbook
Fundamental Bacterial Genetics. N. Trun and J. Trempy. Blackwell Publishing. Malden , MA . 2004.964 BS Utah State University- Biology/Secondary Education