Terry Elton

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Terry S. Elton is an American professor of pharmacology at the Ohio State University.

Contents

Education and academic history

Terry Elton is a biochemist who received his B.S. from Weber State University in Chemistry, his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Washington State University, and performed postdoctoral work at Washington State University and the University of Alabama. [1] As of 2019 Elton is a pharmacy professor and researcher at the Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute at Ohio State. [2]

Scientific misconduct

Elton was first accused of scientific misconduct in 2010 after certain images in his published works seemed to be doctored, and was subjected to an internal investigation by an Ohio State pharmacy department committee. Elton was originally cleared of allegations of misconduct after the university's investigatory committee concluded that the “irregular” images were a result of disorganization, not “intentional malfeasance.” [3] However, in late December 2012, Elton was found guilty of scientific misconduct by both Ohio State University officials and the Office of Research Integrity. He was found to have falsified data in Western blots used to identify key proteins in his research into the brain chemistry of patients with Down syndrome. He also falsified Western blot data in a grant application to the National Institutes of Health. [4] [5] According to John Dahlberg, leader of the federal investigation into Elton's data, "It is clear from the PowerPoint that Dr. Elton has a long-standing convention of reusing figures to represent both control and experimental conditions. It would also appear that he has copied, resized/stretched/shrunk, darkened and flipped images (horizontally and vertically) ... to conceal similarities." [6]

In 2012 the Office of Research Integrity recommended that six of Elton's published papers be retracted, and he voluntarily entered a three-year exclusion agreement in which he excluded himself from any contracts or subcontracts with any U.S. government agency and serving as an adviser in any form to the Public Health Services. [7] Ohio State University also imposed its own penalties for Elton, including a prohibition from supervising any undergraduate or graduate students for three years, submitting all papers and grant applications to the university for review before proceeding with them for five years, and completing counseling on research misconduct and training on research ethics. [8]

As of 2020, seven of Elton's research papers have been retracted. [9]

Retracted papers

Chromosome 21-derived MicroRNAs Provide an Etiological Basis for Aberrant Protein Expression in Human Down Syndrome Brains This article was published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. In this paper, Elton and his lab were working with five microRNA genes. The ultimate results suggesting that the inactivation of the miRNA gene, Has-21, might provide a therapeutic tool in the treatment of down syndrome. The paper was first published on November 6, 2009. By the time the paper was retracted, it had already been cited 34 times. The paper was retracted due to falsified and/or fabricated “western blots” in figures 2C, 2D, 2F, 3C, 3E, 4G, 5C and 5F.

Human chromosome 21-derived miRNAs are overexpressed in down syndrome brains and hearts This article was published in Elsevier. In this paper, the hypothesis was that the down syndrome gene dosage overexpression of Has-21 miRNA causes a decreased expression of specific target proteins which in turn causes the neuronal and cardiac symptoms that Down syndrome patients experience. The paper was first published on April 1, 2008. By the time the paper was retracted it had already been cited 74 times. The paper was retracted due to falsified and/or fabricated Western blots in figures 3B, 3C, 3F, 3H, 3I and 3J.

The Human Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor 1166 A/C Polymorphism Attenuates MicroRNA-155 Binding This article was published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. This study by Elton's lab provided the first feasible biochemical mechanism by which the +1166 A/C polymorphism can lead to increased AT1R densities and possibly cardiovascular disease. The paper was first published on June 21, 2007. By the time the paper was retracted it had already been cited 184 times. The paper was retracted due to falsified and/or fabricated Western blots in figure 6 of the publication.

Transcriptional regulation of the AT1 receptor gene in immortalized human trophoblast cells This article was published in the Biochimica et Biophysica Acta or BBA (Latin for Biochemical and Biophysical Journal). This article explains a discovery of an immortalized human trophoblast cell line responds to AngII a peptide that regulates contraction of smooth vascular muscle, fluid homeostasis, and sympathetic nervous activity. The research also suggests that it can be synthesized in the placenta (gives nutrients and water to the fetus) which increases a gene that allows for less trophoblast invasiveness which is the main cause for Preeclampsia. The paper was retracted due to the fabricated blots in Figure 6. It has been cited six times. [10]

TGF-β1 regulation of human AT1 receptor mRNA splice variants harboring exon 2 This article was published in Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology. This article discusses how the inclusion of exon 2 in hAT1R mRNA transcripts dramatically decreases hAT1R protein levels and the responsiveness of Ang II. AT1R activation is closely associated with cardiovascular disease, the inclusion of exon 2 by alternative splicing represents a novel mechanism to reduce the overall production of the hAT1R protein and possibly limit the potential pathological effects of AT1R activation. This paper was retracted due to fabricated blots in Figures 5, 6B,7B,9B. This paper was cited 11 times. [11]

See also

Related Research Articles

Scientific misconduct is the violation of the standard codes of scholarly conduct and ethical behavior in the publication of professional scientific research. A Lancet review on Handling of Scientific Misconduct in Scandinavian countries provides the following sample definitions,reproduced in The COPE report 1999:

Human genome Complete set of nucleic acid sequences for humans

The human genome is a complete set of nucleic acid sequences for humans, encoded as DNA within the 23 chromosome pairs in cell nuclei and in a small DNA molecule found within individual mitochondria. These are usually treated separately as the nuclear genome, and the mitochondrial genome. Human genomes include both protein-coding DNA genes and noncoding DNA. Haploid human genomes, which are contained in germ cells consist of three billion DNA base pairs, while diploid genomes have twice the DNA content. While there are significant differences among the genomes of human individuals, these are considerably smaller than the differences between humans and their closest living relatives, the bonobos and chimpanzees.

Alternative splicing Process by which a single gene can code for multiple proteins

Alternative splicing, or alternative RNA splicing, or differential splicing, is a regulated process during gene expression that results in a single gene coding for multiple proteins. In this process, particular exons of a gene may be included within or excluded from the final, processed messenger RNA (mRNA) produced from that gene. Consequently, the proteins translated from alternatively spliced mRNAs will contain differences in their amino acid sequence and, often, in their biological functions. Notably, alternative splicing allows the human genome to direct the synthesis of many more proteins than would be expected from its 20,000 protein-coding genes.

In academic publishing, a retraction when a published paper in an academic journal is removed from the journal. Online journals typically remove the retracted article from online access.

This is a list of topics in molecular biology. See also index of biochemistry articles.

Genetics, a discipline of biology, is the science of heredity and variation in living organisms.

Luk Van Parijs was an associate professor of biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Center for Cancer Research. After investigating for a year, MIT fired Van Parijs for research misconduct. Van Parijs admitted to fabricating and falsifying research data in a paper, several unpublished manuscripts, and grant applications. In March 2011, Van Parijs pleaded guilty in a U.S. District Court in Boston to one count of making a false statement on a federal grant application. The government asked Judge Denise Casper for a 6-month jail term because of the seriousness of the fraud, which involved a $2-million grant. After several prominent scientists including Van Parijs' former post-doc supervisor pleading for clemency on his behalf, on 13 June, Van Parijs was finally sentenced six months of home detention with electronic monitoring, plus 400 hours of community service and a payment to MIT of $61,117 - restitution for the already-spent grant money that MIT had to return to the National Institutes of Health.

Outline of biochemistry Overview of and topical guide to biochemistry

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to biochemistry:

GNAS complex locus Gene locus

GNAS complex locus is a gene locus in humans. Its main product is the heterotrimeric G-protein alpha subunit Gs-α, a key component of G protein-coupled receptor-regulated adenylyl cyclase signal transduction pathways. GNAS stands for Guanine Nucleotide binding protein, Alpha Stimulating activity polypeptide.

Kisspeptin

Kisspeptins are proteins encoded by the KISS1 gene in humans. Kisspeptins are ligands of the G-protein coupled receptor, GPR54. Kiss1 was originally identified as a human metastasis suppressor gene that has the ability to suppress melanoma and breast cancer metastasis. Kisspeptin-GPR54 signaling has an important role in initiating secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) at puberty, the extent of which is an area of ongoing research. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone is released from the hypothalamus to act on the anterior pituitary triggering the release of luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). These gonadotropic hormones lead to sexual maturation and gametogenesis. Disrupting GPR54 signaling can cause hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism in rodents and humans. The Kiss1 gene is located on chromosome 1. It is transcribed in the brain, adrenal gland, and pancreas.

Growth hormone-binding protein (GHBP) is a soluble carrier protein for growth hormone (GH). The function of GHBP is still unknown. Current research suggests that the protein is associated with regulation of the GH supply in the circulatory system as well as GH receptor function.

R. Michael Roberts is an American biologist and a Curators' Professor of animal science at the University of Missouri.

RBM8A protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

RNA-binding protein 8A is a protein that in humans is encoded by the RBM8A gene.

Angiotensin II receptor type 2 protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

Angiotensin II receptor type 2, also known as the AT2 receptor is a protein that in humans is encoded by the AGTR2 gene.

Placental growth factor protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

Placental growth factor is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PGF gene.

SNRPN upstream reading frame protein protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

SNRPN upstream reading frame protein is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SNURF gene.

GABRA3

Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit alpha-3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GABRA3 gene.

Carlo Maria Croce is an Italian-American professor of medicine at Ohio State University, specializing in oncology and the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer. Croce and his research have attracted public attention because of multiple allegations of scientific misconduct.

In molecular biology mir-802 microRNA is a short RNA molecule. MicroRNAs function to regulate the expression levels of other genes by several mechanisms.

References

  1. ↑ "Terry S. Elton". Ohio State University. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  2. ↑ Al-Ruwaishan, Abdulrahman (7 January 2013). "Ohio State pharmacy professor tampered with research data, hit with 'severe' federal sanctions". The Lantern. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  3. ↑ Sutherly, Ben (6 January 2013). "Probe by OSU missed fraud". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  4. ↑ Sutherly, Ben (21 December 2012). "OSU professor to retract research over data-falsification finding". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  5. ↑ "Notices" (PDF). Federal Register. 77 (247): 76041–76042. 26 December 2012. PMC   5019595 . PMID   27737225 . Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  6. ↑ Sutherly, Ben (6 January 2013). "Probe by OSU missed fraud". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  7. ↑ Dahlberg, John. "Findings of Research Misconduct". Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  8. ↑ Al-Ruwaishan, Abdulrahman (7 January 2013). "Ohio State pharmacy professor tampered with research data, hit with 'severe' federal sanctions". The Lantern. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  9. ↑ "Retraction Watch Database - Terry Elton". Retraction Watch. The Center for Scientific Integrity. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
  10. ↑ Duffy, Aaron; Mickey Martin; Terry Elton (5 November 2004). "Transcriptional regulation of the AT1 receptor gene in immortalized human trophoblast cells". Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Gene Structure and Expression. 1680 (3): 158–170. doi:10.1016/j.bbaexp.2004.09.008. PMID   15507319.
  11. ↑ Martin, Mickey; Jessica Buckenberger; Darren Knoell; Arthur Strauch; Terry Elton (25 April 2006). "TGF-β1 regulation of human AT1 receptor mRNA splice variants harboring exon 2". Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology. 249 (1–2): 21–31. doi:10.1016/j.mce.2006.01.009. PMID   16504375. S2CID   3838752.
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