O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar o efeito da suplementação de níveis crescentes de colina e de aminoácidos sulfurados totais (AST) digestíveis em uma dieta de milho e proteína isolada de soja, sobre o desempenho produtivo, bem como a ocorrência de deformidades e desvios nas patas e fígado gorduroso de frangos de corte. Foram alojados 525 frangos de corte, machos Cobb 500, de um dia de idade, em 75 gaiolas experimentais. As aves foram distribuídas em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado com 15 tratamentos, 5 repetições e 7 aves por unidade experimental. Foi utilizada uma dieta basal semipurificada com 74% de milho (736 ppm de colina) e esta foi suplementada utilizando um arranjo fatorial 3 x 5 com 3 níveis de AST digestíveis em relação à lisina digestível (70, 75 e 80%) e 5 níveis de suplementação de colina (0, 700, 1.400, 2.100 e 2.800 ppm). Foi utilizado um programa alimentar de 2 fases: pré-inicial (1 a 7 d) e inicial (8 a 21 d). Ganho de peso (GP), consumo de ração e conversão alimentar (CA) foram avaliados aos 7, 14 e 21 d. Aos 21 d, as aves foram avaliadas para perose, valgus, varus e tibia rotada na articulação tibio matatarsal, os fígados foram avaliados macroscopicamente (coloração, tamanho e consistência) e quanto ao seu teor de extrato etéreo. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e as médias foram comparadas pelo teste de Tukey. Regressões lineares e quadráticas foram estimadas para as variáveis de desempenho produtivo e a resposta máximada de suplementação de colina foi estimada. Não houve interação entre AST digestíveis e colina, também não houve diferença entre os níveis de AST digestíveis (P>0,05). O GP dos frangos alimentados com níveis crescentes de colina aumentou quadraticamente (P<0,05) de 1 a 7 d, 8 a 14 d, 1 a 14 d, 15 a 21 d e 1 a 21 d e a CA diminuiu quadraticamente (P<0,05) 1 a 14 d e 1 a 21 d. No período de 1 a 7 d, 8 a 14 d e 15 a 21d foram estimadas exigências de 2.700, 2.907 e 3.105 ppm para GP. De 1 a 14 d e 1 a 21 d, as exigências foram de 2.875 ppm e 2.925 ppm para GP, e 2.938 ppm e 2.849 ppm para CA. Os tratamentos que não receberam suplementação de colina apresentaram maior ocorrência de varus e tibia rotada (P<0,05), quando comparados aos outros níveis de colina, não houve diferença entre os níveis de colina para valgus. Os níveis de colina em que houve o melhor GP e CA para frangos foram determinados como 2.925 ppm e 2.849 ppm para as fases iniciais. Considerando-se uma ração de milho e farelo de soja (1.500 ppm de colina), 1.425 e 1.349 ppm de suplementação de colina são apropriados para melhorar a performance de frangos de corte de 1 a 21 d. Esses valores são superiores às recomendações prévias para as fases iniciais (500 ppm). / The objective of this study was to evaluate growth performance, the occurrence of leg deformity and deviations and fatty liver of broilers fed a corn and soy protein isolate diet supplemented with increasing levels of choline and digestible total sulfur amino acid (TSAA). A total of 525 one-day-old Cobb 500 chicks were distributed in a completely randomized design in 75 battery cages, 15 treatments, and 7 birds per cage. A 74% corn semi-purified basal diet (736 ppm of choline) was supplemented using a 3 x 5 factorial arrangement with 3 levels of digestible TSAA ratio to digestible lysine (70, 75 and 80%) and 5 levels of choline supplementation (0; 700; 1,400; 2,100, and 2,800 ppm). A 2-phases feeding program was used: pre-initial (1 to 7 d) and initial (8 to 21 d). Body weight gain (BWG), feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were evaluated at 7, 14 and 21 d. At 21 d all birds were evaluated for perosis, valgus, varus and rotated tibia in tibiometatarsal joint, livers were evaluated macroscopically (color, size, and consistency) and for fat content. Data were submitted to analysis of variance and means were compared by the Tukey test. Performance data were fitted to linear and quadratic polynomial regressions and the maximum response of choline supplementation was estimated. No interactions between digestible TSAA and choline were observed, also no differences among digestible TSAA levels (P>0.05). The BWG of broilers fed diets with increasing levels of choline increased quadratically (P<0.05) from 1 to 7 d, 8 to 14 d, 1 to 14 d, 15 to 21 d, and 1 to 21 d, also FCR decreased quadratically (P<0.05) from 1 to 14 d and 1 to 21 d. From 1 to 7 d, 8 to 14 d, and 15 to 21d quadratic regression estimated requirements as 2,700, 2,907, and 3,105 ppm for BWG. From 1 to 14 d and 1 to 21 d, quadratic regression estimates were 2,875 ppm and 2,925 ppm for BWG, and 2,938 ppm and 2,849 ppm for FCR. Treatments with no supplementation of choline had higher occurrence of varus and rotated tibia (P<0.05) compared to the other levels of choline. There was no difference for valgus deviation. Choline level that provided better BWG and FCR responses were determined as 2,925 and 2,849 ppm for starter phases, respectively. Considering a corn-soybean meal common diet (1,500 ppm of choline), 1,425 and 1,349 ppm of choline inclusions are appropriate to improve BWG and FCR response for broilers from 1 to 21 d, which are above previous recommendation for starter phases (500 ppm of choline).

Este estudo enfocou a mediação por íons metálicos divalentes da solvólise da ligação éster formada entre peptídeos e resinas, método desenvolvido por nós para a preparação de peptídeos C-modificados. Os objetivos foram: i) adaptá-lo para a estratégia Fmoc de síntese, ii) buscar resinas adequadas para tal propósito, iii) verificar qual íon metálico é mais eficiente para mediar tal reação; iv) investigar o possível mecanismo pelo qual os íons metálicos mediam as reações estudadas. Para isso, foram testadas as resinas derivadas do ácido p-hidroximetilbenzóico (HMBA-AM, HMBA-PEGA, HMBA-TG) e do álcool p-benziloxibenzílico (Wang), os mediadores metálicos Ca2+ e Zn2+, condições reacionais determinadas em estudos anteriores do nosso grupo de pesquisa (50% nucleófilo/ DMF) e os solventes nucleófilos metanol, etanol, propan-1-ol, propan-2-ol, butan-1-ol, álcool benzílico, butilamina e hexilamina. O desligamento de aminoácidos e peptídeos esterificados das resinas ocorreu com altos rendimentos (72 - 98%). A resina HMBA-AM e o íon Zn2+ demonstraram ser a combinação mais eficiente. Análises de espectroscopia de infravermelho na presença e ausência do íon metálico indicaram um mecanismo de reação no qual a coordenação do íon Zn2+ com o álcool facilita a formação do íon alcóxido, o qual é um nucleófilo melhor que o álcool e com capacidade de atacar o carbono da carbonila da ligação éster entre o peptídeo e a resina. / The present study was focused on divalent metal ions-mediated solvolysis of the ester linkage formed between peptides and resins, a method developed by us for the preparation of C-modified peptides. The aims were: i) to adapt it for the Fmoc synthesis strategy; ii) to search resins suitable for such purpose; iii) to determine which divalent metal ion is the most efficient reaction mediator; iv) to investigate the mechanism by which the metal ion mediates the solvolysis reactions studied. Therefore, we employed the resins p-hydroxymethylbenzoic acid (HMBA-AM, HMBA-PEGA, HMBA-TG) and p-benzyloxybenzyl (Wang) alcohol, the metal ions Ca2+ and Zn2+, the optimized solvolysis conditions found in our previous studies (50% nucleophile/DMF) and the nucleophilic solvents methanol, ethanol, propan-1-ol, propan-2-ol, butan-1-ol, benzyl alcohol, butylamine and cyclohexylamine. Detachment of esterified amino acids or peptides from resins gave high yields (72-98%). HMBA-AM resin and Zn2+ ion showed to be the most effective combination of resin and metal ion. Infrared spectroscopy analysis of the peptide-resins in absence and presence of such metal ion suggested a mechanism of reaction where the coordination of Zn2+ ion with the alcohol promotes its deprotonation to give the alkoxide ion, which is a better nucleophile and can attack the carbonyl carbon of the ester linkage formed between the amino acid and the resin.

Submitted by Rosivalda Pereira (mrs.pereira@ufma.br) on 2017-09-21T17:25:16Z No. of bitstreams: 1 NayaraCruz.pdf: 2821867 bytes, checksum: 4cc762016119d71d331457a53080cac3 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-09-21T17:25:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 NayaraCruz.pdf: 2821867 bytes, checksum: 4cc762016119d71d331457a53080cac3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-07-14 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The crystals based in Amino acid have been studied recently, mainly due to their useful properties for electronic, non-linear optical and magnetic applications. One of most used amino acids are β-alanine, whose complexes with nickel were studied in the 1990s. However, there are no studies on the thermal and structural stability of this material. In order to better investigate β-alanine complexes with metal ions, this work presents the structural and thermal study of nickel (II) β-alaninate crystal. The crystals were grown by slow evaporation of the solvent. The crystals grew after a period of 30 days. The techniques used for the characterization of the sample were: X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) along with the refinement by the Rietveld method, Raman spectroscopy at room temperature and with temperature variation, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Thermal Analysis By Differential Exploratory Calorimetry (DSC). The XRD data showed that the crystals grown were the desired ones, presenting the same triclinic structure and spatial group P1. The DSC results showed events corresponding to water loss followed by phase transformation and subsequent melting at approximately 138 ° C. The results obtained by Raman Spectroscopy at room temperature and with temperature variation showed 32 spectral bands for the crystal, of which 5 are referring to the network modes or external modes. Raman spectroscopy confirmed the observed phase transformation on the DSC curve due to the loss of the water molecule. As the temperature increases, the bands shift to the number of smaller waves. For the results obtained at temperatures above 137 ° C the appearance of spectral bands was not observed, indicating that the crystal was melted as observed in the DSC curve. The results of X-ray diffraction as a function of temperature showed that, as the temperature increases, the peaks shift to smaller angles and that the process is non-reversible, characteristic of a phase transformation. For the FITR data we have that most bands have a high spectral absorption showing a total of 26 bands. The present result shows that the crystal is thermally stable up to 110 ° C and can be used for application below this temperature. / Cristais à base de aminoácidos têm sido estudados recentemente, principalmente devido à suas propriedades úteis para aplicações eletrônicas, óptica não linear e magnéticas. Dentre os aminoácidos mais utilizados há a β-alanina, cujos complexos com níquel foram estudados na década de noventa. Contudo, não há estudos da estabilidade térmica e estrutural desse material. No intuito de investigar melhor complexos de β-alanina com íons metálicos, este trabalho apresenta o estudo estrutural e térmico do cristal de β- alaninato de níquel (II). Os cristais foram crescidos por meio do método de evaporação lenta do solvente. Os cristais cresceram após um período de 30 dias. As técnicas utilizadas para a caracterização da amostra foram: Difração de Raios X (DRX) juntamente com o refinamento pelo método de Rietveld, Espectroscopia Raman em temperatura ambiente e com variação de temperatura, Espectroscopia no Infravermelho com Transformada de Fourier (FTIR) e Análise Térmica pela técnica de Calorimetria Exploratória Diferencial (DSC). Os dados de DRX comprovaram que os cristais crescidos eram os desejados, apresentando a mesma estrutura triclínica e grupo espacial P1. Os resultados de DSC mostraram eventos que correspondem à perda de água seguida da transformação de fase e posterior fusão em aproximadamente 138°C. Os resultados obtidos por Espectroscopia Raman à temperatura ambiente e com variação de temperatura apresentaram 32 bandas espectrais para o cristal, das quais cinco são referentes aos modos de rede ou modos externos. A espectroscopia Raman confirmou a transformação de fase observada na curva de DSC, devido à perda da molécula de agua. À medida que a temperatura aumenta, ocorreu o deslocamento das bandas para número de ondas menores. Para os resultados obtidos em temperaturas superiores a 137°C não se observou o aparecimento de bandas espectrais, indicando que o cristal sofreu fusão conforme observado na curva de DSC. Os resultados de Difração de Raios X em função da temperatura mostraram que, à medida que ocorre o aumento da temperatura ocorre o deslocamento dos picos para ângulos menores e que o processo é não reversível, característica de uma transformação de fase. Para os dados de FITR, a maioria das bandas apresentam uma alta absorção espectral mostrando um total de 26 bandas. O presente resultado mostra que o cristal é termicamente estável até 110°C podendo ser utilizado para aplicação abaixo dessa temperatura.

Os venenos de serpentes são ricos em proteínas, enzimas e peptídeos biologicamente ativos. Diversas enzimas tais como fosfolipases A2 (PLA2s), metaloproteases (MP), L-aminoácido oxidases (LAAOs) são responsáveis pelo quadro clínico do envenenamento ofídico. Atualmente, o isolamento e a caracterização funcional e estrutural destas enzimas têm auxiliado na compreensão do mecanismo de ação destas toxinas e nas formas alternativas de tratamento. Além disso, estas enzimas se tornaram valiosas ferramentas de aplicação biotecnológica, na busca de novos fármacos de interesse na clínica médica. O objetivo deste trabalho foi isolar e caracterizar bioquímica e funcionalmente a L-aminoácido oxidase do veneno de Bothrops atrox. O isolamento da LAAO de B. atrox (LAAOBatrox) envolveu três etapas cromatográficas: a exclusão molecular em Sephadex G-75, troca iônica em ES-502N utilizando CLAE e, por último, a cromatografia de afinidade com uso da Lentil-Lectina, conferindo um alto grau de pureza à proteína confirmado por SDS-PAGE. Após a caracterização bioquímica, a LAAOBatrox demonstrou ser uma glicoproteína com 12% de açúcar, massa molecular relativa de 67.000 e pI de 4,4 confirmando seu caráter ácido pela composição em aminoácidos, predominando Asx (Ácido aspártico ou asparagina) e Glx (Ácido glutâmico ou glutamina). LAAOBatrox apresentou especificidade de substrato para L-Met e L-Leu. Com o seqüenciamento dos peptídeos trípticos internos e em comparação com as LAAOs de outros venenos, a LAAOBatrox apresentou homologia de 100% com LAAOs isoladas de B. moojeni e B. jararacussu e apresentou sequenciamento N-terminal de ADDN-NPLEE-NIRRDD que é homólogo ao das LAAOs já descritas. A LAAOBatrox apresentou atividade edematogênica moderada quando comparada ao veneno bruto, atividade coagulante baixa sobre o plasma humano citratado, atividade de agregação plaquetária sendo que 25µg/mL foi capaz de agregar aproximadamente 100% de plaquetas, onde o efeito obtido pela proteína pode ser devido à liberação de H2O2, sendo que a catalase foi adicionada ao meio tratado com LAAOBatrox e o efeito de agregação plaquetária obtido foi próximo à 0%. LAAOBatrox apresentou efeito citotóxico sobre diferentes linhagens tumorais: B16F10 onde as células apresentaram 70% de morte por apoptose e PC12 que apresentaram uma viabilidade celular de 20% após o tratamento com a enzima. LAAOBatrox não apresentou efeito citotóxico significativo sobre células normais. Portanto, a LAAOBatrox consiste de uma enzima multifuncional que poderá servir como ferramenta para investigação dos processos celulares que estão envolvidos no envenenamento. / Snake venoms are rich in proteins, enzymes and biological active peptides. Many enzymes, like phospholipases A2, metalloproteinases, L-amino acid oxidases are responsible by clinical aspects of ophidian poisoning. Nowadays, isolation and the functional and structural characterizations of these enzymes have been useful to elucidate their mechanisms of action. Besides, these enzymes have great value for biotechnology on searching of new molecules for medicine development. The aim of this work was isolate Lamino acid oxidase from B. atrox venom (LAAOBatrox) and characterize biochemical and functionally LAAOBatrox. The isolation consisted of 3 chromatographic steps: molecular exclusion using a G-75 Sephadex column, ion exchange using ES-502N column in HPLC and affinity chromatography with Lentil-Lectin column. Afterward, LAAOBatrox was analyzed by SDS-PAGE to confirm an expected high purity level. Biochemical characterization showed LAAOBatrox is a glycoprotein of 12% sugar-containing with relative molecular weight of 67000, pI estimated in 4,4 pointing to acid character due to its amino acids composition, rich for Asx and Glx residues. LAAOBatrox displays high specificity to hydrophobic L-amino acids (best substrates: L-Met and L-Leu). The Nterminal amino acid sequence (ADDN-NPLEE-NIRRDD) and the internal peptide sequences showed close structural homology to other snake venom L-amino acid oxidades, presenting 100% homology to LAAO from B. moojeni and B. jararacussu. This enzyme induces moderate edema compared to crude venom, low coagulating activity in human plasma and 100% of in vitro platelet aggregation induction with 25 g/mL, but this can be due to H2O2 production by LAAOs once added catalase has inhibited aggregation induced by LAAOBatrox and the effect was close to 0%. LAAOBatrox presents citotoxicity effect for tumor cell lines: 70% of death by apoptosis in B16F10 and 20% cellular viability for PC12, after LAAOBatrox treatment. LAAOBatrox did not display citotoxicity effect in normal cells (peripheral blood mononuclear cells). Thus, LAAOBatrox is a multifunctional enzyme of huge potential for investigation of cellular processes involved on poisoning and also for developing new medicines.

Lors d’une infection microbienne, la défense de l’hôte comprend deux facettes complémentaires. Premièrement, le système immunitaire cible les pathogènes dans le but de les éliminer, une attaque correspondant à la résistance. Dans un second temps, l’organisme doit réparer les dégâts causés par le pathogène ou par la réponse immunitaire de l’hôte, un mécanisme appelé résilience. J’ai étudié les effets d’une infection intestinale par la bactérie Serratia marcescens chez la drosophile. Nous avons mis en évidence un processus de purge dans l’intestin, lors duquel les enterocytes -les cellules principales de l’intestin- se vident partiellement de leur contenu. L’épithélium intestinal devient alors très fin mais se régénère rapidement, protégeant ainsi la mouche des effets délétères de l’infection. J’ai identifié un transporteur d’acides aminés, CG1139, qui est nécessaire à la régénération de l’intestin. CG1139 est requis pour la mobilisation de certaines réserves métaboliques de la drosophile et pour le transport rétrograde de ces dernières vers l’intestin. / Upon microbial infections, host defenses comprise two complementary facets. First, immune effectors target and kill the invading pathogen, an attack referred to as resistance. Second, the infected host must repair the damages inflicted by microbes or by the immune response itself, a mechanism called resilience. I have studied the effects of an intestinal infection with the bacterium Serratia marcescens in Drosophila. We have discovered a purge mechanism in the intestine, where enterocytes -the main cell type in the gut- extrude some of their internal contents. The intestinal epithelium thus becomes very thin but rapidly recovers its shape, thereby protecting the fly against the deleterious effects of infection. I have identified an amino acid transporter, CG1139, which is required for the intestinal recovery. CG1139 is necessary to mobilize the fly’s internal metabolic reserves and to transport some these metabolic stores back to the gut, in a retrograde manner.

Escapin is an L-amino acid oxidase that produces antimicrobial metabolites collectively called “Escapin Intermediate Products” (EIP-K). EIP-K and H2O2 together were previously shown to be bactericidal towards diverse planktonic bacteria. The present work investigates the ability of EIP-K and H2O2 to antagonize bacterial biofilms, using Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a model. The project had three aims: 1) determine the most effective concentrations of EIP-K and H2O2 necessary to break down existing P. aeruginosa biofilms, using a crystal violet assay; 2) examine the ability of EIP-K + H2O2 to inhibit biofilm formation, using triphenyl tetrazolium chloride dye; and 3) determine the effect of EIP-K + H2O2 on the viability, biomass and structure of biofilms cultivated in flow cells using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Results showed that EIP-K + H2O2 significantly reduced biofilm biomass relative to controls and that the compounds are effective at nanomolar concentrations.

Although the genome sequence and gene content are available for an increasing number of organisms, eukaryotic selenoproteins remain poorly characterized. In these proteins, selenium (Se) is incorporated in the form of selenocysteine(Sec), the 21st amino acid. Selenocysteine is cotranslationally inserted in response to UGA codons (a stop signal in the canonical genetic code). The alternative decoding is mediated by a stem-loop structure in the 3'UTR of selenoprotein mRNAs (the SECIS element). Selenium is implicated in male infertility, cancer and heart diseases, viral expression and ageing. In addition, most selenoproteins have homologues in which Sec is replaced by cysteine (Cys).Genome biologists rely on the high-quality annotation of genomes to bridge the gap from the sequence to the biology of the organism. However, for selenoproteins, which mediate the biological functions of selenium, the dual role of the UGA codon confounds both the automatic annotation pipelines and the human curators. In consequence, selenoproteins are misannotated in the majority of genome projects. Furthermore, the finding of novel selenoprotein families remains a difficult task in the newly released genome sequences.In the last few years, we have contributed to the exhaustive description of the eukaryotic selenoproteome (set of eukaryotic selenoproteins) through the development of a number of ad hoc computational tools. Our approach is based on the capacity of predicting SECIS elements, standard genes and genes with a UGA codon in-frame in one or multiple genomes. Indeed, the comparative analysis plays an essential role because 1) SECIS sequences are conserved between close species (eg. human-mouse); and 2) sequence conservation across a UGA codon between genomes at further phylogenetic distance strongly suggests a coding function (eg. human-fugu). Our analysis of the fly, human and Takifugu and Tetraodon genomes have resulted in 9 novel selenoprotein families. Therefore, 20 distinct selenoprotein families have been described in eukaryotes to date. Most of these families are widely (but not uniformly) distributed across eukaryotes, either as true selenoproteins or Cys-homologues.The correct annotation of selenoproteins is thus providing insight into the evolution of the usage of Sec. Our data indicate a discrete evolutionary distribution of selenoprotein in eukaryotes and suggest that, contrary to the prevalent thinking of an increase in the number of selenoproteins from less to more complex genomes, Sec-containing proteins scatter all along the complexity scale. We believe that the particular distribution of each family is mediated by an ongoing process of Sec/Cys interconversion, in which contingent events could play a role as important as functional constraints. The characterization of eukaryotic selenoproteins illustrates some of the most important challenges involved in the completion of the gene annotation of genomes. Notably among them, the increasing number of exceptions to our standard theory of the eukaryotic gene and the necessity of sequencing genomes at different evolutionary distances towards such a complete annotation.

The advent of high-throughput sequencing and structure determination techniques has had a tremendous impact on our quest in cracking the language of life. The genomic and protein data is now being accumulated at a phenomenal rate, with the motivation of deriving insights into the function, mechanism, and evolution of the biomolecules, through analysis of their similarities, differences, and interactions. The rapid increase in the size of the biomolecular databases, however, calls for development of new computational methods for sensitive and efficient management and analysis of this information. In this thesis, we propose and implement several approaches for accurate and highly efficient comparison and retrieval of protein sequences and structures. The observation that corresponding residues in related proteins share similar inter-residue contacts is exploited in derivation of a new set of biologically sensitive metric amino acid substitution matrices, yielding accurate alignment and comparison of proteins. The metricity of these matrices has allowed efficient indexing and retrieval of both protein sequences and structures. A landmark-guided embedding of protein sequences is developed to represent subsequences in a vector space for approximate, but extremely fast spatial indexing and similarity search. Whereas protein structure comparison and search tasks were hitherto handled separately, we propose an integrated approach that serves both of these tasks and performs comparable to or better than other available methods. Our approach hinges on identification of similar residue contacts using distance-based indexing and provides the best of the both worlds: the accuracy of detailed structure alignment algorithms, at a speed comparable to that of the structure retrieval algorithms. We expect that the methods and tools developed in this study will find use in a wide range of application areas including annotation of new proteins, discovery of functional motifs, discerning evolutionary relationships among genes and species, and drug design and targeting.

Hemp seed proteins (HSP) were investigated for physicochemical and functional properties in model food systems. In addition, the HSP were enzymatically digested and the released peptides investigated as potential therapeutic agents. Membrane isolated HSP (mHPC) were the most soluble with >60% solubility at pH 3-9 when compared to a maximum of 27% for isoelectric pH-precipitated proteins (iHPI). However, iHPI formed emulsions with smaller oil droplet sizes (<1 µm) while mHPI formed bigger oil droplets. The iHPI was subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis using different concentrations (1-4%) of six proteases (pepsin, pancreatin, flavourzyme, thermoase, papain and alcalase) to produce various HSP hydrolysates (HPHs). HPHs had strong in vitro inhibitions of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and renin activities, the two main enzyme systems involved in hypertension. Oral administration of the HPHs to spontaneously hypertensive rats led to fast and persistent reductions in systolic blood pressure. The HPHs also inhibited in vitro activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), a serine hydrolase whose excessive activities lead to inadequate level of the cholinergic neurotransmitter, acetylcholine (ACh). Inadequate ACh level in the brain has been linked to neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD); therefore, AChE inhibition is a therapeutic target. The 1% pepsin HPH was the most active with up to 54% AChE inhibition at 10 µg/mL peptide concentration. The 1% pepsin HPH (dominated by <1 kDa) was subjected to reverse-phase HPLC peptide purification coupled with tandem mass spectrometry, which led to identification of several peptide sequences. Some of the peptides inhibited activities of both animal and human AChE forms with LYV being the most potent against human AChE (IC50 = 7 µg/ml). Thus the LYV peptide may serve as a useful template for the development of future potent AChE-inhibitory peptidomimetics. In conclusion, several novel AChE-inhibitory peptides were discovered and their amino acid sequences elucidated for the first time. Results from this work identified HSP products that could serve as functional ingredients in the food industry. The work also produced and confirmed the in vitro AChE-inhibitory activities of several new peptide sequences that may serve as therapeutic agents for AD management. / October 2015

Implementation and analysis of mathematical models can serve as a powerful tool in understanding how intracellular processes in bacteria affect the bacterial phenotype. In this thesis I have implemented and analysed models of a number of different parts of the bacterium E. coli in order to understand these types of connections. I have also developed new tools for analysis of stochastic reaction-diffusion models. Resistance mutations in the E. coli ribosomes make the bacteria less susceptible to treatment with the antibiotic drug erythromycin compared to bacteria carrying wildtype ribosomes. The effect is dependent on efficient drug efflux pumps. In the absence of pumps for erythromycin, there is no difference in growth between wildtype and drug target resistant bacteria. I present a model explaining this unexpected phenotype, and also give the conditions for its occurrence. Stochastic fluctuations in gene expression in bacteria, such as E. coli, result in stochastic fluctuations in biosynthesis pathways. I have characterised the effect of stochastic fluctuations in the parallel biosynthesis pathways of amino acids. I show how the average protein synthesis rate decreases with an increasing number of fluctuating amino acid production pathways. I further show how the cell can remedy this problem by using sensitive feedback control of transcription, and by optimising its expression levels of amino acid biosynthetic enzymes. The pole-to-pole oscillations of the Min-proteins in E. coli are required for accurate mid-cell division. The phenotype of the Min-oscillations is altered in three different mutants: filamentous cells, round cells and cells with changed membrane lipid composition. I have shown that the wildtype and mutant phenotypes can be explained using a stochastic reaction-diffusion model. In E. coli, the transcription elongation rate on the ribosmal RNA operon increases with increasing transcription initiation rate. In addition, the polymerase density varies along the ribosomal RNA operons. I present a DNA sequence dependent model that explains the transcription elongation rate speed-up, and also the density variation along the ribosomal operons. Both phenomena are explained by the RNA polymerase backtracking on the DNA. / Felaktigt tryckt som Digital Comprehensive Summaries of Uppsala Dissertations from the Faculty of Science and Technology 715