Metastable β titanium alloys stand out as prominent candidates for structure materials in aerospace industries due to their light weight and exceptional high strength. This dissertation systematically investigates the microstructural evolutions in the metastable β Ti-5Al-5Mo-5V-3Cr (wt. %, Ti5553) alloy induced by various defects including grain boundary, twin boundary, and dual-phase interface using advanced characterization techniques such as transmission Kikuchi diffraction (TKD), 3D FIB-SEM tomography, and 4D STEM. Firstly, the morphology of grain boundary α precipitates was characterized using quantitative 3D FIB-SEM tomography combined with 3D phase field simulation. Our findings highlighted the critical role of the inclination angle between habit plane of α and grain boundary plane in determining the morphology of grain boundary α precipitates. Secondly, the nanoscale substructures of a novel high-indexed {10 9 3} twin and its influence on the formation of hierarchical α microstructure were studied, employing conventional TEM and aberration-corrected STEM. Thirdly, the early stage α nucleation in Ti-5553 was studied utilizing interrupted heat treatments and ex-situ characterizations via TEM and aberrationcorrected STEM. Our findings indicated that the preformed β/ω interface can act as nucleation sites for α precipitates. Lastly, the microstructure and defects in the direct energy deposited (DEDed) Ti-5553 alloy were investigated. The results demonstrate that the addition of stainless steel 316L can significantly refine the grain size while also introducing different defects.

α-Amino-β-carboxymuconate-ε-semialdehyde decarboxylase (ACMSD) and α-aminomuconate-ε-semialdehyde dehydrogenase (AMSDH) are two neighboring enzymes in the L-tryptophan and 2-nitrobenzoic acid degradation pathways. The substrates of the two enzymes, α-amino-β-carboxymuconate-ε-semialdehyde (ACMS) and α-aminomuconate-ε-semialdehyde (2-AMS), are unstable and spontaneously decay to quinolinic acid and picolinic acid, respectively. ACMSD utilizes a divalent zinc metal as cofactor and is a member of the amidohydrolase superfamily. In this dissertation work, we have identified an important histidine residue in the active site that plays dual roles in tuning metal selectivity and activating a metal bound water ligand using mutagenesis, resonance Raman, EPR, crystallography, and ICP metal analysis techniques. The crystal structures of ACMSD from Pseudomonas fluorescens (PfACMSD) have been solved as homodimers in our laboratory while human ACMSD (hACMSD) was annotated as a monomer by another group. To resolve this structural difference, we used two conserved active site arginine residues as probes to study the oligomeriztion state of ACMSD and demonstrated that these two arginine residues are involved in substrate binding and that both Pf- and h- ACMSD are catalytically active only in the dimeric state. Subsequently, we solved the crystal structure of hACMSD and found it to be a homodimer in both catalytically active and inhibitor-bound forms. AMSDH is an NAD+ dependent enzyme and belongs to the aldehyde dehydrogenase superfamily. Due to the high instability of its substrate, AMSDH has not been studied at the molecular level prior to our work. We have cloned and expressed PfAMSDH in E. coli. The purified protein has high activity towards both 2-AMS and 2-hydroxymuconate semialdehyde (2-HMS), a stable substrate analog. We have successfully crystallized AMSDH with/without NAD+ and solved the crystal structure at up to 1.95 Å resolution. Substrate bound ternary complex structures were obtained by soaking the NAD+ containing crystals with 2-AMS or 2-HMS. Notably, two covalently bound catalytic intermediates were captured and characterized using a combination of crystallography, stopped-flow, single crystal spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. The first catalytic working model of AMSDH has been proposed based on our success in structural and spectroscopic characterization of the enzyme in five catalytically relevant states in this dissertation work.

La communication entre les différentes organelles se fait par l’intermédiaire du trafic vésiculaire, un processus qui nécessite un remodelage continu des membranes. Les vésicules fortement courbées bourgeonnent d'un compartiment donneur et fusionnent avec un compartiment accepteur. Les protéines impliquées dans le bourgeonnement et fusion des vésicules ont été largement étudiées. Récemment, la découverte de détecteurs de courbure membranaire a révélé que le trafic membranaire pourrait être régulé à un niveau supplémentaire, par la détection de la forme de la membrane. Le premier détecteur de courbure membranaire identifié était le motif ALPS (Amphipathic Lipid Packing Sensor), qui a été trouvé dans un certain nombre de protéines de la voie sécrétoire précoce et l'enveloppe nucléaire. La protéine d’arrimage GMAP-210 localisé au niveau du cis-Golgi, est composée d’une longue superhélice (coiled-coil) et d’un motif ALPS à l'extrême N-terminale. Il a été démontré in vitro, que ce motif se replie et forme une hélice amphipathique capable de se fixer sur des petits liposomes. Toutefois, l'identité des vésicules, reconnues par ce détecteur de courbure dans la cellule, reste inconnue. α-Synucléine est une autre protéine qui se lie préférentiellement à des membranes très courbées. Cette protéine localisée sur les vésicules synaptiques, est impliquée dans la régulation du taux de vésicules au niveau des terminaisons nerveuses pré-synaptiques. Connue pour son rôle central dans le développement de la maladie de Parkinson, α-synucléine contient une région non structurée en solution, mais qui forme une hélice amphipathique au contact de petits liposomes in vitro. Les hélices amphipathiques formées par le motif ALPS et α-synucléine sont très différentes aussi bien sur le plan chimique que sur le plan conformationel. Le motif ALPS possède une face hydrophobe bien développée, mais un coté polair pauvre avec très peu de résidus chargés. α-Synucléine, en revanche, a un côté hydrophobe modéré, et une face polaire zwitterionique riche en résidus chargés. L'objectif principal du projet était de comparer les propriétés de liaison aux membranaires in vivo et in vitro de ces deux hélices amphipathiques de structure opposée. L’expression de ces deux sondes chez la levure, favorise l'accumulation de structures vésiculaires de propriétés différentes. L'extrémité N-terminale de la protéine GMAP-210 contenant son motif ALPS (GMAPN) co-localisé spécifiquement avec des marqueurs de la voie sécrétoire précoce, alors une sonde contenant une portion de l’hélice amphipathique d’α-synucléine co-localise avec des marqueurs endocytiques et post-Golgiens. La mutagenèse du motif ALPS et l'inversion de la séquence de ALPS dans GMAPN confirment que ce détecteur de courbure membranaire se fixe spécifiquement aux vésicules via des interactions directes protéines-lipides, plutôt que les interactions protéines-protéines. Notre analyse a montré que ces détecteurs de courbure mammifères, exprimés dans la levure préservent leur capacité à cibler des vésicules spécifiques, vésicules de la voie sécrétoire précoce pour les motifs ALPS, et vésicules d’endocytose/post-Golgi pour α-synucléine. La composition membranaire de ces vésicules correspond à la composition des liposomes fixés par le motif ALPS et α-synucléine in vitro. Les propriétés biochimiques opposées du motif ALPS et α-synucléine, sont parfaitement adaptés à chacun de ces deux environnements membranaires dans la cellule. Le programme HeliQuest est conçu pour identifier des hélices amphipathiques capables de se lier sur les membranes, y compris les motifs ALPS. Un nouveau module conçu pour identifier les hélices amphipathiques avec des propriétés similaires à α-synucléine a été récemment élaboré. Les recherches effectuées dans les bases de données de protéines de levure et humaines ont permis d’identifier des hélices amphipathiques candidats qui ont des propriétés similaires à α-synucléine, dans de nombreuses protéines. Nous avons préparé un ensemble de sondes, dans lequel ces hélices sont insérées à la fin de la superhélice de GMAPN. Une première étude de leur co-localisation dans les cellules de levure avec un ensemble de marqueurs démontre une localisation spécifique, ce qui suggère que ces hélices peuvent avoir la capacité de cibler des membranes de manière spécifique. D'autres travaux seraient nécessaires pour confirmer ou pas si ces hélices amphipathiques font partie d'une nouvelle classe de détecteurs de courbure ayant les mêmes propriétés que α-synucléine. / Communication between membrane-bound organelles is mediated by vesicular trafficking, a process which requires continual membrane remodeling. Highly curved vesicles bud from a donor compartment through functioning of different coat protein complexes, and fuse with an acceptor compartment thanks to proteins of the membrane fusion machinery. The proteins involved in vesicle budding and fusion have been extensively studied. Recently, the discovery of membrane curvature sensors revealed that membrane trafficking could be regulated at an additional level, through detection of the shape of a membrane. The first membrane curvature sensor identified was the ALPS (Amphipathic Lipid Packing Sensor) motif, which has been found in a number of proteins that function in the early secretory pathway and nuclear envelope. One example is GMAP-210, a long coiled-coil tether localizing to cis-Golgi membranes, which has an ALPS motif at its extreme N-terminus. This ALPS motif was found to fold into an amphipathic helix and bind to small liposomes in vitro. However, the identity of the vesicles that this curvature sensor binds to in cells is not known. Another protein - α-synuclein - has also been reported to bind preferentially to highly curved membranes. This neuronal protein localizes to synaptic vesicles and is involved in maintaining the reserve pool of vesicles in pre-synaptic nerve terminals. α-Synuclein, known for its central role in the development of Parkinson’s disease, contains a region that is unstructured in solution, but forms an amphipathic helix upon binding to small liposomes in vitro. The chemistry and geometry of the amphipathic helices formed by ALPS motifs and α-synuclein are very different. The ALPS motif has a well-developed hydrophobic face but a poor polar side with few charged residues. α-Synuclein, in contrast, has a restrained hydrophobic side, and a zwitterionic polar face rich in charged residues. The main goal of the project was to compare the in vivo and in vitro membrane binding properties of these two amphipathic helices of opposite structure. When expressed in yeast cells, these two curvature sensors promoted the accumulation of vesicular structures possessing different characteristics. The N-terminus of GMAP-210 containing its ALPS motif (GMAPN) co-localized specifically with early secretory pathway markers, whereas a probe containing a portion of the amphipathic membrane-binding helix of α-synuclein co-localized with endocytic and post-Golgi markers. Mutagenesis of the ALPS motif and the inversion of the ALPS sequence in GMAPN support the conclusion that this membrane curvature sensor is targeted to specific vesicles in cells through direct protein-lipid, rather than protein-protein interactions. Our analysis has shown, remarkably, that mammalian curvature sensors expressed in yeast cells preserve their capacity to target specific vesicles, those of the early secretory pathway for ALPS motifs, and endocytic/post-Golgi vesicles for α-synuclein. The membrane composition of these vesicles corresponds to the preferred in vitro liposome binding properties of these membrane curvature sensors. The contrasting chemistries of ALPS motifs and α-synuclein are well adapted to each of these two major membrane environments in the cell. The HeliQuest algorithm is designed to search databases for membrane-binding amphipathic helices, including ALPS motifs. A new module designed to identify amphipathic helices with properties similar to α-synuclein has recently been developed. Searches of both yeast and human protein databases has identified candidate α-synuclein-like amphipathic helices in numerous proteins. We prepared a set of probes, in which these helices are displayed at the end of the GMAPN coiled-coil. An initial study of their co-localization in yeast cells with a set of organelle markers demonstrates specific localization patterns, suggesting that these helices may have specific membrane targeting capacities. Further work will explore the question of whether these amphipathic helices are part of a novel class of α-synuclein-like curvature sensors.

Le gène GALIG produit deux protéines, la Mitogaligine et la Cytogaligine. Son expression conduit à la mort cellulaire par un processus encore mal défini. Dans ce cadre, nous nous sommes intéressés principalement à la Cytogaligine et avons précisé qu’elle est localisée dans le cytoplasme et le noyau mais également dans la mitochondrie au niveau de la membrane interne. Un test de complémentation montre que la Cytogaligine interagit avec la Mitogaligine. Cette interaction pourrait être un facteur important dans la mise en place de la voie d’apoptose médiée par l’expression de GALIG. D‘autres protéines interagissant avec la Cytogaligine ont été identifiées, notamment l’α-Synucléine, protéine centrale dans la maladie de Parkinson (MP), qui est connue pour s’agréger dans les cellules et induire la fragmentation des mitochondries. Dans la mesure où la surexpression de l’α-Synucléine conduit à des défauts de l’autophagie et du système Ubiquitine-protéasome dans la MP, nous avons recherché d’éventuels partenaires de la Cytogaligine associés à ces fonctions. De fait, la Cytogaligine interagit, en autre, avec les protéines de l’autophagie LC3B, GABARAP, p62/SQSTM1, la protéine chaperon Hsc70 ainsi que les protéines du système UPS, HUWE1 et UBQLN4. Ces résultats ouvrent de nouvelles pistes sur les conséquences fonctionnelles de l’expression de la Cytogaligine. Dans une deuxième partie, nous avons réalisé une étude clinique visant à évaluer le profil d’expression des gènes précédemment étudiés dans les cellules mononuclées du sang périphérique de patients atteints de la MP. Si l’expression du gène GALIG ne présente pas de variations entre les patients et les contrôles, une dérégulation de l’expression de différents gènes associés au processus de l’autophagie est mise en évidence. Parmi ces données, celles combinant l’expression du couple de gènes LC3B et GAPDH pourraient représenter un marqueur potentiel de la maladie dans le cadre d’un test diagnostic non invasif. / The GALIG gene produces two proteins, Mitogaligin and Cytogaligin. GALIG expression induces cell death by a still poorly defined process. In this context, we focused mainly on Cytogaligin and specified that it is localized in cytoplasm and nucleus but also in mitochondria close to the inner membrane. A functional complementation test showed that Cytogaligin interacted with Mitogaligin. This interaction could be an important factor in the establishment of the apoptosis pathway mediated by GALIG expression. Other proteins interacting with Cytogaligin have been identified, including α-Synuclein, a central protein in Parkinson's disease (PD), which is known to aggregate in cells and induce fragmentation of mitochondria. Since overexpression of α-synuclein leads to autophagy and Ubiquitin-proteasome system disruptions, we have looked for potential Cytogaligin partners associated with these functions. Cytogaligin interacted with the autophagy proteins LC3B, GABARAP, p62/SQSTM1, the chaperone protein Hsc70 as well as the UPS system proteins HUWE1 and UBQLN4. These results open perspectives regarding the functional consequences of the expression of Cytogaligin. In a second part, we carried out a clinical study aimed at evaluating the expression profile of the previously studied genes in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of PD patients. If the expression of the GALIG gene does not show variations between PD patients and controls, deregulation of the expression of genes associated with autophagy was highlighted. Among these data, those combining the expression of the two genes LC3B and GAPDH could represent a potential marker of the disease as a non-invasive diagnostic test.

Submitted by admin tede (tede@pucgoias.edu.br) on 2017-01-31T11:34:35Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Rodrigo Bernini de Brito.pdf: 1595621 bytes, checksum: eef53307cc2b9e3d872ec9478aeef786 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-01-31T11:34:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rodrigo Bernini de Brito.pdf: 1595621 bytes, checksum: eef53307cc2b9e3d872ec9478aeef786 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-12-20 / Olanzapine is a second generation antipsychotic that show low incidence of extrapyramidal side effects and has been recommended as the first line drug for the treatment of schizophrenia and is also used in the treatment of bipolar disorder. But it has the weight gain as a side effect which is common in the chronic use of this medicine. A comprehensive review of the literature revealed that olanzapine induces more weight gain than most other antipsychotics, except clozapine. The incidence of weight gain induced by olanzapine and associated diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases is higher in this group of patients than in the general population. These unwanted side effects have decreased patients' adherence to treatment. Many clinical observations and studies have attempted to elucidate the possible mechanism involved. However, to date, the mechanism underlying the weight gain induced by olanzapine remains unclear. This present study retrospective evaluates 21 patients using olanzapine for a period of 20 to 119 months, compared within the sample, patients who lost weight or remained stable (<7% gain in relation to BMI) group which gained weight at a moderate or severe way during the use of olanzapine (> 7% gain in relation to BMI). We also evaluated the levels of glucose and plasma lipids of all patients. For the group of patients were also analyzed genetic polymorphisms of TaqIA DRD2 gene and G-308A TNF-α gene by PCR-RFL and ARMS-PCR, respectively. TaqIA of genetic polymorphism (C32806T) in the DRD2 gene was correlated with prolonged use of olanzapine with relevant statistical significance in relation to weight gain and biochemical changes observed in plasma of patients. Regarding the genetic variants of the SNP G-308A TNF-α gene, the findings of this study failed to corroborate or refute the findings of other studies. / A olanzapina é um antipsicótico de segunda geração que exibe uma baixa incidência de efeitos colaterais extrapiramidais e tem sido recomendada como fármaco de primeira linha para o tratamento da esquizofrenia e também é utilizada no tratamento do transtorno bipolar, mas tem o ganho de peso como efeito colateral comum no uso crônico deste medicamento. Uma análise abrangente da literatura revelou que a olanzapina induz maior ganho de peso do que a maioria dos outros antipsicóticos, com exceção da clozapina. A incidência de ganho de peso induzido pela olanzapina e doenças associadas, como diabetes e doenças cardiovasculares, é maior entre o grupo de pacientes do que a da população em geral. Estes efeitos secundários indesejados têm diminuído a adesão dos pacientes ao tratamento. Muitas observações clínicas e estudos têm tentado elucidar o possível mecanismo envolvido. No entanto, até o momento, o mecanismo subjacente ao ganho de peso induzido pela olanzapina permanece obscuro. No presente estudo foi realizada uma investigação retrospectiva, que avaliou 21 pacientes em uso de olanzapina por um período de 20 a 119 meses, comparando dentro da amostra, pacientes que perderam peso ou ficaram estáveis (< 7% ganho em relação ao IMC) ao grupo que ganhou peso de forma moderada ou grave durante o uso da olanzapina (>7% ganho em relação ao IMC). Também foram avaliados os níveis de glicose e lipídeos plasmáticos de todos os pacientes. Para o grupo de pacientes ainda foram analisados os polimorfismos genéticos de TaqIAno gene DRD2 e G-308A do gene TNF-α por PCR-RFL e ARMS-PCR, respectivamente. O polimorfismo genéticos da TaqIA (C32806T) no gene DRD2 apresentou relação com o uso prolongado de olanzapina com relevante significância estatística em relação ao ganho de peso e às alterações bioquímicas observadas no plasma dos pacientes. Em relação as variantes genética do SNP G-308A no gene TNF-α, os achados do presente estudo não permitiram corroborar ou refutar as conclusões de outros estudos.

Ce travail concerne des hémopathies myéloïdes malignes appelés Néoplasmes Myéloprolifératifs (NMP) qui incluent les Polyglobulies de Vaquez (PV), les Thrombocythémies Essentielles (TE) et les Myélofibroses Primaires (MFP). Ces maladies résultent de la transformation d’une cellule souche hématopoïétique (CSH) avec hyperprolifération mais sans blocage de différentiation. Leur défaut moléculaire le plus fréquent est la mutation JAK2V617F résultant dans l’activation de la signalisation des récepteurs aux cytokines utilisant JAK2. Au cours de ce travail, nous avons développé un modèle murin « Knock-In » (KI) constitutif et conditionnel pour la mutation JAK2V617F. Ces animaux développent une maladie mimant la PV humaine évoluant vers la MF secondaire. Ces animaux présentent augmentation en fonction de l’âge du nombre de cellules immatures (phénotypes Lin-, LSK et SLAM: LSK/CD48-/CD150+). Dans un système compétitifs in vivo nous montrons que les cellules KI ont un avantage prolifératif dés le stade CSH et qu'un faible nombre de CSH peuvent déclencher la maladie. Ces résultats suggèrent que la mutation JAK2V617F seule est suffisante pour (1) le phénotype et (2) l'émergence de ces maladies. Nous avons aussi testé l'effet de l'interféron-a (IFNa) sur le développement des NMP en utilisant ces souris JAK2V617F KI. Nous montrons que l'IFNa traite le phénotype de la maladie en bloquant la propagation des cellules KI dés le stade immature avec éradication des cellules souches néoplasiques, entraînant comme chez certains patients PV une rémission hématologique et aussi moléculaire. Enfin, en combinant l’analyse quantitative de l’haplotype 46/1 et de la mutation JAK2V617F sur les cellules sanguines nous développons une nouvelle méthode prédictive de la fréquence des clones hétérozygotes et homozygotes JAK2V617F chez les patients PV. Cette étude suggère que l'IFNa cible préférentiellement le clone homozygote JAK2V617F et que sa réponse est fonction de l’intensité de la signalisation JAK2. / This work concerns malignant myeloid hemopathies called classical BCR-ABL-negative Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPN) and include Polycythemia Vera (PV), Essential Thrombocythemia (ET) and Primary Myelofibrosis (PMF). They result from the transformation of a multipotent hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) with hyperproliferation but no blockade of differentiation. The most common molecular defect is the acquired point mutation JAK2V617F resulting into the activation of the cytokine receptor/JAK2 pathway. We have developed a mouse constitutive and a conditional JAK2V617F knock-in (KI) mouse models. These animals developed a disease mimicking human PV evolving into secondary MF. They also displayed an age dependent increase in the total numbers of early hematopoietic cells (phenotype LK, LSK and SLAM: LSK/CD48-/CD150+). Using In vivo competitive repopulation assays we demonstrated that cells from KI origin outcompeted their WT counterparts and that a low number of JAK2V617F KI SLAM cells propagates the disease. These results show that the sole JAK2V617F mutation, without any additional mutations, is sufficient for disease phenotype and emergence. Using this KI mouse model, we tested the effect of interferon-a (IFNa) treatment on MPN development. We found that IFNa treats the disease phenotype by blocking the propagation of early JAK2V617F cells and eradicates disease-initiating cells, showing that IFNα could cure the disease in mice, as shown in some PV patients. Finally, we developed a new method combining the measurement of 46/1 SNPs and JAK2V617F allele burdens in blood predicting the frequency of normal, heterozygous and homozygous JAK2V617F clones in PV patients. This study suggested that IFNa preferentially targets the homozygous JAK2V617F clone in PV patients suggesting a link between the levels of JAK2 signaling and the success of the IFNa response.

La transmission du Virus de l’Immunodéficience Humaine (VIH) par voie sexuelle représente le mode majoritaire de contamination (80%) (UNAIDS). Ce mode de contamination implique le passage du virus à travers les muqueuses et une interaction avec les cellules épithéliales et les cellules immunitaires présentes au sein de ces muqueuses (cellules dendritiques, macrophages ou lymphocytes). Les muqueuses représentent le principal site d'exposition de l’organisme aux antigènes de l’environnement. Les SIgA (IgA sécrétoires) présentes dans la lumière de ces muqueuses représentent la première ligne de défense immunitaire contre l’infection et la colonisation des muqueuses. Les IgA sont capables d’interagir avec les glycoprotéines (gp) exprimées à la surface du VIH et de bloquer l’infection et/ou la transcytose à travers l’épithélium muqueux. Nous avons pu étudier la prévalence des SIgA anti-gp41 et plus précisément anti-MPER présentes dans la salive parotidienne de personnes Exposées au VIH Séronégatives (ESN) et leur rôle dans l’inhibition de l’infection par le virus in vitro. Nous avons pu démontrer que ces sujets présentaient un taux plus important de SIgA anti-MPER neutralisantes. Ce premier travail nous a permis de valider la gp41 comme immunogène d’intérêt pour la génération de SIgA neutralisantes. Nous avons pu générer des IgA1 dans un modèle murin α1Kl chimérique capable de produire des anticorps IgA1 humanisés. L’immunisation de ces souris a permis la production de 6 anticorps monoclonaux spécifiques de la région MPER capables de reconnaître des épitopes conformationnels élargis, correspondant aux épitopes reconnus par le 2F5 et le 4E10. Les IgA1 présentaient de fortes capacités neutralisantes pour différentes souches de laboratoire et de souches primaires du VIH. Les études de caractérisation des fonctions antivirales de ces anticorps permettront de mieux définir le mode d’action de ces anticorps. A notre connaissance, ces IgA1 neutralisantes anti-MPER sont les premières décrites à ce jour dans la littérature. De par leur faible immunogénicité et leur faible autoréactivité, ces anticorps peuvent facilement être intégrés dans des approches thérapeutiques locales ou par sérothérapie passive pour la protection après administration de SHIV dans des modèles animaux comme le macaque. L’ensemble de mes travaux de thèse ont confirmé l’intérêt thérapeutique potentiel des SIgA dans la lutte contre le VIH et notamment celles dirigées contre la partie gp41 de l’enveloppe / Sexual transmission of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus is the major mode of contamination (80%) for this pathogen (UNAIDS). This mode of transmission involves a passage of the virus though the mucosa and an interaction with epithelial cells and immune cells present in the mucosa (dendritic cells, macrophages and lymphocytes). Mucosa represents the major site of exposure for the organism to environmental antigens. The IgA expressed in the lumen of mucosa are the first line of immune defence against infection and colonization of mucosa. IgA are able to interact with glycoproteins (gp) expressed on the surface of HIV and prevent infection and/or block epithelial transcytosis. In this study we have investigated the prevalence of SIgA anti-MPER present in the parotid saliva of Exposed to HIV but Seronegative individuals (ESN). This study has allowed us to validate gp41 as an immunogen of interest for the generation of neutralizing IgA. IgA1 were generated in a chimeric mice model α1Kl that produced humanized IgA1 type antibodies. Immunizations of these mice has led to the elicitation of six monoclonal antibodies specific to the MPER region able to recognize extended conformational neutralizing epitopes of 2F5 and 4E10, two broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies specific to MPER. Elicited IgA1 have potent neutralizing properties for both laboratory and primary HIV strains. Characterization studies of the antiviral functions of these antibodies will further define the mode of action of these antibodies. To our knowledge, these anti-MPER humanized monoclonal neutralizing IgA1 antibodies are the first of this type described to date in the literature. By their low immunogenicity and autoreactivity, these antibodies can be easily integrated into local therapeutic approaches or passive serotherapy for protection in animal models such as the macaque challenged with SHIV. All the results of my PhD work confirm the great interest of gp41-specific SIgA as therapeutic agents against HIV

Submitted by ANGELICA AUGUSTA GRIGOLI DOMINATO null (angelica@unoeste.br) on 2017-02-16T18:51:51Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Angélica A. Grigoli Dominato.pdf: 4485568 bytes, checksum: 4abc8fe39b8c64a5ed8be37f2be077de (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by LUIZA DE MENEZES ROMANETTO (luizamenezes@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2017-02-20T20:26:27Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 dominato_aag_dr_sjrp.pdf: 4485568 bytes, checksum: 4abc8fe39b8c64a5ed8be37f2be077de (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-02-20T20:26:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dominato_aag_dr_sjrp.pdf: 4485568 bytes, checksum: 4abc8fe39b8c64a5ed8be37f2be077de (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-01-20 / A atividade metabólica fúngica, especialmente nos endofíticos, favorece a secreção de moléculas como antibióticos, pigmentos, enzimas e polissacarídeos, que podem ser aplicadas nas indústrias alimentícia, cosmética, farmacêutica, entre outras. A diversidade química dos exopolissacarídeos (EPS) bem como a possibilidade de sua utilização como substrato para diferentes modificações químicas (carboxilação, sulfatação e metilação) aumentam seu espectro de aplicação. Realizar o cultivo submerso dos fungos endofíticos Neofusicoccum parvum, Fusarium sp e Colletotrichum gloeosporioides para a produção de EPS foi o primeiro objetivo deste trabalho. Uma vez obtidos, os EPS foram purificados e quimicamente caracterizados. Sulfatação e ensaio da atividade anticoagulante foram realizados. Os parâmetros concentração de inóculo e tempo de cultivo foram estabelecidos para maior produção dos EPS, por fermentação submersa. Etapas de purificação, por centrifugação, foram efetuadas após análises por cromatografia de exclusão estérica a alta pressão, com detecção por índice de refração (HPSEC/RID). Os EPS purificados [precipitado do C. gloeosporioides (C. gloeosporioidesprec) e os três sobrenadantes] mostraram-se praticamente isentos de proteínas. A hidrólise ácida e subsequente análise dos hidrolisados por cromatografia de troca aniônica a alta pressão com detecção por amperometria pulsada (HPAEC/PAD) indicaram que apenas o C. gloeosporioidesprec era uma glucana. A análise por cromatografia gasosa acoplada à espectrometria de massa (GC/MS) mostrou um único derivado, 1,3,5 tri-O-acetil, 2,4,6-tri-O-metil glucitol com fragmentos de massa (m/z 118, 161, 203, 234.1) condizente com uma glucana do tipo (1→3). Os espectros de FT-IR apresentaram sinais na região de impressão digital, 926 cm-1 e 820 cm-1, típicos de polissacarídeos em configuração . Esses resultados foram confirmados por ressonância magnética nuclear bidimensional (HSQC), com um único acoplamento C1/H1, em 99,3/5,18 ppm e um sinal deslocado para campo baixo, 82,8/3,74 ppm, característico de C-3 substituído, indicando que o EPS é uma α-(1→3)-glucana. A sulfatação desta molécula resultou em α-(1→3)-D-glucanasulf com DS de 0,75 que foi utilizada nos ensaios de atividade anticoagulante. O aumento do tempo para a coagulação, nos testes do APTT (Tempo de Tromboplastina Parcial Ativada) e TT (Tempo de Trombina), foi concentração-dependente, indicando que [α-(1→3)-D-glucanasulf] pode atuar como um inibidor da via intrínseca da coagulação sanguínea e da conversão do fibrinogênio em fibrina, caracterizando-a como um potencial anticoagulante. / Fungal metabolic activity, especially in the endophytic, favors secretion of molecules such as antibiotics, pigments, enzymes and polysaccharides, which can be applicable by food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, and others. The chemical diversity of the exopolysaccharides (EPS), as well as the possibility of their use as substrate for different chemical modifications (carboxylation, sulfation and methylation) increases their application spectrum. Submerged cultivation of the endophytic fungi Neofusicoccum parvum, Fusarium sp and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides for the production of EPS was the first aim of this study. Once the EPS were obtained, they were purified and chemically characterized. Chemical modification by sulfation and anticoagulant activity assays were performed. Cultivation to obtain EPS were performed in submerged fermentation. The inoculum concentration and incubation time parameters were set in order to obtain a higher amount of EPS. Purification by centrifugation was performed after analysis by high pressure steric exclusion chromatography with refractive index detection (HPSEC / RID). Purified EPS [precipitate of C. gloeosporioides (C. gloeosporioidesprec) and the three supernatants] proved to be virtually free of protein polysaccharides. Acid hydrolysis and subsequent analysis of the hydrolysates with high performance anionic exchange chromatography with amperometric detection (HPAEC/PAD) indicated that only the C. gloeosporioidesprec was a glucan. Analysis from gas chromatography and mass spectrometry showed a single derivative, 1,3,5-tri-Oacetyl, 2,4,6-tri-O-methyl glucitol with mass fragments (m/z 118, 161, 203, 234.1) consistent with a (1→3)-glucan. FT-IR spectra showed absorption bands typical from carbohydrate and signals in the digital region at 926 cm-1 and 820 cm-1, typical of polysaccharides in the α- configuration. These results were confirmed by two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (HSQC), with a single C1/H1, in 99.2/4.98 ppm, typical of one α bonding, and low-field 82.6/3.55 ppm signal displacement, characteristic of substituted C-3, indicating that EPS is an α-(1→3)-glucan. Sulfation of this molecule resulted in α- (1→3)-glucansulf with DS of 0.75 which was used in the anticoagulant activity assays. The increase in coagulation reaction time in the APTT (Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time) and TT (Thrombin Time) tests was concentration-dependent, indicating that [α-(1→3)-D-glucansulf] might act as an inhibitor of the intrinsic via of blood clotting and conversion of fibrinogen into fibrin, characterizing it as a potential anticoagulant.

Partie 1 : De plus en plus de molécules fluorées sont utilisées dans bon nombre de domaines variés, allant des matériaux aux sciences de la vie. Ces dernières années, un intérêt croissant a émergé avec l'association du groupement CF3 avec un hétéroatome, comme OCF3 ou SCF3. Le groupement SCF3 est très intéressant à cause de son paramètre d'hydrophobie (π=1.44). Par conséquent, les composés portant ce groupement sont des cibles importantes pour de nombreuses applications, en particulier en chimie médicinale. Cependant, la majorité des précédentes méthodes décrites dans la littérature utilisent des réactifs toxiques dans des conditions drastiques. Les trifluorométhanesulfénamides (1ère et 2nde génération) ont démontré leur potentiel dans la trifluorométhylthiolation électrophile. En raison de leur réactivité intéressante, ces deux générations de réactifs stables sont maintenant dans la boîte à outils de la chimie organique pour la trifluorométhylthiolation de molécules. Partie 2 : Des aggrégats d'α-synucléine sont une caractéristique neuropathologique de nombreuses maladies neurodégénératives, notamment la maladie de Parkinson (MP) et la démence à corps de Lewy (DLB), collectivement appelés synucléinopathies. L'imagerie TEP pourrait révéler la quantité et la distribution des agrégats d'α-synucléine dans le cerveau et serait plus avantageuse à utiliser pour le diagnostic spécifique de synucléinopathies présymptomatiques à différents stades de lamaladie. Nous avons concentré nos efforts sur des dérivés de benzimidazole comme composés de petites tailles, plans et π-délocalisés pour concevoir des traceurs radioactifs des agrégats de la synucléine. Ainsi des structures assemblant des benzimidazoles, un espaceur rigide (alcyne et triazole) et enfin une autre partie aromatique ont été envisagées. Le radiomarquage pourra être effectué par une substitution nucléophile avec K18F au cours de la dernière étape. Avec cette stratégie convergente, nous pourrions avoir accès à une grande série de molécules à évaluer / Part 1 : More and more applications for fluorinated molecules are being found in various fields, from materials to life sciences. In recent years, a growing interest has emerged in the association of the trifluoromethyl group with heteroatoms such as CF3O or CF3S. The CF3S moiety is of particular interest, because of its high hydrophobicity parameter (π=1.44). Consequently compounds bearing this group are important targets for various applications, in particular in medicinal chemistry and agrochemistry. However, the majority of previous methods described in the literature use toxic reagents under harsh conditions. Trifluoromethanesulfenamides (1st and 2nd generation) have demonstrated their potential in the electrophilic trifluoromethylthiolations. Because of their interesting reactivity, these two generations of shelf-stable reagents are now in the toolbox of organic chemists for the trifluoromethylthiolation of molecules, providing a convenient method to pursue less toxic pathways. Part 2 : α-synuclein aggregation is a neuropathological hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson’s disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), collectively termed synucleinopathies. PET imaging can reflect the amount and distribution of alpha-synuclein aggregates in the brain and would be advantageous to use for specific diagnosis of synucleinopathies in presymptomatic stages of disease. We focused our interest onto benzimidazole derivatives as small, planar and -delocalized compounds to design radiotracers of synuclein aggregates. Compounds based on the association of benzimidazole moiety, rigid linker (alkyne and triazole) and another aromatic part have been designed. The radiolabeling could be performed by nucleophilic substitution with K18F during the last step. With this convergent strategy, we could have acces to a large series of molecules to be evaluated

<p>Bikunin, a chondroitin sulfate-containing protein of 25 kDa, has protease inhibitory activity and occurs in the plasma in free and complexed form. In inter-α-inhibitor (IαI) and pre-a-inhibitor (PαI) it is covalently linked through its chondroitin sulfate (CS) chain to two or one other polypeptide of about 80 kDa – heavy chains 1 and 2 (H1, H2) and heavy chain 3 (H3) – respectively. Bikunin and the heavy chains are synthesized as precursors, which are proteolytically cleaved and assembled into IαI and PαI in the secretory pathway. The C-terminal extension (CTX) of the heavy chains seems to mediate its own cleavage and theassembly of the complexes. The heavy chains of the IαI family become transferred to hyaluronan during ovulation and inflammation.</p><p>In this thesis, the biosynthesis of PαI, the plasma clearance of bikunin and the binding of IαI to collagen were studied. We found that in H3, a short segment on the N-terminal side of the CTX cleavage site is required for cleavage. Furthermore, the H3 could become linked to free CS chains primed by a xyloside, showing that the bikunin protein core is not needed for coupling. We also identified His649 as a residue essential for coupling, but not for cleavage. </p><p>Bikunin labelled with a residualizing agent, 125I-tyramine cellobiose, was injected into mice to identify tissues involved in its uptake. Half of the radioactivity was recovered in the kidneys, 10% in the liver, and the rest distributed in other tissues. We determined the half-life of bikunin in rat plasma using two independent methods: injection of 125I-bikunin, or hepatectomy followed by assessing the rate of disappearance of endogenous bikunin. Both methods yielded half-time values of 5-7 minutes. Removal of the CS chain did not affect the clearance rate of bikunin.</p><p>IαI and its heavy chains were found to bind to collagen with dissociation constants greater than 2 μM and 0.4-0.6 μM, respectively and this binding was independent of divalent metal ions. We suggest that the interaction of IαI with collagen may play a modulatory role in cell migration or in remodelling of the extracellular matrix.</p>