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.

Using various synthetic strategies, we designed several libraries of novel polysaccharide mixed ester derivatives for oral drug delivery applications. Cellulose and cellulose esters have been extensively studied and utilized for different applications such as separation membranes, sustainable plastics, and enteric coatings in oral drug delivery carriers. We sought to exploit the ring-opening of cyclic anhydrides, succinic and glutaric anhydride, to append ω-carboxyl groups to commercially available cellulose and cellulose ester substrates. We used scalable synthetic strategies and widely available and cheap reagents to show a proof-of-concept for the manufacturability of these different polymer derivatives. We incorporated different degrees of substitution of ω-carboxyl groups to impart a range of water solubility in these polymers. The derivatives displayed excellent <i>T</i>g values for ASD applications, adequate water solubility, and good amphiphilic properties. We designed very effective amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) oral drug delivery polymers that prevented recrystallization of felodipine for hours and had excellent congruent polymer-drug release from the formulation at 20% drug loading. During the ring-opening reactions of the cellulose derivatives with glutaric anhydride we discovered that crosslinking and gelation can occur, especially with cellulose and cellulose ester substrates with a high degree of substitution (DS) of hydroxy groups. We isolated and characterized these gelled products using rheology, and solid-state 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, to evaluate whether the gels are physical or chemical in nature and proposed a mechanism for gelation. We determined that the gels are mostly physical but can proceed to chemical crosslinking over time. We designed a library of cellulose ester derivatives, and we investigated their performance as amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) drug delivery vehicles for the lipophilic drug felodipine, through <i>in vitro</i> experiments. Aside from felodipine, many other active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are also highly crystalline and poorly water-soluble. ASDs are used to disrupt the crystalline packing of these drugs through dispersing them in amorphous polymeric carriers, facilitating their water-solubility, and preventing their recrystallization. We showed that our polymers performed remarkably well in the <i>in vitro</i> studies and inhibited crystallization of model compound felodipine for several hours while providing optimal drug release, affording highly promising ASD polymers. If company formulators are unable to develop an effective oral-delivery carrier to prevent a drug from recrystallizing, then the drug cannot be tested in <i>in vivo</i> toxicology studies, and therefore cannot be brought to market because of its poor aqueous solubility and subsequent low bioavailability. To test the robustness of our polymers, we also performed <i>in vitro</i> ASD experiments at the pharmaceutical company AbbVie with their most rapidly crystallizing pipeline compounds, and several commercially available drugs (Compound A, axitinib, and ziprasidone). We demonstrated that our polymers could also prevent drug recrystallization with these rapid crystallizers, outperforming commercial polymers like FDA-approved hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS (MF)), even at exceptionally high drug loading ratios of 40 times the concentration of polymer. α-1,3-Glucans are an emerging class of polysaccharides and are structurally different than cellulose due to their α (1→3) linkage versus the cellulose β (1→4) glycosidic linkage. We demonstrated that we could modify these derivatives using a variety of esterification strategies and TEMPO-mediated C6 selective oxidation, affording a myriad of different novel polymer products, some of which are structural analogs of the cellulose ester derivatives we previously created. The polymers had higher <i>T</i>g values than the cellulose ester polymers, which may be useful for applications where heat resistance is desired. In the future, we will screen some of these α-1,3-glucan derivatives with poorly water-soluble enzalutamide, posaconazole and celecoxib model drugs, to evaluate their crystallization inhibition properties and the influence of polymer morphology upon structure-property relationships. We expect that these synthetic polymer strategies will offer scalable routes to novel ASD polymers, which we demonstrated to be highly effective drug crystallization inhibitors against a variety of different hydrophobic pharmaceutical compounds. / Doctor of Philosophy / Polysaccharides are polymers comprised of many linked sugar molecules and are an incredibly abundant and renewable resource. They are found everywhere in nature such as the wood from trees, the shells of crabs, the exoskeletons of bugs, and the mushrooms that sprout in damp forests. The research in this dissertation focuses on the use and chemical modification of polysaccharides for designing new, polysaccharide-based oral drug delivery systems called amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs), which significantly aid in the solubility and bioavailability of important medications. We started with the chemical modification of cellulose, the most abundant plant polysaccharide on planet Earth, and previously modified commercial cellulose substrates (known as cellulose esters) to create novel polymers for ASDs. We successfully modified these polymers, characterized them, and evaluated their potential as oral drug delivery vehicles by formulating them with several different classes of potent drugs used to treat a variety of diseases such as hypertension and schizophrenia. We showed that our designed cellulose ester polymers kept these hydrophobic drugs water-soluble for long-enough so that they can be adequately absorbed in the human body through the gastrointestinal tract, significantly outperforming commercial polymers in many cases. During the chemical modification of the cellulose esters, we also observed that they were prone to form gels, and we investigated this gelation phenomena in more detail through rheometry, 1D and 2D solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (similar in principle to the medical diagnostic method, magnetic resonance imaging or MRI). We discovered that these gels can be physically and/or chemically linked together, and that different gelation mechanisms can dominate depending on the polysaccharide substrate and the esterification reagent used. We extended our research to other polysaccharide derivatives called α-1,3-glucans, which can be sourced from fungi, and/or enzymatically synthesized in the lab. Using various synthetic esterification and oxidation chemical methods to functionalize this polysaccharide, we designed a library of entirely novel polymers with different physical structures relative to the cellulose ester polymers. The polymers displayed thermal properties that show promise in drug delivery vehicle applications and in applications where high heat resistance is required. Overall, we developed next-generation polymers for amorphous solid dispersion oral drug delivery applications. We displayed the versatility of using a select few chemistry strategies to create a variety of different polymers with very different physicochemical properties. We hope that this work will help researchers design sustainable, plant-based polymers for ASD applications and we hope to nurture future structure-function studies to improve ASD performance for the benefit of patients in need.

Activated neutrophils release a neutrophil serine proteinase (NSP) called Proteinase 3 (PR3). In granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), an autoimmune vasculitis, enhanced PR3 release results in endothelial damage. Serine proteinase inhibitors (serpins) such as α-1 proteinase inhibitor (API) inhibit NSPs through the serpin’s reactive center loop (RCL). However, API is known to bind PR3 with a low specificity, compared to its main inhibitory target Human Neutrophil Elastase (HNE). The current treatment for GPA is immunosuppression, which leaves patients immunocompromised. Thus, the overall aim of this study was to engineer an API variant with a higher specificity to PR3 than HNE, which could serve as a possible novel therapeutic strategy for GPA. We created an API expression library, hypervariable at RCL residues A355-I356-P357-M358-S359, and expressed it in a T7 bacteriophage display system. This phage library was then biopanned for PR3 binding. Two conditions were used for each round of biopanning: experimental, with PR3, and the negative control, without PR3. The library was biopanned for a total of five consecutive rounds, with the product of one screen serving as the starting material for the next. A bacterial mass lysate screen was also employed to further probe the library with PR3. The phage-display and bacterial lysate screens resulted in the selection of two novel variants API-DA (D357/A358) and API-N (N359). Serpin-proteinase gel complexing assays indicated that API-N formed complex with PR3 similar to API-WT (wild-type), while API-DA was mainly cleaved as a substrate. There was no significant difference between the second order rate constants of API-N and API-WT reactions with PR3. Rate constants for API-DA binding to PR3 or for API-HNE reactions were not completed due to novel coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions. However, this project successfully demonstrated the ability to screen a hypervariable API phage library with PR3, yielding two new novel API variants. / Thesis / Master of Science in Medical Sciences (MSMS) / When harmful substances enter our body such as bacteria or viruses, we have ways of protecting ourselves from them. One of those ways is through a cell called the neutrophil. This is an immune cell that can release “fighting tools” into our blood to combat the harm. Some of these tools are called proteins. One of those proteins is Proteinase 3. However, sometimes our neutrophils can be activated without the presence of viruses or bacteria by products made in our bodies called autoantibodies. When this happens, too many of the “fighting tool” Proteinase 3 is released leading to damage to the tubes or vessels that our blood flows through. This project aimed to find a new possible way to stop these extra fighting tools from doing harm to our body. We did this by creating a library of different proteins that can stop Proteinase 3 once it is released by the neutrophil.

Les flavonoïdes glycosylés sont des métabolites secondaires d’origine végétale, qui présentent de nombreuses propriétés physico-chimiques et biologiques intéressantes pour des applications industrielles. La glycosylation accroît généralement la solubilité de ces flavonoïdes mais leurs faibles niveaux de production dans les plantes limitent leur disponibilité. Ces travaux de thèse portent donc sur le développement de nouvelles voies de gluco-diversification des flavonoïdes naturels, en mettant à profit l’ingénierie des protéines. Deux transglucosylases recombinantes, structurellement et biochimiquement caractérisées, l'amylosaccharase de Neisseria polysaccharea et la glucane-saccharase de branchement α-(1→2), forme tronquée de la dextran-saccharase de L. Mesenteroides NRRL B-1299, ont été sélectionnées pour la biosynthèse de nouveaux flavonoïdes, possédant des motifs originaux d’α-glycosylation, et potentiellement une solubilité accrue dans l'eau. Dans un premier temps, une librairie de petite taille de mutants de l’amylosaccharase, ciblée sur le site de liaison à l’accepteur, à été criblée en présence de saccharose (donneur d’unité glycosyl) et de lutéoline comme accepteur. Une méthode de screening a donc été développée, et a permis d’isoler des mutants améliorés pour la synthèse de nouveaux glucosides de lutéoline, jusqu’à 17000 fois plus soluble dans l’eau que la lutéoline aglycon. Afin de glucosyler d’autres flavonoïdes, la glucane-saccharase de branchement α-(1→2), a été préférentiellement sélectionnée. Des plans expérimentaux alliés à une méthodologie en surface de réponse ont été réalisés pour optimiser la production de l’enzyme sous forme soluble et éviter la formation de corps d’inclusion. Cinq paramètres ont été ainsi analysés : le temps de culture, la température, et les concentrations en glycérol, lactose (inducteur) et glucose (répresseur). En appliquant les conditions optimales prédites, 5740 U.L-1 de culture d’enzyme soluble ont été produites en microplaques, alors qu’aucune activité n’était retrouvée dans la fraction soluble, lors de l’utilisation de la méthode de production précédemment utilisée. Finalement, Une approche de modélisation moléculaire, structurellement guidés par l’arrimage de flavonoïdes monoglucosylés dans le site actif de l’enzyme, a permis d’identifier des cibles de mutagenèse et de générer des libraries de quelques milliers de variants. Une méthode rapide de criblage sur milieu solide, basée sur la visualisation colorimétrique d’un changement de pH, a été mise au point. Les mutants encore actifs sur saccharose ont été sélectionnés puis analysés sur leur capacités à glucosyler la quercétine et la diosmétine. Une petite série de 23 mutants a ainsi été retenue comme plate-forme d’enzymes améliorées dédiées à la glucosylation de flavonoïdes et a été évalués pour la glycosylation de six flavonoïdes distincts. La promiscuité, remarquablement générée dans cette plateforme, à permis d’isoler quelques mutants beaucoup plus efficaces que l’enzyme sauvage, produisant des motifs de glucosylation différents et fournissant des informations intéressante pour le design et l’amélioration des outils enzymatiques de glucosylation des flavonoïdes. / Flavonoid glycosides are natural plant secondary metabolites exhibiting many physicochemical and biological properties. Glycosylation usually improves flavonoid solubility but access to flavonoid glycosides is limited by their low production levels in plants. In this thesis work, the focus was placed on the development of new glucodiversification routes of natural flavonoids by taking advantage of protein engineering. Two biochemically and structurally characterized recombinant transglucosylases, the amylosucrase from Neisseria polysaccharea and the α-(1→2) branching sucrase, a truncated form of the dextransucrase from L. Mesenteroides NRRL B-1299, were selected to attempt glucosylation of different flavonoids, synthesize new α-glucoside derivatives with original patterns of glucosylation and hopefully improved their water-solubility. First, a small-size library of amylosucrase variants showing mutations in their acceptor binding site was screened in the presence of sucrose (glucosyl donor) and luteolin acceptor. A screening procedure was developed. It allowed isolating several mutants improved for luteolin glucosylation and synthesizing of novel luteolin glucosides, which exhibited up to a 17,000-fold increase of solubility in water. To attempt glucosylation of other types of flavonoids, the α-(1→2) branching sucrase, naturally designed for acceptor reaction, was preferred. Experimental design and Response Surface Methodology were first used to optimize the production of soluble enzyme and avoid inclusion body formation. Five parameters were included in the design: culture duration, temperature and concentrations of glycerol, lactose inducer and glucose repressor. Using the predicted optimal conditions, 5740 U. L-1of culture of soluble enzyme were obtained in microtiter plates, while no activity was obtained in the soluble fraction when using the previously reported method of production. A structurally-guided approach, based on flavonoids monoglucosides docking in the enzyme active site, was then applied to identify mutagenesis targets and generate libraries of several thousand variants. They were screened using a rapid pH-based screening assay, implemented for this purpose. This allowed sorting out mutants still active on sucrose that were subsequently assayed for both quercetin and diosmetin glucosylation. A small set of 23 variants, constituting a platform of enzymes improved for the glucosylation of these two flavonoids was retained and evaluated for the glucosylation of a six distinct flavonoids. Remarkably, the promiscuity generated in this platform allowed isolating several variants much more efficient than the wild-type enzyme. They produced different glucosylation patterns, and provided valuable information to further design and improve flavonoid glucosylation enzymatic tools.

Acid maltase deficiency (AMD) is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder that results in an accumulation of glycogen in the lysosomal storage vacuoles. It is classified as a glycogen storage disease (type II) and is also known as Pompe's disease. The prognosis of the patient with AMD is poor and the main cause of death is respiratory failure. We report a female patient whose respiratory insufficiency was documented to occur most severely during rapid eye movement sleep and who benefited clinically from the institution of nocturnal noninvasive bilevel positive airway pressure.