Glioblastome représente la tumeur la plus courante du cerveau primaire avec une survie de moins de 2 ans. Ces tumeurs sont très infiltrantes et angiogéniques et contiennent une sous population de cellules souches cancéreuses. Nkx2.2 est un homéodomaine facteur de transcription, impliqué dans la formation d'oligodendrocytes au cours du développement. Nkx2.2 joue un rôle central dans la tumorogenèse de Ewing'sarcoma. L'utilisation de la QPCR et de la matrice du tissu de gliome, nous a permis de mettre en évidence la forte expression de Nkx2 dans le glioblastome. Nkx2.2 a également été détecté dans 3 cultures de cellules de gliomes où il est co-exprimé avec des marqueurs de cellules souches tels que CD133 et CD15. Il a été récemment proposé que la surexpression de Nkx2.2 pourrait induire à la différenciation oligodendrocytaire de la cellule du gliome tige-comme et au blocage de la formation des tumeurs dans la xénotransplantation (Cancer Res fév 2011 1; 71 (3): 1135-1145). Pour explorer cette possibilité, nous avons utilisé des rétrovirus pour surexprimer Nkx2.2 dans nos cultures cellulaires. De manière surprenante, nous avons trouvé que Nkx2.2, induit la prolifération des cellules souches du gliome et n'a en conséquent aucun effet de différenciation. Microarray analyses a confirmé que la surexpression de Nkx2.2 n'a en effet aucune influence sur la différenciation des oligodendrocytes. Cette analyse a également révélé que Nkx2.2 était capable d'induire une forte expression de YKL-40 40 dans le surnageant des cellules souches du gliome. YKL-40 est en fait, une glycoprotéine sécrétée et impliquée dans l'inflammation, l'angiogenèse et la prolifération. Elle est souvent associée à un mauvais pronostic dans plusieurs types de cancers. En outre, nous avons effectué une transplantation orthotopique afin d'explorer le rôle de Nkx2.2 dans la gliomagenèse in vivo et avons constaté que Nkx2.2 ne réduit pas l'agressivité du glioblastome.Dans l'autre partie de ma thèse, nous avons utilisé la gamme Taqman à basse densité et la validation des miRNA par la Qpcr afin de chercher ces derniers dans la culture cellulaire du glioblastome humain. Nous avons ensuite étudié le rôle des miARN dans la transcription de 3'UTR de Nkx2.2. Les résultats d'analyse de la mutagénèse dirigée (SDM) et de la double-luciférase ont montré que l'expression de Nkx2.2 est régulée par la diminution de mir-133b ainsi que celle de mir-202. / Glioblastoma represent the most common primary brain tumor with an overall survival of less than 2 years. These tumors are highly infiltrative and angiogenic and contain a sub population of cancer stem cells. Nkx2.2 is a homeodomain transcription factor which is implicated in the formation of oligodendrocytes during development. Nkx2.2 is central in tumorogenesis of Ewing'sarcoma. Using QPCR and glioma tissue array, we found that Nkx2.2 is highly expressed in glioblastoma. Nkx2.2 was also detected in 3 glioma stem-like cell cultures (neurospheres) where it is co-expressed with stem cell markers such as CD133 and CD15. It was recently proposed that overexpression of Nkx2.2 could induce terminal oligodendrocytic differentiation of glioma stem-like cell and inhibit tumor formation in xenotransplantation (Cancer Res. 2011 Feb 1;71(3):1135-45).To explore this possibility further, we used retroviruses to overexpress Nkx2.2 in our cell cultures. Surprisingly, we found that Nkx2.2, induce glioma stem cell proliferation and had no oligodendrocyte differentiating effect. Microarray analyses confirmed that Nkx2.2 overexpression had no influence in oligodendrocyte differentiation. This analysis further revealed that Nkx2.2 was able to induce a strong expression of YKL40 protein in the supernatant of glioma stem cells and increase YKL-40 promoter activity. YKL-40 is a secreted glycoprotein which is involved in inflammation, angiogenesis and proliferation and which is often associated with a bad prognosis in several cancers. In addition, we performed orthotopic transplantation to explore the role of Nkx2.2 in gliomagenesis in vivo and found that Nkx2.2 did not reduce the aggressiveness of glioblastoma. In the other part of my thesis we used Taqman low-density arrays (TLDA) and individual miRNA QPCR validation to find the microRNA (miRNA) signature in human glioblastoma cell cultures. Then we investigated the role of miRNA in the 3'UTR of Nkx2.2 transcript. Site directed mutagenesis (SDM) and dual-Luciferase reporter assay results showed that the Nkx2.2 expression is downregulated by mir-133b and mir-202.

Mouse Hepatitis virus (MHV) is a member of the coronavirus family in the order Nidovirales. The 32 kb genome contains cis-acting sequences necessary for replication of the viral genome. Those cis-acting sequences have been shown to bind host proteins, and binding of those proteins is necessary for virus replication. One of the cis-acting elements is the 3' terminal 42 nucleotide host protein binding element. Previous work has demonstrated that mitochondrial aconitase, mitochondrial heat shock protein 70, heat shock protein 60 and heat shock protein 40 bind to the 3' terminal 42 nucleotide host protein binding element. We demonstrated that RNA secondary structure of the 3' terminal 42 nucleotide host protein binding element is necessary for host protein binding in vitro. We also demonstrate that primary structure of the 3' terminal 42 nucleotide host protein binding element is necessary for viral replication by targeted recombination. DI replication assays infer that the 3' terminal 42 nucleotide host protein binding element plays a role in positive strand synthesis from the negative strand template. Current studies involve the infectious cDNA clone, which will provide definitive answers on the role of the 3' terminal 42 nucleotide host protein binding element in MHV replication.

Increasing evidence suggests that overlapping genes is a common phenomenon in eukaryotic genomes too and are not restricted to prokaryotes alone. Here we determined overlapping genes in a set of orthologous genes in the genomes of human, chimp, mouse, rat, and dog and contrasted the patterns of overlapping between two principal types of overlapping genes, the same-strand-overlapping genes and different-strand-overlapping genes. The two types of overlapping genes are compared with respect to their frequencies, overlap lengths, region of overlap, and conservation of overlap in five species. Our results suggest the following: different-strand-overlaps are more common, both types show different patterns with respect to overlap lengths and regions of overlap, different-strand-overlapping genes are more evolutionarily conserved, and 3'-UTR evolution plays an important role in transitions between non-overlapping genes and overlapping genes. The thesis also presents a review of related work in terms of history, origin, types, biological significance of overlapping genes, human diseases associated with them, and their comparison in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. / Master of Science

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

A asma brônquica é doença inflamatória crônica complexa das vias aéreas provocada pela interação de fatores genéticos e ambientais. O gene HLA-G (Antígeno Leucocitário Humano G) foi identificado como gene de susceptibilidade à asma, codificando uma molécula não clássica do complexo principal de histocompatibilidade (MHC, do inglês Major Histocompatibility Complex) de classe I com função moduladora das células do sistema imunológico. Nesse contexto, avaliamos o papel do HLA-G na asma afim de identificar genótipos, alelos e haplótipos associados com proteção ou susceptibilidade nas diferentes formas de apresentação da doença. Investigamos os sítios polimórficos da região 3\' não traduzida (3\'UTR-untranslated region) do HLA-G (14 pb Ins/Del, + 3001 C/T, +3003 C/T, +3010 C/G, +3027 A/C, +3035 C/T, +3142 C/G, +3187 A/G e +3196 C/G) em 118 pacientes asmáticos estratificados em asma leve ou moderada e grave e 183 indivíduos brasileiros saudáveis. Testes de associação foram realizados para avaliar as frequências dos genótipos, alelos e haplótipos da 3\'UTR do HLA-G na asma brônquica, considerada como grupo total ou estratificada de acordo com a gravidade da doença. Nossos resultados demonstraram que as frequências dos alelos +3001 C, +3003 C, +3035 C e +3196 C e do genótipo 14 bp DI estavam aumentadas no grupo total e nas diversas formas de apresentação da doença. Os alelos +3010 C e +3142 G e o genótipo +3010 CC estavam mais representados em pacientes com asma leve ou moderada. Por outro lado, os genótipos +3010 GG, +3142 CG e +3187 AG e o alelo +3010 G apresentaram maior frequência nos asmáticos graves, estando fortemente associados com o desenvolvimento da forma grave da asma. Além disso, os genótipos 14 pb II, +3010 CC e +3142 GG e o alelo +3010 C conferiram proteção à asma grave. Além disso, identificamos um haplótipo da 3\'UTR do HLA-G associado ao desenvolvimento de asma brônquica, a UTR-8, e um haplótipo que conferiu proteção contra a mesma, a UTR-7. Concluindo, neste estudo, observamos frequências diferenciais de sítios polimórficos do segmento 3\'UTR do HLA-G associados com predisposição à asma brônquica e, também, com a gravidade da doença / Bronchial asthma is a complex chronic inflammatory disease of the airways caused by the interaction of genetic susceptibility and environmental factors. The HLA-G (Human Leucocyte Antigen G) gene was identified as a susceptible marker for bronchial asthma, encoding a nonclassical Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I molecule, considered to be an important immune check point modulator. In the present study, we evaluated the role of HLA-G in bronchial asthma susceptibility and disease severity, evaluating HLA-G genotypes, alleles or haplotypes. We investigated the HLA-G 3\'Untraslated region (3\'UTR) polymorphic sites (14-bp INS/DEL, +3001, +3003C/T, +3010C/G, +3027A/C, +3035C/T, +3142C/G, +3187A/G, and +3196C/G) in 118 asthmatic Brazilian patients, stratified according to disease severity into mild/moderate and severe asthma, and in 183 healthy individuals. HLA-G 3\'UTR variation sites were individually analyzed or lumped together as haplotypes. Our results showed that frequencies of +3001 C, +3003 C, +3035 C e +3196 C alleles and 14 pb ID genotype were increased in asthma group considered as a whole and in patients stratified according to disease severity. The +3010 C and .3142 G alleles and the +3010 CC genotype were overrepresented in patients with mild and moderate forms. Similarly, the +3010 GG, +3142 CG, +3187 AG genotypes and +3010 G allele presented increased frequency in severe asthmatic patients. In contrast, the 14 pb II, +3010 CC and +3142 GG genotypes and +3010 C allele conferred protection against severe asthma. In addition, we identified a 3\'UTR HLA-G haplotype that was associated with bronchial asthma development (UTR-8) and one haplotype that conferred protection against asthma (UTR-7). In conclusion, in this study, we observed differential frequencies at HLA-G 3\'UTR polymorphic sites that are associated with bronchial asthma predisposition and, also, with disease severity

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

Das Enzym Glutaminsynthetase (GS) wird in Organen mit niedriger enzymatischer Aktivität in zumeist allen Zellen exprimiert. Auf der anderen Seite ist die Expression in Geweben mit hoher Aktivität auf spezialisierte Zellen beschränkt. So findet man in der Säugerleber Expression der GS nur in Hepatozyten, die in ein bis drei Zellreihen um die Zentralvenen lokalisiert sind. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde die Frage gestellt, ob der zwischen verschiedenen Spezies hoch konservierte 3’-Bereich der nicht-translatierten Region des GS-Gens an der Regulation der Expression und der Zonierung beteiligt ist. Hierzu wurden Reportergenstudien, transiente Transfektionen sowie Northern-Blot-Experimente unter Verwendung von primären Hepatozyten aus dem periportalen und perizentralen Bereich der Rattenleber durchgeführt. Die Ergebnisse der Arbeit lassen eine über das 3’-Ende vermittelte selektive Destabilisierung der GS-mRNA in periportalen (GS-negativen) Hepatozyten vermuten. Zudem zeigte sich, dass die Wechselwirkung des 3’-UTRs mit Bereichen des 5’-UTRs, bzw. dem GS-Promotor für die eigentliche Regulation verantwortlich ist. Es lässt sich vermuten, dass eine posttranskriptionale Regulation neben den in den letzten Jahren aufgeklärten Mechanismen der Regulation der Transkription mit zur Feinsteuerung der Expression der GS beiträgt.

A asma brônquica é doença inflamatória crônica complexa das vias aéreas provocada pela interação de fatores genéticos e ambientais. O gene HLA-G (Antígeno Leucocitário Humano G) foi identificado como gene de susceptibilidade à asma, codificando uma molécula não clássica do complexo principal de histocompatibilidade (MHC, do inglês Major Histocompatibility Complex) de classe I com função moduladora das células do sistema imunológico. Nesse contexto, avaliamos o papel do HLA-G na asma afim de identificar genótipos, alelos e haplótipos associados com proteção ou susceptibilidade nas diferentes formas de apresentação da doença. Investigamos os sítios polimórficos da região 3\' não traduzida (3\'UTR-untranslated region) do HLA-G (14 pb Ins/Del, + 3001 C/T, +3003 C/T, +3010 C/G, +3027 A/C, +3035 C/T, +3142 C/G, +3187 A/G e +3196 C/G) em 118 pacientes asmáticos estratificados em asma leve ou moderada e grave e 183 indivíduos brasileiros saudáveis. Testes de associação foram realizados para avaliar as frequências dos genótipos, alelos e haplótipos da 3\'UTR do HLA-G na asma brônquica, considerada como grupo total ou estratificada de acordo com a gravidade da doença. Nossos resultados demonstraram que as frequências dos alelos +3001 C, +3003 C, +3035 C e +3196 C e do genótipo 14 bp DI estavam aumentadas no grupo total e nas diversas formas de apresentação da doença. Os alelos +3010 C e +3142 G e o genótipo +3010 CC estavam mais representados em pacientes com asma leve ou moderada. Por outro lado, os genótipos +3010 GG, +3142 CG e +3187 AG e o alelo +3010 G apresentaram maior frequência nos asmáticos graves, estando fortemente associados com o desenvolvimento da forma grave da asma. Além disso, os genótipos 14 pb II, +3010 CC e +3142 GG e o alelo +3010 C conferiram proteção à asma grave. Além disso, identificamos um haplótipo da 3\'UTR do HLA-G associado ao desenvolvimento de asma brônquica, a UTR-8, e um haplótipo que conferiu proteção contra a mesma, a UTR-7. Concluindo, neste estudo, observamos frequências diferenciais de sítios polimórficos do segmento 3\'UTR do HLA-G associados com predisposição à asma brônquica e, também, com a gravidade da doença / Bronchial asthma is a complex chronic inflammatory disease of the airways caused by the interaction of genetic susceptibility and environmental factors. The HLA-G (Human Leucocyte Antigen G) gene was identified as a susceptible marker for bronchial asthma, encoding a nonclassical Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I molecule, considered to be an important immune check point modulator. In the present study, we evaluated the role of HLA-G in bronchial asthma susceptibility and disease severity, evaluating HLA-G genotypes, alleles or haplotypes. We investigated the HLA-G 3\'Untraslated region (3\'UTR) polymorphic sites (14-bp INS/DEL, +3001, +3003C/T, +3010C/G, +3027A/C, +3035C/T, +3142C/G, +3187A/G, and +3196C/G) in 118 asthmatic Brazilian patients, stratified according to disease severity into mild/moderate and severe asthma, and in 183 healthy individuals. HLA-G 3\'UTR variation sites were individually analyzed or lumped together as haplotypes. Our results showed that frequencies of +3001 C, +3003 C, +3035 C e +3196 C alleles and 14 pb ID genotype were increased in asthma group considered as a whole and in patients stratified according to disease severity. The +3010 C and .3142 G alleles and the +3010 CC genotype were overrepresented in patients with mild and moderate forms. Similarly, the +3010 GG, +3142 CG, +3187 AG genotypes and +3010 G allele presented increased frequency in severe asthmatic patients. In contrast, the 14 pb II, +3010 CC and +3142 GG genotypes and +3010 C allele conferred protection against severe asthma. In addition, we identified a 3\'UTR HLA-G haplotype that was associated with bronchial asthma development (UTR-8) and one haplotype that conferred protection against asthma (UTR-7). In conclusion, in this study, we observed differential frequencies at HLA-G 3\'UTR polymorphic sites that are associated with bronchial asthma predisposition and, also, with disease severity

Die Kryptosporidiose stellt aufgrund ihres zoonotischen Charakters und der Entwicklung chronischer Durchfälle bei Immunsupprimierten ein hohes Gesundheitsrisiko für den Menschen, aber ebenso für Tiere dar. Derzeit verfügbare Therapeutika ermöglichen keine zuverlässige Bekämpfung klinischer Symptome oder eine Erregerelimination, daher ist die Erforschung neuer Therapieansätze dringend notwendig. CDPK stellen in diesem Zusammenhang interessante Zielmoleküle dar, da sie zwar in Pflanzen und Protisten einschließlich Apikomplexa, jedoch nicht in Pilzen und Säugetieren vorkommen. Trotz der Entdeckung vielversprechender neuer Wirkstoffe gegen CpCDPK1 in den letzten Jahren ist zur Lokalisation und Funktion von CDPK in C. parvum wenig bekannt.Diese Arbeit belegt die Transkription von sechs CpCDPK in vitro und beschreibt erstmals die Länge der 3’UTR von CpCDPK. Die Translation wurde durch den Nachweis spezifischen Proteins in Sporozoiten im Immunoblot sowie die Lokalisation von CpCDPK1 mit Hilfe der Immunfluoreszenz belegt. Möglicherweise wird die CpCDPK1 durch N-Myristoylierung an Membranen gebunden, an die Oberfläche von Zoiten gebracht und sezerniert. Eine Rolle des Enzyms im Invasions- und Egressmechanismus des Parasiten wird diskutiert.

Das Enzym Glutaminsynthetase (GS) wird in Organen mit niedriger enzymatischer Aktivität in zumeist allen Zellen exprimiert. Auf der anderen Seite ist die Expression in Geweben mit hoher Aktivität auf spezialisierte Zellen beschränkt. So findet man in der Säugerleber Expression der GS nur in Hepatozyten, die in ein bis drei Zellreihen um die Zentralvenen lokalisiert sind. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde die Frage gestellt, ob der zwischen verschiedenen Spezies hoch konservierte 3’-Bereich der nicht-translatierten Region des GS-Gens an der Regulation der Expression und der Zonierung beteiligt ist. Hierzu wurden Reportergenstudien, transiente Transfektionen sowie Northern-Blot-Experimente unter Verwendung von primären Hepatozyten aus dem periportalen und perizentralen Bereich der Rattenleber durchgeführt. Die Ergebnisse der Arbeit lassen eine über das 3’-Ende vermittelte selektive Destabilisierung der GS-mRNA in periportalen (GS-negativen) Hepatozyten vermuten. Zudem zeigte sich, dass die Wechselwirkung des 3’-UTRs mit Bereichen des 5’-UTRs, bzw. dem GS-Promotor für die eigentliche Regulation verantwortlich ist. Es lässt sich vermuten, dass eine posttranskriptionale Regulation neben den in den letzten Jahren aufgeklärten Mechanismen der Regulation der Transkription mit zur Feinsteuerung der Expression der GS beiträgt.