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In isolated skeletal muscle arterioles, increasing transmural pressure causes an increase in constriction. This active myogenic response varies with age and fiber type. Increased transmural pressure activates both Ca2+-activated (KCa) potassium channels and voltage-dependent (Kv) potassium channels; these channels have a role in the negativefeedback pathways that modulate depolarization and myogenic constriction. We tested the hypothesis that increased KCa channel and Kv channel activity contribute to reduced myogenic responsiveness in skeletal muscle arterioles of aged rats. 1A arterioles were isolated from soleus, an oxidative muscle, and superficial gastrocnemius, a glycolytic muscle, of young (4 mos) and aged (24 mos) Fischer 344 rats. Myogenic responses were assessed by increasing intraluminal pressure (0-140 cm H2O) in increments of 20cm H2O. Vasoconstrictor response were determined in response to increasing concentrations of the KCa channel blocker, charybdotoxin (CTX; 10-10 to 10-7 M) and the Kv channel blocker, 4-Aminopyridine (4-AP; 10-5 to 10-2 M). To determine the role of potassium channels in modulating the myogenic response, cannulated arterioles from soleus and gastrocnemius were incubated with CTX (50 nM) and 4-AP (5mM) for 15 minutes prior to evaluation of the myogenic response. Increased Kv channel activity contributes to reduced myogenic constriction in soleus and gastrocnemius muscle arterioles from aged rats. In soleus muscle arterioles, KCa channel activity opposes myogenic tone in young but not old rats. In gastrocnemius muscle arterioles, treatment with CTX did not eliminate age-related differences in the myogenic response, and the KCa channel contribution to myogenic tone was, in fact, greater arterioles from young as compared to old rats. Kv channels contribute to greater myogenic constriction in soleus arterioles, KCa channels appear to be more active in gastrocnemius muscle arterioles as compared to soleus muscle arterioles. Therefore Kv and KCa channels are tonically active in skeletal muscle arterioles, contributing to a hyperpolarizing force that opposes myogenic constriction. Furthermore, increased Kv channel activity contributes to the age-related reduction of myogenic constriction in soleus and gastrocnemius muscle arterioles.

Vesicular traffic along the biosynthetic and endocytic pathways is essential for homeostasis of eukaryotic cells. However, it raised the question of how the proteins characteristic for each compartment are transported to their destination (Bonifacino and Glick, 2004). This study is especially focusing on the connection between the Golgi apparatus and the endosomal compartment, mediated by two parallel trafficking pathways regulated by the clathrin adaptors AP-1A and AP-3 (Owen et al., 2004). Typical cargo molecules sorted along the AP-1A regulated pathway are mannose 6-phosphate receptors (MPRs) (Ghosh et al., 2003) or the gpI envelop glycoprotein of the Vesicular Zoster virus (Alconada et al., 1996), while sorting of lysosomal membrane proteins like Lamp-1 and LimpII is AP-3 regulated (Eskelinen et al., 2003). To study how AP-1A and AP-3 coats are stabilized on membranes and to identify the protein networks involved, a liposome based in vitro assay that recapitulates the fidelity of protein sorting in vivo was developed and combined with proteomic screens. Therefore, liposomes carrying cytoplasmic domains of gpI or Lamp-1/LimpII were used as affinity matrix to recruit selectively AP-1A or AP-3 and associated protein machineries. The coated liposomes were then analyzed by mass spectrometry. Using the in vitro recruitment assay, it was possible to demonstrate that efficient and selective recruitment of AP-1A and AP-3 coats depends on the presence of several low affinity binding sites on membranes. Thus, AP-1A and AP-3 recognize their target membranes by activated Arf1 GTPases, organelle specific phosphoinositides, PI-4P and PI-3P respectively, and distinct cargo molecules carrying intact signals in their cytoplasmic domains. The implication of PI-3P in AP-3 recruitment was further supported by in vivo experiments. During the biochemical characterization of the assay, several lines of evidence indicated that cargo tails containing intact sorting signals stabilize not only AP-1A and AP-3 coats on membranes but also influence the membrane recruitment of Arf1. It is possible that cargo molecules indirectly drive an Arf1 amplification loop, thereby ensuring efficient AP coat assembly. The proteomic screens identified protein networks of ≈40 proteins selectively recruited on AP-1A coated structures. The most appealing result of the analysis was the presence of two additional protein machineries, one involved in actin nucleation the other involved membrane fusion. More precisely, the AP-1A analysis identified the selective recruitment of the AP-1A subunits and interacting molecules (clathrin, g-synergin), Arf1 and Arf1 effectors (Big2, Git1), Rac1 including Rac1 effectors (b-PIX, RhoGEF7) and a Rac1 dependent actin nucleation machinery (Wave/Scar complex, Arp2/3 complex, associated effectors) as well as members of a Rab machinery (Rab11, Rab14). This finding was further supported by in vivo colocalization studies of the AP-1A cargo CI-MPR with CYFIP2, a protein of the Wave/Scar complex, and the localization of Big2 and Git1 on Rab11 positive membranes (Matafora et al., 2001; Shin et al., 2004). The biochemical characterization revealed that the stabilization of AP-1A coats, most probably driven by cargo molecules that stabilize AP-1A and Arf1 on membranes, leads as well to the stabilization of the two other machineries. Thus, the results support the notion that cargo sorting, vesicular movement and membrane fusion are coordinated during early steps of vesicular traffic. In analogy, the proteomic screens on AP-3 coated structures identified as well ≈40 selectively recruited proteins, which constituted a similar supramolecular network of protein machineries involved in coat formation, action nucleation and membrane fusion via Rab proteins. Thus, beside the AP-3 coat including the AP-3 subunits, Arf1 and Arf effectors (Big1, ARAP1, AGAP1), members of the septin family involved in actin rearrangements and most of the already described effectors of Rab5 microdomains (EEA1, Rabaptin-5, Rabex-5, Vps45) involved in early endosomal dynamics were selectively recruited together with Rab5 and Rab7. Thus, the proteomic analysis of AP-1A and AP-3 coated structures suggest that both AP coats use similar principles - coats, actin nucleation devices and Rab fusion machineries - to assemble supramolecular structures needed for membrane traffic. Although we do not have the ultimate proves yet, it seems as AP-1A and AP-3 use different members of subcomplexes, hence different GTPase effectors, different actin nucleation machineries and different Rab GTPases, to regulate their specific transport pathways and to link the different protein machineries. The proteomic analysis revealed for example that they probably use different Arf and Rho GTPase effectors to link the coat with actin nucleation. However, this has to be proven experimentally. In order to understand the networks of protein interactions, bioinformatic tools were used as a first approach. Even though some clues about the overall organization of the supramolecular protein complexes were provided, the direct links to the Rab machinery are still elusive. Maybe the proteins with thus far unknown functions could be involved. The biochemical analysis, especially the role of PIPs, and the Rab GTPases identified in the context of AP-1A and AP-3, provide indications about AP-1A and AP-3 function in vivo. The results could be interpreted in a way that AP-1A functions either in traffic from PI-4P positive membranes towards Rab11/Rab14 positive membranes or AP-1A coats assemble on PI-4P and Rab11 or Rab14 positive membranes, hence, TGN to endosomes traffic. The same holds true for AP-3, the results either suggest AP-3 mediates traffic from PI-3P positive towards Rab5/Rab7 positive membranes or they could be interpreted in a way that AP-3 assembles on PI-3P and Rab5 positive membranes for subsequent transport to Rab7 positive membranes, thus traffic from early to late endosomes. Overall, the results of this thesis research provided important insight into the formation of AP-1A and AP-3 coated structures and the potential interconnection between AP coats, actin nucleation and membrane fusion machineries. Alconada, A., U. Bauer, and B. Hoflack. 1996. A tyrosine-based motif and a casein kinase II phosphorylation site regulate the intracellular trafficking of the varicella-zoster virus glycoprotein I, a protein localized in the trans-Golgi network. Embo J. 15:6096-110. Bonifacino, J.S., and B.S. Glick. 2004. The mechanisms of vesicle budding and fusion. Cell. 116:153-66. Eskelinen, E.L., Y. Tanaka, and P. Saftig. 2003. At the acidic edge: emerging functions for lysosomal membrane proteins. Trends Cell Biol. 13:137-45. Ghosh, P., N.M. Dahms, and S. Kornfeld. 2003. Mannose 6-phosphate receptors: new twists in the tale. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 4:202-12. Matafora, V., S. Paris, S. Dariozzi, and I. de Curtis. 2001. Molecular mechanisms regulating the subcellular localization of p95-APP1 between the endosomal recycling compartment and sites of actin organization at the cell surface. J Cell Sci. 114:4509-20. Owen, D.J., B.M. Collins, and P.R. Evans. 2004. Adaptors for clathrin coats: structure and function. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol. 20:153-91. Shin, H.W., N. Morinaga, M. Noda, and K. Nakayama. 2004. BIG2, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for ADP-ribosylation factors: its localization to recycling endosomes and implication in the endosome integrity. Mol Biol Cell. 15:5283-94.

MECHANISMS OF DEPOLARIZATION INDUCED DENDRITIC GROWTH OF DROSOPHILA MOTOR NEURONS Cortnie Lauren Cherry The University of Arizona, 2006 Director: Richard B. Levine The study of the cellular mechanisms underlying dendritic growth contributes to our understanding of nervous system development, function and disease. Electrical activity is a fundamental property of neurons, and this property is utilized to influence the mechanisms involved in dendrite formation and maturation. Here we employ the Drosophila transgenic system to quantify dendritic growth of identified motor neurons using both in vitro and in vivo techniques. Two novel techniques are introduced: one a system to visualize and measure dendritic outgrowth in cultured neurons using reporter proteins, and the other using 3D reconstruction to measure the arborization of identified motor neurons in vivo. Both transgenic manipulation of K+ channel function and depolarizing concentrations of K+ in the culture medium result in an acceleration of dendritic outgrowth. Depolarization induced outgrowth is dependent on Plectreurys Toxin (PLTX)-sensitive voltage-gated calcium current and protein synthesis in cultured motor neurons. Depolarization leads to direct induction of fos, a protein that heterodimerizes with jun to make the functional transcription factor, AP-1. Fos, but not jun, is necessary for basal levels of dendritic growth, while both are necessary for depolarization induced outgrowth. Over-expression of AP-1 in control cells is sufficient to cause dendritic outgrowth. The transcription factor Adf-1 is also necessary for basal and depolarization induced growth, but unlike AP-1 is not sufficient to cause outgrowth when over-expressed. Another transcription factor CREB, on the other hand, is not necessary for basal levels of dendritic growth, but is necessary for depolarization induced dendritic growth. Over-expression of CREB, like Adf-1, is not sufficient to cause dendritic outgrowth. These findings present exciting new techniques for the study of the field of dendritic regulation and contribute to our understanding of the cellular mechanisms underlying dendritic growth.

The ubiquitin-like proteins (Ubls) are small polypeptides that function as post-translational modifiers. Like ubiquitin, most Ubls are covalently attached to a lysine residue on target proteins. The small ubiquitin-related modifiers (SUMO) play important roles in a number of critical biological processes, such as proliferation and regulation of the cell cycle, yet their specific cellular functions have remained poorly understood. Like ubiquitin, SUMO proteins can also form oligomeric “chains”, but the functions of these structures were even less well understood. To this end, I created the first spectral library for the identification of Ub/Ubl proteins and Ub/Ubl chain linkages in mass spectrometry experiments. This tool has dramatically improved our ability to use MS to analyze the contents of biological samples for Ub and Ubls, and to identify specific types of Ub and Ubl chains in model organisms. I also used MS to conduct the first comprehensive SUMO system protein-protein interactome in any organism. In total, 452 high confidence protein-protein interactions were detected for S. cerevisiae SUMO system proteins, encompassing a total of 321 interacting partners. Yeast SUMO system components were found to interact with proteins involved in a number of different biological processes, and my mapping effort increased the number of known SUMO system interacting partners >50-fold. This study revealed that a number of transcriptional co-repressors and chromatin remodelling proteins interact physically with specific SUMO system components, with a clear division of labour between SUMO system enzymes. Finally, I conducted the first global analysis of SUMO chain function, using a combination of genetic, high-content microscopy, and high-density transcriptomics screens. Consistent with my interactomics work, this study demonstrated that inhibition of SUMO chain synthesis leads to severe chromatin condensation defects, which in-turn leads to chromosome missegregation, unscheduled transcription of stress-and nutrient-regulated genes, and aberrant intragenic transcription. Together, my work thus revealed a major role for the SUMO system in the maintenance of higher order chromatin structure and transcriptional repression.

The ubiquitin-like proteins (Ubls) are small polypeptides that function as post-translational modifiers. Like ubiquitin, most Ubls are covalently attached to a lysine residue on target proteins. The small ubiquitin-related modifiers (SUMO) play important roles in a number of critical biological processes, such as proliferation and regulation of the cell cycle, yet their specific cellular functions have remained poorly understood. Like ubiquitin, SUMO proteins can also form oligomeric “chains”, but the functions of these structures were even less well understood. To this end, I created the first spectral library for the identification of Ub/Ubl proteins and Ub/Ubl chain linkages in mass spectrometry experiments. This tool has dramatically improved our ability to use MS to analyze the contents of biological samples for Ub and Ubls, and to identify specific types of Ub and Ubl chains in model organisms. I also used MS to conduct the first comprehensive SUMO system protein-protein interactome in any organism. In total, 452 high confidence protein-protein interactions were detected for S. cerevisiae SUMO system proteins, encompassing a total of 321 interacting partners. Yeast SUMO system components were found to interact with proteins involved in a number of different biological processes, and my mapping effort increased the number of known SUMO system interacting partners >50-fold. This study revealed that a number of transcriptional co-repressors and chromatin remodelling proteins interact physically with specific SUMO system components, with a clear division of labour between SUMO system enzymes. Finally, I conducted the first global analysis of SUMO chain function, using a combination of genetic, high-content microscopy, and high-density transcriptomics screens. Consistent with my interactomics work, this study demonstrated that inhibition of SUMO chain synthesis leads to severe chromatin condensation defects, which in-turn leads to chromosome missegregation, unscheduled transcription of stress-and nutrient-regulated genes, and aberrant intragenic transcription. Together, my work thus revealed a major role for the SUMO system in the maintenance of higher order chromatin structure and transcriptional repression.

Submitted by Hiolanda Rêgo (hiolandar@gmail.com) on 2013-06-10T20:55:35Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação_ICS_ Ana Carolina Arraes.pdf: 1876812 bytes, checksum: c4740a70b3675be50d2ebafeb0ba8fe3 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-06-10T20:55:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação_ICS_ Ana Carolina Arraes.pdf: 1876812 bytes, checksum: c4740a70b3675be50d2ebafeb0ba8fe3 (MD5) / CAPES / A incidência de candidemia tem aumentado nos últimos anos e o espectro das espécies de Candida tem mudado com a emergência das espécies não-albicans e com o aumento da resistência antifúngica. A técnica de PCR associada à análise dos polimorfismos de fragmentos de restrição (PCR-RFLP) e AP-PCR são exemplos de técnicas moleculares utilizadas para a detecção da variabilidade genética desses micro-organismos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar molecularmente Candida spp. clinicamente importantes. Foram estudadas 82 leveduras do gênero Candida, 73 isolados clínicos e nove cepas padrão de referência da “American Type Culture Collection” (ATCC). O DNA genômico foi extraído através de lise mecânica/química e fenol-clorofórmio. Após amplificação com iniciadores ITS1 e ITS4, os produtos da PCR foram digeridos com as enzimas DdeI, HaeIII, BfaI e MspI. Outra amplificação foi realizada com o iniciador arbitrário AP-4. A identificação fenotípica revelou a frequência de 38% de C. parapsilosis, 33% de C. albicans, 27,5% de C. tropicalis e 1,5% de C. guilliermondii. Após amplificação, foi possível identificar e diferenciar as espécies C. lusitaniae, C. guilliermondii, C. famata e C. glabrata. A diferenciação entre C. albicans, C. dubliniensis C. tropicalis, C. krusei e C. parapsilosis não foi bem evidenciada com as enzimas DdeI e HaeIII. Porém, MspI conseguiu diferenciar C. tropicalis, C. krusei, C. parapsilosis, C. glabrata, C. guilliermondii, C. lusitaniae e C. famata, juntamente com BfaI que separou C. albicans de C. dubliniensis. Já a técnica de AP-PCR com o iniciador AP-4, possibilitou a distinção das nove espécies cepas padrão ATCC de Candida, pois todas apresentaram perfis de amplificação com número, intensidade e tamanho de banda específico, onde cada espécie foi alocada em grupo distinto e a relação de similaridade variou de 38-69%, ratificando o poder de diferenciação das espécies. As técnicas moleculares foram reprodutíveis e relativamente rápidas, de fácil interpretação e podem ser aplicadas na identificação de espécies clinicamente importantes de Candida para auxílio no diagnóstico mais rápido e tratamento mais eficiente. / Salvador

VIDEIRA, Piedade Lino. Batuques, folias e ladainhas: a cultura do Quilombo do CRIA-Ú em Macapá e sua educação. 2010. 262f. Tese (Doutorado em Educação) – Universidade Federal do Ceará, Faculdade de Educação, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação Brasileira, Fortaleza-CE, 2010. / Submitted by Maria Josineide Góis (josineide@ufc.br) on 2012-07-10T15:22:02Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2010_Tese_PLVideira.pdf: 6365104 bytes, checksum: 646b66067660175d9a5f8759708e3eff (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria Josineide Góis(josineide@ufc.br) on 2012-07-11T16:38:08Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2010_Tese_PLVideira.pdf: 6365104 bytes, checksum: 646b66067660175d9a5f8759708e3eff (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2012-07-11T16:38:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2010_Tese_PLVideira.pdf: 6365104 bytes, checksum: 646b66067660175d9a5f8759708e3eff (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / The education in Quilombos (hiding-places of fugitive black people slaves) must consider ethnic, historical, anthropological and cultural aspects from this tangible and intangible natural national heritage. These aspects are manifested in the context of the CRIA-Ú Quilombo, territory with mysterious features of African descent because of the mythic power that circulate there, with a lot of African things. Based on this assumption the main objective of this study is focused on analyzing and understanding the culture constituted and experienced by the CRIA-Ú community in specific dances like Batuque and Marabaixo as elements of redefinition of educational practice and curriculum aimed at valuing African (Brazilian)history and culture according to the appointment of Law 10.639/03. With this purpose I have adopted as a methodological perspective the participant observation and intervention research, both developed in the CRIA-Ú Quilombo territory and at the Public State School José Bonifácio, situated in the geographical area of the CRIA-Ú Quilombo. The period of the fieldwork took place between the years 2007-2009. Meanwhile the participant observation consisted of daily monitoring by the quilombola (black people slaves who took refuge in a Quilombo) community, mediated by interviews with historical beings, inhabitants of the Quilombo with over 40 years of age. The intervention research stemmed from the analysis of material collected in participant observation, as well as on an exploratory study conducted in the context of the school. The analysis of the development of systematic information on the treatment of research data, combined with the theoretical framework established by writers such as ANGELS, 2009; Cunha Jr., 2001, 2009; BIRTH, 2007; RAFFESTIN, 1993; SANTOS, 2002) who contributed to problem-solving dialogue with the categories: Afro descent, territory, black memories and Quilombos. The results showed that this course of Batuque from CRIA-Ú Quilombo is not just for bringing people together to celebrate their saints and spiritual entities, but rather to reaffirm the knowledge they have achieved their heirs of their ancestors as a strategy for survival and maintenance of its history and culture. The thesis deals with various aspects of lives from people who live in CRIA-Ú, without claiming to exhaust them. The paper focuses on the argument that local culture is in fundamental educational content to partake of their self-worth, serving as a rich educational courseware. / A educação em Quilombos deve considerar os aspectos étnicos, históricos, antropológicos e culturais desses patrimônios materiais, imateriais e naturais nacionais. Tais aspectos se manifestam no contexto do Quilombo do Cria-ú, território afrodescendente de feição misteriosa em virtude das energias míticas que lá circulam, repleto de africanidades. Com base nesse pressuposto o objetivo central desse estudo está focado na análise e compreensão da cultura constituída e experienciada pela comunidade do Cria-ú, em específico as danças do Batuque e Marabaixo, como elementos de ressignificação da práxis educativa e curricular que visa à valorização da história e cultura africana e afrobrasileira segundo a determinação da Lei nº 10.639/03. A partir desse objetivo adotei como perspectiva metodológica a observação participante e a pesquisa-intervenção, ambas desenvolvidas no território do Quilombo do Cria-ú e na Escola Estadual José Bonifácio, situada no espaço territorial do Quilombo. O período de realização da pesquisa de campo deu-se entre os anos de 2007-2009. Nesse ínterim a observação participante constitui-se pelo acompanhamento do cotidiano da comunidade quilombola, mediada por entrevistas com os seres históricos, habitantes do Quilombo com mais de 40 anos de idade. A pesquisa-intervenção originou-se da análise do material coletado na observação participante, bem com em função de estudo exploratório efetuado no contexto da escola. A análise do conjunto de informações sistematizadas no desenvolvimento do tratamento dos dados de pesquisa, articulada com o referencial teórico constituído por autores como (ANJOS, 2009; CUNHA Jr., 2001; 2009; NASCIMENTO, 2007; RAFFESTIN, 1993; SANTOS, 2002) contribuíram para o diálogo problematizador com as categorias: afrodescendência, território, memórias negras e Quilombos. Os resultados desse percurso evidenciaram que o Batuque do Quilombo do Cria-ú não é somente a reunião de pessoas para celebrarem seus santos e entidades espirituais e sim para reafirmar os conhecimentos que seus (uas) herdeiros (as) lograram de seus ancestrais como estratégia de sobrevivência e manutenção de sua história e cultura. A tese trata dos diversos aspectos da vida da população criauense, sem no entanto ter a pretensão de esgotá-los. O trabalho focaliza a tese de que a cultura local constitui-se em conteúdo pedagógico fundamental para a autovalorização de seus partícipes, podendo servir como rico material didático-pedagógico.

O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar longitudinalmente a transmissão de Streptococcus mutans em um grupo de famílias brasileiras de baixa renda. Um critério de inclusão importante foi o de todos os adultos conviverem na mesma casa com a criança. Participaram da pesquisa 14 mães, pais e crianças e 8 avós. Amostras de saliva das crianças foram coletadas em quatro visitas durante 22 meses, para pesquisa de S.mutans. Foram positivas apenas 8 crianças, que tiveram os seus isolados e os isolados de suas famílias identificados pelo método de hibridização DNA-DNA. Um total de 506 isolados de S.mutans foi genotipado pelo método de AP-PCR, usando o primer OPA-02. Foram detectados 20 genótipos diferentes nas 8 famílias, variando de 1 a 5 nos adultos e 1-2 nas crianças. Todas as mães e alguns pais e avós compartilharam genótipos com as crianças. Em todas as famílias foram encontrados genótipos homólogos nos adultos. Alguns genótipos foram estáveis, e outros, se perderam, mas o compartilhamento pode favorecer a contínua reinfecção. Três crianças desenvolveram cárie no período. O encontro de genótipos de cada membro da família na criança e o compartilhar de genótipos nos adultos, sugerem uma reavaliação de modelos preventivos antimicrobianos focalizados apenas na figura materna. / The objective of this study was to investigate in a longitudinal study the transmission of Streptococcus mutans in Brazilian families of a low socioeconomic status. An important entry criterion for the study was to include all members of a household in the study. The study cohort was comprised of 14 mothers, fathers and children and 8 grandmothers. Saliva samples were collected for S. mutans analysis in 4 visits during 22 months. Only eight children were positive for S. mutans by employing DNA-DNA hybridization that was also applied to household members. A total of 506 isolates of S. mutans were genotyped by AP-PCR with the primer OPA-02. Twenty genotypes were detected in 8 families ranging from 1 to 5 in the adults and 1-2 in the children. All mothers and some fathers and grandmothers shared similar genotypes with the children. In all families homologous genotypes were encountered among adults. Some genotypes were stable, and others were lost although sharing a similar environment may favor additional transmission episodes. Three children developed decay during the study period. The fact that children shared genotypes from all household members suggest that reevaluation of preventive methods aimed at suppressing S. mutans infections should include additional family members and not only the mothers.

This paper investigates the Viennese theatre scene as a part of Austria's Cultural Industries. On the one hand, the aim of this explorative study is to find out which types of cooperation between theatres occur and to analyse the underlying reasons and motives for cooperation. On the other hand the field-actors' perception of competition between theatres in the scene is investigated. The findings show that social networks (social capital) are regarded as very important for success and survival in the theatre scene. Competition comprises four different aspects and occurs as competition for financial supplements, competition for placement on the "market", competition for ideas, including the fear of idea-theft, as well as competition for the Wiener Festwochen. However, the theatre scene seems to be more strongly guided by trust and cooperation than by competition. / Series: Schriftenreihe / Forschungsbereich Wirtschaft und Kultur