O fenômeno da bio- e quimiluminescência tem atraído o interesse da comunidade científica nas últimas décadas não só pelo seu inerente interesse acadêmico, mas também devido as incontáveis aplicações analíticas que dele têm surgido. A maior parte do trabalho acadêmico que tem sido desenvolvido está relacionado ao estudo do mecanismo de geração de estados excitados e a eficiência de desativação radiativa. Por outro lado, do ponto de vista das aplicações tecnológicas, as metodologias para análise de enzimas, drogas e metabólitos, aplicadas à imunologia, microbiologia, medicina forense, etc., que se baseiam em quimiluminescência, estão entre as mais utilizadas em procedimentos de rotina em laboratórios. O desenvolvimento de substratos e, conseqüentemente, novas técnicas quimiluminescentes tem se tornado cada vez mais importante devido a alta sensibilidade desses ensaios, tipicamente equivalente ou melhor do que aqueles que utilizam rótulos radioativos. Esta tese apresenta o desenvolvimento de novas metodologias quimiluminescentes para a determinação de atividade enzimática. O princípio químico é a geração de peróxidos cíclicos instáveis, conhecidos como 1,2-dioxetanos, após a hidrólise de substratos específicos, catalisada pela enzima objeto de estudo. Anéis dioxetânicos são conhecidos pela sua propriedade de gerar produtos em estados eletronicamente excitados quando decompostos. A emissão de luz pode ser relacionada à atividade enzimática. Foi desenvolvido o substrato (fosfato dissódico de 2-metil-1-propenila, NA-MPP) (I)), capaz de produzir o composto 2-metil-1-propen-1-ol quando hidrolisado via a ação catalítica das enzimas fosfatase alcalina (ALP) ou fosfatase ácida (ACP). Este enol é oxidado, sob ação catalítica da enzima peroxidase de raiz forte (HRP), gerando acetona em estado excitado triplete. A emissão de luz direta ou sensibilizada da acetona excitada pode ser correlacionada a atividade enzimatica da ALP ou ACP. A determinação da atividade dessas enzimas livres ou ligadas em anticorpos (conjugados ALP-IgG) tem grande aplicação em tecnologias de diagnóstico, seja como um marcador de diversas doenças, seja como uma sonda em ensaios imuno-enzimáticos (EIA). A sensibilidade alcançada com este substrato foi de 10-15 mols de ALP, 0,0027 unid. de ACP e diluições de até 300.000 de um conjugado (ALP-IgG) por ensaio. Também foi possível correlacionar a atividade de ALP à velocidade de consumo do oxigênio dissolvido no meio de reação, que é uma característica dessa oxidação. Partindo do mesmo princípio delineado no parágrafo anterior, desenvolveu-se um composto para determinação de proteases. Para isso, o composto N-etil-N-(2-metil-1-propenil)benzenamida (II) foi preparado, pois a clivagem de sua ligação amídica geraria uma enamina, que também pode ser oxidada pela ação catalítica da HRP. No entanto, nossos estudos mostraram que este composto não é reconhecido como substrato das proteases. Tomando como base a bem conhecida característica de gerar uma fraca emissão de luz quando derivados indólicos são oxidados por agentes oxidantes clássicos, como KMnO4, K2S2O4, etc., foi estudado o potencial quimiluminescente de alguns derivados indólicos quando submetidos ao sistema HRP/H2O2/O2. Como era esperado, detectou-se quimiluminescência de baixa intensidade para a maioria dos derivados indólicos. Também neste caso a clivagem do anel indólico, via um intermediário dioxetânico, parece ser a responsável pela emissão observada na maioria dos compostos testados. Além disso, a oxidação do composto 2-metilindol (III) mostrou uma eficiência de quimiluminescência com cerca de 3 ordens de grandeza maior que os demais derivados. Verificou-se que o comportamento diferenciado desse composto estava relacionado à exclusiva formação de um composto secundário. A estrutura desse composto foi parcialmente atribuída ao 2,2\'-dimetil-2,2\'-diindoxil. Então, utilizando o 2-metilindol como substrato, desenvolveu-se uma metodologia analítica para determinação de HRP livre ou ligada em anticorpos (conjugados HRP-IgG). Assim como no caso da enzima ALP, conjugados do tipo HRP-IgG são largamente utilizados em EIA. Também com base nas características quimiluminescentes de \'alfa\'-hidroperóxi-cetonas quando submetidas a um forte meio alcalino, desenvolveu-se um potencial substrato para análise de esterases. A hidrólise catalisada por esterase de 2-peracetoxiadamantano-2-carboxialdeído (IV) geraria um \'alfa\'-hidroperóxi-aldeído, que por um ataque nucleofílico intramolecular, levaria a um intermediário dioxetânico. Este composto mostrou-se instável, gerando quimiluminescência mesmo na ausência da enzima. Este fato inviabilizou o seu uso como planejado. / The bio- and chemiluminescent phenomena have attracted the scientists attention in the last decades not only because its inherent academic interests, but also due the uncounted analytical applications that it has originated. Most of the academic work was devoted to the study of the mechanism responsible for the generation of the excited states and the efficiency of radiative deactivation. On the other hand, the technological developments pointed to methodologies for enzyme, drug, and metabolite determination applied to immunological, microbiology, forensic science, etc., based on chemiluminescence, which are already among the most applied techniques in routine laboratory procedures. The development of chemiluminescent substrates has become increasingly important due to their high sensitivity, typically equivalent to or better than assays using radioactive labels. This thesis reports the development of new chemiluminescent methodologies for enzymatic activity determination. The chemical basis is the generation of unstable cyclic peroxides, called 1,2-dioxetanes, upon hydrolysis of specific substrates catalyzed by the target enzyme. Dioxetanes rings are known by their properties to generate electronically excited products upon decomposition. The light emission can be related to enzymatic activity. It was developed a substrate (dissodium 2-methyl-1-propenyl phosphate) (Na-MPP) (I) able to produce 2-methyl-1-propen-1-ol when catalytically hydrolyzed by alkaline (ALP) or acid (ACP) phosphatases enzymes. This enol is oxidized, upon horseradish peroxidase (HRP) action, yielding acetone in triplet excited state. The direct or sensitized light emission of the excited acetone can be correlated to enzymatic activity of ALP or ACP. The activity of this enzyme, free or bound to antibody (ALP conjugates), is widely used in diagnostic technologies, either as a direct marker of several diseases or as an enzymatic probe in enzyme immunoassays (EIA). The sensibility reached with this substrate was 10-15 mols to ALP, 0,0027 u/mL to ACP and dilutions up to 300.000 of ALP-IgG per assay. Since the HRP system consumes dissolved oxygen during the oxidation of the enol, ALP quantification may be performed by following the oxygen uptake rate. By applying the same principle above delineated, it was synthesized a compound for proteases activity determination. Thus, the compound N-ethyl-N-(2-methylpropen-1-yl)benzenamide (II) was prepared, since its hydrolysis would lead to an enamine , which is known to be oxidized via HRP with light emission. However, our studies showed that II is not recognized as a substrate by proteases. Owning to the well known weak emission elicited when indole derivatives are oxidized by classical oxidants like KMnO4, K2S2O4, etc., it was studied the chemiluminescent potential when indoles are submitted to the HRP/H2O2/O2 oxidant system. Indeed, weak chemiluminescence was detected for almost all derivatives. Likewise, the oxidation of 2,3-bond of indoles, through a dioxetane intermediate leading to an open-ring product, seems responsible for this emission. Furthermore, the oxidation of 2-methylindole (III) showed a chemiluminescence efficiency about 3 orders of magnitude higher. It was observed that the high chemiluminescent yield was related to exclusive formation of a secundary product. Its structure was partially attributed to 2,2\'-dimethyl-2,2\'-diindoxil. Thus, using 2-methylindole as substrate was possible to develop an analytical procedure to quantify HRP activity, free or bound to antibodies (conjugates HRP-IgG). In EIA the enzymes HRP and ALP are the most important labels. From the also known chemiluminescent characteristics of \'alpha\'-hidroperoxy-ketones, when submitted to strong alkaline medium, it was developed a potential substrate to esterases. The esterase catalyzed hydrolysis of 2-acetylperoxiadamantane-2-carboxaldeyde (IV) would generate an \'alpha\'-hidroperoxy-aldeyde which, by an intramolecular nucleofilic attack, would lead to a dioxetane intermediate. This compound showed to be unstable and it generated chemiluminescence in the absence of the enzyme. This fact impaired its use as planned.

A fosfatase alcalina é uma fosfomonohidrolase inespecífica, capaz de hidrolisar monoésteres de fosfato, pirofosfato, diésteres de fosfato, bem como catalisar reações de transfosforilação, e é denominada \"alcalina\" por sua habilidade de efetuar estas reações mais eficientemente em pH acima do neutro (pH 8-11). O objetivo deste trabalho foi padronizar uma metodologia para a obtenção de uma fração de membrana rica em fosfatase alcalina a partir de culturas de células osteoblásticas, provenientes de medula óssea de rato, sem a utilização de solventes orgânicos, colagenase ou outras proteases. O procedimento padronizado é simples e reprodutível, com a vantagem da considerável redução do tempo necessário para se obter esta fração de membrana, o que contribui para um menor efeito desnaturante sobre a enzima. A fosfatase alcalina é inserida à membrana plasmática por uma âncora GPI e foi solubilizada tanto com polidocanol (1%, p/v) quanto com PIPLC (0,2 U/mL), hidrolisando diversos substratos (PNFF, ATP, PPi, ADP, ?-glicerofosfato, glicose-1-fosfato, glicose-6-fosfato e frutose-6-fosfato) e sendo inibida por inibidores clássicos deste grupo de enzimas (levanisol, teofilina, ZnCl2, vanadato, fosfato e arsenato). Os efeitos de lipossomos constituídos por DPPC, DPPC:DPPS (9:1 e 8:2, razão molar) e DPPC:DODAB (9:1 e 8:2, razão molar) na habilidade tanto de inserção da enzima nos sistemas vesiculares, bem como de modulação da atividade da enzima reconstituída, também foram avaliados. A reconstituição da fosfatase alcalina nos lipossomos mistos constituídos de DPPC:DPPS (9:1), DPPC:DPPS (8:2) e DPPC:DODAB (8:2) proporcionou máxima incorporação da atividade PNFFase da enzima (cerca de 90%, 75% e 90%, respectivamente) após 4 horas, 5 horas e 40 minutos, respectivamente, de incubação dos diversos lipossomos com a proteína. No entanto, utilizando lipossomos de DPPC:DODAB (9:1), apenas cerca de 50% da atividade PNFFase da enzima foi incorporada aos sistemas mesmo após 5 horas de incubação. Para os lipossomos com carga positiva, uma maior proporção de DODAB nos sistemas de DPPC favoreceu a inserção da fosfatase alcalina aos sistemas após um curto período de incubação. Para os lipossomos com carga negativa, as diferentes proporções de DPPS utilizadas não exerceram grande influência tanto na velocidade de incorporação quanto na quantidade de enzima incorporada aos sistemas. Para todos os sistemas utilizados, o processo de incorporação é tempo dependente. A eletroforese dos proteolipossomos de DPPC revelou a presença de uma única banda protéica bem intensa, com massa molecular ao redor de 60 kDa (quando desnaturada), que apresentou atividade de fosfomonohidrolase em condição não-desnaturante, com massa molecular de 120 kDa. Assim, com esta estratégia, foi possível obter proteolipossomos ricos em fosfatase alcalina devido à inserção preferencial da âncora de GPI às bicamadas lipídicas, em detrimento das outras proteínas que não interagem favoravelmente com os sistemas vesiculares, comprovando que a metodologia de reconstituição padronizada pode ser usada eficientemente na obtenção de sistemas de proteolipossomos sem a necessidade de uma etapa de purificação prévia da enzima solubilizada, de modo a se obter um máximo de incorporação da enzima às vesículas com mínima perda em atividade. A reconstituição da enzima empregando-se células ghost resseladas foi obtida incubando-se volumes iguais de enzima (23 ?g/mL) e células ghost (0,22 mg/mL), por 2 horas, a 25ºC, com cerca de 40% da atividade PNFFase da fosfatase alcalina incorporada às vesículas. Para verificar o efeito do microambiente da membrana sobre a atividade da enzima reconstituída, foram determinados os parâmetros cinéticos de hidrólise para diferentes substratos (ATP, PPi e PNFF). Para todos os substratos, uma única classe de sítios de hidrólise foi observada, com valores de K0,5 que variaram de 0,14 a 2,7 mM. Excesso de PPi e ATP no meio reacional inibiu as atividades PPase e ATPase da enzima reconstituída, respectivamente, em todos os sistemas estudados. A hidrólise de PPi apresentou efeitos cooperativos positivos para todos os sistemas, enquanto que para a hidrólise de ATP, uma pequena cooperatividade positiva foi observada apenas para os sistemas constituídos de DPPC e contendo DPPS em sua composição. Assim, a enzima não perdeu a habilidade de hidrolisar nenhum dos substratos quando reconstituída nos diferentes sistemas vesiculares, e todos os dados obtidos reforçam a hipótese de que a composição lipídica do microambiente onde a fosfatase alcalina se encontra exerce grande influência na modulação tanto da atividade da enzima quanto da interação da mesma com os sistemas vesiculares. Assim, os resultados obtidos fornecem novas informações que poderão contribuir tanto para a compreensão dos mecanismos de interação da fosfatase alcalina com a membrana, quanto para estudos da função da enzima durante o processo de biomineralização. / Alkaline phosphatase is a multifunctional enzyme, capable of hydrolyzing phosphate monoesters, pyrophosphate, phosphodiesters, as well as catalyzing transphosphorylation reactions, and it is named \"alkaline\" due to its ability to perform these reactions more efficiently in pH above the neutral (pH 8-11). The aim of this work was to standardize a methodology to obtain a membrane fraction rich in alkaline phosphatase from osteoblastic cells cultures, originated from rat bone marrow, without the use of organic solvents, collagenase or others proteases. The standardized procedure is simple and easy to reproduce, with the advantage of considerable reduction in the time needed to obtain this membrane fraction, which contributes to a smaller denaturing effect on the enzyme. Alkaline phosphatase is a membrane-bound enzyme attached to the cell membrane via a GPI anchor and was solubilized with both polidocanol (1%, w/v) and PIPLC (0,2 U/mL), hydrolyzing several substrates (PNPP, ATP, PPi, ADP, beta-glycerophosphate, glucose-1-phosphate, glucose-6-phosphate and fructose-6-phosphate) and being inhibited by some classical inhibitors of this group of enzymes (levamisole, theophylline, ZnCl2, vanadate, phosphate and arsenate). The effect of liposomes constituted by DPPC, DPPC:DPPS (9:1 and 8:2, molar ratio) and DPPC:DODAB (9:1 and 8:2, molar ratio) on the enzyme insertion ability in the vesicular systems and activity modulation of the reconstituted enzyme were also evaluated. The alkaline phosphatase reconstitution in the mixed liposomes constituted by DPPC:DPPS (9:1), DPPC:DPPS (8:2) and DPPC:DODAB (8:2) presented maximum incorporation of the PNPPase enzyme activity (about 90%, 75% and 90%, respectively) after 4 hours, 5 hours and 40 minutes, respectively, of incubation of the several liposomes with the protein. However, using DPPC:DODAB (9:1) liposomes, only about 50% of the PNPPase enzyme activity was incorporated in the systems, even after 5 hours of incubation. For positive charged liposomes, a higher proportion of DODAB in the DPPC systems favored the alkaline phosphatase insertion into it after a short period of incubation. For negative charged liposomes, the different proportions of DPPS used did not have a big influence in both, incorporation velocity and quantity of incorporated enzyme into the systems. For all the systems used, the incorporation process is time dependent. SDS-PAGE of the DPPC proteoliposomes revealed only a single protein band, with molecular mass of about 60 kDa (when denaturated), which presented phosphomonohydrolase activity under non-denaturing conditions, with molecular mass of about 120 kDa. Thus, using this strategy, it was possible to obtain proteoliposomes rich in alkaline phosphatase due to the preferential insertion of the GPI anchor in the lipid bilayers, since the other proteins do not interact favorably with the vesicular systems. This proves that the standardized methodology for reconstitution can be used efficiently to obtain proteoliposomes systems without prior purification of the solubilized enzyme, with its maximum incorporation in the vesicles and a minimum loss of activity. The reconstitution of the enzyme using resealed ghost cells was obtained by incubating equal volumes of enzyme (23 microg/mL) and ghost cells (0,22 mg/mL), for 2 hours, at 25ºC, with about 40% of the alkaline phosphatase PNPPase activity being incorporated into the vesicles. To verify the effect of the membrane microenvironment on the activity of the reconstituted enzyme, the kinetic parameters for the hydrolysis of different substrates (ATP, PPi and PNPP) were determined. For all the substrates, only one class of hydrolysis sites was observed, with K0,5 values that varied from 0,14 to 2,7 mM. Excess of PPi and ATP in the reaction medium inhibited the PPase and ATPase activities of the reconstituted enzyme, respectively, in all systems studied. PPi hydrolysis presented positive cooperative effects for all systems, while for ATP hydrolysis a small positive cooperativity was observed only for the systems constituted by DPPC and containing DPPS in its composition. Thus, the enzyme did not lose the ability to hydrolyse any of the studied substrates when reconstituted in the different vesicular systems and all the data obtained strengthen the hypothesis that the lipid composition of the microenvironment where the alkaline phosphatase is located plays a great influence on the modulation of both enzyme activity and enzyme interaction with the vesicular systems. Thus, the results obtained provide new information that could contribute to the comprehension of the interaction mechanisms of the alkaline phosphatase with the membrane, as well as to studies of the enzyme function during the biomineralization process.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência das características química e de rugosidade da superfície de titânio sobre a adesão, proliferação e diferenciação de células semelhantes aos osteoblastos de rato (Osteo-1), cultivados em meio de cultura adicionado de BMP-7. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Células Osteo-1 foram cultivadas sobre discos de titânio com superfícies:1) lisa, 2) jateada por areia de grânulos grandes e atacada por ácido (SLA) e 3) rugosa SLA e quimicamente modificada e hidrofílica (SLAactive) na presença ou ausência de 20ng/ml de rhBMP- 7 no meio de cultura. A adesão e viabilidade das células Osteo-1 foram analisadas após 24 horas de contato com as superfícies em estudo. A diferenciação celular foi avaliada através da análise do conteúdo de proteína total (PT), conteúdo de colágeno, atividade de fosfatase alcalina (ALPase), em 7, 14 e 21 dias, e da formação de matriz mineralizada, em 21 dias. Os resultados foram comparados pela análise de variância (ANOVA) e teste de Tukey. RESULTADOS: A adesão (p=0.3485) e a viabilidade (p=0.5516) celular, o conteúdo de colágeno (p=0.1165) e a formação de matriz mineralizada (p=0.5319) não foram afetados pelas diferentes superfícies ou pela adição de rhBMP-7 ao meio. Células Osteo-1 cultivadas sobre superfície SLA apresentaram um aumento significativo no conteúdo de proteína total aos 21 dias. A relação atividade de ALPase/PT (p=0.0000) foi afetada pelos tratamento e tempo. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados sugerem que a adição de rhBMP- 7 ao meio de cultura não promoveu efeito sobre a adesão, proliferação e diferenciação de células semelhantes a osteoblastos nas diferentes superfícies testadas. Todas as superfícies de titânio testadas permitiram uma completa expressão do fenótipo de osteoblasto como a mineralização da matriz pela célula Osteo-1. / The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of the chemical characteristics and roughness of titanium surfaces on the attachment, proliferation and differentiation of osteoblast-like cells cultured in medium supplemented with bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7). METHODS: Osteo-1 cells were grown on titanium discs presenting the following surfaces: 1) machined surface, 2) coarse gritblasted and acid-etched (SLA), and 3) modified SLA (SLAactive) in the absence or presence of 20 ng/ml rhBMP-7 in culture medium. The attachment and viability of osteo-1 cells were evaluated after 24 h. Cell differentiation was evaluated by analysis of total protein content (TP), collagen content and alkaline phosphatase (ALPase) activity at 7, 14 and 21 days and of mineralized matrix formation at 21 days. The results were compared by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey\'s test. RESULTS: Cell attachment (p=0.3485), cell viability (p=0.5516), collagen content (p=0.1165) and mineralized matrix formation (p=0.5319) were not affected by the different surfaces or by the addition of rhBMP-7 to the medium. Osteo-1 cells cultured on SLA surface presented a significant increase in TP at 21 days. The ALPase/TP ratio (p=0.0000) was affected by treatment and time. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the addition of rhBMP-7 to the culture medium did not promote any effect on the adhesion, proliferation or differentiation of osteoblast-like cells grown on the different surfaces tested. All titanium surfaces analyzed permitted the complete expression of the osteoblast phenotype such as matrix mineralization by osteo-1 cells.

by Chak Chi Wai. / Thesis (M.Phil)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1992. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 142-155). / ACKNOWLEDGMENTS --- p.i / TABLE OF CONTENT --- p.ii / LIST OF ABBREVIATION --- p.viii / ABSTRACT --- p.x / Chapter CHAPTER ONE: --- INTRODUCTION / Chapter 1.1 --- INTRODUCTION TO ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- The Alkaline Phosphatase Isoenzymes --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- The Properties of Alkaline Phosphatases --- p.5 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Serum Alkaline Phosphatases --- p.7 / Chapter 1.1.3.1 --- Intestinal Alkaline Phosphatase --- p.8 / Chapter 1.1.3.2 --- Placental Alkaline Phosphatase --- p.8 / Chapter 1.1.3.3 --- Renal Alkaline Phosphatase --- p.9 / Chapter 1.1.3.4 --- Skeletal Alkaline Phosphatase --- p.9 / Chapter 1.1.3.5 --- Hepatic Alkaline Phosphatase --- p.10 / Chapter 1.1.3.6 --- Miscellaneous Alkaline Phosphatases --- p.10 / Chapter 1.1.4 --- Problems in Discriminating the Skeletal and Hepatic Alkaline Phosphatase in Serum --- p.12 / Chapter 1.1.5 --- Wheat Germ Lectin Precipitation of the Bone- Specific Alkaline Phosphatase --- p.13 / Chapter 1.2 --- STRUCTURE OF BONE AND MECHANISMS OF CALCIFICATION --- p.15 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Gross Structure of Bone --- p.15 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- The Elements of Bone --- p.17 / Chapter 1.2.2.1 --- Bone Cells --- p.17 / Chapter 1.2.2.2 --- Organic Substances of Bone --- p.19 / Chapter 1.2.2.3 --- Inorganic Substances of Bone --- p.21 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Mechanisms of Calcification --- p.22 / Chapter 1.3 --- BONE FRACTURE HEALING --- p.24 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Types of Fracture --- p.24 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- The Process of Bone Fracture Healing --- p.26 / Chapter 1.3.2.1 --- Stage of Hematoma --- p.26 / Chapter 1.3.2.2 --- Stage of Subperiosteal and Endosteal Cellular Proliferation --- p.28 / Chapter 1.3.2.3 --- Stage of Fibrocartilaginous Callus --- p.28 / Chapter 1.3.2.4 --- Stage of Bony Callus --- p.30 / Chapter 1.3.2.5 --- Stage of Remodeling --- p.31 / Chapter 1.4 --- THE OSTEOBLASTIC CHARACTERS OF UMR-106 OSTEOSARCOMA CELL LINE --- p.32 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Classification of Osteosarcoma --- p.32 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Derivation of UMR-106 Osteosarcoma Cell Line --- p.33 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- Osteoblastic Characters of UMR-106 --- p.34 / Chapter 1.4.3.1 --- ALP Expression --- p.34 / Chapter 1.4.3.2 --- Hormone Responsive Adenylate Cyclase System --- p.35 / Chapter 1.4.3.3 --- "Cytosolic Receptors for 1,25-Dihydroxy- cholecalciferol" --- p.35 / Chapter 1.5 --- IN VITRO CULTURE OF FETAL RAT CALVARIAL OSTEOBLASTS --- p.37 / Chapter 1.6 --- AIM AND SCOPE OF THIS DISSERTATION --- p.39 / Chapter CHAPTER TWO: --- MATERIALS AND METHODS / Chapter 2.1 --- BONE FRACTURE OPERATION --- p.42 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Animals --- p.42 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Blood Sampling and Preparation of Plasma Samples --- p.42 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Bone Fracture Operation --- p.43 / Chapter 2.1.3.1 --- Reagents and Apparatus --- p.43 / Chapter 2.1.3.2 --- Procedures --- p.44 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Radiography --- p.50 / Chapter 2.1.5 --- Removal of Tibiae --- p.51 / Chapter 2.1.6 --- Extraction of Callus ALP --- p.51 / Chapter 2.1.6.1 --- Reagent --- p.51 / Chapter 2.1.6.2 --- Homogenization of the Callus --- p.51 / Chapter 2.1.6.3 --- Extraction of ALP --- p.52 / Chapter 2.1.7 --- Assay for Bone-Specific ALP --- p.53 / Chapter 2.1.7.1 --- Reagents --- p.53 / Chapter 2.1.7.2 --- Procedures --- p.54 / Chapter 2.1.8 --- Normal Curve for Plasma Bone-Specific ALP in Rabbits --- p.56 / Chapter 2.1.9 --- The Effects of Tibial Fracture on the Plasma Level of Bone-Specific ALP in Rabbits --- p.56 / Chapter 2.1.10 --- Profile of Plasma Bone-Specific ALP upon a Fracture Healing --- p.57 / Chapter 2.1.11 --- Profile of Callus Bone-Specific ALP at Different Stages of Fracture Healing --- p.57 / Chapter 2.2 --- CLINICAL STUDIES OF PLASMA BONE-SPECIFIC ALP --- p.58 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Patient Groups --- p.58 / Chapter 2.2.1.1 --- Normal Adults --- p.58 / Chapter 2.2.1.2 --- Fracture Group --- p.58 / Chapter 2.2.1.3 --- Tumor Group --- p.59 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Assays for Plasma Bone-Specific ALP --- p.59 / Chapter 2.3 --- "IN VITRO CULTURES OF FETAL, RAT OSTEOBLASTS AND UMR-106 OSTEOSARCOMA cell line" --- p.60 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Animals --- p.60 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- UMR-106 Cell Line --- p.60 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- General Reagents Used for Cell Culture --- p.60 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Isolation of Calvarial Osteoblasts --- p.64 / Chapter 2.3.4.1 --- Tools and Reagents --- p.64 / Chapter 2.3.4.2 --- Procedures --- p.65 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- Storage of UMR-106 Cell Line --- p.67 / Chapter 2.3.6 --- Subculture of Confluent Monolayer --- p.68 / Chapter 2.3.6.1 --- Reagents --- p.68 / Chapter 2.3.6.2 --- Procedures --- p.69 / Chapter 2.3.7 --- Staining for Calcium Deposits --- p.69 / Chapter 2.3.7.1 --- Reagents --- p.70 / Chapter 2.3.7.2 --- Procedures --- p.70 / Chapter 2.3.8 --- Protein Determination --- p.71 / Chapter 2.3.8.1 --- Reagents --- p.71 / Chapter 2.3.8.2 --- Procedures --- p.71 / Chapter 2.3.9 --- Microdetermination of Inorganic Phosphate --- p.72 / Chapter 2.3.9.1 --- Reagents --- p.72 / Chapter 2.3.9.2 --- Procedures --- p.73 / Chapter 2.3.10 --- Determination of Calcium --- p.73 / Chapter 2.3.10.1 --- Reagent --- p.73 / Chapter 2.3.10.2 --- Procedures --- p.73 / Chapter 2.3.11 --- Extraction and Assay for Cellular ALP --- p.74 / Chapter 2.3.11.1 --- Reagents --- p.74 / Chapter 2.3.11.2 --- Procedures --- p.75 / Chapter 2.3.12 --- Cell Surface ALP Assay --- p.75 / Chapter 2.3.12.1 --- Reagents --- p.75 / Chapter 2.3.12.2 --- Procedures --- p.76 / Chapter 2.3.13 --- Extraction of Calcium Phosphate Deposits --- p.76 / Chapter 2.3.13.1 --- Reagent --- p.76 / Chapter 2.3.13.2 --- Procedures --- p.76 / Chapter 2.3.14 --- Collagen Synthesis Assay --- p.77 / Chapter 2.3.14.1 --- Reagents --- p.77 / Chapter 2.3.14.2 --- Procedures --- p.78 / Chapter CHAPTER THREE: --- EFFECTS OF TIBIAL FRACTURE ON THE LEVEL OF BONE-SPECIFIC ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE IN RABBITS / INTRODUCTION --- p.81 / results: / Chapter 3.1 --- normal curve for plasma bone-specific alp in rabbits --- p.82 / Chapter 3.2 --- THE EFFECTS OF TIBIAL FRACTURE ON THE PLASMA LEVEL OF BONE-SPECIFIC ALP IN RABBITS --- p.84 / Chapter 3.3 --- PROFILE OF THE PLASMA ALP LEVEL UPON HEALING OF TIBIAL FRACTURE --- p.86 / Chapter 3.4 --- RADIOGRAPHY --- p.89 / Chapter 3.5 --- PROFILE OF CALLUS BONE-SPECIFIC ALP ACTIVITY UPON HEALING OF TIBIAL FRACTURE --- p.93 / DISCUSSION --- p.95 / Chapter CHAPTER FOUR: --- CLINICAL STUDIES OF PLASMA BONE-SPECIFIC ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE / INTRODUCTION --- p.100 / RESULTS: / Chapter 4.1 --- NORMAL VALUES --- p.100 / Chapter 4.2 --- FRACTURE GROUP --- p.101 / Chapter 4.3 --- BONE TUMOR GROUP --- p.102 / DISCUSSION --- p.102 / Chapter CHAPTER FIVE: --- IN VITRO CULTURE OF FETAL RAT OSTEOBLASTS AND UMR-106 CELL LINE / INTRODUCTION --- p.105 / RESULTS: / Chapter 5.1 --- IN VITRO MINERALIZATION OF UMR-106 CELLS AND PRIMARY RC CELLS --- p.107 / Chapter 5.2 --- STUDY OF BONE-SPECIFIC ALP RELEASED INTO MEDIUM BY UMR-106 CELLS AND PRIMARY RC CELLS --- p.113 / Chapter 5.3 --- STUDY OF CELLULAR ALP ACTIVITIES AND CALCIUM PHOSPHATE DEPOSITS --- p.116 / Chapter 5.4 --- STUDIES OF CELLULAR ALP ACTIVITIES AND RELATIVE RATES OF COLLAGEN SYNTHESIS --- p.125 / DISCUSSION --- p.128 / Chapter CHAPTER SIX: --- GENERAL DISCUSSION --- p.136 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.142 / APPENDIX --- p.156

Nesse trabalho, estudou-se a incorporação da fosfatase alcalina de placa óssea de ratos em dois tipos de sistemas modelo que mimetizassem uma membrana celular: as monocamadas de Langmuir e os filmes Langmuir-Blodgett (LB), ambos formados com fosfolipídios. No intuito de se investigar o papel da âncora de glicosilfosfatidilinositol (GFI), covalentemente ligada ao grupo carboxi-terminal da cadeia polipeptídica, duas formas da enzima foram estudadas: uma com a âncora GFI intacta, solubilizada por ação de um tensoativo não-iônico, e a outra sem a parte hidrofóbica dessa âncora, clivada por ação de uma fosfolipase específica. A primeira forma enzimática foi chamada de FAT (fosfatase alcalina solubilizada por tensoativo), e a segunda de FAC (fosfatase alcalina clivada). Diferenças marcantes na atividade superficial foram observadas entre as duas formas. Comparativamente, a forma FAT adsorve mais rapidamente à interface ar/água que a forma FAC, que mostra um tempo de indução significativo. A incorporação da forma FAT às monocamadas de ácido dimiristoilfosfatídico (DMPA) também ocorre mais rapidamente que a forma FAC. No entanto, o uso de alta força iônica acelerou a adsorção da forma FAC à interface ar/água (com ou sem DMPA). Uma pressão de superfície de exclusão de 20mN/m foi encontrado para a forma FAC, enquanto para a forma FAT, essa pressão representa uma mudança no perfil das curvas pressão x tempo. Isso revelou que, devido à presença da âncora GFI, essa forma enzimática é capaz de incorporar às monocamadas de DMPA, mesmo em altas pressões de superfície. Isotermas superficiais de monocamadas mistas de DMPA e fosfatase alcalina também mostraram diferentes perfis para duas formas enzimáticas estudadas. Enquanto a forma FAT provoca uma alteração na compressibilidade em pressões de até 20mN/m, a forma FAC desloca a curva pressão x área para áreas mais elevadas. Tal fato foi explicado pelo fato da forma FAT incorporar na monocamada preferencialmente com a âncora GFI posicionada entre as cadeias apolares do DMPA, enquanto a forma FAC deva incorporar a cadeia polipeptídica à interface lipídica . Microscopias de fluorescência e no ângulo de Brewster revelaram que a forma FAT provoca agregação espontânea do DMPA na interface ar/água, levando a uma microeterogeneidade, na qual três fases distintas podem ser observadas. A obtenção de espectros de infravermelho na interface ar/água, associada com medidas de atividade catalítica in situ, revelou que a atividade da fosfatase alcalina é modulada pela capacidade de empacotamento interfacial, medida pelo módulo de compressibilidade superficial. Em 20mN/m, há uma reorganização molecular na interface, o que vai restringir a flexibilização da cadeia polipeptídicia, que estará voltada para a interface ar/água. No entanto, ao menos até 30mN/m, nenhuma alteração conformacional foi detectada, como revelada pelos espectros de infravermelho. Filmes LB mistos de DMPA e as duas formas de fosfatase alcalina revelaram que o empacotamento máximo de proteína depende da presença da âncora GFI. Dados usando microgravimetria, atividade enzimática, infravermelho, elipsometria, e microscopia de força atômica mostraram que a adsorção da âncora na interface posiciona o eixo maior do elipsóide, formador da cadeia polipeptídica, paralelamente à matriz lipídica. Na ausência da âncora GFI, o posicionamento da cadeia polipeptídica na interface é aleatório, e para um alto grau de empacotamento, as interações entre os resíduos de aminoácidos intermoleculares favorecerão o posicionamento do eixo maior do elipsóide em uma posição mais perpendicular à interface lipídica / Não consta

Inpatient falls are the most reported incidents in the acute care setting. Symptoms associated with a diagnosis of cancer and treatment may increase risk for falls. The objectives of this study were to identify the risk factors, and the most common risk factors, of adult patients with cancer who fell while hospitalized. A retrospective, matched, case-control audit of electronic medical records and occurrence reports was conducted for 30 patients who fell and 30 patients who did not fall while under the care of the inpatient oncology unit in a community hospital. Fall subjects and controls were matched by cancer diagnosis and age. Results of the study (N = 30) revealed altered cognition (p = .010), muscular weakness (p = .037), and a history of a fall in the past six months (p = .045) as statistically significant fall risk factors. The audit of the electronic medical records revealed variations in the nursing documentation of fall risk factors that could increase the chance of assessments being omitted or communicated inaccurately to other members of the care team. Additional studies are needed to examine risk factors for falls in hospitalized oncology patient populations.

Consumption of endophyte-infected tall fescue results in a syndrome of negatively altered physiological systems, collectively known as fescue toxicosis. Another challenge to endophyte-infected tall fescue -based beef cattle operations is that the soils often are selenium (Se) poor, necessitating the need to provide supplemental Se. To test the general hypothesis that different forms of supplemental Se would ameliorate the negative effects of fescue toxicosis, predominately-Angus steers (BW = 183 ± 34 kg) were randomly selected from herds of fall-calving cows grazing an endophyte-infected tall fescue pasture and consuming vitamin-mineral mixes that contained 35 ppm Se as sodium selenite (ISe), SELPLEX (OSe), or an 1:1 blend of ISe and OSe (MIX). Steers were commonly weaned and depleted of Se for 98 d. Steers were assigned (n = 8 per treatment) to the same Se-form treatments upon which they were raised and subjected to summer-long common grazing of an endophyte-infected tall fescue pasture (0.51 ppm ergot alkaloids: ergovaline plus ergovalinine; 10.1 ha). Selenium treatments were administered by daily top-dressing 85 g of vitamin-mineral mix onto 0.23 kg soyhulls, using in-pasture Calan gates. The first project objective was to determine the effect of forms of supplemental Se on whole blood Se, serum prolactin, liver glutamine synthetase (GS) activity, carcass parameters, and growth performance (Experiment 1). In Experiment 1, whole blood Se increased for all treatments from day 0 to 22 and then did not change. Across periods, MIX and OSe steers had greater whole blood Se than ISe steer. Compared to ISe steers, MIX and OSe steers had more serum prolactin. Liver GS mRNA, protein content, and activity were greater in MIX and OSe steers than ISe steers. However, the ADG and carcass parameters were not affected by Se treatments. The second project objective was to determine the effect of forms of supplemental Se on serum clinical parameters of Experiment 1 steers (Experiment 2). In Experiment 2, across periods, MIX steers had more serum albumin than OSe, and ISe steers, respectively. Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was greater in MIX and OSe steers. In addition, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum sodium, phosphorus, and magnesium concentration were affected by Se treatments. Partial correlation analysis revealed that serum albumin, BUN, and ALP activity were correlated with whole blood Se concentration. The third project objective was to evaluate the hepatic transcriptome profiles of Experiment 1 steers using microarray and targeted RT-PCR analyses (Experiment 3). In Experiment 3, bioinformatic analysis of microarray data indicated that hepatic glutamate/glutamine, proline, arginine, and citrulline metabolism was affected by different forms of supplemental Se. The mRNA expression of critical proteins involved in glutamate/glutamine (GLS2, GLUD1, GLUL), proline (PYCR1, ALDH18A1), and urea (ARG1, ARG2, OAT, NAGS, OTC, ORNT1) metabolism were differentially expressed by Se treatments. Collectively, we conclude that consumption of 3 mg Se/d as OSe or MIX forms of Se in vitamin-mineral mixes 1) increased whole blood Se content, an indicator of greater whole-body Se assimilation; 2) increased serum prolactin, albumin, and ALP, the reduction of which are hallmarks of fescue toxicosis; and 3) altered hepatic nitrogen metabolism, as indicated by changes in key enzymes of glutamate/glutamine, proline, and urea metabolism. However, 4) these positive effects on metabolic parameters were not accompanied by increased growth performance.

Abstract This research was conducted to understand whether phosphorus limits the phytoplankton production in the South China Sea (SCS). In the nutrient enrichment experiments nitrate and phosphate were supplemented to surface sea water and the enhancement of chlorophyll a concentration during incubation was observed. Seasonal field survey was conducted to measure ambient abundance of phosphorus including phosphate (SRP) and dissolve organic phosphorus (DOP), as well as alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) in the nautral sea water in the contiential shelf and basin of the SCS. Except at the contiential shelf in summer and the mouth of Zhu Jiang River in fall, the nutrient concentration of surface water was low in the SCS. The average¡£NO3+NO2¡¤was 20 nM (fall) - 360 nM (winter ). The average SRP concentration was 16 nM (fall) - 87 nM (winter). The average DOP concentration was 0.08 £gM (summer)- 0.25 £gM (winter). The ¡£NO3+NO2¡¤/ SRP ratio was smaller than the Redfield N/P ratio of 16. The average chlorophyll a concentration (Chl a) was 0.13 £gg l-1 (summer) - 0.48 £gg l-1 (winter). The average concentration of the particlulate organic carbon (POC) was 4.58 £gM (spring) - 8.11 £gM (winter). The average APA was 16 n mol l-1 h-1 (fall) - 87 n mol l-1h-1 (winter). The average of APA/Chl a was 33.94 n mol £gg -1 h-1 (winter) - 97.22 n mol £gg -1 h-1 (spring). The results of the enrichment experiment show that the phosphorus deficiency was observed on the contiential shelf in the summer of 2001 and at the mouth of Zhu Jiang in the fall of 2002. The common characteristics of the phosphorus deficient regions were low salinity (29.90- 30.87 psu ), high¡£NO3+NO2¡¤(1.31 - 3.01 £gM) , and a ¡£NO3+NO2¡¤/ SRP ratio higher than 16. Chl a increased significantly (p<0.05) by the enrichments of phosphorus. In spring and winter when all regions were N-limited, N enrichment significantly (p<0.05) increased Chl a. In fall, all the contiential shelf region except the mouth of Zhu Jiang River, the slope and basin regions were NP co-limited. The Bashi Strait in summer was also NP co-limited. P-limitation that was seen in the contiential shelf SCS and at Zhu Jiang River mouth, was probably caused by the influence of river discharge. N/P, SRP or APA were not effective parameters to assess whether marine phytoplankton growth was limited phosphorus, nitrogen or both. In the SCS, the P-limited water masses were, in general, low in salinity, high in¡£NO3+NO2¡¤,Chl a,¡£NO3+NO2¡¤ / Chl a, APA and a N/P ratio higher than 16. The water masses that were N-limited was high in salinity, and low in¡£NO3+NO2¡¤, Chl a,¡£NO3+NO2¡¤/ Chl a and APA, as well as a N/P ratio smaller than 16. The water masses that were nitrogen and phosphorus co-limited were different from the N-limited ones in that they were low in SRP, SRP/Chl a, and DOP. The SRP and DOP concentration in the NP co-limited region were 11 - 28 nM and 0.09 - 0.23

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is a natural milk enzyme. It has been used as reporter for process controls in food industry. Since ALP denatures at pasteurization temperature (at 63&deg / C or 72&deg / ) its detection in milk confirms the unproper pasteurization. There are different detection procedures such as colorimetric, fluorometric methods and immunoassays for ALP in milk. However, they are time consuming processes and require specific instruments and qualified staff. In this study, new, semiquantitative, disposable, cheap and practical paper bioreporter have been developed for ALP detection. In optimization studies, 1mg/mL p-NPP in 0.1 M glycine buffer at pH 9.5 and 0.5 mg/mL bromocresol green in 1.0 M Tris-HCl buffer at pH 9.5 were determined as optimum for ALP bioreporter as a result of visual inspection and green color intensity analyses.The effects of samples temperature and pH of on the response of bioreporter were tested. Milk samples at pH 5.0, 5.5, 6.0 and 6.5 and milks stored at 37&deg / C, room temperature and 4&deg / C did not affect the response of bioreporter. Also the response of bioreporter against milk samples from different animals (cattle, sheep and goat) and cow&rsquo / s milk from different location in Turkey were evaluated. The appropriate responses were observed by bioreporter. Whatman filter papers, cotton and bandage were used as support materials to construct bioreporter and Whatman filter papers were selected as the most applicaple support material. Finally, stability tests were carried out at 4&deg / C and room temperature and 40 days at 4&deg / C was determined as shelf life of bioreporter.

Methods for integrating enzyme systems with electrochemical reactions having applications to diagnostic sensing are described. Diagnostic tests that include biological molecules can be classified as biosensors. Existing testing methods often require trained technicians to perform, and laboratory settings with complex infrastructure. The theme of this dissertation is the development of methods that are faster, easier to use, and more applicable for non-laboratory environments. These goals are accomplished in systems using enzymatic catalysis and galvanic processes. Two biosensors with specific model pathologies have been designed and demonstrated in this study. The first assay senses a DNA fragment representing the Epstein Barr virus and uses enzyme-mediated Ag deposition over a v microfabricated chip. The chip contains a specially designed pair of electrodes in an interdigitated array (IDA). Detection is signaled by a change in the resistance between the two electrodes. The second biosensor discussed in this study is targeted towards the digestive enzyme trypsin. It is selfpowered due to its construction within an open-circuit galvanic cell. In this system, a small volume of blood serum is introduced onto the device over barriers made of protein and Al that block the anode from solution. In the presence of trypsin, the protein gel is rendered more permeable to sodium hydroxide. Adding hydroxide initiates the dissolution of the Al layer, closing the cell circuit and illuminating a light-emitting diode (LED). A relationship was observed between LED illumination time and trypsin concentration. Biosensors that utilize enzymes to generate or amplify a detectable signal are widely used, and the final project of this study uses a nanoparticle based approach to protect the catalytic activity of alkaline phosphatase (AlkP) from hostile chemicals. By incubating Au colloid with AlkP overnight and adding Ag+, core@shell nanoparticles of Au@Ag2O can be isolated that show AlkP activity. The resulting enzyme-metal composite material was analytically characterized and demonstrated greater activity in the presence of organic inhibitors relative to either wild type vi or Au colloid-associated AlkP without the Ag2O shell. The stabilization procedure is complete in one day using a onepot synthesis. This method may provide opportunities to carry out biosensing chemistry in previously incompatible chemical environments. / text