Central infusion of the hexapeptide angiotensin IV (Ang IV) and its analogs have been demonstrated to markedly enhance memory retention and retrieval in rats using a range of learning and memory paradigms. This effect is mediated by the binding of the peptide to the specific binding site previously described as the AT4 receptor. The AT4 receptor has been isolated and identified as insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP), a type II transmembrane protein belonging to the M1 family of zinc-dependent aminopeptidases. Subsequently, AT4 receptor ligands, including Ang IV and its analogues and the unrelated peptide LVV-hemorphin-7, were demonstrated to be peptide inhibitors of IRAP. These findings suggest that AT4 ligands may exert their cognitive effects by inhibiting the catalytic activity of IRAP in the brain. Therefore, IRAP is an important target for the development of a new class of therapeutic agents for the treatment of memory loss. / To characterize IRAP at the molecular level and identify non-peptide inhibitors of IRAP for drug development, the aims of this study were to: 1) determine whether IRAP exists as a homodimer; 2) identify cysteine residue(s) involved in IRAP dimerization; 3) investigate the roles of the conserved residues of the HEXXH(X)18E Zn2+-binding motif and the GAMEN motif in substrate/inhibitor binding using site-directed mutagenesis; 4) use a molecular model of the catalytic domain of IRAP based on the crystal structure of a related M1 family metallopeptidase to: (i) identify key residues required for substrate/inhibitor binding; (ii) identify and characterize non-peptide IRAP inhibitors from a compound database by in silico virtual screening based on the homology model of IRAP. / Co-immunoprecipitation followed by Western blotting of IRAP under reducing and non-reducing conditions showed IRAP exists both as covalently- and non-covalently-bound homodimers. Serine scanning of cysteine residues potentially involved in forming inter-molecule disulfide-bonds was performed. Mutational analyses indicated that covalent homodimerization of IRAP is due to more than one cysteine residue. Limited trypsin digestion followed by co-immunoprecipitation suggests that non-covalent homodimerization of IRAP involves residues/regions within the last 130 amino acids of the protein. / The catalytic site of IRAP contains two consensus motifs, the H464EXXH468(X)18E487 Zn2+-binding motif and the G428AMEN432 motif. The role of conserved residues with these motifs was investigated using site-directed mutagenesis and pharmacological analyses. The conserved His and Glu residues of the Zn2+-binding motif were shown to be essential for IRAP catalytic activity. This was also observed for the Met and Glu residues of the GAMEN motif, while Asn mutant retained some catalytic activity. Residues important for substrate or inhibitor binding were identified as Gly, Ala and Asn. / A molecular model of the catalytic domain of IRAP based on the crystal structure of a homologous M1 metallopeptidase, leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4H) was used to compare the catalytic sites of IRAP and LTA4H, and identified two amino acids at the putative substrate-binding pocket: Ala427 and Leu483 in IRAP, and the corresponding residues Tyr267 and Phe314 in LTA4H. A mutational analysis involving substitution of Ala427 and Leu483 with the corresponding residues revealed Ala427 and Leu483 characterize the enzyme S1 subsite, influencing the affinity and placement of substrates and peptide inhibitors in the catalytic site. / The molecular model of IRAP was also used for virtual screening of compound databases to identify novel non-peptide inhibitors. After two rounds of in silico screening, a family of compounds was identified and shown to be specific and competitive inhibitors of IRAP. Preliminary results suggest that one of these inhibitors, referred to as HFI 142, may possess memory-enhancing properties. The identification of non-peptide IRAP inhibitors will assist in pharmacological studies aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms of IRAP aminopeptidase activity and physiological role of IRAP. In addition, the new inhibitors have the potential to form the basis for the development of a novel class of drugs useful for treating memory disorders.

Une analyse génomique (Comparative Genomic Hybridization) a été réalisée sur une cohorte d’adénomes et de tumeurs coliques et a mis en évidence, parmi d’autres altérations, la délétion de la région 1p36.12 dans 23% des adénomes et 47% des carcinomes. Parmi les 15 gènes ayant une fonction connue retrouvés dans cette zone, le gène codant pour le facteur de transcription E2F2 a été retenu en raison de son implication dans des processus cellulaires clés. Une analyse de Kaplan- Meier a montré que la délétion de E2F2 est un facteur de bon pronostic de survie sans progression. Afin de mieux cerner l’implication des gènes ciblés par la micro-délétion en 1p36.12, une étude fonctionnelle in vitro et in vivo de la perte de fonction de E2F2 a été réalisée, et étendue à celle de ID3 dont le gène est le voisin direct de E2F2. Nos observations indiquent qu’in vivo, la perte d’E2F2 favorise la croissance tumorale et bloque le développement de métastases. Dans le cadre d’une collaboration avec l’équipe de biochimiste du Pr Céline TARNUS (U.H.A.), une étude pilote a été réalisée pour prouver l’efficacité anti-tumorale de nouveaux inhibiteurs hautement sélectifs pour l’aminopeptidase N. / A genomic analysis (Comparative Genomic Hybridization) evidenced, among other chromosomic alterations, a microdeletion at 1p36.12 locus in 23% and 47% of colon adenomas and carcinomas, respectively. Among the 15 genes located in the deleted region, we focused on E2F2 gene involvedin various cellular processes. The Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed that E2F2 deletion is associated with a better progression-free survival. To better understand the involvement of genes targeted by the microdeletion in colon tumors, we assessed the functional impact of the underexpression of E2F2 and of its direct neighbor gene ID3, coding for a dominant-negative repressor involved in cell differentiation. Our results indicated that E2F2 loss favors tumor growth and prevent metastatic spread. In collaboration with the biochemical team directed by the Pr Céline TARNUS, we started a pilotstudy to prove the anti-tumor potential of new chemical inhibitors highly selective of the aminopeptidase N.

The primary contributor to Vibrio fischeri aminopeptidase activity is aminopeptidase N, PepN. Colonization assays revealed the pepN mutant strain to be deficient at forming dense aggregates and populating the host’s light organ compared to wildtype within the first 12 hours of colonization; however the mutant competed normally at 24 hours. To address the role of PepN in colonization initiation and establish additional phenotypes for the pepN mutant strain, stress response and other physiological assays were employed. Marked differences were found between pepN mutant and wildtype strain in response to salinity, acidity, and antibiotic tolerance. This study has provided a foundation for future work on identifying a putative role for V. fischeri PepN in regulating stress response.

Preeclampsia (PE), characterized by hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks of gestation, affects 5-8% of pregnancies worldwide. Although preeclampsia is a significant cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity, its etiology remains to be elucidated. Racial differences have been observed for preeclampsia, with U.S. Blacks having higher rates and more severe disease, compared to U.S. Whites and Hispanics. One potential source of racial differences in preeclampsia is genetic variation between populations. Genetic susceptibility to preeclampsia is well established, but the specific contributions of maternal vs. fetal genes, and how these vary among racial groups is poorly understood. This dissertation addressed racial differences in the genetics of preeclampsia in Chileans, U.S. Blacks, and U.S. Whites through candidate gene studies and variance components modeling. First, we determined whether three genes, which are relevant to the pathophysiology of preeclampsia, Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), and Endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 2 (ERAP2), were associated with the risk for preeclampsia in Chilean and U.S. Black mothers and fetuses. We found that the maternal COMT and an interaction between the fetal COMT and MTHFR were associated with the risk for preeclampsia in Chileans. We also found that the fetal ERAP2 was associated with the risk for preeclampsia in U.S. Blacks. We next used structural equation modeling of a unique Children of Twins (COT), supplemented with full and half-siblings, study design to investigate the fetal genetic, maternal genetic, shared environmental, and unique environmental contributions to preeclampsia in U.S. Whites and Blacks. Through this modeling we uncovered a unique source of racial differences in preeclampsia. We found that U.S. Whites and Blacks showed a similar prevalence of preeclampsia in first births, but across the next three births, the prevalence in Whites declined to a greater degree than in Blacks. In conclusion we have identified specific maternal and fetal genes that contribute to the risk for preeclampsia. Furthermore, we have identified sources of racial differences in preeclampsia, which include differences in associations between COMT, MTHFR, and ERAP2 and the risk for preeclampsia among populations and differences in the prevalence of preeclampsia across subsequent births between U.S. Whites and U.S. Blacks.

No description available.

Les aminopeptidases sont des cibles thérapeutiques importantes pour plusieurs maladies, car elles sont impliquées dans divers processus physiologiques et pathologiques comme la progression tumorale, l'angiogenèse, et certaines infections (virales, bactériennes, et parasitaires). Il en existe deux classes : les aminopeptidases avec un ion métallique (Aminopeptidase N [APN ou CD13] et leukotrien A4 hydrolase [LTA4H]) et les aminopeptidases avec deux ions métalliques (Aminopeptidase de l'Aeromonas proteolytica [APaero], Leucine Aminopeptidase cytosolique [LAPc] et Méthionine aminopeptidase 1 ou 2 [MetAP]). Deux types de composés dérivés des amino-benzosubérones ont été envisagés pour inhiber sélectivement chacune de ces classes d'aminopeptidases. L'étude des relations structures-activités (RSA) nous a permis de découvrir une molécule très puissante et sélective de l'APN (Ki 60 pM). L'APN est une enzyme monométallique considérée aujourd'hui comme une nouvelle cible pour la lutte contre le cancer car son inhibition bloque le processus de l'angiogenèse et donc la progression tumorale. L'étude d'une nouvelle classe de molécules trisubstituées dérivées des amino­benzosubérones a abouti à la découverte d'une seconde molécule active et sélective des enzymes bimétalliques notamment l'APaero (Ki 10 nM).

Submitted by IGOR HENRIQUE SENA DA SILVA null (igor.sena@outlook.com.br) on 2017-09-05T13:59:07Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTAÇÃO_Igor_Henrique_Sena_Silva.pdf: 1536012 bytes, checksum: da24e2e008037696caee4c8842fc8f05 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luiz Galeffi (luizgaleffi@gmail.com) on 2017-09-06T13:13:51Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 silva_ihs_me_jabo.pdf: 1536012 bytes, checksum: da24e2e008037696caee4c8842fc8f05 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-09-06T13:13:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 silva_ihs_me_jabo.pdf: 1536012 bytes, checksum: da24e2e008037696caee4c8842fc8f05 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-07-26 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Helicoverpa armigera é uma praga altamente polífaga e ataca culturas de grande importância agrícola em diversos países do mundo. O controle desta praga é realizado primariamente por inseticidas químicos. Porém, o uso indiscriminado do controle químico levou a resistência de populações desta praga a maioria dos inseticidas químicos usados para seu controle, dificultando o seu manejo no campo. Além do controle químico, o controle de H. armigera tem sido realizado com uso de plantas transgênicas que expressam a proteína Cry1Ac de Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) ou por bioinseticidas que contem esta e outras proteínas. No entanto, estudos têm demonstrado uma diminuição significativa na susceptibilidade de H. armigera às proteínas Cry com o aumento de seu desenvolvimento larval. O mecanismo de resistência mais comum dos insetos às proteínas Cry é a redução de ligação da proteína aos receptores presentes na membrana, levando a uma menor afinidade de ligação da proteína aos receptores intestinais. Desta forma, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a susceptibilidade de lagartas de diferentes ínstares de H. armigera à Cry1Ac e correlacionar com a capacidade de ligação da proteína Cry1Ac às microvilosidades apicais das células colunares do intestino médio (BBMVs) isoladas de todos ínstares larvais. Além disso, por meio de ensaios de imunoprecipitação e análise por cromatografia líquida acoplada a espectrofotometria de massa, identificar as proteínas envolvidas na interação com a proteína Cry1Ac no segundo e quinto ínstares de H. armigera. Foi observada uma redução significativa na susceptibilidade dos últimos ínstares larvais de H. armigera à proteína Cry1Ac comparado aos ínstares iniciais. Os valores estimados de CL50 variaram de 31,1 a 2525,7 ng de proteína/cm² de dieta, em lagartas de primeiro e sexto ínstar, respectivamente. Estes resultados evidenciam uma diferença de 80 vezes na susceptibilidade à proteína Cry1Ac do último para o primeiro ínstar. Nos testes de ligação de ELISA da proteína Cry1Ac às BBMVs dos diferentes ínstares, foi constatada uma diminuição total na capacidade de ligação da proteína Cry1Ac as BBMVs dos estádios mais tardios comparados aos iniciais, com afinidade de ligação aparente de 3,88 vezes menor no último ínstar comparado ao primeiro. Assim, uma clara correlação direta entre toxicidade de Cry1Ac e a afinidade de ligação da proteína às BBMVs de H. armigera foi demonstrada. Os resultados dos ensaios de imunoprecipitação demonstraram um padrão diferenciado de interação com a proteína Cry1Ac no segundo e quinto ínstar. A proteína fosfatase alcalina (ALP) foi identificada apenas no segundo ínstar, bem como, outras proteínas de membrana, como proibitina e uma proteína de canal iônico, que podem estar envolvidas para a alta toxicidade de Cry1Ac em ínstares iniciais de H. armigera. A identificação e o papel funcional das proteínas de ligação nos diferentes estádios de desenvolvimento de H. armigera, facilitará a elucidação do mecanismo de ação da proteína Cry1Ac e poderá ajudar a propor estratégias que retardem a evolução da resistência dos insetos às cultivares transgênicas que expressam esta proteína. / Helicoverpa armigera is a highly polyphagous pest and attacks important crops worldwide. The control of this pest is carried out primarily by chemical insecticides. However, the indiscriminate use of chemical control, led to pest populations to develop resistance to most of the chemical insecticides used for their control, making it difficult to management in the field. In addition to chemical control, H. armigera has been done by transgenic crops expressing Cry1Ac toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) or by biopesticides that contains Cry1Ac or other toxins. However, studies have demonstrated a susceptibility decrease of H. armigera to Cry toxins with their larval development increase. The most common mechanism of resistance used by insects against Cry toxins is the reduced toxin binding to receptors present on the membrane, leading to a lower binding affinity of the toxin to intestinal receptors. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the susceptibility of different instar larvae of H. armigera to Cry1Ac toxin and to correlate with the Cry1Ac toxin binding capacity to BBMV isolated from all larval instar. Furthermore, by pull-down techniques and liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry analysis, to identify the proteins involved in the Cry1Ac toxin interaction in the second and fifth instars of H. armigera. A significant reduction in the susceptibility of the late instars of H. armigera to Cry1Ac toxin was observed compared to early instars. LC50 estimated values ranged from 31.1 to 2525.7 ng of toxin/cm2 of diet in first and sixth instar larvae, respectively. These results point a difference of 80-fold in the susceptibility to Cry1Ac toxin from late to first larval instar. In the ELISA binding assays results to BBMV of the different instars was found a total decrease in the binding capacity of Cry1Ac toxin to BBMVs from late instars compared to BBMV from early instars, presenting an apparent binding affinity of 3.88 times lower in the last instars than the first. Thus, a clearly correlation between Cry1Ac toxicity and binding toxin affinity to H. armigera BBMV has been demonstrated. The pull-down assays demonstrated a different pattern of the interaction between Cry1Ac toxin with the second and fifth instars. The protein phosphatase alkaline (ALP) was identified only in the second instar, as well as, other membrane proteins, as prohibitin and an ion channel protein, which may be involved for higher toxicity of Cry1Ac in early instars of H. armigera. The identification and functional role of binding proteins in the different stages of development of H. armigera will facilitate the elucidation of the Cry1Ac toxin mechanism of action and will may help to propose strategies that delay the insect resistance evolution to transgenic crops that express this protein. / FAPESP: 2015/24330-5

No description available.

Les aminopeptidases représentent un groupe d’enzymes qui possèdent une fonction cellulaire clef dans les mécanismes physiologiques et pathologiques. Elles interviennent dans la cascade enzymatique après l’action des endoprotéases, dans l’homéostasie au travers le renouvellement du pool d’acides aminés, dans le métabolisme énergétique, la régulation de l’activité des peptides bioactifs, la présentation antigénique ainsi dans une diversité de mécanismes pathologiques tels que les maladies neurologiques et les infections virales et parasitaires. Les aminopeptidases TETs sont capables de former des macro-assemblages tétraédriques comprenant douze sous-unités. En vue de mieux comprendre leur fonction biologique et leur mode d'action, nous avons étudié les propriétés fonctionnelles et structurales de deux nouveaux complexes TETs issus d'archées hyperthermophiles. L'archée hyperthermophile Methanocaldococcus jannaschii ne possède qu'une version de TET (MjTET) qui a été produite dans Escherichia coli et purifiée sous forme de dodécamère. La recherche de son activité enzymatique et de ses substrats peptidiques par des tests chromogéniques et fluorogéniques, ainsi que des études par HPLC en phase inverse, montre que cette enzyme est une leucine aminopeptidase activée par le cobalt se distinguant des autres aminopeptidases M42 par son très large spectre d'action qui s'étend aux résidus aromatiques. Une structure complète de cette aminopeptidase a été résolue en combinant la cristallographie (2.4 Å) et la cryo-EM (4,1 Å). L'analyse de la poche de spécificité de MjTET permet de mieux comprendre les bases structurales de la discrimination de substrat chez les TETs. De plus, l'analyse de la structure interne de la particule permet de proposer un nouveau mécanisme de navigation des peptides à l’intérieur des particules tétraédriques de la famille TET.L'archée hyperthermophile Pyrococcus horikoshii comporte trois types de complexes TETs. L'étude d'une protéine présentant ~20 % d'identité avec ces systèmes, nous a permis d'identifier une quatrième version du système TET dans cet organisme : PhTET4. La protéine recombinante a été purifiée. Elle forme un complexe dodécamérique tétraédrique. Les études biochimiques révèlent que l'enzyme possède une spécificité très étroite dirigée exclusivement vers l'hydrolyse des résidus glycines de l'extrémité N-terminale des peptides. De plus, elle estactivée par le nickel. Ces caractéristiques permettent de proposer que, chez les archées, la multiplication et la spécialisation des enzymes TETs seraient associées au caractère hétérotrophes alors que le système des archées autotrophes se réduirait à une TET unique apte à assurer une fonction de « ménage ». / Aminopeptidases represent a group of enzymes displaying key cellular function inphysiological and pathological mechanisms. They are involved in the enzymatic cascade beyond the action of endoproteases, in homeostasis through the renewal of the amino acid pool, in the energy metabolism, in the regulation of bioactive peptide activities, in the antigen presentation and in a diversity of pathological mechanisms such as neurological diseases as well as viral and parasitic infections. Aminopeptidases TET are able of forming tetrahedral macro-assemblies built by twelve subunits. In order to better understand their biological function and their mode of action, we studied the functional and structural properties of two novel TET complexes derived from hyperthermophilic archaea. The hyperthermophilic archaeon Methanocaldococcus jannaschii has only one version of TET (MjTET) that was produced in Escherichia coli and purified as dodecameric macromolecule. The search for its enzymatic activity and peptide substrates by using chromogenic/fluorogenic assays and reverse phase HPLC studies, demonstrated that this enzyme is a cobalt-activated leucine aminopeptidase, discriminated from other M42 aminopeptidases by its very broad activity spectrum, that extends to aromatic residues. Complete structure of this aminopeptidase was determined by combining X-ray crystallography (2.4 Å) and cryo-electron microscopy (4.1 Å). Analysis of MjTET specificity pocket indicated possible molecular bases for substrate discrimination in TET peptidases. In depth investigation of the particle internal structure allowed to propose a novel peptide trafficking mechanism for the TET family tetrahedral particles. Three types of TET complexes are present in the hyperthermophilic archaea, Pyrococcus horikoshii. The study of an unassigned protein displaying ~20% identity with the PhTETs systems allowed us to identify a fourth version of TET complex in this organism: PhTET4. The recombinant protein was purified. It formed tetrahedral dodecameric complex. Biochemical studies indicated that the enzyme has a very narrow hydrolytic specificity directed exclusively toward the peptide N-terminal glycine residues. In addition, this enzyme is activated by nickel ions. These features allowed proposing that, in archaea, the multiplicity of specialized TET systems could be associated with heterotrophy while unique TET system displaying “housekeeping” function is present in autotrophic organisms.

The respective kinetics of bacterial leucine aminopeptidase and [beta]-glucosidase activities were investigated to improve understanding of factors controlling activity and hydrolytic capacity in estuarine organic-poor sands. Depth distributions of enzyme activity and bulk organic matter content were determined in sediments of Aransas Bay and Copano Bay Texas, to investigate enzyme dynamics as related to the geochemical properties of the sediment. Vertical profiles of activity in sediment showed that the enzymes were more active at the surface and that the potential hydrolysis rate of leucine aminopeptidase was higher than that of [beta]-glucosidase. Vertical patterns of enzyme activity correlated (weakly) with variations in sediment organic matter (TOC, TN, and carbohydrates) content. Enrichments of sediment samples with monomeric organic compounds and inorganic nutrients did not affect leucine aminopeptidase and [beta]-glucosidase activities in short- and long-term incubations. Enzyme activity was independent of nutrient availability and suggested that microbial communities were not nutrient-limited. Time-course assays of bacterial hydrolysis of TOC, TN, and carbohydrates provided information about how substrate limitation may affect enzyme activity. Positive correlations between bulk TOC and TN content and enzyme activity indicated enzyme dependence on polymeric substrate content. Induction of enzyme activity after sediment enrichments with specific labile compounds confirmed the importance of available organic substrate to enzyme hydrolysis efficiency. A kinetic approach established the occurrence of enzyme inhibition and its effects on enzyme hydrolytic capacity. The addition of a specific-enzyme substrate to sediment samples modified enzyme parameters and indicated that a substrate-reversible type of inhibitor could reduce enzyme hydrolytic capacity. The addition of polyphenol, as a natural inhibitor of enzyme activity, to the sediment resulted in a concomitant reduction of leucine aminopeptidase activity and ammonium regeneration rate, and thus demonstrated a close coupling between enzyme activity and sediment ammonium regeneration. These research results demonstrate the dynamic nature of the hydrolytic enzymes, provide information about the mechanisms of induction and inhibition of activity, and demonstrate some implications of reducing the hydrolytic capacity to organic matter decomposition and nutrient regeneration rates. / text