Thesis (M.S.) in Zoology--University of Maine, 2009. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 60-73).

The Vo sector of the vacuolar H+-ATPase is a multi-subunit complex that forms a proteolipid pore. The largest subunit in this complex is the a subunit which has four isoforms (a1-a4). The isoform(s) critical for secretory vesicle acidification has yet to be identified. Using a cell line derived from rat pheochromocytoma in which Voa1 and/or Voa2 had been down-regulated this study revealed that Voa1, and to a lesser extent, Voa2 are critical for acidifying dense-core vesicles (DCVs). The acidification defects resulting from down-regulation of Voa1 and Voa1/ Voa2 were suppressed by the expression of knockdown-resistant Voa1. Defects in DCV acidification resulted in reductions in their transmitter uptake and storage. Lastly, Ca2+-dependent peptide secretion appeared normal in Voa1 and Voa1/ Voa2 knockdown cells. . This study demonstrated that Voa1 and Voa2 cooperatively regulate dense-core vesicle acidification as well as transmitter uptake/storage, while they may not be critical for dense-core vesicle exocytosis.

The Vo sector of the vacuolar H+-ATPase is a multi-subunit complex that forms a proteolipid pore. The largest subunit in this complex is the a subunit which has four isoforms (a1-a4). The isoform(s) critical for secretory vesicle acidification has yet to be identified. Using a cell line derived from rat pheochromocytoma in which Voa1 and/or Voa2 had been down-regulated this study revealed that Voa1, and to a lesser extent, Voa2 are critical for acidifying dense-core vesicles (DCVs). The acidification defects resulting from down-regulation of Voa1 and Voa1/ Voa2 were suppressed by the expression of knockdown-resistant Voa1. Defects in DCV acidification resulted in reductions in their transmitter uptake and storage. Lastly, Ca2+-dependent peptide secretion appeared normal in Voa1 and Voa1/ Voa2 knockdown cells. . This study demonstrated that Voa1 and Voa2 cooperatively regulate dense-core vesicle acidification as well as transmitter uptake/storage, while they may not be critical for dense-core vesicle exocytosis.

Identifying a genetic basis for the tolerance to salinity exhibited by the resilient moss, Physcomitrella patens, could provide valuable information for use in the selection or modification of salinity tolerance in crop plants. The overall aim of the work described in this thesis was to identify, express and functionally characterise the protein products of two putative salinity tolerance genes from Physcomitrella, namely PpMdhar and PpENA1. The characterisation of PpMdhar and PpENA1 represents a two-pronged approach into investigating the salinity tolerance of Physcomitrella at the biochemical and transport level, respectively. The enzymes encoded by PpMdhars, monodehydroascorbate reductases (MDHARs), are central to the ascorbate-glutathione cycle, and recycle monodehydroascorbate molecules into the antioxidant, ascorbate. Hence, MDHARs play a part in maintaining the capacity of plant cells to remove toxic reactive oxygen species. Given that the production of reactive oxygen species is greatly increased in plants under salt stress, and that Physcomitrella is tolerant of high salt, MDHAR enzymes were expressed to determine whether they exhibit increased enzymic activity when compared with MDHARs from higher plants. The protein encoded by PpENA1 is Na⁺ transporting ATPase, which actively transports toxic Na⁺ ions across the cell membranes, and thereby minimizes the level of Na⁺ that accumulates in the cytoplasm. Thus, in contrast to the mechanism by which MDHARs may help Physcomitrella deal with the secondary effects of high salt, the PpENA1 protein could enable the moss to actively exclude Na⁺ ions, and thereby avoid cellular toxicity. A link between salinity and the transcription of PpMdhar and PpENA1 is reported here, and the function of each gene is investigated. A comprehensive characterisation of the enzymic action of expressed PpMDHAR enzymes is described, demonstrating that the biochemical mechanisms used by Physcomitrella in dealing with salt-induced reactive oxygen species are likely to be conserved with vascular plants. The physiological effects of the expression of PpENA1 are investigated via complementation experiments in yeast, and the membrane location of the protein is determined. The Na⁺ binding-sites of PpENA1 are predicted using homology modelling and amino acid residues crucial for Na⁺ transport are tested experimentally via site-directed mutagenesis. Finally, the introduction of a new, functional Na⁺ binding-site into an inactivated form of the PpENA1 protein demonstrates that a degree of control is possible over the Na⁺ binding-sites in PpENA1. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1337385 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, 2008

Identifying a genetic basis for the tolerance to salinity exhibited by the resilient moss, Physcomitrella patens, could provide valuable information for use in the selection or modification of salinity tolerance in crop plants. The overall aim of the work described in this thesis was to identify, express and functionally characterise the protein products of two putative salinity tolerance genes from Physcomitrella, namely PpMdhar and PpENA1. The characterisation of PpMdhar and PpENA1 represents a two-pronged approach into investigating the salinity tolerance of Physcomitrella at the biochemical and transport level, respectively. The enzymes encoded by PpMdhars, monodehydroascorbate reductases (MDHARs), are central to the ascorbate-glutathione cycle, and recycle monodehydroascorbate molecules into the antioxidant, ascorbate. Hence, MDHARs play a part in maintaining the capacity of plant cells to remove toxic reactive oxygen species. Given that the production of reactive oxygen species is greatly increased in plants under salt stress, and that Physcomitrella is tolerant of high salt, MDHAR enzymes were expressed to determine whether they exhibit increased enzymic activity when compared with MDHARs from higher plants. The protein encoded by PpENA1 is Na⁺ transporting ATPase, which actively transports toxic Na⁺ ions across the cell membranes, and thereby minimizes the level of Na⁺ that accumulates in the cytoplasm. Thus, in contrast to the mechanism by which MDHARs may help Physcomitrella deal with the secondary effects of high salt, the PpENA1 protein could enable the moss to actively exclude Na⁺ ions, and thereby avoid cellular toxicity. A link between salinity and the transcription of PpMdhar and PpENA1 is reported here, and the function of each gene is investigated. A comprehensive characterisation of the enzymic action of expressed PpMDHAR enzymes is described, demonstrating that the biochemical mechanisms used by Physcomitrella in dealing with salt-induced reactive oxygen species are likely to be conserved with vascular plants. The physiological effects of the expression of PpENA1 are investigated via complementation experiments in yeast, and the membrane location of the protein is determined. The Na⁺ binding-sites of PpENA1 are predicted using homology modelling and amino acid residues crucial for Na⁺ transport are tested experimentally via site-directed mutagenesis. Finally, the introduction of a new, functional Na⁺ binding-site into an inactivated form of the PpENA1 protein demonstrates that a degree of control is possible over the Na⁺ binding-sites in PpENA1. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1337385 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, 2008

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Victoria University of Technology, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Victoria University (Melbourne, Vic.), 2007. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Toledo, 2009. / "In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences." Title from title page of PDF document. Non-Latin script record. Includes bibliographical references (p. 116-139).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1996. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [86]-98).

Although F1-ATPase is extremely conserved among organisms, a putative subunit p18 was identified in Trypanosoma brucei F1-ATPase complex. To explore its function in the procylic, bloodstream and dyskinetoplastic trypanosomes, three different RNAi cell lines were created. Upon p18 silencing the F1-moiety structural integrity was impaired suggesting that p18 is indeed a bona fide subunit of this complex. Since F1-ATPase is crucial for the bloodstream form survival, its potential inhibitor from the 4-oxopiperidine-3,5-dicarboxylates class (JK-11) was examined. JK-11 inhibited growth of the bloodstream trypanosomes, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and reduced ATPase and ATP synthase activity in mitochondrial lysates. Our results suggest that JK-11 may act on FoF1-ATP synthase/ATPase and its inhibition may contribute to the cytotoxicity of this drug.