Decades have passed since the realisation that a protein’s amino acid sequence can contain all the information required to form a complex three-dimensional fold. Until recently, these encoded structures were thought to be crucial determinants of protein function. Much effort was directed to fully understand the mechanisms behind how and why proteins fold, with natively unfolded proteins thought to be experimental artefacts. Today, the field of natively unfolded – or so-called intrinsically disordered – proteins, is rapidly developing. Protein disorder content has been positively correlated with organismal complexity, with over thirty percent of eukaryotic proteins predicted to contain disordered regions. However, the biophysical consequences of disorder are yet to be fully determined. With the aim of addressing some of the outstanding questions, the work described in this thesis focuses on the relevance of structure within disordered proteins. Whilst populating a variety of conformations in isolation, a subset of disordered proteins can fold upon binding to a partner macromolecule. This folded state may be present within the ensemble of conformations sampled by the unbound protein, opening the question of what comes first: folding or binding? Protein engineering techniques were employed to alter the level of residual ‘bound-like’ structure within the free conformational ensemble, and the consequences on coupled folding and binding reactions were investigated. Resultant changes in the rate of association are easily imaginable; yet, this work demonstrates that the majority of the observed changes in binding affinity were due to alterations in the rate of dissociation, thus altering the lifetime of the bound complex. Promiscuous binding is a touted advantage of being disordered. If many disordered proteins, each with their own conformational ensemble, can bind and fold to the same partner, then where is the folding component encoded? Does the partner protein template the folding reaction? Or, is the folding information contained within the disordered protein sequence? Utilising phi-value analysis on the BCL-2 family of proteins, residues in the disordered sequence were probed to ascertain which form contacts at the transition state of the reaction. Comparison with phi-value analyses of alternative pairs – sharing either the ordered or disordered protein – provides insight into the encoding of these interactions. In the context of a bimolecular reaction, the amino acid sequence of the disordered protein was shown to determine the interactions within the transition state. Thus, analogous to the discovery from decades’ past, it is the sequence of the protein that folds which encodes its pathway, even when binding is a prerequisite.

A morte celular programada (apoptose) tem sido implicada no desenvolvimento tumoral e no potencial metastático. O Bcl-2, um proto-oncogene inibidor da apoptose, vem sendo estudado em várias neoplasias incluindo o Melanoma Cutâneo (MC). Esse estudo avaliou a expressão imunoistoquímica da proteína bcl-2 em 35 metástases linfonodais regionais, 28 metástases subcutâneas e 17 metástases viscerais de MC e correlacionou com a sobrevida. O tempo médio de acompanhamento foi de 29,7 meses nas metástases linfonodais, 23,1 meses nas metástases subcutâneas e 22,9 meses nas metástases viscerais. A expressão de bcl-2 foi de 74,3% nas metástases linfonodais, 85,7% nas subcutâneas e 82,4% nas viscerais. Após análise uni e multivariada não houve correlação entre a positividade para bcl-2 e a sobrevida em nenhum dos tipos de metástases. Conclui-se que a avaliação imunoistoquímica da proteína bcl-2 isoladamente, em metástases, não é um marcador prognóstico no MC. Estudos posteriores das relações entre os membros da família BCL-2 poderão elucidar seu papel no desenvolvimento do Melanoma Cutâneo.

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A morte celular programada (apoptose) tem sido implicada no desenvolvimento tumoral e no potencial metastático. O Bcl-2, um proto-oncogene inibidor da apoptose, vem sendo estudado em várias neoplasias incluindo o Melanoma Cutâneo (MC). Esse estudo avaliou a expressão imunoistoquímica da proteína bcl-2 em 35 metástases linfonodais regionais, 28 metástases subcutâneas e 17 metástases viscerais de MC e correlacionou com a sobrevida. O tempo médio de acompanhamento foi de 29,7 meses nas metástases linfonodais, 23,1 meses nas metástases subcutâneas e 22,9 meses nas metástases viscerais. A expressão de bcl-2 foi de 74,3% nas metástases linfonodais, 85,7% nas subcutâneas e 82,4% nas viscerais. Após análise uni e multivariada não houve correlação entre a positividade para bcl-2 e a sobrevida em nenhum dos tipos de metástases. Conclui-se que a avaliação imunoistoquímica da proteína bcl-2 isoladamente, em metástases, não é um marcador prognóstico no MC. Estudos posteriores das relações entre os membros da família BCL-2 poderão elucidar seu papel no desenvolvimento do Melanoma Cutâneo.

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Submitted by Jean Medeiros (jeanletras@uepb.edu.br) on 2018-05-17T13:27:08Z No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - José Matheus Alves dos Santos.pdf: 29393004 bytes, checksum: eb8fee7ed5d16296c35d9765252c2ff2 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Secta BC (secta.csu.bc@uepb.edu.br) on 2018-05-23T16:59:28Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - José Matheus Alves dos Santos.pdf: 29393004 bytes, checksum: eb8fee7ed5d16296c35d9765252c2ff2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-05-23T16:59:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - José Matheus Alves dos Santos.pdf: 29393004 bytes, checksum: eb8fee7ed5d16296c35d9765252c2ff2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-08-18 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Introduction: Proinflammatory cytokines or chemokines are important regulators of cell trafficking and adhesions. The chemokine CXCL12 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12) binds primarily to CXCR4 receptor, regulating intracellular signals, through several ways, related to important events in tumorigenesis as chemotaxis, cell survival, angiogenesis, proliferation, invasion and metastasis. There are insuficient informations in scientific literature about the CXCL12 in relation to survival or apoptotic markers (Bcl-2) and invasion/metastasis (MMP-9) in tumor cells of salivary gland neoplasm. Methods: In 30 pleomorphic adenomas (PA) and 30 mucoepidermoid carcinomas (MCE) were collected clinical and pathological data and analyzed in relation to the immunohistochemical expression, through the estreptovidin-biotin peroxidase method, of CXCL12, Bcl-2 and MMP-9 antibodies. Results: it was observed higher expression of CXCL12 in MCE than in PA (p = 0.001), while in PA there has been greater expression of Bcl-2 (p = 0.031). The MMP-9 was negative in most cases of the sample. Conclusion: it was concluded that the CXCL12 is not associated with the Bcl-2 and MMP-9 expression. The chemokine can be related to pathogenesis of mucoepidermoid carcinomas, whereas the Bcl-2 can be related to tumoral pathogenesis of pleomorphic adenomas. MMP-9 does not appear to play a role in the pathogenesis of the sample. / Introdução: As citocinas pró-inflamatórias ou quimiocinas são importantes reguladores das interações e adesões celulares. A quimiocina CXCL12 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 1) liga-se principalmente ao receptor CXCR4, regulando sinalizações intracelulares, através de várias vias, relacionadas a eventos importantes na tumorigênese como a quimiotaxia, proliferação e sobrevivência celular, angiogénese, invasão e metástase. Existe pouca informação na literatura científica sobre a relação da CXCL12 com marcadores de sobrevivência ou apoptóticos (Bcl-2) e de invasão/metástase (MMP-9) em neoplasias de glândulas salivares. Métodos: Em 30 adenomas pleomórficos (AP) e 30 carcinomas mucoepidermoides (CME) foram coletados dados clínico-patológicos os quais foram analisados em relação à expressão imunistoquimica, por meio do método estreptovidina - biotina peroxidase, dos anticorpos CXCL12, Bcl-2 e MMP-9. Resultados: observou-se maior expressão da CXCL12 no CME do que no AP (p = 0,001), enquanto que em AP houve maior expressão de Bcl-2 (p=0,031). A MMP-9 foi negativa na maioria dos casos da amostra. Conclusão: Conclui-se que a expressão da CXCL12 não parece estar associada com a Bcl-2 e MMP-9. A quimioquina pode ser relacionada com a patogênese de carcinomas mucoepidermóides, ao passo que a proteína Bcl-2 pode ser relacionada com a patogênese de adenomas pleomórficos. A MMP-9 não parece exercer um papel na patogenia da amostra avaliada.

A morte celular programada (apoptose) tem sido implicada no desenvolvimento tumoral e no potencial metastático. O Bcl-2, um proto-oncogene inibidor da apoptose, vem sendo estudado em várias neoplasias incluindo o Melanoma Cutâneo (MC). Esse estudo avaliou a expressão imunoistoquímica da proteína bcl-2 em 35 metástases linfonodais regionais, 28 metástases subcutâneas e 17 metástases viscerais de MC e correlacionou com a sobrevida. O tempo médio de acompanhamento foi de 29,7 meses nas metástases linfonodais, 23,1 meses nas metástases subcutâneas e 22,9 meses nas metástases viscerais. A expressão de bcl-2 foi de 74,3% nas metástases linfonodais, 85,7% nas subcutâneas e 82,4% nas viscerais. Após análise uni e multivariada não houve correlação entre a positividade para bcl-2 e a sobrevida em nenhum dos tipos de metástases. Conclui-se que a avaliação imunoistoquímica da proteína bcl-2 isoladamente, em metástases, não é um marcador prognóstico no MC. Estudos posteriores das relações entre os membros da família BCL-2 poderão elucidar seu papel no desenvolvimento do Melanoma Cutâneo.

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Les leucémies aiguës myéloblastiques (LAM) sont des maladies hématopoïétiques caractérisées par une prolifération incontrôlée de précurseurs myéloïdes bloqués à divers stades de différenciation. Le pronostic des LAM reste sombre à cause de la résistance aux traitements et des rechutes après rémission. En conséquence, des thérapies moins intensives et mieux tolérées doivent être développées ; ceci nécessite le développement de stratégies combinatoires associant des molécules avec des modes d’action différents pour augmenter l’efficacité des traitements. Plusieurs approches sont en cours d’étude préclinique et clinique [inhibiteurs des voies de signalisation PI3K/Akt/mTOR, anticorps monoclonaux couplés à une drogue (Mylotarg®), inhibiteurs du protéasome (bortezomib)…] Des travaux récents ont relancé l’intérêt de l’étude des molécules d’origine naturelle pour le traitement des cancers. Ainsi, l’acide flavone-8-acétique (FAA) a suscité de nombreux espoirs au vu de son action sur les tumeurs greffées chez la souris ; il s’est néanmoins révélé inactif chez l’homme du fait d’une métabolisation différente de celle de la souris. L’objectif de ma thèse a été d’étudier les effets d’anticorps monoclonaux dirigés contre l’antigène tumoral CD13 (aminopeptidase-N) et de deux dérivés de FAA, la 2’,3-Dinitroflavone-8-acétique (DNFAA ; inhibiteur de l’activité enzymatique de CD13) et la 3,3’-Diamino-4’-méthoxyflavone (DD1) dans les LAM. Mon étude a montré que DNFAA n’affecte ni la prolifération ni la survie des cellules de LAM (lignées et cellules primaires). Cependant, le traitement de ces cellules par les anticorps anti-CD13, (MY7, SJ1D1, WM15 ; reconnaissant ou non le site enzymatique) induit l’apoptose en activant les voies extrinsèque et intrinsèque. Dans la voie intrinsèque, les anti-CD13 régulent négativement l’expression des protéines anti-apoptotiques Bcl-2 et Mcl-1 et positivement l’expression de la protéine pro-apoptotique Bax. De plus, l’activation de la voie PI3K/Akt apparaît associée au processus apoptotique. Mon étude sur les effets du 3,3’-Diamino-4’-méthoxyflavone dans les cellules de LAM montre une induction d’apoptose résultant de la convergence de l’inhibition du protéasome et de l’activation des voies extrinsèque et intrinsèque. Les cibles de DD1 sont le protéasome, la kinase p70S6K (kinase en aval de mTOR), et les protéines pro-apoptotiques Bad et Bax. De plus, j’ai mis en évidence la dégradation de p70S6K sous l’action de la caspase 3, par le traitement avec DD1, nouvelle propriété partagée par DD1 et le bortezomib. En conclusion, mon travail a permis de mettre en évidence les capacités à induire in vitro des voies d’apoptose déficientes dans les cellules de LAM, d’anticorps monoclonaux anti-CD13 et de la flavone originale, 3,3’-Diamino-4’-methoxyflavone, en tant que nouvel inhibiteur du protéasome. Les propriétés de ces agents pro-apoptotiques méritent d’être analysées de façon plus approfondie. / Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) is a deadly disease characterized by the clonal expansion and accumulation of hematopoietic stem cells arrested at various stages of development. Clinical research efforts are currently focusing on targeted therapies that induce apoptosis in AML cells such as PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies (Mylotarg®), proteasome inhibitor (bortezomib)… Natural products such as flavonoids have been reported as anticancer agents due to their antioxidant properties as well as to their possible interactions with signalling cascades. Therefore, flavone-8-acetic acid (FAA) has raised considerable attention since the discovery of its exceptional activity on several murine solid tumours. Unfortunately, these promising properties were not confirmed on human due to differential metabolization between human and mouse. The aim of my PhD was to study effects of monoclonal antibody against aminopeptide-N/CD13 and FAA derivatives, 2’,3-Dinitroflavone-8-acetic (DNFAA ; APN/CD13 inhibitor) and 3,3’-Diamino-4’-methoxyflavone (DD1) on acute myeloid leukaemia cells. My studies have shown that DNFAA does not modify proliferation or survival of LAM primary and cell lines. However, treatment of these cells by CD13 antibodies (MY7, SJ1D1 and WM15) induces apoptosis by triggering extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways. Regarding the intrinsic pathway, anti-CD13 down-regulate anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 and up-regulate the pro-apoptotic protein Bax. Morever, PI3K/Akt signalling pathway seems to be associated with this apoptosis. My study about 3,3’-Diamino-4’-methoxyflavone effects on LAM cells has shown that DD1 induces apoptosis by proteasome inhibition and intrinsic and extrinsic pathways induction. DD1 targets p70S6 kinase (a downstream kinase of mTOR) and pro-apoptotic proteins Bad and Bax. Moreover, I have shown p70S6K degradation by caspase 3 during DD1 treatment, a new characteristic shared by DD1 and Bortezomib. As a conclusion, my works demonstrated that CD13 antibodies and a new synthetic flavone are able to induce apoptosis signalling pathway normally impaired on AML cells. Characteristics of these agents deserve to be more deeply analyzed.