Biotin is a water soluble vitamin that is mainly used as a cofactor in carboxylation reactions by a class of enzyme known as biotin-dependent carboxylases. In order to act as a cofactor, the biotin molecule has to be covalently attached to a lysine residue by an enzyme called holocarboxylase synthetase (HCS). Inherited deficiency of the biotin-dependent propionyl-CoA carboxylase (PCC) results in the inborn error of metabolism propionic acidemia. Mutations in either the alpha (PCCA gene) or beta (PCCB gene) subunit of the enzyme have been shown to cause propionic acidemia. Mutation analysis of the PCCB gene have revealed several mutations. However, few PCCalpha mutations have been described. The first goal of this thesis was to determine the molecular etiology of alpha subunit deficiency at the mRNA as well as at the protein level. I found that most mutations destabilized either the mRNA or the protein. Two other mutations were found to affect the biotinylation of PCCalpha, defining residues important for the folding of the domain or for interaction with HCS. The second part of my thesis was to study in more details the interactions between HCS and the biotinylation domain of PCCalpha, represented by the last 67 amino acids of the subunit (p-67). I expressed and purified p-67 from Pichia pastoris. I compared p-67 with the E. coli biotinylation domain (BCCP87) as substrates for the E. coli orthologous enzyme BirA, using steady-state as well as stopped-flow kinetics. I noticed some differences between these two substrates and how it might relate to the biotinylation reaction. I generated N-terminal and C-terminal deletions of HCS and I tested their activity in vivo and in vitro using purified susbtrates. I was able to map the minimal sequence requirement for HCS activity to the last 348 amino acids of the enzyme. I also found that some longer HCS were either almost or totally inactive or some that were active showed a differential activity towards the different susb

The objective of this thesis was to determine the molecular basis of neonatal multiple carboxylase deficiency (MCD) produced by an impairment in holocarboxylase synthetase (HCS) activity and the origin of the biotin-responsiveness that characterizes this disease. To determine HCS activity, I developed a peptide substrate and used the biotinylation system of E: coli to determine its properties. C-terminal fragments of the $ alpha$ subunit of human propionyl-CoA carboxylase (PCC-$ alpha$) were expressed in E. coli and site-directed mutagenesis was used to define the residues required for biotinylation by the bacterial biotin ligase, BirA. These experiments showed that the biotin region of PCC-$ alpha$ can act as an autonomous domain for biotinylation and suggested its use as substrate for human HCS. For the molecular characterization of MCD, I isolated several cDNA clones encoding human HCS by functional complementation of an E. coli mutant with a temperature-sensitive BirA. Comparison of the predicted amino acid sequence of HCS with bacterial biotin ligases allowed the identification of the putative biotin-binding domain of this protein. Mutation analysis of DNA from HCS deficient patients showed that most of the changes in the HCS sequence are clustered in the biotin-binding domain. All the patients tested in this study showed deficiency of HCS activity as determined using the PCC-$ alpha$ peptide as substrate for biotinylation. The biotin-responsiveness was demonstrated by obtaining a stimulation of HCS activity of MCD cells at high biotin concentrations while remaining unstimulated in extracts of normal cells. Together with the mutation studies, these results showed that neonatal MCD is caused by mutations in the biotin binding domain of HCS which reduce the affinity of the enzyme towards biotin. This change in the kinetic properties of HCS results in the inefficient biotinylation of carboxylases at physiological concentrations of biotin. The defect can be over

Multiple carboxylase deficiency (MCD) results from a decreased activity of holocarboxylase synthetase (HCS) which is responsible for the biotinylation of the four biotin-dependent carboxylases found in humans. The disease can be treated with pharmacologic doses of oral biotin (biotin-responsiveness). The cDNA for HCS contains a biotin-binding domain deduced by analogy with the sequence and crystal structure of the E. coli BirA biotin ligase. E. coli birA$ sp-$ mutations causing biotin-auxotrophy all localize to this region. Of six point mutations I have identified in MCD patients, four localize to the biotin-binding region. In order to assess the HCS activity associated with patient mutations, I used an assay based on the expression of mutant HCS in E. coli. The method is based on the ability of mutant HCS to biotinylate the biotin carboxyl carrier protein (BCCP) of acetyl-CoA carboxylase in a temperature-sensitive birA$ sp-$ E. coli strain using 3H-biotin as tracer. I have shown that all of the mutations cause a severe decrease in HCS activity. In addition, I have shown that five of the mutant HCS are biotin-responsive. These findings are a major contribution to the understanding of the mechanism of biotin-responsiveness.

Holocarboxylase synthetase (HCS) catalyzes the biotinylation of three mitochondrial and one cytosolic forms of biotin-dependent carboxylases in humans. Patients suffering from this autosomal recessive disease have Multiple Carboxylase Deficiency (MCD) with symptoms of life-threatening metabolic acidosis which, in almost all cases, can be successfully treated with pharmacologic doses of oral biotin. Patients with HCS deficiency lack activity of all four carboxylases, indicating that a single HCS maybe targeted to the cytoplasm and mitochondria or that carboxylases are biotinylated in the cytoplasm prior to import into the mitochondria. In order to resolve the compartmentalization of HCS, 5' HCS cDNA sequences have been examined for a targeting signal and a candidate sequence was tested for its capacity to target mitochondria. Analysis of 5' cDNA reveals complex alternative splicing, none of which appear to contain mitochondrial targeting sequences. In addition, antibodies have been developed in order to perform immunochemical analysis of the subcellular distribution of HCS. Polyclonal antisera were raised against full length HCS as well as two peptides corresponding to a 20 amino acid region in the N-terminus and to the 20 amino acids preceding the stop codon. Immunohistochemical staining of human fibroblasts with the antibody to full length HCS gives cytosolic, mitochondrial and nuclear localization. Interestingly, analysis with the N-terminal antiserum reveals a large punctate staining pattern exclusively localized to the nucleus. The corresponding C-terminal antiserum reveals solid nuclear staining with some mitochondrial co-localization. Taken together, these results indicate the ubiquitous nature of HCS in human cells and also allude to a potential role for HCS in the nucleus of human cells.

Bibliography: leaves 130-159. / 159, [61] leaves, [7] leaves of plates : ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Investigates the physical and catalytic properties of a biotin protein ligase and aims to understand further the interaction of this enzyme with its protein substrates. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Biochemistry, 2000?

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1951. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

University, Diss., 2005--Bielefeld.

Orientador: Maria del Pilar Taboada Sotomayor / Resumo: A biotina (vitamina B7) pode ser acoplada a diferentes tipos de moléculas e, ainda assim, ser reconhecida seletivamente pelas proteínas avidina e estreptavidina devido à alta constante de afinidade que existe entre elas (Ka = 1,0×1015 L mol-1). Assim, essa interação proporciona excelente aumento na sensibilidade de várias análises; o que leva ao desenvolvimento métodos analíticos para determinação de diferentes compostos que são biotinilados. O uso de materiais biológicos, como anticorpos ou proteínas, em análises de rotina se torna muitas vezes dispendioso e, devido à baixa estabilidade das biomoléculas em condições adversas às mesmas, iniciou-se a síntese de materiais que possam mimetizar as interações biológicas de reconhecimento; o que vem sendo feito com sucesso pelos polímeros molecularmente impressos (MIP). Esses polímeros apresentam vantagens em relação às biomoléculas por possuirem baixo custo, fácil preparação e alta resistência mecânica e térmica. Assim, esta dissertação aborda a síntese, caracterização, otimização e aplicação de diferentes MIP que possuem biotina como molécula alvo. Os estudos iniciais focaram na síntese do MIP magnético (MMIP) com acesso restrito (RAMIP) para realizar exclusão proteica pela modificação do polímero com albumina do soro bovino (BSA) e polietileno glicol (PEG). Enquanto o RAMIP recoberto com BSA não apresentou bons resultados nos experimentos, o RAMIP recoberto com PEG, após otimização, apresentou resultados altamente satisfatórios ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Biotin (vitamin B7) can be attached with different types of molecules and still be selectively recognized by avidin/streptavidin proteins due to the high affinity constant between them (Ka = 1,0×1015 L mol-1). Thus, this interaction provides an excellent increase in the sensitivity of analyzes; which leads to the development of analytical methods for the determination of different biotinylated compounds. The use of biological materials, such as antibodies or proteins, in analyzes is often expensive and has low stability of biomolecules under adverse conditions, which has led to the synthesis of materials that can mimic the biological interactions of recognition; which has been successfully made by molecularly printed polymers (MIP). These polymers have advantages over biomolecules because they have low cost, easy preparation and high mechanical and thermal resistance. Thus, this dissertation explores the synthesis, characterization, optimization and application of different MIP that has biotin as the target molecule. Initial studies focused on the synthesis of magnetic MIP (MMIP) with restricted-access (RAMIP) to evaluate protein exclusion by modifying the polymer with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG). While RAMIP coated with BSA didn't present good results in the experiments, the RAMIP coated with PEG, after optimization, presented highly satisfactory results in protein exclusion (with values ranging from 98 to 99.4% of protein exclusion) and good res... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

In this study, water soluble CdTe QDs of different emission wavelengths were prepared. Microwave synthesis was used to prepare CdTe QDs coated with mercaptopropionic acid (MPA). MPA ensures biocompatibility and good water solubility of QDs. Therefore QDs can be used directly in bioanalytics. Further, QDs modified with biotinylated glutathione (GSH) were prepared. In this case mercapto group (--SH) ensures a bonding of GSH to QDs surface and biotin serves as high specific linker for streptavidin, avidin or neutravidin modified analyte. Finally, peptide mediated immuno-quantum dots were prepared. CdTe QDs were coated with heptamer HWRGWVC which is able to bind Fc region of human immunoglobulin G.

La première partie de cette thèse est dédiée à la modification de polyélectrolytes pour former des films de multicouche de polyélectrolytes (PEM) ayant des propriétés d’adhésion de protéine et de cellules bien contrôlées et modifiables par étirement. L’acide polyacrylique a été modifié avec des groupes latéraux phosphorylcholine (PC) à des taux de 25 % (PAA-PC) ou avec des chaînes oligo(éthylène oxyde) terminées par la biotine : (EO)nBiotine (n = 0, 3, 9 et 18) avec de taux de modification de 1, 5, 10 ou 25 %. Des PEM incorporant ces polymères lient spécifiquement la streptavidine et repoussent tout autre protéine. Les propriétés d’adsorption et la sélectivité de ces PEM ont été mesurées par microbalance à quartz. Sur un substrat de PDMS étirables, on a construit des PEM terminés par un PAA portant des RGD recouvert par deux couches contenant PAA-PC. Au repos, seuls les PC sont exposés et inhibent l’adhésion cellulaire ; sous étirement, les groupes RGD sous-jacents sont exposés et déclenchent l’adhésion de fibroblastes.La deuxième partie est consacrée à l‘étude d’acide polyméthacrylique modifié hydrophobiquement avec des chaînes alkyle liées par des esters à la chaîne principale. 3 chaînes différentes ont été greffées : -C12H25 ; -C18H35 et C4H8-OOC- C11H23 avec des taux de 1, 5 and 10 %. Ces polymères sont associatifs et forment des hydrogels dans des tampons physiologiques pour des taux de modifications de 5% et des concentrations supérieures à 4% en poids. Ces gels ont été caractérisés par des mesures rhéologiques. Leur incubation avec des lipases provoque une baisse de leur viscosité, interprétable par une coupure des esters. Quand les gels faits à partir du PAA-C12 sont incubés avec une culture de Pseudomonas aeruginosa, la viscosité baisse également, ce qui montre que les chaînes sont également coupées in vivo. / The first part of this thesis is dedicated to the modification of polyelectrolytes to form polyelectrolyte films with controlled and stretch responsive cell and protein adsorption properties. Poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) was modified with side phosphorylcholine groups (PC) at rates of 25 % or with oligo(ethylene oxide) chains ended by biotin ((EO)nBiotin, (n =0, 3, 9 and 18) at 1, 5, 10 and 25 % modification rates. Polyelectrolytes multilayer films (PEM) containing these polyelectrolytes bind selectively streptavidin but repel all other proteins. The adsorption properties and selectivity were measured by quartz crystal microbalance. On a stretchable PDMS substrate, we have built PEM ended by PAA bearing RGD, covered by two PAA-PC layers on the top. Under rest, only the PC groups are exposed and prevent cell adhesion; when the film is stretched, the underlying RGD groups are exposed, and trigger adhesion of fibroblasts.The second part was consecrated to the study of poly(methacrylic acid) hydrophobically modified with alkyl chains connected through an ester moiety to the main chain. Three different chains were grafted -C12H25; -C18H35 and -C4H8- OOC-C11H23 with a rate of 1, 5 and 10 %. These polymers associate in water and form hydrogels in physiological buffer, for modification rates higher than 5 % and polymer concentrations higher than 4 wt. %. The gels were characterized by rheology. Their incubation with lipases resulted in a decrease of their viscosity, which could be interpreted by the cleavage of the hydrophobic side chains, by rheological tests. When the gels with PAA-C12 were incubated with a culture of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, their viscosity decreased, which shows that alkyle chains are also cleaved in vivo.