'Regulators of G protein signaling' (RGS proteins) modulate the G proteincycle by enhancing the GTPase activity of Ga subunits. These changesaccelerate the kinetics of ion channel modulation by Gai/o-coupled receptors(GPCRs) such as the G protein-gated inward rectifier K+ (GIRK/Kir3) channel. Myexperiments indicate that a single cerebellar granule (CG) neuron, a cell type thatendogenously expresses GIRK channels is able to express a wide variety ofRGS proteins. I selected two of them, which are widely expressed andtranscriptionally regulated during pathophysiologic conditions, to compare theirfunctional properties. I originally described the differential modulatory effects oftwo RGS proteins, the RGS3 short isoform (RGS3s) and RGS4, on muscarinicm2 and serotonin 1A receptor-coupled Kir3.1/Kir3.2a channels expressed inChinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) cells. Both RGS3s and RGS4 acceleratedGIRK activation and deactivation current kinetics in a similar way. However, onlyRGS3s si gnificantly decreased the maximal GIRK current (Imax) elicited by ACh(~45% inhibition) and significantly increased the EC50 for both GPCRs. Thehypothesis that emerged from this initial study was that the distinct RGS4 Nterminaldomain mediated a direct coupling of RGS4 to GPCR-GIRK channelsignaling complexes that was not shared by RGS3s. To test this hypothesis, Iepitope-tagged several GPCRs, the Kir3.1 subunit, RGS3s, RGS4, and severaldeletion mutants and chimeras for co-immunoprecipitation experiments. Using anepitope-tagged degradation resistant RGS4 mutant RGS4(C2V), I detected coprecipitationof different GPCR-GIRK channel complexes with RGS4 but notRGS3s.The functional impact of RGS4 coupling to the GPCR-Kir3 channelcomplex versus uncoupled RGS3s was not apparent in recordings from CHO-K1cells presumably due to a high degree of RGS collision-coupling. Controlledexpression in Xenopus oocytes revealed a 30-fold greater potency for RGS4 inthe accelerating GIRK channel gating kinetics. In summary, these findings demonstrate that one of the ways for the cellto achieve signaling pathway specificity may be through selective coupling of thedifferent GPCR-effector-RGS protein complexes.

This thesis investigates Yonggi Cho's conception of Seongnyeong Undong (the Holy Spirit Movement: HSM) in his pastoral ministry activity at the Yoido Full Gospel Church (YFGC) in Korea. First of all, it examines how Cho's HSM developed at the YFGC from an historical perspective. Secondly, it discusses Cho's main theology and investigates this theology from a systematic theological perspective. Thirdly, it focuses on Cho's belief and practice from a practical, theological perspective. Some scholars say that Cho's theology, belief and practice, particularly of material blessings and Sinyu (divine healing) in his ministry, are similar to those in Korean shamanism. However, other scholars argue that his theological ideas came from the Bible and western theological doctrines and Westerners. The present study assesses these different arguments and concludes that Cho tried to base his theological ideas and his ministry activity on biblical foundations rather than on shamanistic and other Korean traditional cultures, even if he used Korean terms to describe them. The study is mainly based on literary research and is divided into five chapters. Chapter 1 introduces the overall focus of the study. Chapter 2 examines the life and ministry of Yonggi Cho, and the development of Yonggi Cho's understanding of the HSM in his pastoral care since 1958. Using a historical theological method this chapter also shows how Yonggi Cho developed the HSM at the YFGC in his ministry through his written work. Chapter 3 deals with Yonggi Cho's theological background and his core theology — how he understands the HSM, and the root of HSM from systematic theological perspectives. It shows where his main theology came from on the basis of evidence provided in his numerous writings. Chapter 4 emphasises Yonggi Cho's understanding of the Holy Spirit (HS) in his belief and practice. It shows where his belief and practice came from, and discusses what his main belief and practices are from practical theological views. Chapter 5 concludes the study. Three main conclusions are drawn with regard to the 1) historical theological, 2) systematic theological, and 3) practical theological perspectives on Yonggi Cho's understanding of the HS. The thesis concludes that Cho was much more influenced by biblical and western understandings than he was by shamanism or by other Korean traditions, even though he borrowed words from their language.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:56:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissGMCS.pdf: 2717580 bytes, checksum: ff4f01b1bf27d70757eb37ee1960edef (MD5) Previous issue date: 2004-06-25 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / Disintegrins are proteins present in the poison of serpents that have been calling the pharmaceutical industry attention due to their capacity to prevent the progression of cancerous cells. A receiving key-protein called integrin addresses the formation of new blood vessels instructing the tumor cells to increase and spread. The disintegrin acts as an inhibitor that blocks this interaction. In order to produce substantial amounts of disintegrin in industrial scale, its expression in CHO-K1 cells was carried out by cloning the characteristic DNA extracted from the poison producing glands of the serpent Agkistrodon contortrix laticinctus. Usually CHO-K1 cells are cultivated in medium containing bovine fetal serum. However, its presence in the cultivation medium hinders the stages of detection, extraction and purification of the protein of interest. The objective of this work was to study the CHOZMD cell growth and the desintegrin production in serum free medium, as well as to develope a methodology for the detection and quantification of the disintegrin present in the medium. The cultivations were carried in culture bottles of 25cm2, 75cm2 and 150cm2 and later in spinner flask with a volume of 500mL, incubated with an amount of CO2 controlled in 10% v/v, pH between 7.0 to 7.4, a temperature of 37 °C, under agitation conditions. The cells were cultivated in the presence of the microcarrrier Pronectin F which enables the attainment of high cell concentration. The culture media DMEM and CHO-S-SFM II were used in the cultivations by means of a gradual adaptation process for a serum free medium, through the reduction of DMEM+serum proportion at each change, until that it was totally replaced by the serum free medium. The cells were maintained in 100% serum free medium during 6h with the withdrawal of 250 ml after 3 h and of the remaining volume after 6h of cultivation. For the detection of the disintegrin, the samples were initially filtered in Milipore filter, then concentrated in ultra filter Amicon and finally centrifuged in membranes Centriprep and Centricon. The disintegrin, protein of ~70kDa, present in the treated samples was detected using Bio Dot equipment with nitrocelulose membrane incubated with specific antibodies. The samples were applied in ion exchange column and the fractions obtained applied in nitrocelulose membrane. In the cultivations carried out in serum free medium with the microcarrier Pronectin F a maximum cell concentration of 1.74.106 cel.ml-1 was reached, which is slightly inferior to the value reached in the cultivations in medium containing serum (2.7.106 cel.mL-1). However, concerning product formation, the immunodetecion results revealed the presence of the disintegrin in the cultivations carried out with serum free medium. Cultivations carried out in spinner flask, with a volume of 200mL and using microcarrier Citodex 1 and medium supplemented with 1% hemolymph (v/v) presented maximum cell concentration of 2.6.106 cel.mL-1. The detection method developed was effective in the identification of the target protein in the samples from the cultivation medium containing hemolymph. Preliminary tests demonstrated loss of protein might be related to gradual degradation in cultivation medium or retention in ion exchange column. / Desintegrinas são proteínas presentes no veneno de serpentes que têm despertado interesse da indústria farmacêutica por sua capacidade de impedir a progressão de células cancerígenas. Uma proteína-chave receptora chamada integrina direciona a formação de novos vasos sangüíneos instruindo as células do tumor a crescerem e se espalharem. A desintegrina atua como um inibidor que bloqueia essa interação. Para que quantidades substanciais de desintegrina possam ser produzidas em escala industrial, realizou-se a expressão da mesma em células CHO-K1, produzidas por clonagem do ADN característico retirado das glândulas produtoras do veneno da serpente Agkistrodon contortrix laticinctus. Normalmente as células CHO-K1 são cultivadas em meio contendo soro fetal bovino. No entanto, a presença do mesmo no meio de cultivo dificulta as etapas de detecção, extração e purificação da proteína de interesse. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar o crescimento de células CHO-K1 e a produção da desintegrina em meio livre de soro, assim como desenvolver uma metodologia para a detecção e quantificação da desintegrina presente no meio. Os cultivos foram realizados em garrafas de cultura de 25cm2, 75cm2 e 150cm2 e posteriormente em frasco spinner com um volume de 500mL, incubados em estufa com uma quantidade de CO2 controlada em 10% v/v, pH entre 7,0 a 7,4, a uma temperatura de 37 °C em condições de agitação brandas. As células foram cultivadas na presença do microcarrregador sólido Pronectin F, que possibilita a obtenção de uma alta concentração de células. Os meios de cultura DMEM e CHO-S-SFM II foram utilizados nos cultivos por um processo de adaptação gradual para um meio livre de soro, reduzindo-se a proporção de meio com soro a cada troca, até que fosse totalmente substituído para o meio livre de soro. As células foram mantidas em meio 100% livre de soro durante 6 h com a retirada de 250 ml após 3 h e o restante após 6 h de cultivo. Para a detecção da desintegrina, as amostras foram primeiramente filtradas em filtro Millipore e o filtrado concentrado em ultrafiltro Amicon e centrifugadas em membranas Centriprep e Centricon. A desintegrina, proteína de ~70KDa presente nas amostras tratadas, foi detectada utilizando-se equipamento Bio Dot em membrana de nitrocelulose incubada com anticorpos específicos. As amostras foram aplicadas em coluna de troca iônica e as frações obtidas aplicadas em membrana de nitrocelulose. Nos cultivos realizados em meio livre de soro com o microcarregador Pronectin F foi atingida uma concentração celular máxima de 1,74.106 cel.ml-1, a qual é ligeiramente inferior ao valor alcançado nos cultivos em meio contendo soro (2,7.106 cel.mL-1). Entretanto no que se refere à formação do produto o resultado na membrana de nitrocelulose evidencia a presença da desintegrina no meio de cultivo livre de soro. Cultivos realizados em meio suplementado com 1% v/v de hemolinfa apresentaram concentração celular máxima de 2,6. 106 cel.mL-1 em frasco Spinner, com um volume de 200mL e utilizando microcarregador Citodex 1. O método de detecção desenvolvido foi efetivo na identificação da proteína de interesse nas amostras retiradas do cultivo em meio contendo hemolinfa. Testes preliminares demonstraram que a proteína pode estar degradando gradativamente em meio de cultivo ou ficando retida na coluna de troca iônica.