<p align=\"justify\">A necessidade urgente de descoberta de terapias mais seguras e eficazes para o tratamento da doença de Chagas e leishmanioses tem motivado a pesquisa por novos inibidores das enzimas cruzaína e CPB, as principais cisteíno proteases do T. cruzie e Leishmania spp., respectivamente. Uma série de 52 compostos nitrílicos que atuam como inibidores covalente-reversíveis de cisteíno proteases foi sintetizada no grupo NEQUIMED/IQSC/USP e avaliada quanto a sua atividade inibitória contra as enzimas cruzaína, CPB de Leishmania mexicana e catepsina L de humanos. Utilizando planejamento molecular baseado em hipótese, mapeamos as relações estrutura-atividade (SARs) desses inibidores através de variações nas posições P1, P2, P3 e P1\' do esqueleto dipeptidil nitrílico. A substituição do grupo eletrofílico (warhead) aminonitrila em P1 pelo grupo azanitrila melhorou a afinidade em duas ordens de magnitude para todos os alvos avaliados. Um dos mais potentes inibidores, o análogo azanitrila Neq0690 mostrou uma cinética de ligação lenta com valores de pKi de 8,8, 9,3 e 9,7 para cruzaína, catepsina L e LmCPB, respectivamente. A substituição bioisostérica da ligação amida entre as posições P2-P3 pelo grupo trifluoroetilamina resultou na síntese do Neq0659, um potente inibidor com um perfil de ação seletivo para as proteases de parasitos. A substituição do grupo metileno em P1 pelo ciclopropano aumentou a afinidade para todas as enzimas. Contudo, uma inibição seletiva da cruzaína e LmCPB foi associada à presença do grupo (R)-benzila como substituinte da posição P1 dos derivados CF3 substituídos. Embora os compostos substituídos com leucina, tirosina, triptofano e 3-cloro fenilalanina como substituintes da posição P2 foram relativamente bem tolerados pela cruzaína e catepsina L, uma restrita especificidade foi verificada para LmCPB com pequenos ganhos de afinidade para os inibidores que possuíam os grupos leucina e metil benzoato como substituintes dessa posição. Com relação à posição P3, a inserção do grupo 3-terc-butilpirazol e 3-bromo piridina aumentou a afinidade para todos os alvos avaliados enquanto que um ganho seletivo para a LmCPB foi observado para os compostos que possuíam o grupo bifenila nessa posição. Além disso, duas novas estruturas cristalográficas da LmCPB complexada com o Neq0690 e metil metanotiossulfonato (MMTS) foram determinadas com resoluções de 1,3 Å e 1,5 Å, respectivamente. As estruturas dos co-complexos revelaram os modos de interação (MoB) desses ligantes, bem como as principais características do processo de reconhecimento bimolecular. Isso permitirá o uso de estratégias de planejamento baseado na estrutura do alvo com translação natural para a pesquisa por novos inibidores de cisteíno proteases, com amplo espectro de ação na quimioterapia de doenças a elas relacionadas. / <p align=\"justify\">The urgent need for the discovery of safer and more effective therapies for the treatment of Chagas disease and leishmaniasis has motivated the search for new inhibitors of the enzymes cruzain and CPB, the major T. cruzi and Leishmania spp. cysteine proteases, respectively. A series of 52 nitrile-containing compounds acting as covalent-reversible inhibitors of cysteine proteases was synthesized at the NEQUIMED/IQSC/USP Medicinal Chemistry Group and evaluated for their inhibitory activity against the enzymes cruzain, Leishmania mexicana CPB and cathepsin L from humans. Using hypothesis-driven molecular design, we mapped the structure-activity relationships (SARs) of these inhibitors through variations in the P1, P2, P3 and P1\' positions of the dipeptidyl nitrile scaffold. The substitution of the aminonitrile by the azanitrile group improved the affinity by two orders of magnitude for all the evaluated targets. One of the most potent inhibitors, the azanitrile analogue dubbed Neq0690 showed a slow-binding kinetics with pKi values of 8.8, 9.3 and 9.7 for cruzain, cathepsin L and LmCPB, respectively. Bioisosteric substitution of the amide moiety between the P2-P3 positions by the trifluoroethylamine group resulted in the synthesis of Neq0659, a potent inhibitor with a selective action profile for parasite proteases. Substitution of the methylene group at P1 by cyclopropane increased the affinity for all enzymes. However, selective inhibition of cruzain and LmCPB was associated with the presence of the (R)-benzyl group as substituent of the P1 position of the substituted CF3 derivatives. Although leucine, tyrosine, tryptophan and 3-chloro phenylalanine substituted compounds as substituents of the P2 position were relatively well tolerated by cruzain and cathepsin L, a restricted specificity was verified for LmCPB with small affinity gains for the inhibitors possessing the leucine and methyl benzoate as substituents of that position. Regarding the P3 position, the insertion of the 3-tert-butylpyrazole and 3-bromo pyridine groups increased the affinity for all evaluated targets whereas a selective gain for LmCPB was observed for the compounds having the biphenyl moiety at that position. In addition, it is noteworthy that two new crystallographic structures of LmCPB complexed with Neq0690 and methyl methanethiosulfonate (MMTS) were determined with resolutions of 1.3 Å and 1.5 Å, respectively. The structures of the co-complexes revealed the modes of binding (MoB) of these ligands, as well as the main characteristics of the bimolecular recognition process. This will allow the natural translational target structure strategies for the search for new inhibitors of cysteine proteases with broad spectrum of action in the chemotherapy of related diseases.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T14:37:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 tese_jorgea_pradiee.pdf: 964026 bytes, checksum: e100969ef5fb9f72ec9bf73b616695fd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-02-22 / In an attempt to diminish the structural damage to the plasma membrane, due to free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS), the antioxidants β-mercaptoethanol (BME) and cysteine (CIS) were tested for semen cryopreservation and in vitro maturation (IVM) and culture (IVC) of ovine embryos. Semen samples from four rams of the Crioula Lanada breed were collected with artificial vagina twice weekly (n = 23). Samples of four rams were pooled and split in six treatments: T1, control without antioxidant, T2, with 2mM BME, T3, with 5mM BME, T4, with 2mM BME and 5mM cysteine; T5, with 5 mM BME and 5mM cysteine, and T6 with 5 mM cysteine. Semen was diluted in tris-egg yolk-glycerol and stored in straws of 0.25 mL containing 100 x 106 spermatozoa. Cooling and freezing were performed using a TK3000 and thawing was performed at 37°C for 20 s. Sperm motility, membrane integrity and mitochondrial activity and acrosome, before freezing and after thawing, did not differ between treatments (P> 0.05). Quantification of ROS and total antioxidant activity after thawing were similar between treatments (P> 0.05). At the tested concentrations, the inclusion of BME, and cysteine did not affect sperm viability after thawing. In the first experiment of IVP, the inclusion of 20 mM of BME in IVM and IVC of embryos was compared to a control treatment without antioxidants. There was no deleterious effect of antioxidant on the cleavage rate (control: 70.0%; BME: 69.8%). However, the rate of development to the blastocyst stage with BME (5.2%) was lower (P <0.001) than with the control (16.9%). In the second experiment, we tested the association of 50 mM BME and 600 mM of CIS in IVM and IVC. There was no difference between control and BME/CIS (P> 0.05), for cleavage (60.3% and 64.3%, respectively) and embryonic development rates (33.6% and 36.6 %, respectively). The addition of 20 mM of isolated BME in IVM and IVC sheep embryos was associated with decreased embryonic development to blastocyst. However, the addition of antioxidants BME, and cysteine in combination, did not affect the rates of cleavage and embryo development to blastocyst. Therefore, the combination of antioxidants and CIS BME used in freezing ram semen and PIV, did not improve the treatments that have been added, albeit at different concentrations. / Na tentativa de diminuir os danos estruturais na membrana plasmática, devido aos radicais livres e espécies reativas de oxigênio (ROS), os antioxidantes β-mercaptoetanol (BME) e cisteína (CIS) foram testados na criopreservação de sêmen e na maturação (MIV) e cultivo (CIV) in vitro de embriões de ovinos. Amostras de sêmen de quatro carneiros da raça Crioula Lanada foram coletadas com vagina artificial, duas vezes por semana (n = 23). As amostras dos quatro machos foram combinadas em pool e divididas em seis tratamentos: T1, Controle, sem antioxidante; T2, com 2mM BME; T3, com 5mM BME; T4, com 2mM BME e 5mM de cisteína; T5, com 5mM BME e 5mM de cisteína; e T6 com 5mM de cisteína. O sêmen foi diluído em tris-gema-glicerol e estocado em palhetas de 0,25 mL contendo 100 x 106 espermatozoides. O resfriamento e o congelamento foram realizados em máquina TK3000 e o descongelamento foi realizado a 37ºC por 20 s. A motilidade, a integridade da membrana espermática e do acrossoma e a atividade mitocondrial, antes do congelamento e após o descongelamento, não diferiram entre os tratamentos (P> 0,05). A quantificação de ROS e da atividade antioxidante total pós-descongelamento foram semelhantes entre os tratamentos (P> 0,05). Nas concentrações testadas, a inclusão de BME e cisteína não influenciou a viabilidade espermática pós-descongelamento. No primeiro experimento de PIV, a inclusão de 20 μM de BME na MIV e CIV de embriões foi comparada a um tratamento controle sem antioxidantes. Não houve efeito deletério do antioxidante sobre a taxa de clivagem (Controle: 70,0%; BME: 69,8%). Porém, a taxa de desenvolvimento até o estágio de blastocisto no tratamento BME (5,2%) foi inferior (P<0,001) à do controle (16,9%). No segundo experimento, foi testada a associação de 50 μM de BME e 600 μM de CIS, na MIV e CIV. Não houve diferença entre os tratamentos controle e BME/CIS (P>0,05), quanto às taxas de clivagem (60,3% e 64,3%, respectivamente) e de desenvolvimento embrionário (33,6% e 36,6%, respectivamente). A adição isolada de 20 μM de BME na MIV e CIV de embriões ovinos foi associada com redução no desenvolvimento embrionário até blastocisto. Porém, a adição dos antioxidantes BME e cisteína, em associação, não afetou as taxas de clivagem e desenvolvimento embrionário até blastocisto. Assim, a associação dos antioxidantes BME e CIS usados no congelamento de sêmen ovino e na PIV, não promoveu melhora dos tratamentos em que foram adicionados, ainda que em concentrações diferentes.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / The improvement of pig industry is a consequence of the technological advances. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of cysteine in BTS (Beltsville Thawing Solution) and centrifugation on swine semen to increase the sperm quality and fertility. In the first experiment, different concentrations of cysteine in Beltsville Thawing Solution: BTS (control group); CYS0.1 (BTS added 0.1 mM cysteine); CYS0.5 (BTS added 0.5 mM cysteine); CYS1.0 (BTS added 1.0 mM cysteine); CYS2.5 (BTS added 2.5 mM cysteine); CYS5.0 (BTS added 5.0 mM cysteine); CYS10.0 (BTS added 10.0 mM cysteine) and CYS20.0 (BTS added 20.0 mM cysteine) were evaluated. In the second experiment, semen added to BTS were not centrifuged without (control group) or with 5.0 mM of cysteine (BTSCYS/NC). In other treatment groups, semen were centrifuged with (BTSCYS/CENT) or without (BTS/CENT) 5.0 mM cysteine. Semen were stored at 17 °C for 72 h. To assess the effect of cysteine and centrifugation on fertility, 136 females were randomly allotted in the following groups for artificial insemination with semen diluted in BTS and a) without centrifugation and cysteine (BTS/NC); b) without centrifugation and with 5.0 mM cysteine (BTSCYS/NC) or c) with centrifugation and with 5.0 mM cysteine (BTSCYS/CENT). After artificial insemination, the return to estrus rate and litter size were evaluated. In the first experiment, the quality of semen was determined by tests of sperm motility, vigor, morphology and viability (plasma and acrossomal membrane integrity and mitochondrial potential). In the second experiment, the semen were evaluated by the tests above, DNA compactation and function of plasma membrane. The treatments were evaluated at 0, 24, 48 and 72 h after dilution. In both experiments, the effect of treatments on the storage period was determined by analysis for repeated data (PROC MIXED) and the effect of treatments on the return to estrus rate and the number of piglets were analyzed by using PROC GLM of SAS software and applied the Tukey test for significant models. The percentage of morphological changes did not exceed 20% during storage for 72 h and do not differ between treatments in both experiments. However, the motility in the first experiment, vigor, integrity of plasma membrane and acrossomal well as the potential of mitochondria reduced the period of storage. The motility, vigor and viability decreased to levels below 10% in treatments CYS10.0, CYS20.0 in the first 24 hours of storage at 17 ºC. At the end of the storage period all groups had average below 65% of sperm with intact plasma membrane while the second experiment, treatment BTSCYS/CENT showed lower motility and force the other treatments, and the sperm motility below 60% from 24 hours of storage. The integrity of plasma membranes and acrossomal and the potential of mitochondria was less than 60% in treatments BTSCYS and BTSCYS/CENT. However in the field to the group BTSCYS showed lower average (8.83 ± 3.38) for infants and more return rate (86.05 ± 0.39) when compared to other groups. Therefore, the cysteine at low concentrations as well as maintains the control group the sperm quality. But despite treatment BTSCYS/NC have reached the same rates as the control group for sperm quality, was the treatment that received higher rates of return and lower number of piglets born. / O crescimento da suinocultura se deve a diversos avanços na área tecnológica. Buscando obter maior eficiência reprodutiva, foi analisado o efeito da cisteína ao diluente Beltsville Thawing Solution (BTS) e do processo de centrifugação sobre qualidade espermática. No primeiro experimento, foram avaliadas diferentes concentrações de cisteína no diluente BTS, conforme os seguintes tratamentos: BTS (grupo controle); CIS0,1 (BTS + 0,1 mM de cisteína); CIS0,5 (BTS + 0,5mM de cisteína); CIS1,0 (BTS + 1,0 mM de cisteína); CIS2,5 (BTS + 2,5 mM de cisteína); CIS5,0 (BTS + 5,0 mM de cisteína); CIS10,0 (BTS + 10,0 mM de cisteína) e CIS20,0 (BTS + 20,0 mM de cisteína). No segundo experimento, o sêmen foi dividido em: sêmen não centrifugado diluído em BTS/NC (grupo controle), sêmen não centrifugado diluído em BTS + 5,0 mM de cisteína (BTSCIS/NC), sêmen centrifugado diluído em BTS (BTS/CENT) e sêmen centrifugado diluído em BTS + 5,0 mM de cisteína (BTSCIS/CENT). Ambos os experimentos foram realizados para avaliar a influência dos diferentes tratamentos sobre a qualidade espermática quando o sêmen é armazenado a 17°C por até 72 horas. Para avaliar o efeito da cisteína e da centrifugação sobre fertilidade, 136 fêmeas foram selecionadas e inseminadas nos seguintes tratamentos: BTS/NC, BTSCIS/NC e BTSCIS/CENT. Após a inseminação artificial, as fêmeas foram avaliadas quanto a taxa de retorno e o tamanho da leitegada. A qualidade espermática no primeiro experimento foi determinada pelos testes de motilidade e vigor, alterações morfológicas e viabilidade espermática (membrana plasmática e acrossomal intactas e célula com potencial de mitocôndria). No entanto, no segundo experimento além dos testes citados anteriormente, foram realizados os testes de compactação de DNA e funcionalidade de membrana plasmática. As avaliações dos tratamentos foram realizadas 0, 24, 48 e 72 horas após a diluição do sêmen. Em ambos experimentos, o efeito dos tratamentos em relação ao período de armazenamento foi determinado através da análise para dados repetidos (PROC MIXED). O efeito dos tratamentos em relação a taxa de retorno e o número de nascidos foi analisado usando o PROC GLM, do programa estatístico SAS e aplicado o teste de Tukey quando o modelo foi significativo. A percentagem de alterações morfológicas não excedeu a 20% durante o armazenamento por 72 horas e nem diferiu entre os tratamentos, nos dois experimentos. Porém, no primeiro experimento a motilidade, o vigor, a integridade de membrana plasmática e acrossomal bem como o potencial de mitocôndria foram reduzidas ao longo do período de armazenamento. A motilidade, o vigor e a viabilidade diminuíram a níveis abaixo de 10% nos tratamentos CIS10,0 e CIS20,0 nas primeiras 24 horas de armazenamento a 17ºC. Ao final do período de armazenamento todos os grupos apresentavam média abaixo de 65% de espermatozóides com a membrana plasmática intacta. No segundo experimento, no entanto, o tratamento BTSCIS/CENT apresentou motilidade e vigor inferiores ao demais tratamentos, sendo a motilidade espermática inferior a 60% a partir de 24 horas de armazenamento. A integridade das membranas plasmática e acrossomal e o potencial de mitocôndria foram inferiores a 60% nos tratamentos BTSCIS e BTSCIS/CENT. No entanto na parte a campo, o grupo BTSCIS apresentou menor média (8,83 ± 3,38) de nascidos e maior taxa de retorno (86,05 ± 0,39) quando comparados aos outros grupos. Portanto, a cisteína em baixas concentrações mantém tão bem quanto o grupo controle a qualidade espermática. Mas, apesar do tratamento BTSCIS/NC ter atingido os mesmos índices que o grupo controle em relação qualidade espermática, foi o tratamento que obteve maior taxa de retorno e menor número de leitões nascidos.

The introduction of antibiotics in healthcare is one of the most important medical achievements with regard to reducing human morbidity and mortality. However, bacterial pathogens have acquired antibiotic resistance at an increasing rate, and due to a high prevalence of resistance to some antibiotics they can no longer be used therapeutically. The antibiotic mecillinam, which inhibits the penicillin-binding protein PBP2, however, is an exception since mecillinam resistance (MecR) prevalence has remained low. This is particularly interesting since laboratory experiments have shown that bacteria can rapidly acquire MecR mutations by a multitude of different types of mutations. In this thesis, I examined mechanisms and dynamics of mecillinam resistance in clinical and laboratory isolates of Escherichia coli. Only one type of MecR mutations (cysB) was found in the clinical strains, even though laboratory experiments demonstrate that more than 100 genes can confer resistance Fitness assays showed that cysB mutants have higher fitness than most other MecR mutants, which is likely to contribute to their dominance in clinical settings. To determine if the mecillinam resistant strains could compensate for their fitness cost, six different MecR mutants (cysB, mrdA, spoT, ppa, aspS and ubiE) were evolved for 200-400 generations. All evolved mutants showed increased fitness, but the compensation was associated with loss of resistance in the majority of cases. This will also contribute to the rarity of clinical MecR isolates with chromosomal resistance mutations. How MecR is mediated by cysB mutations was previously unclear, but in this thesis I propose and test a model for the mechanism of resistance. Thus, inactivation of CysB results in cellular depletion of cysteine that triggers an oxidative stress response. The response alters the intracellular levels of 450 proteins, and MecR is achieved by the increase of two of these, the LpoB and PBP1B proteins, which rescue the cells with a mecillinam-inhibited PBP2. Mecillinam is used for UTI treatments and to investigate mecillinam resistance in a more host-like milieu, MecR strains were grown in urine and resistance was examined. Interestingly, this study showed that neither laboratory, nor clinical cysB mutants are resistant in urine, most likely because the cysteine present in the urine phenotypically reverts the bacteria to susceptibility. These findings suggest that mecillinam can be used to treat also those clinical strains that are identified as MecR in standard laboratory tests, and that testing of mecillinam susceptibility in the laboratory ought to be performed in media that mimics urine to obtain clinically relevant results. In summary, the work described in this thesis has increased ourgeneral knowledge of mecillinam resistance and its evolution. Hopefully this knowledge can be put to good use in clinical settings to reduce the negative impact of antibiotic resistance.

Les protéines à centre Fe-S sont impliquées dans de nombreux processus cellulaires. In vivo, la formation des centres Fe-S est réalisée par des machineries multi-protéiques dont ISC et SUF, conservées chez les eucaryotes et les procaryotes. D’autres composants participent à la formation des centres Fe-S chez les eucaryotes, comme la frataxine (FXN). La FXN est une protéine présente chez l’homme, les plantes, la levure ou encore les bactéries à Gram négatif. Chez les eucaryotes, l’absence de FXN conduit à des phénotypes drastiques comme une accumulation de fer dans la mitochondrie, une diminution drastique de l’activité d’enzymes à centre Fe-S ou encore des dommages oxydatifs. Chez l’homme, un déficit en FXN est responsable d’une maladie neurodégénérative, l’ataxie de Friedreich. A la différence des eucaryotes, chez les procaryotes comme Escherichia coli, l’absence de CyaY, homologue bactérien de la FXN, ne conduit à aucun des phénotypes évoqués ci-dessus.Durant ma thèse, je me suis intéressée au rôle de CyaY chez E. coli. J’ai montré que, in vivo, CyaY favorise la formation des centres Fe-S via la machinerie ISC. Un lien génétique entre CyaY et IscX a également pu être établi, montrant que ces deux protéines participent à la formation des centres Fe-S in vivo. Je me suis ensuite intéressée aux bases moléculaires pouvant expliquer la différence entre les phénotypes liés à l’absence de FXN chez les eucaryotes et les procaryotes. J’ai montré que le résidu 108 de IscU joue un rôle clé pour la dépendance de CyaY. Enfin, pour mieux comprendre le rôle de CyaY chez E. coli, j’ai réalisé une approche globale en caractérisant le transcriptome du mutant ∆cyaY. / Fe-S cluster containing proteins are involved in many cellular processes such as respiration, DNA repair or gene regulation. In vivo, Fe-S cluster biogenesis is catalysed by specific protein machineries, ISC and SUF, conserved in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Frataxin (FXN) is a small protein found in humans, plants, yeast and Gram negative bacteria. In eukaryotes, a defect in FXN leads to drastic phenotypes such as mitochondrial iron accumulation, drastic decrease of Fe-S cluster protein activity, sensitivity to oxidants. In humans, FXN deficiency is responsible for the neurodegenerative disease, Friedreich’s ataxia. In prokaryotes like E. coli, a defect in CyaY, the bacterial FXN homolog, does not lead to significant phenotypes compared to the wild-type strain. During my thesis, I investigated the role of the bacterial FXN CyaY in E. coli. I showed that, in vivo, CyaY assisted the ISC-catalyzed Fe-S cluster biogenesis. A genetic link was also observed between cyaY and iscX, demonstrating that these proteins participate in Fe-S cluster biogenesis. In a second part, I investigated the differences between the impact of the eukaryotic versus prokaryotic FXN. I showed that the IscU 108th residue is crucial for the CyaY-dependency. Finally, I used a transcriptomic approach to test whether CyaY has a global role in E. coli.

Nós isolamos e seqüenciamos genes que codificam Catepsina L-like em diversos isolados de T.rangeli de humano, mamíferos silvestres e Rhodnius spp., do centro e sul da América. Análises filogenéticas de seqüências que codificam a proteína madura de T. rangeli, outras espécies de Trypanosoma e Leishmania e duas espécies de bodonídeos, posicionaram T.rangeli próximo a T.cruzi de acordo com a ordem de divergência determinada em filogenias baseadas em SSUrDNA. Uma análise de 17 seqüências do domínio catalítico de CatL-like de isolados representativos da diversidade filogenética e distribuição geográfica de T. rangeli, apoiaram as mesmas linhagens filogenéticas previamente definidas. Seqüências do gene CatL-like também foram usados para padronizar ensaios de PCR para diagnóstico de T. cruzi e T. rangeli. Além disso, um método de genotipagem por PCR multiplex segregou os isolados de T. rangeli nas principais linhagens previamente estabelecidas. Este é o primeiro estudo usando um gene codificador de proteína para comparar isolados de T. rangeli de linhagens distintas. / We have isolated and sequenced genes encoding cathepsin L-like (CatL-like) cysteine proteases from isolates of T. rangeli from human, wild mammals and Rhodnius spp., from Central and South America. Phylogenetic analysis of sequences encoding the mature CatL-like enzymes from T. rangeli (Rangelipain), other Trypanosoma and Leishmania species, and two species of bodonids, positioned T. rangeli closest to T. cruzi corroborating the same order of divergence showed in phylogenies based on SSU rDNA. Analysis of 17 sequences of the catalytic domains of CatL-like genes isolates representative of the phylogenetic diversity and geographical range of T.rangeli supported previously defined phylogenetic lineages. Sequences of CatL-like genes were used to standardize PCR assays for the diagnosis of T. rangeli and T. cruzi, and a genotyping method of multiplex-PCR distributed of isolates of T. rangeli in the major phylogenetic lineages previously established. This is the first study using protein-encoding genes to compare isolates from T. rangeli of distinct lineages.

Pentachlorophenol, (PCP) is an organochlorine compound which was first developed in the 1930’s. PCP is said to be the most toxic of the chlorophenols and is classified as a hazardous substance and a probable human carcinogen. PCP has proven to be cytotoxic to a number of cell lines translating to its effect on various organs. The aim of the study was to assess organochlorine-induced hepatotoxicity in a mechanistic manner using an in-house developed procedure. Also, the possible hepatoprotective effect of methanolic extracts of the bark of two medicinal plants, Burkea africana (BA) and Syzygium cordatum (SC), as well as the known hepatoprotective agent, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), were investigated. In addition to PCP, two of its major metabolites, tetrachloro-1,2-hydroquinone (TCHQ) and tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone (TCBQ) were also evaluated. A hepatocarcinoma cell line (HepG2) was used to investigate the effect of these compounds on different parameters of cellular function. Cytotoxicity was assessed using the neutral red uptake assay. Cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) activity was determined using ethoxy-resorufin-O-deethylation as surrogate. Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was investigated by measuring dichlorofluorescein diacetate cleavage. Effects on mitochondrial membrane potential were determined using JC-1 staining, whilst necrosis was investigated by assessing plasma membrane integrity using propidium iodide (PI)staining. The degree of apoptotic death was determined by quantifying caspase-3 activity. Assays were repeated with an additional 1 h pre-treatment of the cells with either NAC, SC or BA in order to investigate whether these compounds were able to protect against the toxicity induced by PCP and its metabolites. The IC50 values of PCP, TCHQ and TCBQ were 68.0, 144.0 and 129.4 μM, respectively. All three test compounds induced CYP1A1 activity with PCP being the most potent. TCBQ produced extensive ROS generation. TCHQ also induced ROS generation, whilst PCP appeared to have no significant effect on ROS generation. All test compounds caused mitochondrial depolarization. None of the test compounds caused an increase in necrotic cell death. PCP, TCHQ and TCBQ had negligible effects on apoptosis. Both SC and BA alleviated the toxic effects observed in cells treated with PCP. Minor increases in viability occurred in cells pre-treated with plant extracts prior to exposure to both metabolites. NAC, as well as both plant extracts, greatly reduced CYP 1A1 activity induced by PCP. NAC, SC and BA exacerbated CYP1A1 induction in cells exposed to concentrations of TCBQ and TCHQ that initially produced little or no effect on CYP1A1 activity. Contrarily, decreased CYP1A1 activity was observed in cells exposed to concentrations of TCBQ and TCHQ where extensive induction of CYP1A1 occurred. NAC, as well as both plant extracts, suppressed ROS generation in cells exposed to all test compounds. In cells exposed to PCP and TCBQ more extensive mitochondrial depolarization was seen when pre-treated with NAC and plant extracts than when exposed to the compounds alone. Negligible effects were seen in pre-treated cells exposed to TCHQ. BA and SC caused increases in necrotic death in cells exposed to the test compounds. NAC, BA and SC had negligible effects on the changes in caspase-3 activity induced by the test compounds. From the results it is proposed that PCP induces its own metabolism by increasing CYP1A1 activity. It also causes mitochondrial insult which could lead to the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore and subsequent release of cytochrome C, activation of caspases and eventually apoptotic cell death. With regard to TCHQ and TCBQ, results suggest that extensive ROS generation caused damage to various cellular macromolecules and that this could be the main cause of their toxicity. NAC, SC and BA appeared to alleviate toxicity in certain instances. Further investigation is required in order to assess them as possible hepatoprotective agents. Copyright / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Pharmacology / unrestricted

The hard tick Ixodes ricinus is an important blood-feeding parasite that transmits tick- borne diseases, such as tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease. Ticks employ a battery of proteolytic enzymes, including cathepsins, to digest their bloodmeal. These proteins are potential targets for the development of anti-tick vaccines. This work is focused on cathepsin L from I. ricinus (IrCL), namely its isoenzymes IrCL1 and IrCL3. IrCL1 was expressed in Pichia pastoris and chromatographically purified. Its substrate specifity was determined by the cleavage of (a) peptide fluorogenic substrates and (b) protein substrates analyzed by mass spectrometry. The proteolytic activity of IrCL1 was modulated by its interaction with glycosaminoglycans, which affected the pH optimum value. Futhermore, a proteolytically active mutant of IrCL1 with reduced number of N-glycosylation sites was prepared; this form will be used for crystallization experiments. IrCL3 was expressed in Escherichia coli, refolded and activated to its active form. The proteolytic activity of IrCL3 is in many ascpects similar to that of IrCL1, including substrate specifity, acidic pH optimum and activity modulation by glycosaminoglycans. Key words: cysteine proteases, cathepsin L, hard tick I. ricinus, substrate specifity, proteolytic activity...

Věra Mansfeldová: Time-resolved potentiometry on liquid-liquid interface (Dissertation thesis) Abstract The aim of this work is to explore the method of temporal resolution in potentiometry as a new prospective electrochemical analytical technique. In connection with interface of two immiscible electrolyte solutions (ITIES) it may find utilization in analytical chemistry. This technique up to my knowledge has not been published yet. Potential response of analyte on liquid/liquid interface includes both distribution processes, their temporal resolution and redox processes, which specificity can modified by changing the composition of individual phases. Unlike "classic" potentiometric techniques, limited just to potential determination, this method, which I have given the working name "time resolved potentiometry at liquid-liquid interface" utilizes time development of potential response, which was found to be an analyte-specific function. The time resolved potentiometry presented in this work includes time course of potential response to analytical parameters specific for particular analyte. It brings series of data characterizing the analyte in given environment in a similar manner as spectra and may allow creating analyte-specific data package - fingerprint. Combination with ITIES allows, unlike...

This study focuses on the recombinant cysteine peptidases - cathepsin B originating in the bird schistosome Trichobilharzia regenti that is unique across the whole family for its ability to migrate through the nerve tissue to the final localization. For invasion, migration, degradation of nutritional proteins and/or evasion of host immune responses, schistosome employs peptidases. This study follows the research done by researchers of Department of parasitology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Charles University. The main goal of this study was to deepen the characteristics of recombinant cathepsins B originating in T. regenti. In T. regenti, two cysteine peptidases - cathepsins B1 (TrCB1) and B2 (TrCB2) - have been previously characterized. TrCB1 is located in the gut of schistosomula and involved in digestion. TrCB2 occurs in post-acetabular penetration glands of cercariae and probably facilitates penetration. The recombinant pro-cathepsin B (isoforms TrCB1.1, TrCB1.4 and also TrCB2) were expressed in Pichia pastoris yeast system. An attempt was made to produce in P. pastoris the recombinant isoform TrCB1.6, in which the active site cysteine is substituted by glycine. While TrCB2 underwent self-processing in the expression medium, TrCB1.1 and TrC1.4 zymogens were effectively activated only after the...