Sulfur amino acids have critical function as intracellular redox buffers and maintain homeostasis in the external milieu by combating oxidative stress. Synthesis of glutathione (GSH) is regulated at a substrate level by cysteine, which is synthesized by homocysteine via the transsulfuration pathway. Oxidative stress and diminished glutathione pools play a sustained role in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis. One of the aims of this study was to experimentally address the temporal relationship between plasma sulfur amino acid levels in patients suffering from acute pancreatitis. The data indicated low concentration of cysteine initially, at levels similar to those of healthy controls. Glutathione was found reduced whilst cysteinyl-glycine and ¿- glutamyl transpeptidase activity were increased in both mild and severe attacks. As the disease progressed, glutathione and cysteinyl-glycine were further increased in mild attacks and cysteine levels correlated with homocysteine and ¿-glutamyl transpeptidase activity. The progress of severe attacks was associated with glutathione depletion, reduced ¿-glutamyl transpeptidase activity and increased cysteinyl-glycine, that correlated with glutathione depletion. The corollary that ample supply of cysteine and cysteinly-glycine does not contribute towards glutathione synthesis in acute pancreatitis poses an important issue that merits resolution. Heightened oxidative stress and depletion of glutathione rationalized the progression of disease in severe attacks. An upsurge that reactive oxygen species can shift redox state of cells is determined by the ratio of the abundant redox couples reduced and oxidized glutathione (GSH: GSSG) in cell. The study reported a novel methodology for quantification of total oxidized glutathione (tGSSG) and total glutathione (tGSH) in whole blood using reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. The novelty of the method is ascertained by the use of a mercaptan scavenger 1, methyl-2-vinyl-pyridinium trifluromethanesulfonate for the total oxidized glutathione determination. The results reported permit quantitation of tGSSG and tGSH and was applied to a control group. Finally, the study was also focussed in developing a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric method to evaluate free and conjugated bile acids in patients suffering from various degrees of cholestatic-hepatobiliary disorders. The study reported low levels of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and slightly high levels of lithocholic acid (LCA). All the primary bile acids seem to be conjugated with glycine and taurine amino acid.

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No description available.

Memory of chirality (MOC) is an emerging strategy for asymmetric synthesis which relies upon the intermediacy of transiently non-racemic reactive species. In these reactions the configuration of the sole stereogenic center of the enantiopure starting material is "memorized" by a chiral non-racemic conformation in the intermediate; trapping then captures the stereochemical information, and generates a new stereogenic center with high fidelity. We experimentally and computationally studied the highly retentive deprotonation/alkylations of 1,4-benzodiazepin-2-ones (BZDs) that rely upon this strategy. We captured a transiently non-racemic BZD enolate intermediate in enantiopure form, then released the enolate and observed its subsequent reaction. This approach allowed the first ever step-wise observation of the stereochemical course of such a MOC process. Approximately 2 million deaths are caused by malaria every year in the world. In total roughly 3.2 billion people are living under the risk of malaria transmission. Current use of anticholinesterase insecticides has been limited by their toxicity to human beings. A major African malaria insect vector, Anopheles gambiae (Ag), was targeted. Based on sequence alignment and homology models of AgAChE, a strategy of dual-site binding was adopted that targets Trp84 in the active site and Cys286 at the peripheral site. Selective AChE inhibitors have been designed and synthesized. / Ph. D.

Die oxidative Transformation der Thiol-Gruppe des Cysteins in verschiedene andere funktionelle Gruppen wird als sehr wichtige posttranslationale Modifikation (PTM) angesehen. Cysteinsulfensäure (SA) ist eine Zwischenstufe der Thiol-Oxidation: Sie kann entweder mit freien Thiolen reagieren, um Disulfide zu bilden oder durch reaktive Sauerstoffspezies (reactiveoxygenspecies, ROS) weiter oxidiert werden. Jede Störung des zellulären Redox-Haushalts wird mit altersbedingten Erkrankungen , daher stellt die Überwachung des SA-Spiegels einen vielversprechenden Wegdar, den Status dieses Redox-Haushalts festzustellen. Da bereits kleinste Änderungen der Proteinmengen und PTMs tiefe Einblicke in den Zustand des biologischen Systems liefern können, ist eine quantitative Bestimmung von großer Bedeutung.Technologische Fortschritte im Bereich der Trennungsmethoden und Massenspektrometrie (MS) erlaubten die Entwicklung umfassender Möglichkeiten in der Protein-Analytik. In dieser Arbeit wurde eine neue, hochsensitive und selektive Methode zur Detektion von SA entwickelt. Dafür wurde ein Alkin-β-Ketoester (KE) an einen Lanthanid-haltigen (Ln) Chelatkomplex. Zum Nachweis des Funktionsprinzips wurden, mittels H2O2, Sulfensäuren in verschiedenen Peptidsequenzen erzeugt, um die in biologischen Systemen durch ROS hervorgerufenen Oxidationen nachzustellen. Diese Sulfensäuren wurden anschließend durch den Ln-DOTA-KE-Komplex gebunden. Die Bildung dieser SA-Ln-DOTA-KE-Einheit wurde mittels (Elektronenspray-Ionisation/ ESI-MS) und (induktiv gekoppeltem Plasma/ICP-MS) nachverfolgt. Die entwickelte Methode wurde weiterhin auf die Bestimmung von SA-Bildung in humanem Serum angewandt, humanes Serumalbumin wurde angereichert via Affinitätschromatographie. ICP-MS diente der Bestimmung der SA-Ln-DOTA-KE-Einheit, durch Kombination mit einer Isotopenverdünnungsanalyse (IDA) wurde eine absolute Quantifizierung durchgeführt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen oxidative Schäden bis zu 40 % des vorhandenen Albumins. / Oxidative transformation of cysteine thiol group into different functional groups is considered a significant posttranslational modification (PTM) of great importance. Cysteine sulfenic acid (SA) is the transient state for thiol group oxidation; it can react with free thiols to form disulfide bonds or can be further oxidized with reactive oxygen species (ROS) to form sulfinic and sulfonic acids. As any disturbance in the cellular reduction-oxidation (redox) balance is correlated to age-related diseases, the detection of SA transient state formed a sensor for such redox-mediated events. Whereas only any small change in the quantity of proteins, as well as the formed PTMs, can provide deeper insights into the status of the biological system, quantitative analysis should be carried out to reveal the status of the system. On the other hand, the technological advances, in particular the separation techniques and mass spectrometry (MS), allowed the development of several approaches for the comprehensive assessment of proteome analysis. Herein, we provide a new strategy for the highly sensitive and specific detection of SA using alkyne β-ketoester (KE) previously linked to a lanthanide (Ln)-containing chelator (Ln-DOTA. SA was generated by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in different peptide sequences by ROS and was detected by the prepared compound Ln-DOTA-KE. Molecular mass spectrometry (electrospray/ ESI-MS) and (Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry /ICP-MS) have been used to monitor the formation of SA linked to Ln-DOTA-KE. The developed strategy has been further applied to the determination of SA-induced formation in human serum by using affinity chromatography for purification of albumin followed by ICP-MS to monitor the formed SA linked to Ln-DOTA-KE in combination with isotope dilution analysis (IDA) for the absolute quantification. Quantitative results showed levels of oxidative damage regarding SA formation in human serum up to 40% of the albumin present.

Die Cathepsine B, H und L sind lysosomale Enzyme, die zur Gruppe der Cysteinproteasen gehören. Erhöhte Aktivitäten dieser Proteasen fand man in Gewebeproben verschiedener Tumore, vermutlich Hinweis auf eine Beteiligung an Invasion und Metastasierung. Unter physiologischen Bedingungen werden die Cathepsine von endogenen Inhibitoren kontrolliert, eine Verminderung dieser Cysteinprotease-Inhibitoren (CPI) würde die proteolytische Dysbalance verstärken und zur Ausbreitung des malignen Prozesses beitragen. Für das Prostatakarzinom gab es bisher keine Untersuchungen. Die Aktivität der Cathepsine wurde mit Hilfe spezifischer Substrate bestimmt, die zur Bildung fluorogener Produkte führten. Zur Bestimmung der inhibitorischen Aktivität der CPI wurden die Proben nach einer Hitzeaktivierung gegen reines Cathepsin B getestet. Untersucht wurden Gewebeproben verschiedener Patientengruppen, Primärzellkulturen, die aus normalem und maligne veränderten Prostatagewebe angezüchtet wurden und vergleichend dazu die drei immortalisierten Zellinien LNCaP, PC3 und DU145. Die Ergebnisse der Gewebeproben zeigten höhere Aktivitäten der Cathepsine B und L im nichterkrankten Gewebe, nicht wie erwartet im Tumorgewebe der Prostata. Hingegen waren bei den Primärzellkulturen alle drei Cathepsine und der Quotient Cathepsine/CPI in den Tumorproben erhöht. Die immortalisierten Zellinien zeigten die gleiche Verteilung bei allen Cathepsinen, DU145 mit der höchsten Aktivität, gefolgt von LNCaP und PC3. Anhand der Ergebnisse schlußfolgern wir, daß die Untersuchung von Gewebe-proben der Prostata hinsichtlich der Beteiligung der Cathepsine am Tumor-geschehen keine eindeutigen Erkenntnisse erbringt. Dies ist vermutlich auf die Heterogenität des Gewebes zurückzuführen, das nicht nur epitheliale, sondern auch stromale Zellen enthält. Die aus dem Gewebe angezüchteten Primär-zellkulturen scheinen ein genaueres Bild des Verhältnisses von Cathepsinen und den Inhibitoren zu geben und sind unserer Meinung nach den Bestimmungen in Gewebeproben vorzuziehen. / The cathepsins B, H and L (CB, CH, CL) are lysosomal proteolytic enzymes belonging to the cysteine protease family. Elevated cathepsin levels and decreased concentration of their endogenous inhibitors have been demonstrated in a variety of tumors, suggesting a contribution to invasion and metastasis. The situation for prostate cancer was so far unknown. Using fluorimetric assays, catalytic activities of the cathepsins B, H, L were measured in prostatic tissue samples obtained from different groups of patients, in primary cell cultures established from human prostate and in the immortalized cell lines LNCaP, PC3 and DU145. Inhibitory activities of cysteine protease inhibitors (CPI) were tested against purified cathepsin B. Comparing matched pairs of normal and cancerous tissue samples from the prostate, significantly decreased levels of CB and CL were found in malignant samples. In contrast, primary cell cultures from malignant tissue showed elevated levels of all three cathepsins and increased ratios of cathepsins to CPI when compared to cell cultures from non-malignant prostate. The permanent cell lines showed a similiar distribution of cathepsin levels, DU145 with the highest activity, followed by LNCaP and PC3. These results suggest that elevated cathepsin activities and increased ratios of cathepsins to CPI in malignant cell cultures compared to non-malignant samples may be an indication for a cellular proteolytic imbalance in prostatic cancer cells. Regarding different results, determinations in primary cell cultures should be preferred to tissue samples.

Metabolism of D-amino acids is of considerable interest due to their key importance in cellular functions. The enzymes D-serine dehydratase (DSD) and D-cysteine desulfhydrase (DCyD) are involved in the degradation of D-Ser and D-Cys, respectively. We determined the crystal structure of Salmonella typhimurium DSD (StDSD) by multiple anomalous dispersion method of phasing using selenomethione incorporated protein crystals. The structure revealed a fold typical of fold type II PLP-dependent enzymes. Although holoenzyme was used for crystallization of both wild type StDSD (WtDSD) and selenomethionine labeled StDSD (SeMetDSD), significant electron density was not observed for the co-factor, indicating that the enzyme has a low affinity for the cofactor under crystallization conditions. Interestingly, unexpected conformational differences were observed between the two structures. The WtDSD was in an open conformation while SeMetDSD, crystallized in the presence of isoserine, was in a closed conformation suggesting that the enzyme is likely to undergo conformational changes upon binding of substrate as observed in other fold type II PLP-dependent enzymes. Electron density corresponding to a plausible sodium ion was found near the active site of the closed but not in the open state of the enzyme. Examination of the active site and substrate modeling suggested that Thr166 may be involved in abstraction of proton from the Cα atom of the substrate. Apart from the physiological reaction, StDSD catalyses α, β-elimination of D-Thr, D-Allothr and L-Ser to the corresponding α-keto acids and ammonia. The structure of StDSD provides a molecular framework necessary for understanding differences in the rate of reaction with these substrates. Salmonella typhimurium DCyD (StDCyD) is a fold type II PLP-dependent enzyme that catalyzes the degradation of D-Cys to H2S and pyruvate. We determined the crystal structure of StDCyD using molecular replacement method in two different crystal forms. The better diffracting crystal form obtained in presence of benzamidine illustrated the influence a small molecule in altering protein interfaces and crystal packing. The polypeptide fold of StDCyD consists of a small domain (residues 48-161) and a large domain (residues 1-47 and 162-328) which resemble other fold type II PLP-dependent enzymes. X-ray crystal structures of StDCyD were also obtained in the presence of substrates, D-Cys and βCDA, and substrate analogs, ACC, D-Ser, L-Ser, D-cycloserine (DCS) and L-cycloserine (LCS). The structures obtained in the presence of D-Cys and βCDA show the product, pyruvate, bound at a site 4.0-6.0 Å away from the active site. ACC forms an external aldimine complex while D and L-Ser bind non-covalently suggesting that the reaction with these ligands is arrested at Cα proton abstraction and transimination steps, respectively. In the active site of StDCyD cocrystallized with DCS or LCS, electron density for a pyridoxamine phosphate (PMP) was observed. Crystals soaked in cocktail containing these ligands show density for PLP-cycloserine. Spectroscopic observations also suggested formation of PMP by the hydrolysis of cycloserines. Mutational studies suggested that Ser78 and Gln77 are key determinants of enzyme specificity and the phenolate of Tyr287 is responsible for Cα proton abstraction from D-Cys. Based on these studies, we proposed a probable mechanism for the degradation of D-Cys by StDCyD. The acid-induced arginine decarboxylase (ADC) is part of an enzymatic system in Salmonella typhimurium that contributes to making this organism acid resistant. ADC is a PLP-dependent enzyme that is active at acidic pH. It consumes a proton in the decarboxylation of arginine to agmatine, and by working in tandem with an arginine-agmatine antiporter, this enzymatic cycle protects the organism by preventing the accumulation of protons inside the cell. We have determined the structure of the acid-induced StADC to 3.1 Å resolution. StADC structure revealed an 800 kDa decamer composed as a pentamer of five homodimers. Each homodimer has an abundance of acidic surface residues, which at neutral pH prevent inactive homodimers from associating into active decamers. Conversely, acidic conditions favor the assembly of active decamers. Therefore, the structure of arginine decarboxylase presents a mechanism by which its activity is modulated by external pH.

This research work has investigated the electrochemistry of glutathione (GSH)and homocysteine (HCSH) in order to develop sensors for these biological thiols.Ru(bpy)33+ and IrCl62− have been used as mediators for the electrooxidation of GSH andHCSH because direct oxidation of these thiols is slow at most conventional electrodes.The electrochemical detection of GSH and HCSH has been pursued because of their biological roles. Concerted proton electron transfer (CPET) and stepwise proton electron transfer(PT/ET) pathways have been observed in the electrooxidation of GSH and HCSH.Oxidation of GSH by Ru(bpy)33+ carried out in deuterated and undeuterated buffered (pH= pD = 5.0) and unbuffered solutions (pH = pD 5.0−9.0) indicates a CPET pathway. AtpH 7.0 buffered solution, the involvement of the buffer was obvious, with rate increasing as the buffer concentration increases − an indication of a general base catalysis. The oxidation of GSH by IrCl62− follows through CPET at pH 7.0 when the optimum concentration of the buffer is established. The plot of the rate vs. buffer concentration gave a curvature at lower buffer concentration and then a plateau at higher concentration,which implies a change in the rate determining step as the buffer concentration increases.At lower buffer concentration, proton transfer was seen to be the rate determining step asthe reduction current increases upon scan rate increase. In the oxidation of HCSH by IrCl62−, CPET was observed at pH = pD values of7.0 and 8.0, whereas PT/ET was seen at pH = pD values of 9.0 and 10. Increase in the buffer concentration at pH 7.0 revealed the contribution of the buffer, in that, the oxidation proceeds more efficiently, seeing that the catalytic peak current shifts more negatively and the peak broadness diminishes. Increase in the temperature for the electrooxidation of HCSH resulted in increase in the rate.

<p>Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal cancer in part due to inherent resistance to chemotherapy, including the first-line drug gemcitabine. Gemcitabine is a nucleoside pyrimidine analog that has long been the backbone of chemotherapy for PDAC, both as a single agent, and more recently, in combination with nab-paclitaxel. Since gemcitabine is hydrophilic, it must be transported through the hydrophobic cell membrane by transmembrane nucleoside transporters. Human equilibrative nucleoside transporter-1 (hENT1) and human concentrative nucleoside transporter-3 (hCNT3) both have important roles in the cellular uptake of the nucleoside analog gemcitabine. While low expression of hENT1 and hCNT3 has been linked to gemcitabine resistance clinically, mechanisms regulating their expression in the PDAC tumor microenvironment are largely unknown. We identified that the matricellular protein Cysteine-Rich Angiogenic Inducer 61 (CYR61) negatively regulates expression of hENT1 and hCNT3. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of CYR61 significantly increased expression of hENT1 and hCNT3 and cellular uptake of gemcitabine. CRSIPR-mediated knockout of CYR61 sensitized PDAC cells to gemcitabine-induced apoptosis. Conversely, adenovirus-mediated overexpression of CYR61 decreased hENT1 expression and reduced gemcitabine-induced apoptosis. We demonstrate that CYR61 is expressed primarily by stromal pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) within the PDAC tumor microenvironment, with Transforming Growth Factor- β (TGF-β) inducing the expression of CYR61 in PSCs through canonical TGF-β-ALK5-Smad signaling. Activation of TGF-β signaling or expression of CYR61 in PSCs promotes resistance to gemcitabine in an in vitro co-culture assay with PDAC cells. Our results identify CYR61 as a TGF-β induced stromal-derived factor that regulates gemcitabine sensitivity in PDAC and suggest that targeting CYR61 may improve chemotherapy response in PDAC patients.</p> / Dissertation

Os cações são importantes recursos pesqueiros que podem apresentar concentrações de mercúrio (Hg) e arsênio (As) muitas vezes acima do limite de tolerância, o que os tornam impróprios como alimento. No meio aquático estes contaminantes são convertidos em espécies orgânicas, em especial metilmercúrio (MeHg) e arsenobetaína (AB), respectivamente. O MeHg é neurotóxico, sendo o sistema nervoso em desenvolvimento o mais susceptível. A AB é pouco tóxica, no entanto, o As inorgânico está envolvido em processos de estresse oxidativo, mutagênese e principalmente carcinogênese. Neste trabalho, foi avaliada a eficiência da cisteína na remoção de Hg, a ocorência de As total e inorgânico, e a redução de sua concentração com o emprego de borohidreto de sódio e de preparos para o consumo. A redução máxima de Hg, de 59,4%, com cisteína a 0,5% em pH 5,0, não foi reproduzida quando pretendida a reutilização da solução do aminoácido, importante do ponto de vista prático. O cação-azul continha elevados níveis de As total, 1,98 a 22,56 &#181;g/g (base úmida), que foram removidos com borohidreto de sódio em 99%, demonstrando a alta potencialidade do método usado. O As inorgânico, presente na quantidade média de 0,0086 &#181;g/g (base úmida), foi reduzido em 27,7%. O preparo para o consumo, por cozimento em água, do cação-azul em cubos (1-2 cm3), resultou em maior remoção de As total, de 65,9 a 71,2%; no cação grelhado a redução foi de 55,4 a 60,2%. As amostras, grelhadas ou cozidas, adicionadas de sal e limão enriquecido com ácido ascórbico, e as grelhadas contendo sal e sal com limão, apresentaram redução na concentração de As inorgânico de 30,1 a 42,8%. / The shark are important fishery resources that may have concentrations of mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As) often above the limit of tolerance, which makes them unsuitable as food. In the aquatic environment these contaminants are converted to organic species, particularly methylmercury (MeHg) and arsenobetaína (AB), respectively. The MeHg is neurotoxic, and the developing nervous system more susceptible. AB is slightly toxic, however, the inorganic As is involved in processes of oxidative stress, mutagenesis and carcinogenesis mainly. In this study, we evaluated the efficiency of cysteine to remove mercury, the occurrence of the total and inorganic As, and the reduction of their concentration with the use of sodium borohydride and preparations for consumption. The maximum reduction of Hg, 59.4%, with 0.5% cysteine at pH 5.0, was not reproduced when you want to reuse the solution of the amino acid, important practical point of view. The blue-shark contained high levels of the total As, 1.98 to 22.56 &#181;g/g (wet weight), which were removed with sodium borohydride in 99%, demonstrating the high potential of the method used. The inorganic As, present in the average amount of 0.0086 &#181;g/g (wet weight) was reduced in 27.7%. Preparation for consumption by baking in water, the blue-shark into cubes (1-2 cm3) resulted in greater removal of the total As, 65.9 to 71.2%; in the grilled shark the reduction was 55,4 to 60.2%. The samples, grilled or baked, added salt and lemon enriched with ascorbic acid, and the grilled containing salt and salt with lemon, presented reduction in the concentrations of inorganic As from 30.1 to 42.8%.