<p>Uvod: U pro&scaron;losti žučne kiseline su uglavnom razmatrane sa stanovi&scaron;ta njihove funkcije koju obavljaju u crevima jer posreduju u varenju masti i apsorpciji liposolubilnih vitamina. Nedavne studije potvrđuju da žučne kiseline ne igraju samo ulogu u varenju masti, nego se pona&scaron;aju i kao signalni molekuli koji stupaju u interakciju sa raznim receptorima uključujući nuklearne receptore i receptore vezane za G-proteine. Kao amfipatični molekuli one su sposobne da reaguju sa fosfolipidima ćelijskih membrana i da pobolj&scaron;avaju prolazak lekova kroz njih. Stoga se žučne kiseline razmatraju kao promoteri u bukalnim, okularnim i nazalnim farmaceutskim formulacijama. Cilj: Svrha ovog istraživanja je bila da se ispitaju žučne kiseline i njihovi okso derivati kao jedinjenja koja utiču na propustljivost ćelijskih membrana i prolazak lekova do ciljnih tkiva. Materijal i metod: Interakcije makrolidnih antibiotika i žučnih kiselina su ispitivane uz pomoć NMR difuzionih merenja i relaksacije paramagnetičnim jonima. Retencioni parametri odabranih žučnih kiselina su dobijeni kori&scaron;ćenjem hromatografije na normalnim fazama i evaluisani su primenom pet različitih softvera. In vivo ekaperimenti su sprovedeni na 126 eksperimentalnih životinja koje su bile podeljene u 21 grupu. Rezultati: Vezivanje žučnih kiselina za micele je indikovano razlikama u hemijskom pomeranju makrolida i pro&scaron;irenju signala kao posledica redukovane mobilnosti unutar micela. Dodatak micela žučnih kiselina povećava solubilizaciju makrolida za faktor približno 2-3. Sprovedena korelaciona analiza pokazala je značajnu zavisnost između faktora retencije i intestinalne apsorpcije, prodora u MDCK epitelne ćelije, permeabilnost kroz kožu, logBB i PPB%. Putem implementacije in vivo eksperimentalnog dela pokazano je da žučne kiseline utiču na prolazak makrolida u tkivo mozga, bubrega i jetre. Zaključak: Ispitivane žučne kiseline pokazuju dobre farmakokinetske karakteristike i olak&scaron;avaju prolazak makrolida kroz različite ćelijske membrane.</p> / <p>Introduction: In the past, bile acids were mostly considered to function in the intestine where they play a role in digestion of fats and mediate absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. Recent studies confirm that bile acids not only facilitate solubilization of fats but behave as signal molecules that interact with various receptors including nuclear receptors and G protein-coupled receptors. As amphipathic molecules they are able to interact with phospholipids of cells membranes and enhance drugs permeation. Thus, bile acids are considered as drug promoters in buccal, ocular, nasal, and transdermal dosage forms. Purpose: The purpose of this research was to investigate bile acids and its oxo derivatives as enhancers in drug permeability. Three research methods to evaluate the characteristics of bile acids and its properties were used. Material and method: The interaction between macrolide antibiotics and bile acids was investigated by NMR chemical-shift titration, self-diffusion measurements and paramagnetic relaxation enhancements. Retention parameters of selected bile acids are acquired by normal-phase thin layer chromatography and evaluated using five different softwares. In vivo experiments were conducted on 126 animals which were divided in 21 groups. Results: Binding bile acids to the micelles is indicated by differences in the chemical shift of the macrolides and line broadening as a consequence of reduced mobility in the micelle. Addition of bile micelles increases the solubility of macrolide antibiotics by a factor of approximately 2&ndash;3. Examined correlation analysis confirmed significant dependence between retention factor and intestinal absorption, MDCK epithelial cells, skin permeability, logBB and PPB%. Through the implementation of in vivo experiments it is shown that bile acids promote penetration of macrolides in brain tissue, kidney and liver. Conclusion: Investigated bile acids showed good pharmacokinetic properties and facilitate in macrolides permeation through various membranes.</p>

Wie in anderen Zellen sind auch bei Säugerspermien spezifische Lipide und Proteine der Zellmembran aufgrund ihrer heterogenen lateralen Verteilung in speziellen Domänen angereichert, die in unterschiedlichen räumlichen und zeitlichen Dimensionen existieren und der Zelle funktionale Variabilität ermöglichen. Aufgrund der fehlenden aktiven Proteinbiosynthese bietet dies den Spermien eine Möglichkeit, auf unterschiedliche Anforderungen zu reagieren. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden daher sogenannte detergenzresistente Membrandomänen (DRMs) aus Eberspermien unterschiedlicher Reifestadien präpariert und untersucht. Dabei stieg bereits in den Dichtegradienten mit zunehmender Reife die Dichte, bei der die opaleszenten Banden auftraten. Eine Analyse dieser mittels 31P-NMR zeigte mit zunehmender Reife eine Anreicherung an Glycerophosphatidylethanolamin und Phosphatidylinositol bei den Glycerophospholipiden, der Gehalt an Sphingomyelin hingegen nahm während der Nebenhodenreifung und auch nach der Ejakulation ab. Diese Veränderungen könnten auf eine Destabilisierung von Membrandomänen hindeuten, um eine Zusammenlagerung zu größeren Domänenclustern zu erleichtern, möglicherweise in Vorbereitung auf Kapazitation und Akrosomenreaktion. Zunächst werden die destabilisierten Membrandomänen jedoch durch die Anlagerung von Seminalplasmaproteinen geschützt, was vermutlich für das verringerte Lipid- zu Proteinverhältnis der DRMs bei Ejakulatspermien sorgt. Aufgrund der generellen Kälteempfindlichkeit von Eberspermien findet ihre Lagerung üblicherweise bei 16°C statt. Dies ist aus mikrobiologischer Sicht nachteilig gegenüber einer kälteren Lagerungstemperatur. Eine Untersuchung der Spermien von 64 Ebern zeigte jedoch bei 10% der Ejakulate eine individuum-spezifische Resistenz gegenüber der Lagerung bei 4°C. Die DRMs der kälteresistenten Spermien hatten einen erhöhten Anteil an langkettigen, mehrfach ungesättigten Fettsäuren, wie 31P-NMR und MALDI-TOF MS Analysen zeigten. / The lateral distribution of lipids and proteins in the plasma membrane is heterogeneous. Therefore specific lipids and proteins in membranes of mammalian spermatozoa are enriched in special domains of varying size and different time scales enabling the cell’s membrane functional variability. Being transcriptional inactive this is especially relevant for spermatozoa in responding to multiple challenges on their way to fertilization. Therefore so called detergent resistant membrane domains (DRMs) from boar spermatozoa of different developmental stages were investigated. Already in the sucrose density gradients differences were visible, so the opalescent bands of more maturated sperm had a higher density. An analysis of these bands by 31P-NMR showed an enrichment of glycerophosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylinositol during maturation and a decrease of sphingomyelin during maturation in the epididymis and even after ejaculation. This suggests destabilization of DRMs and hence of putative membrane domains. This could enable clustering to bigger membrane domain platforms in preparation for capacitation and acrosome reaction. First, however, seminal fluid proteins cover the spermatozoa protecting the membrane with the destabilized membrane domains. This could have led to the detected decrease of the lipid to protein ratio in DRMs of ejaculated sperm. Boar spermatozoa are sensitive to storage at cold temperatures and are therefore usually stored at 16°C, which is especially disadvantageous with regard to growing of bacteria. A screening of sperm from 64 boars showed a ratio of 10% individuals with cold resistant sperm which could be stored at 4°C without quality loss. The DRMs of cold resistant sperm had a higher proportion of longchained, polyunsaturated fatty acids, as shown by analysis with 31P-NMR und MALDI-TOF MS.

As células-tronco mesenquimais (MSCs) são células multipotentes que tem o potencial de se diferenciarem em várias linhagens celulares in vitro e in vivo. Estas são encontradas em nichos específicos em muitos órgãos e tecidos adultos, tais como medula óssea, tecido adiposo, músculo, dente, cordão umbilical, pele, cartilagem articular, sendo facilmente isoladas, expandidas e com alta capacidade proliferativa in vitro. Assim, estas características têm despertado grande interesse na sua utilização como uma potencial fonte de células para o reparo e regeneração tecidual de diversos órgãos e tecidos. Pouco se conhece sobre as moléculas que são secretadas pelas MSCs para a matriz extracelular (MEC) e que estão na interface célula-matriz e estão presentes em vias de transdução de sinais intracelulares. Desta forma, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o perfil de expressão gênica de enzimas que remodelam a MEC (metaloproteinases de matriz MMPs: 15 membros) e seus inibidores (inibidores teciduais das metaloproteinases de matriz TIMPs: 4 membros e RECK) e proteína da membrana plasmática (Caveolina-1) durante a diferenciação osteogenica in vitro a partir de células-tronco mesenquimais da polpa dentária humana (DPSCs). Para tanto, utilizamos polpas dentárias humanas provenientes de terceiros molares de indivíduos adultos (18-32 anos n=3) e as DPSCs isoladas foram imunofenotipadas por citometria de fluxo, avaliada a taxa de proliferação, induzidas as diferenciações osteogênica (1, 7, 14, 21 e 28 dias) e adipogênica (28 dias) e os transcritos avaliados por PCR em tempo real. Estas células foram positivas para o marcadores CD29, CD105, STRO-1, CD44, CD90 negativas os marcadores para CD31, CD45, CD34 e CD14 e são capazes de se diferenciarem em osteoblastos e adipócitos. Verificamos que as MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-13, MMP-14, MMP-25, TIMP-3, TIMP-4 e Caveolina-1 foram diferencialmente expressas durante a diferenciação osteogênica, sendo reguladas positivamente apenas no período de 28 dias pós indução e a TIMP-1 regulada positivamente desde o primeiro dia de indução. A MMP-11 e MMP-16 não foram detectadas nas DPSCs e nem durante a diferenciação osteogênica. Desta forma, concluímos que MMPs encontradas bem como a Caveolina-1 e as TIMP-3 e TIMP-4 podem estar participando dos dos eventos de diferenciação óssea em DPSCs, a TIMP-1 pode estar participando de eventos biológicos relacionados as propriedades do estado indiferenciado das DPSCs e da diferenciação óssea e que as MMP-11 e MMP-16 não são expressas pelas DPSCs e também não estão envolvidas na diferenciação osteogênica. / Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells that have the potential to differentiate into various cell lineages in vitro and in vivo. These are found in specific niches in many adult organs and tissues, such as bone marrow, adipose tissue, muscle, tooth, umbilical cord, skin, cartilage, being easily isolated, expanded and high proliferative capacity in vitro. Thereby, these features have attracted great interest in its use as a potential source of cells for tissue repair and regeneration of various organs and tissues. Little is known about the molecules secreted by MSCs into the extracellular matrix (ECM), present at cell-matrix interface and present on intracellular signal transduction. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate gene expression profile of ECM remodeling enzymes (matrix metalloproteinases MMPs: 15 members) and their inhibitors (tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases TIMPs: 4 members and RECK) and plasma membrane proteins (Caveolin-1) that participate in signaling pathways during osteogenic differentiation in vitro from human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). Normal human impacted third molars were collected from adults (18-32 years-old n=3) and DPSCs isolated were immunophenotyping by flow cytometry, evaluated the proliferation ratio, induced to osteogenic (1, 7, 14, 21 and 28-days) and adipogenic differentiation (28-days) and the transcript levels evaluated by Real Time PCR. These cells are positive for CD29, CD105, STRO -1, CD44, and CD90 markers and negative for CD31, CD45, CD34, and CD14 markers and are capable of differentiating into osteoblasts and adipocytes. We found that MMP- 2, MMP -3, MMP -13, MMP -14, MMP -25, TIMP-3, TIMP-4 and Caveolin-1 were differentially expressed during osteogenic differentiation, being upregulated only at 28 days post-induction and TIMP-1 upregulated from the first day of induction. MMP-11 and MMP-16 were not detected in DPSCs neither during differentiation. Thus, we conclude that MMPs, Caveolin-1 found as well as TIMP-3 and TIMP-4 may be participating in the event of bone differentiation in DPSCs, TIMP-1 may participate in biological events related to the properties of the undifferentiated state DPSCs and osteogenic differentiation, MMP-11 and MMP-16 are not also expressed by DPSCs and are not involved in osteogenic differentiation.

A palha de cana-de-açúcar está se tornando uma biomassa lignocelulósica disponível a partir da progressiva introdução da colheita mecanizada da cana-deaçúcar no Brasil, situação que possibilita a utilização de uma parte desta como matéria-prima em processos de conversão termoquímica ou bioquímica. Além de pesquisas de uso da palha de cana para produção de bioenergia, a conversão bioquímica dos açúcares constituintes de sua fração hemicelulósica, particularmente a xilose, é uma rota potencial para seu aproveitamento na obtenção de produtos de alto valor agregado, como o xilitol. A importância deste poliol se deve às suas peculiares propriedades que permitem sua aplicação nas indústrias alimentícia, odontológica e farmacêutica, aliado ao fato do continuo e rápido crescimento de seu mercado mundial. No presente trabalho foi estudado o aproveitamento da fração hemicelulósica da palha de cana como matéria-prima na produção biotecnológica de xilitol, visando a valorização e incorporação desta biomassa em uma biorrefinaria de cana-de-açúcar. O elevado conteúdo de hemicelulose da palha de cana (27%), similar ao encontrado em outras biomassas lignocelulósicas avaliadas para produção de xilitol, e a maior proporção de xilose no hidrolisado hemicelulósico (71%) em relação aos outros açúcares constituintes, tornam esta biomassa potencial matéria-prima para este bioprocesso. A utilização do hidrolisado hemicelulósico de palha de cana concentrado e destoxificado como meio de fermentação para a bioconversão de xilose em xilitol por Candida guilliermondii FTI 20037 foi avaliada em diferentes fases da pesquisa. Na primeira, foi estudada a necessidade de suplementação nutricional do hidrolisado e a disponibilidade inicial de oxigênio, sendo realizadas fermentações em batelada em frascos Erlenmeyer de 125mL com 25mL ou 50mL de meio, 30oC, 200rpm e 48h. Foi demonstrado que a suplementação do hidrolisado com extrato de farelo de arroz, (NH4)2SO4 e CaCl2·2H2O resultou em aumento do valor da produtividade volumétrica de xilitol, enquanto que a menor disponibilidade inicial de oxigênio favoreceu a eficiência de bioconversão. A avaliação do efeito dos co-substratos maltose, sacarose, celobiose e glicerol sobre este bioprocesso revelou que o maior favorecimento foi obtido com sacarose (10gL-1), já que resultou nos máximos valores de concentração final de xilitol (41,36 ± 1,69 gL-1), eficiência de bioconversão (75,70 ± 0,73%) e produtividade volumétrica (0,61 ± 0,02 gL-1h-1), correspondentes a incrementos de 9,04%, 5,01% e 6,56%, respectivamente, em relação à condição ausente de cosubstratos. A adição ao hidrolisado hemicelulósico de palha de cana de Dimetilsulfóxido (DMSO), composto com capacidade de permeabilizante de membrana celular, não resultou no incremento da produção de xilitol, a qual, pelo contrário, foi reduzida em razão da diminuição no consumo de xilose e crescimento celular de C. guilliermondii FTI 20037. Os resultados obtidos no presente estudo indicam que a produção biotecnológica de xilitol a partir de hidrolisado hemicelulósico de palha de cana suplementado com sacarose pode ser considerada uma rota de conversão bioquímica promissora para a valorização e integração desta biomassa em uma biorrefinaria de cana-de-açúcar. / Sugarcane straw is becoming an available lignocellulosic biomass from the progressive introduction of non-burning harvest in Brazil, situation that enables the utilization of a portion of this material as feedstock in thermochemical and biochemical conversion processes. Besides the use of sugarcane straw for bioenergy production, biochemical conversion of the constituent sugars of its hemicellulosic fraction, particularly xylose, is a potential route for the use of this biomass to obtain high added value products, such as xylitol. The importance of this product is due to its particular properties that enable its application in food, dental and pharmaceutical industries, coupled with the fact of the continuous and rapid growth of its market. In the present work it was studied the utilization of sugarcane straw hemicellulosic fraction as feedstock for biotechnological production of xylitol, aiming at the valorization and integration of this biomass in a sugarcane biorefinery. The high hemicellulosic content of sugarcane straw (27%), similar to that found in other lignocellulosic biomasses evaluated for xylitol production, and the higher proportion of xylose in the hemicellulosic hydrolysate (71%) in relation to the other constituent sugars, make this biomass potential feedstock for this bioprocess. The utilization of the concentrated and detoxified sugarcane straw hemicellulosic hydrolysate as fermentation medium for xylose-toxylitol bioconversion by Candida guilliermondii FTI 20037 was evaluated in different stages. In the first one, it was studied the necessity of nutritional supplementation of the hydrolysate and initial oxygen availability, being carried out batch fermentations in 125mL Erlenmeyer flasks with 25mL or 50mL of medium, 30oC, 200rpm and 48h. It was demonstrated that the supplementation of the hydrolysate with rice bran extract, (NH4)2SO4 and CaCl2·2H2O resulted on the increment of the value of xylitol volumetric productivity, whereas the higher initial oxygen availability favored the bioconversion efficiency. The evaluation of the effect of the co-substrates maltose, sucrose, cellobiose and glycerol on this bioprocess revealed that the higher improvement was obtained with sucrose (10gL-1), since it resulted in the maximum values of final concentration of xylitol (41.36 ± 1.69 gL-1), bioconversion efficiency (75.70 ± 0.73%) and volumetric productivity (0.61 ± 0.02 gL-1h-1), corresponding to increments of 9.04%, 5.01% and 6.56%, respectively, in relation to the condition absent of co-substrates. The addition to the sugarcane straw hemicellulosic hydrolysate of Dimethyl-sulfoxide, a cell membrane permeabilizer, did not resulted on the increasing of the xylitol production, which, in fact, was reduced due to the diminution on xylose consumption and cell growth of C. guilliermondii FTI 20037. The results obtained in this study indicate that biotechnological production of xylitol from sugarcane straw hemicellulosic hydrolysate supplemented with sucrose can be considered a promissory biochemical conversion route for valorization and integration of this biomass in a sugarcane biorefinery.

The field of direct inject mass spectrometry includes a massive host of ambient ionization techniques that are especially useful for forensic analysts. Whether the sample is trace amounts of drugs or explosives or bulk amounts of synthetic drugs from a clandestine laboratory, the analysis of forensic evidence requires minimal sample preparation, evidence preservation, and high sensitivity. Direct inject mass spectrometry techniques can rarely provide all of these. Direct analyte-probed nanoextraction coupled to nanospray ionization mass spectrometry, however, is certainly capable of achieving these goals. As a multifaceted tool developed in the Verbeck laboratory, many forensic applications have since been investigated (trace drug and explosives analysis). Direct inject mass spectrometry can also be easily coupled to assays to obtain additional information about the analytes in question. By performing a parallel artificial membrane assay or a cell membrane stationary phase extraction prior to direct infusion of the sample, membrane permeability data and receptor activity data can be obtained in addition to the mass spectral data that was already being collected. This is particularly useful for characterizing illicit drugs and their analogues for a biologically relevant way to schedule new psychoactive substances.

A palha de cana-de-açúcar está se tornando uma biomassa lignocelulósica disponível a partir da progressiva introdução da colheita mecanizada da cana-deaçúcar no Brasil, situação que possibilita a utilização de uma parte desta como matéria-prima em processos de conversão termoquímica ou bioquímica. Além de pesquisas de uso da palha de cana para produção de bioenergia, a conversão bioquímica dos açúcares constituintes de sua fração hemicelulósica, particularmente a xilose, é uma rota potencial para seu aproveitamento na obtenção de produtos de alto valor agregado, como o xilitol. A importância deste poliol se deve às suas peculiares propriedades que permitem sua aplicação nas indústrias alimentícia, odontológica e farmacêutica, aliado ao fato do continuo e rápido crescimento de seu mercado mundial. No presente trabalho foi estudado o aproveitamento da fração hemicelulósica da palha de cana como matéria-prima na produção biotecnológica de xilitol, visando a valorização e incorporação desta biomassa em uma biorrefinaria de cana-de-açúcar. O elevado conteúdo de hemicelulose da palha de cana (27%), similar ao encontrado em outras biomassas lignocelulósicas avaliadas para produção de xilitol, e a maior proporção de xilose no hidrolisado hemicelulósico (71%) em relação aos outros açúcares constituintes, tornam esta biomassa potencial matéria-prima para este bioprocesso. A utilização do hidrolisado hemicelulósico de palha de cana concentrado e destoxificado como meio de fermentação para a bioconversão de xilose em xilitol por Candida guilliermondii FTI 20037 foi avaliada em diferentes fases da pesquisa. Na primeira, foi estudada a necessidade de suplementação nutricional do hidrolisado e a disponibilidade inicial de oxigênio, sendo realizadas fermentações em batelada em frascos Erlenmeyer de 125mL com 25mL ou 50mL de meio, 30oC, 200rpm e 48h. Foi demonstrado que a suplementação do hidrolisado com extrato de farelo de arroz, (NH4)2SO4 e CaCl2·2H2O resultou em aumento do valor da produtividade volumétrica de xilitol, enquanto que a menor disponibilidade inicial de oxigênio favoreceu a eficiência de bioconversão. A avaliação do efeito dos co-substratos maltose, sacarose, celobiose e glicerol sobre este bioprocesso revelou que o maior favorecimento foi obtido com sacarose (10gL-1), já que resultou nos máximos valores de concentração final de xilitol (41,36 ± 1,69 gL-1), eficiência de bioconversão (75,70 ± 0,73%) e produtividade volumétrica (0,61 ± 0,02 gL-1h-1), correspondentes a incrementos de 9,04%, 5,01% e 6,56%, respectivamente, em relação à condição ausente de cosubstratos. A adição ao hidrolisado hemicelulósico de palha de cana de Dimetilsulfóxido (DMSO), composto com capacidade de permeabilizante de membrana celular, não resultou no incremento da produção de xilitol, a qual, pelo contrário, foi reduzida em razão da diminuição no consumo de xilose e crescimento celular de C. guilliermondii FTI 20037. Os resultados obtidos no presente estudo indicam que a produção biotecnológica de xilitol a partir de hidrolisado hemicelulósico de palha de cana suplementado com sacarose pode ser considerada uma rota de conversão bioquímica promissora para a valorização e integração desta biomassa em uma biorrefinaria de cana-de-açúcar. / Sugarcane straw is becoming an available lignocellulosic biomass from the progressive introduction of non-burning harvest in Brazil, situation that enables the utilization of a portion of this material as feedstock in thermochemical and biochemical conversion processes. Besides the use of sugarcane straw for bioenergy production, biochemical conversion of the constituent sugars of its hemicellulosic fraction, particularly xylose, is a potential route for the use of this biomass to obtain high added value products, such as xylitol. The importance of this product is due to its particular properties that enable its application in food, dental and pharmaceutical industries, coupled with the fact of the continuous and rapid growth of its market. In the present work it was studied the utilization of sugarcane straw hemicellulosic fraction as feedstock for biotechnological production of xylitol, aiming at the valorization and integration of this biomass in a sugarcane biorefinery. The high hemicellulosic content of sugarcane straw (27%), similar to that found in other lignocellulosic biomasses evaluated for xylitol production, and the higher proportion of xylose in the hemicellulosic hydrolysate (71%) in relation to the other constituent sugars, make this biomass potential feedstock for this bioprocess. The utilization of the concentrated and detoxified sugarcane straw hemicellulosic hydrolysate as fermentation medium for xylose-toxylitol bioconversion by Candida guilliermondii FTI 20037 was evaluated in different stages. In the first one, it was studied the necessity of nutritional supplementation of the hydrolysate and initial oxygen availability, being carried out batch fermentations in 125mL Erlenmeyer flasks with 25mL or 50mL of medium, 30oC, 200rpm and 48h. It was demonstrated that the supplementation of the hydrolysate with rice bran extract, (NH4)2SO4 and CaCl2·2H2O resulted on the increment of the value of xylitol volumetric productivity, whereas the higher initial oxygen availability favored the bioconversion efficiency. The evaluation of the effect of the co-substrates maltose, sucrose, cellobiose and glycerol on this bioprocess revealed that the higher improvement was obtained with sucrose (10gL-1), since it resulted in the maximum values of final concentration of xylitol (41.36 ± 1.69 gL-1), bioconversion efficiency (75.70 ± 0.73%) and volumetric productivity (0.61 ± 0.02 gL-1h-1), corresponding to increments of 9.04%, 5.01% and 6.56%, respectively, in relation to the condition absent of co-substrates. The addition to the sugarcane straw hemicellulosic hydrolysate of Dimethyl-sulfoxide, a cell membrane permeabilizer, did not resulted on the increasing of the xylitol production, which, in fact, was reduced due to the diminution on xylose consumption and cell growth of C. guilliermondii FTI 20037. The results obtained in this study indicate that biotechnological production of xylitol from sugarcane straw hemicellulosic hydrolysate supplemented with sucrose can be considered a promissory biochemical conversion route for valorization and integration of this biomass in a sugarcane biorefinery.

As células-tronco mesenquimais (MSCs) são células multipotentes que tem o potencial de se diferenciarem em várias linhagens celulares in vitro e in vivo. Estas são encontradas em nichos específicos em muitos órgãos e tecidos adultos, tais como medula óssea, tecido adiposo, músculo, dente, cordão umbilical, pele, cartilagem articular, sendo facilmente isoladas, expandidas e com alta capacidade proliferativa in vitro. Assim, estas características têm despertado grande interesse na sua utilização como uma potencial fonte de células para o reparo e regeneração tecidual de diversos órgãos e tecidos. Pouco se conhece sobre as moléculas que são secretadas pelas MSCs para a matriz extracelular (MEC) e que estão na interface célula-matriz e estão presentes em vias de transdução de sinais intracelulares. Desta forma, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o perfil de expressão gênica de enzimas que remodelam a MEC (metaloproteinases de matriz MMPs: 15 membros) e seus inibidores (inibidores teciduais das metaloproteinases de matriz TIMPs: 4 membros e RECK) e proteína da membrana plasmática (Caveolina-1) durante a diferenciação osteogenica in vitro a partir de células-tronco mesenquimais da polpa dentária humana (DPSCs). Para tanto, utilizamos polpas dentárias humanas provenientes de terceiros molares de indivíduos adultos (18-32 anos n=3) e as DPSCs isoladas foram imunofenotipadas por citometria de fluxo, avaliada a taxa de proliferação, induzidas as diferenciações osteogênica (1, 7, 14, 21 e 28 dias) e adipogênica (28 dias) e os transcritos avaliados por PCR em tempo real. Estas células foram positivas para o marcadores CD29, CD105, STRO-1, CD44, CD90 negativas os marcadores para CD31, CD45, CD34 e CD14 e são capazes de se diferenciarem em osteoblastos e adipócitos. Verificamos que as MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-13, MMP-14, MMP-25, TIMP-3, TIMP-4 e Caveolina-1 foram diferencialmente expressas durante a diferenciação osteogênica, sendo reguladas positivamente apenas no período de 28 dias pós indução e a TIMP-1 regulada positivamente desde o primeiro dia de indução. A MMP-11 e MMP-16 não foram detectadas nas DPSCs e nem durante a diferenciação osteogênica. Desta forma, concluímos que MMPs encontradas bem como a Caveolina-1 e as TIMP-3 e TIMP-4 podem estar participando dos dos eventos de diferenciação óssea em DPSCs, a TIMP-1 pode estar participando de eventos biológicos relacionados as propriedades do estado indiferenciado das DPSCs e da diferenciação óssea e que as MMP-11 e MMP-16 não são expressas pelas DPSCs e também não estão envolvidas na diferenciação osteogênica. / Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells that have the potential to differentiate into various cell lineages in vitro and in vivo. These are found in specific niches in many adult organs and tissues, such as bone marrow, adipose tissue, muscle, tooth, umbilical cord, skin, cartilage, being easily isolated, expanded and high proliferative capacity in vitro. Thereby, these features have attracted great interest in its use as a potential source of cells for tissue repair and regeneration of various organs and tissues. Little is known about the molecules secreted by MSCs into the extracellular matrix (ECM), present at cell-matrix interface and present on intracellular signal transduction. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate gene expression profile of ECM remodeling enzymes (matrix metalloproteinases MMPs: 15 members) and their inhibitors (tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases TIMPs: 4 members and RECK) and plasma membrane proteins (Caveolin-1) that participate in signaling pathways during osteogenic differentiation in vitro from human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). Normal human impacted third molars were collected from adults (18-32 years-old n=3) and DPSCs isolated were immunophenotyping by flow cytometry, evaluated the proliferation ratio, induced to osteogenic (1, 7, 14, 21 and 28-days) and adipogenic differentiation (28-days) and the transcript levels evaluated by Real Time PCR. These cells are positive for CD29, CD105, STRO -1, CD44, and CD90 markers and negative for CD31, CD45, CD34, and CD14 markers and are capable of differentiating into osteoblasts and adipocytes. We found that MMP- 2, MMP -3, MMP -13, MMP -14, MMP -25, TIMP-3, TIMP-4 and Caveolin-1 were differentially expressed during osteogenic differentiation, being upregulated only at 28 days post-induction and TIMP-1 upregulated from the first day of induction. MMP-11 and MMP-16 were not detected in DPSCs neither during differentiation. Thus, we conclude that MMPs, Caveolin-1 found as well as TIMP-3 and TIMP-4 may be participating in the event of bone differentiation in DPSCs, TIMP-1 may participate in biological events related to the properties of the undifferentiated state DPSCs and osteogenic differentiation, MMP-11 and MMP-16 are not also expressed by DPSCs and are not involved in osteogenic differentiation.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / The Australian cotton industry has developed high yielding and high quality fibre production systems and attributes a significant contribution of this achievement to highly innovative breeding programs, specifically focused on the production of premium quality lint for the export market. Breeding programs have recently shifted attention to the development of new germplasm with superior stress tolerance to minimise yield losses attributed to adverse environmental conditions and inputs such as irrigation, fertilisers and pesticides. Various contributors to yield, such as physiology, biochemistry and gene expression have been implemented as screening tools for tolerance to high temperatures under growth cabinet and laboratory conditions but there has been little extension of these mechanisms to field based systems. This study evaluates tools for the identification of specific genotypic thermotolerance under field conditions using a multi-level ‘top down’ approach from crop to gene level. Field experiments were conducted in seasons 1 (2006) and 3 (2007) at Narrabri (Australia) and season 2 (2006) in Texas (The United States of America) and were supplemented by growth cabinet experiments to quantify cultivar differences in yield, physiology, biochemical function and gene expression under high temperatures. Whole plants were subjected to high temperatures in the field through the construction of Solarweave® tents and in the growth cabinet at a temperature of 42 oC. The effectiveness of these methods was then evaluated to establish a rapid and reliable screening tool for genotype specific thermotolerance that could potentially improve the efficiency of breeding programs and aid the development to high yielding cultivars for hot growing regions. Cotton cultivars Sicot 53 and Sicala 45 were evaluated for thermotolerance using crop level measurements (yield and fibre quality) and whole plant measurements (fruit retention) to determine the efficacy of these measurements as screening tools for thermotolerance under field conditions. Sicot 53 was selected as a relatively thermotolerant cultivar whereas Sicala 45 was selected as a cultivar with a lower relative thermotolerance and this assumption was made on the basis of yield in hot and cool environments under the CSIRO Australian cotton breeding program. Yield and fruit retention were lower under tents compared with ambient conditions in all 3 seasons. Yield and fruit retention were highly correlated in season 1 and were higher for Sicot 53 compared to Sicala 45 suggesting that fruit retention is a primary limitation to yield in a hot season. Thus yield and fruit retention are good indicators of thermotolerance in a hot season. Temperature treatment and cultivar differences were determined for fibre quality in seasons 1 and 3; however, quality exceeded the industry minimum thereby indicating that fibre quality is not a good determinant of thermotolerance. Physiological determinants of plant functionality such as photosynthesis, electron transport rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate were determined for cultivars Sicot 53 and Sicala 45 under the tents and an index of these parameters was also analysed to determine overall plant physiological capacity in the field. Physiological capacity was also determined under high temperatures in the growth cabinet using a light response curve at various levels of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Photosynthesis and electron transport rate decreased, whilst stomatal conductance and transpiration rate increased under the tents as well as under high temperatures in the growth cabinet. Photosynthesis and electron transport rate were higher for Sicot 53 but stomatal conductance and transpiration rate were higher for Sicala 45 under the tents. No cultivar differentiation was evident for plants grown under high temperatures in the growth cabinet. Temperature treatment and cultivar differences in physiological function were greater in a hot year (season 1), thereby indicating the importance of cultivar selection for thermotolerance in the presence of stress. Electron transport rate was correlated with yield in season 1, thus suggesting the suitability of this method for broad genotypic screening for thermotolerance under field conditions. Biochemical processes such as membrane integrity and enzyme viability were used to determine cultivar specific thermotolerance under high temperature stress in the laboratory, field and growth cabinet. Electrolyte leakage is an indicator of decreased membrane integrity and may be estimated by the relative electrical conductivity or relative cellular injury assays. The heat sensitivity of dehydrogenase activity, a proxy for cytochrome functionality and capacity for mitochondrial electron transport, may be quantified spectrophotometrically. Cellular membrane integrity and enzyme viability decreased sigmoidally with exposure to increasing temperatures in a water bath. Membrane integrity was higher for Sicot 53 compared with Sicala 45 under the tents and under high temperatures in the growth cabinet. No temperature treatment or cultivar differences were found for enzyme viability under the tents; however, enzyme viability for Sicala 45 was higher in the growth cabinet compared with Sicot 53. Relative electrical conductivity was strongly correlated with yield under ambient field conditions and under the tents, suggesting impairment of electron flow through photosynthetic and/or respiratory pathways, thus contributing to lower potential for ATP production and energy generation for yield contribution. Thus, the membrane integrity assay was considered to be a rapid and reliable tool for thermotolerance screening in cotton cultivars. Gene expression was examined for cultivars Sicot 53 and Sicala 45 grown under high (42 oC) temperatures in the growth cabinet. Rubisco activase expression was quantified using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis and was decreased under high temperatures and was lower for Sicala 45 than Sicot 53. Maximum cultivar differentiation was found after 1.0 h exposure to high temperatures and hence, leaf tissue sampled from this time point was further analysed for global gene profiling using cDNA microarrays. Genes involved in metabolism, heat shock protein generation, electron flow and ATP generation were down-regulated under high temperatures in the growth cabinet and a greater number of genes were differentially expressed for Sicala 45, thereby indicating a higher level of heat stress and a greater requirement for mobilisation of protective and compensatory mechanisms compared with Sicot 53. Cultivar specific thermotolerance determination using gene profiling may be a useful tool for understanding the underlying basis of physiological and biochemical responses to high temperature stress in the growth cabinet. There is future opportunity for profiling genes associated with heat stress and heat tolerance for identification of key genes associated with superior cultivar performance under high temperature stress and characterisation of these genes under field conditions. This research has identified cultivar differences in yield under field conditions and has identified multiple physiological and biochemical pathways that may contribute to these differences. Future characterisation of genes associated with heat stress and heat tolerance under growth cabinet conditions may be extended to field conditions, thus providing the underlying basis of the response of cotton to high temperature stress. Electron transport rate and relative electrical conductivity were found to be rapid and reliable determinants of cultivar specific thermotolerance and hence may be extended to broad-spectrum screening of a range of cotton cultivars and species and under a range of abiotic stress. This will enable the identification of superior cotton cultivars for incorporation into local breeding programs for Australian and American cotton production systems.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / The Australian cotton industry has developed high yielding and high quality fibre production systems and attributes a significant contribution of this achievement to highly innovative breeding programs, specifically focused on the production of premium quality lint for the export market. Breeding programs have recently shifted attention to the development of new germplasm with superior stress tolerance to minimise yield losses attributed to adverse environmental conditions and inputs such as irrigation, fertilisers and pesticides. Various contributors to yield, such as physiology, biochemistry and gene expression have been implemented as screening tools for tolerance to high temperatures under growth cabinet and laboratory conditions but there has been little extension of these mechanisms to field based systems. This study evaluates tools for the identification of specific genotypic thermotolerance under field conditions using a multi-level ‘top down’ approach from crop to gene level. Field experiments were conducted in seasons 1 (2006) and 3 (2007) at Narrabri (Australia) and season 2 (2006) in Texas (The United States of America) and were supplemented by growth cabinet experiments to quantify cultivar differences in yield, physiology, biochemical function and gene expression under high temperatures. Whole plants were subjected to high temperatures in the field through the construction of Solarweave® tents and in the growth cabinet at a temperature of 42 oC. The effectiveness of these methods was then evaluated to establish a rapid and reliable screening tool for genotype specific thermotolerance that could potentially improve the efficiency of breeding programs and aid the development to high yielding cultivars for hot growing regions. Cotton cultivars Sicot 53 and Sicala 45 were evaluated for thermotolerance using crop level measurements (yield and fibre quality) and whole plant measurements (fruit retention) to determine the efficacy of these measurements as screening tools for thermotolerance under field conditions. Sicot 53 was selected as a relatively thermotolerant cultivar whereas Sicala 45 was selected as a cultivar with a lower relative thermotolerance and this assumption was made on the basis of yield in hot and cool environments under the CSIRO Australian cotton breeding program. Yield and fruit retention were lower under tents compared with ambient conditions in all 3 seasons. Yield and fruit retention were highly correlated in season 1 and were higher for Sicot 53 compared to Sicala 45 suggesting that fruit retention is a primary limitation to yield in a hot season. Thus yield and fruit retention are good indicators of thermotolerance in a hot season. Temperature treatment and cultivar differences were determined for fibre quality in seasons 1 and 3; however, quality exceeded the industry minimum thereby indicating that fibre quality is not a good determinant of thermotolerance. Physiological determinants of plant functionality such as photosynthesis, electron transport rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate were determined for cultivars Sicot 53 and Sicala 45 under the tents and an index of these parameters was also analysed to determine overall plant physiological capacity in the field. Physiological capacity was also determined under high temperatures in the growth cabinet using a light response curve at various levels of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Photosynthesis and electron transport rate decreased, whilst stomatal conductance and transpiration rate increased under the tents as well as under high temperatures in the growth cabinet. Photosynthesis and electron transport rate were higher for Sicot 53 but stomatal conductance and transpiration rate were higher for Sicala 45 under the tents. No cultivar differentiation was evident for plants grown under high temperatures in the growth cabinet. Temperature treatment and cultivar differences in physiological function were greater in a hot year (season 1), thereby indicating the importance of cultivar selection for thermotolerance in the presence of stress. Electron transport rate was correlated with yield in season 1, thus suggesting the suitability of this method for broad genotypic screening for thermotolerance under field conditions. Biochemical processes such as membrane integrity and enzyme viability were used to determine cultivar specific thermotolerance under high temperature stress in the laboratory, field and growth cabinet. Electrolyte leakage is an indicator of decreased membrane integrity and may be estimated by the relative electrical conductivity or relative cellular injury assays. The heat sensitivity of dehydrogenase activity, a proxy for cytochrome functionality and capacity for mitochondrial electron transport, may be quantified spectrophotometrically. Cellular membrane integrity and enzyme viability decreased sigmoidally with exposure to increasing temperatures in a water bath. Membrane integrity was higher for Sicot 53 compared with Sicala 45 under the tents and under high temperatures in the growth cabinet. No temperature treatment or cultivar differences were found for enzyme viability under the tents; however, enzyme viability for Sicala 45 was higher in the growth cabinet compared with Sicot 53. Relative electrical conductivity was strongly correlated with yield under ambient field conditions and under the tents, suggesting impairment of electron flow through photosynthetic and/or respiratory pathways, thus contributing to lower potential for ATP production and energy generation for yield contribution. Thus, the membrane integrity assay was considered to be a rapid and reliable tool for thermotolerance screening in cotton cultivars. Gene expression was examined for cultivars Sicot 53 and Sicala 45 grown under high (42 oC) temperatures in the growth cabinet. Rubisco activase expression was quantified using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis and was decreased under high temperatures and was lower for Sicala 45 than Sicot 53. Maximum cultivar differentiation was found after 1.0 h exposure to high temperatures and hence, leaf tissue sampled from this time point was further analysed for global gene profiling using cDNA microarrays. Genes involved in metabolism, heat shock protein generation, electron flow and ATP generation were down-regulated under high temperatures in the growth cabinet and a greater number of genes were differentially expressed for Sicala 45, thereby indicating a higher level of heat stress and a greater requirement for mobilisation of protective and compensatory mechanisms compared with Sicot 53. Cultivar specific thermotolerance determination using gene profiling may be a useful tool for understanding the underlying basis of physiological and biochemical responses to high temperature stress in the growth cabinet. There is future opportunity for profiling genes associated with heat stress and heat tolerance for identification of key genes associated with superior cultivar performance under high temperature stress and characterisation of these genes under field conditions. This research has identified cultivar differences in yield under field conditions and has identified multiple physiological and biochemical pathways that may contribute to these differences. Future characterisation of genes associated with heat stress and heat tolerance under growth cabinet conditions may be extended to field conditions, thus providing the underlying basis of the response of cotton to high temperature stress. Electron transport rate and relative electrical conductivity were found to be rapid and reliable determinants of cultivar specific thermotolerance and hence may be extended to broad-spectrum screening of a range of cotton cultivars and species and under a range of abiotic stress. This will enable the identification of superior cotton cultivars for incorporation into local breeding programs for Australian and American cotton production systems.

Le champ électrique d'une puissance suffisante peut provoquer une augmentation de conductivité et perméabilité de la membrane cellulaire. L'effet est connu comme l'électroporation, attribuée à la création de voies aqueuses dans la membrane. Quantifier le transport de la matière dans le cadre d'électroporation est un objectif important. Comprendre ces processus a des ramifications dans l’extraction du jus ou l’extraction sélective des composés de cellules végétales, l'amélioration de l'administration de médicaments, et des solutions aux défis environnementaux. Il y a un manque de modèles qui pourraient être utilisés pour modéliser le transport de la matière dans les structures complexes (tissus biologiques) par rapport à l'électroporation. Cette thèse présente une description mathématique théorique (un modèle) pour étudier le transport de la matière et le transfert de la chaleur dans tissu traité par l’électroporation. Le modèle a été développé en utilisant les lois de conservation et de transport et permet le couplage des effets de l'électroporation sur la membrane des cellules individuelles au transport de la matière ou la chaleur dans le tissu. Une solution analytique a été trouvée par une simplification, mais le modèle peut être étendu avec des dépendances fonctionnelles supplémentaires et résolu numériquement. La thèse comprend cinq articles sur l'électroporation dans l'industrie alimentaire, la création de modèle pour le problème de diffusion, la traduction du modèle au problème lié à l’expression de jus, validation du modèle, ainsi que des suggestions pour une élaboration future du modèle. Un chapitre supplémentaire est dédié au transfert de la chaleur dans tissu. / An electric field of sufficient strength can cause an increase of conductivity and permeability of cell membrane. Effect is known as electroporation and is attributed to creation of aqueous pathways in the membrane. Quantifying mass transport in connection with electroporation of biological tissues is an important goal. The ability to fully comprehend transport processes has ramifications in improved juice extraction and improved selective extraction of compounds from plant cells, improved drug delivery, and solutions to environmental challenges. While electroporation is intensively investigated, there is a lack of models that can be used to model mass transport in complex structures such as biological tissues with relation to electroporation. This thesis presents an attempt at constructing a theoretical mathematical description – a model, for studying mass (and heat) transfer in electroporated tissue. The model was developed employing conservation and transport laws and enables coupling effects of electroporation to the membrane of individual cells with the resulting mass transport or heat transfer in tissue. An analytical solution has been found though the model can be extended with additional dependencies to account for the phenomenon of electroporation, and solved numerically. Thesis comprises five peer-reviewed papers describing electroporation in the food industry, model creation for the problem of diffusion, translation of the model to the mathematically-related case of juice expression, model validation, as well as suggestions for possible future development, extension, and generalization. An additional chapter is dedicated to transfer of heat in tissue.