Cystinuria is an autosomal recessive disorder of the kidneys and intestine with defective luminal transport of cystine and other dibasic amino acids (ornithine, arginine, and lysine). Three phenotypes have been described, based on urinary excretion of these amino acids in obligate heterozygotes: Type I (silent carriers); Type II (moderate elevation); and Type III (mild elevation). The SLC3AI (D2H) protein has been shown to enhance cystine reabsorption and mutations in D2H have been reported in cystinuria. The aims of this study were to characterize D2H gene structure and to identify mutations in Quebec patients. / The D2H cDNA was used to isolate five genomic clones and to characterize the entire gene. The gene spans over 40 kb and contains 10 exons. SSCP and Southern blotting techniques were successful in identifying six novel mutations (2 large deletions, 3 missense mutations, and one 2bp deletion) in twenty cystinuric patients (8 Type I/I, 9 Type I/III, and 3 Type II/N). / Our group has identified mutations in the SLC3A1 gene on 15 of 25 cystinuria chromosomes. All but one of these mutations have been found on patients with Type I/I phenotype (the remaining mutation was identified on a Type I/III patient). These studies have revealed eight mutations unique to Quebec and indicate population-specificity and genetic heterogeneity. Furthermore, SLC3A1 mutations only account for Type I cystinuria. However, since only 1 SLC3A1 mutation was identified in 9 Type I/III patients, the data suggest that another gene(s) is (are) responsible for the Type I/N phenotype in some patients.

Diss. Linköping : Univ., 2003.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Adelaide, 1947. / Typewritten copy. Includes bibliographical references.

No description available.

No description available.

Typewritten copy Includes bibliographical references.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Linköping : Linköpings universitet, 2007. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Peptidases regulate important physiological processes by controlling levels of bioactive peptides and occasionally through noncatalytic processes. This thesis presents a study of prolyl endopeptidase-like (PREPL), which is a peptidase involved in several human deletion syndromes, including hypotonia-cystinuria syndrome (HCS). Phenotypes tentatively attributed to PREPL deletion include hypotonia and decreased growth hormone (GH) levels. However, little is known about the mechanisms by which PREPL deletion causes these phenotypes. To better understand PREPL catalytic activity, we used an activity-based protein profiling fluorescence polarization screen to identify the first specific PREPL inhibitors. We proceeded to demonstrate the activity of these inhibitors in cells and discovered several classes of cell-active PREPL inhibitors. Further, one of these inhibitors, 1-isobutyl-3-oxo-3,5,6,7-tetrahydro-2H-cyclopenta[c]pyridine-4-carbonitrile, was able to enter mouse brains. To characterize PREPL substrate specificity, we performed several substrate profiling experiments, but no substrates could be identified, in line with reports from other groups who used related approaches to attempt to identify PREPL substrates. To characterize any noncatalytic functions of PREPL, we used an affinity purification-mass spectrometry approach (AP-MS) to search for any protein-protein interactions of PREPL. We identified brain-expressed X-linked 2 (BEX2) as a novel interactor of PREPL, and confirmed this interaction by immunoblot. Several other proteins identified in the AP-MS experiment, including several members of the STRIPAK complex are being further investigated for possible PREPL interaction. To determine whether HCS phenotypes are in fact due to PREPL deletion and to delineate the molecular pathways involved, we generated a conditional PREPL knockout mouse. These mice were visibly smaller than wildtypes and growth curve analysis verified that from week three of life, there was a significant difference in weight between wildtype and knockout mice. Initial surface righting task experiments also indicate that PREPL knockout pups may have a hypotonia phenotype. In summary, we have developed several new tools for studying PREPL catalytic and noncatalytic function, demonstrated that PREPL deletion causes a GH-related growth deficiency and possible hypotonia and thus moved several steps closer to understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying PREPL deletion phenotypes. / Chemistry and Chemical Biology

La lithiase rénale touche environ 10% de la population dans les pays industrialisés. 75% des calculs sont composés majoritairement d'oxalate de calcium; 10% sont composés de phosphate de calcium, 9% d'acide urique, 5% de struvite et moins de 1% de cystine. La composition des calculs dépend des espèces sursaturées dans les urines. Dans la première partie de ma thèse, je décris un modèle murin de cystinurie de type A lié à une mutation spontanée apparue dans la souche de souris 129S2/SvPasCrl. La cystinurie est une maladie autosomique récessive responsable de 7% des lithiases de l'enfant. Les calculs de cystine récidivent fréquemment et la cystinurie est caractérisée par un risque élevé de développer une insuffisance rénale chronique. Le modèle que nous proposons permet de tester de nouvelles thérapeutiques. Il met aussi en évidence une atteinte parenchymateuse avec un infiltrat inflammatoire associée aux calculs de cystine. Dans la deuxième partie de ma thèse, j'évalue le rôle des Escherichia coli dans la genèse des calculs phospho-calciques. J'ai étudié en microscopie électronique à balayage des calculs phosphocalciques issus de patients et analysé les propriétés calcifiantes de différentes souches bactériennes sauvages et mutées dans des milieux spécifiques et dans de l'urine. En milieu synthétique le rôle des phosphatases est déterminant mais le type de source de carbone influence l'activité des phosphatases. Dans les urines, certains E. coli induisent la précipitation de phosphate de calcium aussi rapidement que les Klebsiella sans moduler le pH. Le type de source de carbone dans les urines semble déterminant pour moduler la biominéralisation. / Urolithiasis is a disease that corresponds to the presence of kidney stones in the urinary tract. It affects about 10% of the population in industrialized countries. About 75% of the stones are made of calcium oxalate. Less than 10% are made of calcium phosphate, 9% are made of uric acid, 5% are made of struvite and less than 1% are made of cystine. The composition depends on the species that are supersaturated in urine. In the first part of my thesis I will present a mouse model of cystinuria type A. Cystinuria is an autosomal recessive disease caused by the mutation of either SLC3A1 gene encoding for rBAT (type A cystinuria) or SLC7A9 gene encoding for b0,+AT (type B cystinuria). In 129S2/SvPasCrl strain, we evidenced cystine crystals, as well as cystine stones. We observed an heterogenous inflammatory infiltrate and cystine tubular casts in the parenchyma. We identified a single mutation and a defect of the heavy subunit rBAT. This mouse model could allow for further pathophysiological studies and may be useful to analyse the crystal/tissue interaction in cystinuria. In the second part of my thesis I will test the pathogenesis of E. coli in calcium phosphate stones. In this part, I observed calcium phosphate stones by scanning electron microscopy. I also analysed calcifying properties of wild type bacteria and mutant bacteria in urine or in specific calcifying medium. In synthetic medium phosphatases play a role in calcification but carbohydrate source seems to play a major part in the phosphatase activity. In urine some E. coli induce phosphate calcium precipitation as quickly as Klebsiella does.

Un biomarqueur est une molécule (ou un ensemble de molécules) présente dans l’organisme qui témoigne de l’apparition d’un processus pathologique. Il permet ainsi de dépister une maladie, d’en prédire sa gravité ou encore d’évaluer l’efficacité d’un traitement. Les liquides biologiques représentent des milieux de choix pour la recherche de biomarqueurs en pathologie humaine car leur collection est habituelle dans la prise en charge des patients et moins invasive comparée aux biopsies d’organes ou de tissus. Dans cette thèse, nous nous sommes intéressés plus particulièrement aux exosomes présents dans ces liquides biologiques. Les exosomes sont des nanovésicules dont le diamètre est compris entre 30 et 100 nanomètres. Ils sont sécrétés par tous les types cellulaires et contiennent des protéines cytoplasmiques et membranaires spécifiques de leur cellule d’origine. L’intérêt majeur des exosomes isolés à partir des liquides biologiques, est qu’ils constituent une source de biomarqueurs. Ils peuvent donc être assimilés à une « biopsie liquide ». L’analyse des exosomes pourrait compléter utilement des examens classiques de dépistage, de diagnostic et de suivi d’une pathologie. Dans le cadre de projet de cette thèse, nous avons appliqué des techniques de protéomique à haut débit pour l’analyse des exosomes. Nous nous sommes tout d’abord intéressés à l’analyse du profil protéique des exosomes urinaires dans le contexte de deux pathologies du tractus urinaire : la cystinurie et le cancer du rein. La cystinurie est une néphropathie lithiasique d’origine génétique pour laquelle il y a peu de marqueurs biologiques pouvant prédire son évolution vers l’insuffisance rénale terminale. Nous avons développé une méthode de préparation des exosomes urinaire permettant d’analyser de façon reproductible leurs profils protéiques. Nous avons appliqué cette méthode à huit patients cystinuriques et comparé les résultats aux profils obtenus chez dix sujets sains. Un panel de 38 protéines différentiellement exprimé dans les exosomes des patients a été identifié et en partie validé par Western blot. Concernant le cancer du rein à cellules claires pour lequel le diagnostic nécessite des prélèvements invasifs par biopsie, nous avons analysé les exosomes urinaires de huit patients avant et après néphrectomie. Nous avons ainsi pu mettre en évidence un panel de 25 protéines surexprimées dans les exosomes des patients. Enfin, le dernier volet de cette thèse a été consacré à l’analyse des exosomes du lavage broncho-alvéolaire provenant de patients MV, maladie d’origine génétique qui atteint principalement les poumons. L’analyse des exosomes de lavage broncho-alvéolaire pourrait permettre de donner un éclairage nouveau sur la physiopathologie de la maladie. Nous avons réalisé la comparaison des profils protéiques des exosomes de quatre patients MV, et six patients asthmatiques. L’ensemble des résultats obtenus au cours de cette thèse montre que l’analyse protéomique des exosomes issus de fluides biologiques peut aider la recherche de biomarqueurs diagnostics ou pronostics de maladies. / A biomarker is a molecule (or a cluster of molecule) which will reflect the occurrence of a pathological state, giving us the ability to detect a disease, to predict its severity or to assess drug efficiency. Biological fluids are the golden standards for biomarker research in human as they are routinely collected for patients’ follow-up and are less invasive than biopsies. During my PhD, I focused on exosomes that can be found in these biological fluids. Exosomes are nanovesicles with a diameter ranging between 30 and 100 nanometers. Exosomes are secreted by all cell types and harbor cytoplasmic and membranous proteins specific of their cells of origins. One of the major interest of exosomes enriched from biological fluids is that they represent a valuable source of biomarkers. They can be considered as a « liquid biopsy ». Their analysis could complete classical diagnosis and follow-up tools. In this project, we applied high resolution, high throughput proteomic techniques for exosomes analysis. We firstly focused on protein profiles in urinary exosomes in the context of two urinary tract diseases: cystinuria and kidney cancer. Cystinuria is an inherited autosomal recessive disease that is characterized by the formation of cystine stones in the kidneys. To date, there are no markers to predict the evolution toward end stage renal disease. We developed a method to prepare exosomes in order to reproducibly analyze their protein profiles. We applied this method to eight cystinuria patients and compared their profiles to those of ten healthy subjects. A panel of 38 differentially expressed proteins in patients were found and validated by western blots. We also applied this method to patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma, for which invasive biopsies are necessary for clear diagnosis. We analyzed urinary exosomes form eight patients before and after nephrectomy. We were able to highlight 25 overexpressed proteins in patients’ exosomes. Eventually, the last part of my thesis was dedicated to the analysis of exosomes enriched from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid collected in cystic fibrosis patients, a disease that affects mostly the lungs. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid exosomes analysis could give a new insight on the mechanisms of this disease. We compared protein profiles in exosomes from four cystic fibrosis patients and six asthmatic patients. The whole point of this work is to show that proteomic analysis of exosomes isolated from biological fluids could become a golden standard for the discovery of diagnosis or prognosis biomarkers.