Progress in understanding cancer progression has been hampered over the years by the different types of mutations present and irregular changes of gene regulation associated with any given cancer. In this work, molecular interactions between TALI, LMO1, and decorin were investigated. Numerous studies have shown that ectopic expression of decorin protein induced growth suppression in neoplastic cells of various histogenic origins. Furthermore, ectopic expression of TAL1 and LMOI oncoproteins has been shown to occur in approximately 50% of the cases of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). It was of interest then to determine the preventive or interactive role decorin played with the oncogenic activity of TAL I and LMO1. In this investigation, decorin was introduced into a murine T-cell line (AKR-DP-603) through the use of the mammalian expression vector pcDNA3.1 (-). This particular cell line was previously engineered to express TALI and LMO1. Protein expression patterns in all cell populations were analyzed using the Western blot technique and a proteoglycan with a molecular weight of 100 kDa before chondroitinase ABC treatment and a core protein of55 kDa after treatment with chondroitinase ABC was seen. This finding is significant since it implies that the pcDNA3. 1(-) vector containing decorin cDNA was present, and the corresponding decorin peptides were expressed in both cytoplasmic and nuclear extracts. Furthermore, Northern blot analysis was performed on total RNA extracts to determine the transcriptional state of endogenous decorin rRNA, as well as exogenously introduced decorin. Northern blot analysis revealed no decorin-specific mRNA transcripts from the various cell populations. This result did not imply a lack of possible regulatory effect on protein and mRNA levels of TALL and LMOI by decorin. Finally, cell growth assays were performed on all cell populations and cell counts were used to assess the growth pattern of each population after serum withdrawal. The results show possible growth suppressive effects of decorin on TAL1 and LMOI expressing cells. Results obtained from this study shed further light on the molecular interactions influencing T-ALL and may also help in the design of potentially beneficial cancer treatments using decorin. / Department of Biology

Both proliferative diabetic retinopathy and exudative age-related macular degeneration are major causes of blindness which are caused by growth of defective, leaky and tortuous blood vessels in the retina. Hypoxia is implicated in triggering both of these diseases and results in induction of HIF-1alpha transcription factor in addition to the angiogenic factor VEGF. Müller cells are the major glial cell in the retina and they contribute to neovascularization in hypoxic regions of the retina through eliciting secretion of growth factors, cytokines and angiogenic factors. As Müller cells span the breadth of the retina they can secrete angiostatic factors as well as neuroprotective trophic factors, the Müller cell is a valuable cell type for targeting by potential new gene therapies. The current investigation tests the hypoxia responsiveness of an AAV vector containing a hybrid hypoxia response element together with a GFAP promoter, and this vector encodes the angiostatic protein decorin, a well characterized multi-receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Decorin may have advantages over other key angiostatic factors such as endostatin or angiostatin by virtue of its multiple anti-angiogenic signaling modalities. We employed Q-RT-PCR to evaluate the cell specificity and hypoxia responsiveness of an AAV-Vector termed AAV-REG-Decorin containing a hybrid HRE and GFAP promoter driving expression of the decorin transgene. The vector also contains a silencer element between the HRE and the GFAP domains to enable low basal expression in normoxia as well as high level inducibility in hypoxia. AAV-REGDecorin was found to elicit high level expression of decorin mRNA in hypoxia with greater than 9 – fold induction of the transgene in hypoxic conditions in astrocytes by comparison to normoxic astrocytes. AAV-REG-Decorin showed low levels of transgene expression by comparison to the positive control vector AAV-CMV -decorin containing the ubiquitously active CMV-promoter. The expression levels of decorin mRNA from AAV-REG-Decorin and from AAV-GFAP-Decorin were low in the PC12 neuronal cell model and in the ARPE19 line of retinal pigment epithelial cells with respect to those of AAV-CMV-decorin and no induction of Decorin mRNA was found with AAV-REGDecorin in these two control cell lines. Our novel gene therapy vector will serve as a platform for testing efficacy in rodent disease models (OIR and laser induced choroidal neovascularization) for assessment of the benefits of tightly regulated antiangiogenic gene therapy eliciting decorin transgene expression, both in terms of timing and the cellular source of production, during the progression of the retinal pathophysiology. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (PhD)--Florida Atlantic University, 2021. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

O prolapso uterino tem sua incidência aumentada na pós-menopausa. O objetivo deste estudo é identificar as alterações na matriz extracelular do ligamento cardinal associadas à menopausa e ao prolapso uterino. Ligamento cardinal de três diferentes grupos de mulheres, pré-menopausa, prolapso uterino e pós-menopausa, foram identificados e biopsiados durante 57 histerectomias abdominais ou vaginais. As amostras foram processadas por métodos bioquímicos para caracterização e quantificação de glicosaminoglicanos sulfatados e colágeno. As concentrações relativas de glicosaminoglicanos foram obtidas por eletroforese. Procedimentos histológicos foram feitos para identificar fibras elásticas (Weigert), distribuição de colágeno (Picro Sirius) e decorin (imunohistoquímica). Nossos resultados mostraram aumento na concentração de GAG de 72,2%, redução na concentração de colágeno de 37% e diminuição de 22% de fibras elásticas no grupo de prolapso uterino quando comparado ao grupo da pós-menopausa (p<0,05, p<0,04 e p<0,05 respectivamente). As concentrações relativas de glicosaminoglicanos sulfatados para condroitin sulfato, heparan sulfato e dermatan sulfato não mostraram diferenças entre os três grupos. A organização do colágeno foi similar entre os três grupos e a marcação do decorin pareceu estar diminuída no grupo de prolapso uterino. Nossos resultados indicam alterações no metabolismo do tecido conjuntivo. O ligamento cardinal da mulher na pós-menopausa possui uma matriz extracelular mais densa. Esta alteração não ocorre na mulher com prolapso uterino. / Uterine prolapse has increase of incidence after menopause. The aim of this study was to identify the changes in extracellular matrix of cardinal ligaments associated to menopause and uterine prolapse. Cardinal ligament of 3 different groups (pre-menopause, menopause and uterine prolapse) are identified and biopsied during 57 womens abdominal or vaginal hysterectomy. Biopsy specimens were assessed by biochemical methods to characterize and quantify sulfated glycosaminoglycans and collagen. Relative concentrations of GAG were obtained by electrophoresis. Histological procedures are made to identify elastic fibers (Weigert) collagen distribution (Picro sirius) and decorin (immunohistochemistry). Our results showed increase in GAG concentration 72.2% in uterine prolapse group compared to menopause group (p<0.05). Collagen concentration was 37% lower in uterine prolapse group compared to menopause group (p<0.04). Relative concentration of GAG: heparan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate and dermatan sulfate showed no differences among three groups. Elastic fibers showed a significant reduction of approximately 22% uterine prolapse group compared to menopause group (p<0.05). Collagen organization was similar in three groups and the staining pattern of decorin seemed to be decreased in uterine prolapse group. Our results indicate changes in connective tissue metabolism. Cardinal ligament in postmenopausal women has a denser extracellular matrix. This change is not observed in women with uterine prolapse.

O prolapso uterino tem sua incidência aumentada na pós-menopausa. O objetivo deste estudo é identificar as alterações na matriz extracelular do ligamento cardinal associadas à menopausa e ao prolapso uterino. Ligamento cardinal de três diferentes grupos de mulheres, pré-menopausa, prolapso uterino e pós-menopausa, foram identificados e biopsiados durante 57 histerectomias abdominais ou vaginais. As amostras foram processadas por métodos bioquímicos para caracterização e quantificação de glicosaminoglicanos sulfatados e colágeno. As concentrações relativas de glicosaminoglicanos foram obtidas por eletroforese. Procedimentos histológicos foram feitos para identificar fibras elásticas (Weigert), distribuição de colágeno (Picro Sirius) e decorin (imunohistoquímica). Nossos resultados mostraram aumento na concentração de GAG de 72,2%, redução na concentração de colágeno de 37% e diminuição de 22% de fibras elásticas no grupo de prolapso uterino quando comparado ao grupo da pós-menopausa (p<0,05, p<0,04 e p<0,05 respectivamente). As concentrações relativas de glicosaminoglicanos sulfatados para condroitin sulfato, heparan sulfato e dermatan sulfato não mostraram diferenças entre os três grupos. A organização do colágeno foi similar entre os três grupos e a marcação do decorin pareceu estar diminuída no grupo de prolapso uterino. Nossos resultados indicam alterações no metabolismo do tecido conjuntivo. O ligamento cardinal da mulher na pós-menopausa possui uma matriz extracelular mais densa. Esta alteração não ocorre na mulher com prolapso uterino. / Uterine prolapse has increase of incidence after menopause. The aim of this study was to identify the changes in extracellular matrix of cardinal ligaments associated to menopause and uterine prolapse. Cardinal ligament of 3 different groups (pre-menopause, menopause and uterine prolapse) are identified and biopsied during 57 womens abdominal or vaginal hysterectomy. Biopsy specimens were assessed by biochemical methods to characterize and quantify sulfated glycosaminoglycans and collagen. Relative concentrations of GAG were obtained by electrophoresis. Histological procedures are made to identify elastic fibers (Weigert) collagen distribution (Picro sirius) and decorin (immunohistochemistry). Our results showed increase in GAG concentration 72.2% in uterine prolapse group compared to menopause group (p<0.05). Collagen concentration was 37% lower in uterine prolapse group compared to menopause group (p<0.04). Relative concentration of GAG: heparan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate and dermatan sulfate showed no differences among three groups. Elastic fibers showed a significant reduction of approximately 22% uterine prolapse group compared to menopause group (p<0.05). Collagen organization was similar in three groups and the staining pattern of decorin seemed to be decreased in uterine prolapse group. Our results indicate changes in connective tissue metabolism. Cardinal ligament in postmenopausal women has a denser extracellular matrix. This change is not observed in women with uterine prolapse.

In this work, the development of a new molecular building block, based on synthetic peptides derived from decorin, is presented. These peptides represent a promising basis for the design of polymer-based biomaterials that mimic the ECM on a molecular level and exploit specific biological recognition for technical applications. Multiple sequence alignments of the internal repeats of decorin that formed the inner and outer surface of the arch-shaped protein were used to develop consensus sequences. These sequences contained conserved sequence motifs that are likely to be related to structural and functional features of the protein. Peptides representative for the consensus sequences were synthesized by microwave-assisted solid phase peptide synthesis and purified by RP-HPLC, with purities higher than 95 mol%. After confirming the desired masses by MALDI-TOF-MS, the primary structure of each peptide was investigated by 1H and 2D NMR, from which a full assignment of the chemical shifts was obtained. The characterization of the peptides conformation in solution was performed by CD spectroscopy, which demonstrated that using TFE, the peptides from the outer surface of decorin show a high propensity to fold into helical structures as observed in the original protein. To the contrary, the peptides from the inner surface did not show propensity to form stable secondary structure. The investigation of the binding capability of the peptides to Collagen I was performed by surface plasmon resonance analyses, from which all but one of the peptides representing the inner surface of decorin showed binding affinity to collagen with values of dissociation constant between 2•10-7 M and 2.3•10-4 M. On the other hand, the peptides representative for the outer surface of decorin did not show any significant interaction to collagen. This information was then used to develop experimental demonstration for the binding capabilities of the peptides from the inner surface of decorin to collagen even when used in more complicated situations close to possible appications. With this purpose, the peptide (LRELHLNNN) which showed the highest binding affinity to collagen (2•10-7 M) was functionalized with an N-terminal triple bond in order to obtain a peptide dimer via copper(I)-catalyzed cycloaddition reaction with 4,4'-diazidostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid. Rheological measurements showed that the presence of the peptide dimer was able to enhance the elastic modulus (G') of a collagen gel from ~ 600 Pa (collagen alone) to ~ 2700 Pa (collagen and peptide dimer). Moreover, it was shown that the mechanical properties of a collagen gel can be tailored by using different molar ratios of peptide dimer respect to collagen. The same peptide, functionalized with the triple bond, was used to obtain a peptide-dye conjugate by coupling it with N-(5'-azidopentanoyl)-5-aminofluorescein. An aqueous solution (5 vol% methanol) of the peptide dye conjugate was injected into a collagen and a hyaluronic acid (HA) gel and images of fluorescence detection showed that the diffusion of the peptide was slower in the collagen gel compared to the HA gel. The third experimental demonstration was gained using the peptide (LSELRLHNN) which showed the lower binding affinity (2.3•10-4 M) to collagen. This peptide was grafted to hyaluronic acid via EDC-chemistry, with a degree of functionalization of 7 ± 2 mol% as calculated by 1H-NMR. The grafting was further confirmed by FTIR and TGA measurements, which showed that the onset of decomposition for the HA-g-peptide decreased by 10 °C compared to the native HA. Rheological measurements showed that the elastic modulus of a system based on collagen and HA-g-peptide increased by almost two order of magnitude (G' = 200 Pa) compared to a system based on collagen and HA (G' = 0.9 Pa). Overall, this study showed that the synthetic peptides, which were identified from decorin, can be applied as potential building blocks for biomimetic materials that function via biological recognition. / In dieser Arbeit wird das Design, die Synthese und Analyse neuer molekularer Bausteine für Biomaterialien basierend auf synthetischen, von Decorin abgeleiteten Peptiden beschrieben. Diese Peptide sind deshalb als Baustein für polymer-basierte Biomaterialien von besonderem Interesse, da sie die extrazelluläre Matrix (ECM) auf molekularer Ebene nachempfinden und spezifische, biologische wichtige Interaktionen für technische Anwendungen nutzbar machen. Das Alignment multipler Sequenzen der internen Repeats von Decorin, die jeweils die innere bzw. äußere Seite des sichelförmigen Decorins bilden, wurde genutzt, um Konsensus-Sequenzen zu definieren. Diese Sequenzen beinhalten stark konservierte Sequenzmotive, die wahrscheinlich wichtig für Struktur und Funktion des Proteins sind. Ausgewählte Peptide, die repräsentativ für die Konsensus-Sequenzen sind, wurden dann mittels Mikrowellen unterstützter Festphasensynthese synthetisiert und mit RP-HPLC aufgereinigt, so dass Peptide mit Reinheiten ≥ 95 mol% erhalten wurden. Die Peptide wurden per MALDI-TOF-MS sowie 1D und 2D NMR Spektroskopie charakterisiert, wobei die Zuordnung der chemischen Verschiebungen zu einzelnen Protonen und Kohlenstoffen aus den 2D NMR Experimenten erfolgte. In Lösung wurden die Peptide zudem mit CD Spektroskopie untersucht, wobei gezeigt werden konnte, dass nur Peptide, die von der äußeren Seite des Decorins abgeleitet wurden, sich durch Zugabe von 2,2,2-Trifluorethanol zu α-Helices falten. Diese Faltung ist auch in der Röntgenstruktur bei den korrespondierenden Abschnitten zu finden. Im Gegensatz dazu zeigten Peptide, die von der inneren Seite des Decorins abgeleitet wurden, keine stabilen Sekundärstrukturen in Lösung (β-Faltblattstruktur in der Röntgenstruktur). Bindungsstudien der Peptide zu Kollagen I wurden mit Oberflächenplasmonenresonanz durchgeführt, wobei gezeigt werden konnte, dass alle bis auf ein Peptid, die von der innneren Seite abgeleitet wurden, an Kollagen mit Dissoziationskonstanten von 2•10-7 M bis 2.3•10-4 M binden, während Peptide, die für die äußere Seite von Decorin repräsentativ sind, keine Bindung an Kollagen I zeigten. Diese Information wurde genutzt, um experimentelle Demonstrationsobjekte dieser Interaktion in komplexeren, einer späteren Anwendung näheren Situation, zu entwickeln. Dazu wurde das Peptide LRELHLNNN, welches die stärkste Bindung zu Kollagen I zeigte (KD = 2•10-7 M), N-terminal mit einer Alkinbindung funktionalisiert, so dass durch Kupfer (I) katalysierte Reaktion mit 4,4'-Diazidostilben-2,2'-disulfonsäure ein Peptid-Dimer erhalten werden konnte. Rheologische Untersuchungen zeigten, dass durch Zugabe des Peptid-Dimers der Elastizitätsmodul G' von Kollagen-Gelen von ~ 600 Pa (nur Kollagen) auf ~ 2700 Pa (Kollagen und Peptide-Dimer) gesteigert werden konnte. Darüber hinaus konnte gezeigt werden, dass die Veränderung der mechanischen Eigenschaften der Gele durch Veränderung des Kollagen:Peptid-Dimer Verhältnisses angepasst werden konnten. Das gleiche, mit einer Alkin-Bindung funktionaliserte Peptid wurde dann zur Darstellung eines Peptid-Fluorescein Konjugats genutzt, indem es mit N-(5'-azidopentanoyl)-5-aminofluorescein umgesetzt wurde. Eine wässrige Lösung des Peptid-Farbstoff-Konjugats wurde dann in Kollagen- bzw. Hyaluronsäuregele injiziert. Die Diffusion des Peptid-Farbstoff-Konjugats war in Kollagengelen im Vergleich zu Hyaluronsäuregelen deutlich verlangsamt. Das dritte Demonstrationsobjekt wurde erhalten, indem das Peptid LSELRLHNN, welches die geringste Bindung an Kollagen zeigte (KD = 2.3•10-4 M), auf Hyaluronsäure (HA) gegrafted wurde. Die Reaktion wurde durch Carbodiimid-mediierte Kupplung erreicht, und ein Funktionalisierungsgrad von 7 ± 2 mol% wurde durch Integration der 1H-NMR Spektren bestimmt. Das erfolgreiche Grafting wurde durch FTIR- und TGA-Untersuchungen bestätigt. In letzteren wurde gezeigt, dass der thermische Abbau durch das Grafting bei etwas niedrigeren Temperaturen beginnt als der Abbau reiner Hyaluronsäure (ΔT = 10 °C). Rheologische Untersuchungen zeigten, dass ein System aus Kollagen und HA-g-Peptid ein um zwei Größenordnungen höheren Elastizitätsmodul G' hat (G' = 200 Pa) als Systeme, die aus einer physikalischen Mischung von Kollagen und HA bestehen (G' = 0.9 Pa). Zusammenfassend konnte gezeigt werden, dass die Peptide, die von Decorin abgeleitet wurden, als Kollagen-bindende Bausteine für biomimetische Materialien genutzt werden können.

Os mecanismos celulares envolvidos na hiperplasia prostática benigna (HPB) não são bem compreendidos e pouco se sabe sobre como os proteoglicanos estão relacionados com esta condição. Neste estudo foi avaliada a expressão de proteoglicanos de superfície celular e do estroma na HPB. As amostras de próstata com HPB foram colhidas de pacientes submetidos à prostatectomia aberta e ressecção transuretral da próstata (RTUP), enquanto as amostras do grupo controle consistiram na zona de transição de próstatas normais de adultos jovens. Foram usados anticorpos primários anti-sindecan-1, anti-biglican e anti-decorin. A imunomarcação foi avaliada determinando-se a área relativa marcada pelo anticorpo, ou usando-se um escore atribuído à intensidade da coloração. Os resultados mostraram que, no grupo controle, a expressão do sindecan-1 foi mínima ou nula. Na HPB, no entanto, a imunomarcação deste proteoglicano foi intensa e localizada principalmente nas células basais do ácino prostático e com menor intensidade na superfície basolateral das células secretoras. Como não houve diferença entre as amostras obtidas através da prostatectomia aberta e da RTUP, esses grupos foram combinados em um único grupo HPB. A área marcada pelo anticorpo anti-sindecan-1 no epitélio das amostras de HPB foi nove vezes maior do que na próstata normal (p<0,001), e não houve correlações significativas entre a marcação do sindecan-1naHPB e o volume da próstata, o PSA ou a idade do paciente. Quanto ao biglican e ao decorin, a marcação foi exclusivamente no estroma, tanto no grupo controle quanto no grupo HPB, e não houve diferença significativa na extensão e intensidade da coloração entre estes dois grupos. Em conclusão, a imunomarcação do sindecan-1 na HPB é intensa e está localizada no epitélio glandular exclusivamente, mas a intensidade não se correlaciona com o tamanho da próstata ou PSA. A expressão do decorin e do biglican, no entanto, não foi alterada na HPB. / The cellular mechanisms involved in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are not well understood, and little is known about how proteoglycans are affected. Here we investigated the protein expression of stromal and cell surface proteoglycans in BPH. BPH samples were colected from open prostatectomy and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), while controls consisted of the transitional zone of normal prostates from young adults. We used primary antibodies against the proteoglycans syndecan-1, biglycan, and decorin. Immunolabeling was evaluated by determining the relative area of staining, or by using a score for staining intensity. The results showed that, in controls, syndecan-1 was mostly negative. In BPH, however, the labeling of this proteoglycan was intense and located mainly in acinar basal cells, but could extended into the secretory cells. As there were no differences in samples from open prostatectomy and TURP, these groups were combined into a BPH group. Syndecan-1 labeling area in the epithelium of BPH samples was nine times greater than that of controls (p<0,001), and there were no significant correlations between syndecan-1 labeling in BPH and prostate volume, PSA, or patients age. Biglycan and decorin labeling were in the stroma exclusively, in control and BPH samples, and there were no significant differences in extent and intensity of the staining between these two groups. In conclusion, syndecan-1 immunolabeling in BPH is prominent and is located in the glandular epithelium exclusively, but intensity does not correlate with prostate size or PSA. Decorin and biglycan labeling, however, were unchanged in BPH.

Os mecanismos celulares envolvidos na hiperplasia prostática benigna (HPB) não são bem compreendidos e pouco se sabe sobre como os proteoglicanos estão relacionados com esta condição. Neste estudo foi avaliada a expressão de proteoglicanos de superfície celular e do estroma na HPB. As amostras de próstata com HPB foram colhidas de pacientes submetidos à prostatectomia aberta e ressecção transuretral da próstata (RTUP), enquanto as amostras do grupo controle consistiram na zona de transição de próstatas normais de adultos jovens. Foram usados anticorpos primários anti-sindecan-1, anti-biglican e anti-decorin. A imunomarcação foi avaliada determinando-se a área relativa marcada pelo anticorpo, ou usando-se um escore atribuído à intensidade da coloração. Os resultados mostraram que, no grupo controle, a expressão do sindecan-1 foi mínima ou nula. Na HPB, no entanto, a imunomarcação deste proteoglicano foi intensa e localizada principalmente nas células basais do ácino prostático e com menor intensidade na superfície basolateral das células secretoras. Como não houve diferença entre as amostras obtidas através da prostatectomia aberta e da RTUP, esses grupos foram combinados em um único grupo HPB. A área marcada pelo anticorpo anti-sindecan-1 no epitélio das amostras de HPB foi nove vezes maior do que na próstata normal (p<0,001), e não houve correlações significativas entre a marcação do sindecan-1naHPB e o volume da próstata, o PSA ou a idade do paciente. Quanto ao biglican e ao decorin, a marcação foi exclusivamente no estroma, tanto no grupo controle quanto no grupo HPB, e não houve diferença significativa na extensão e intensidade da coloração entre estes dois grupos. Em conclusão, a imunomarcação do sindecan-1 na HPB é intensa e está localizada no epitélio glandular exclusivamente, mas a intensidade não se correlaciona com o tamanho da próstata ou PSA. A expressão do decorin e do biglican, no entanto, não foi alterada na HPB. / The cellular mechanisms involved in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are not well understood, and little is known about how proteoglycans are affected. Here we investigated the protein expression of stromal and cell surface proteoglycans in BPH. BPH samples were colected from open prostatectomy and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), while controls consisted of the transitional zone of normal prostates from young adults. We used primary antibodies against the proteoglycans syndecan-1, biglycan, and decorin. Immunolabeling was evaluated by determining the relative area of staining, or by using a score for staining intensity. The results showed that, in controls, syndecan-1 was mostly negative. In BPH, however, the labeling of this proteoglycan was intense and located mainly in acinar basal cells, but could extended into the secretory cells. As there were no differences in samples from open prostatectomy and TURP, these groups were combined into a BPH group. Syndecan-1 labeling area in the epithelium of BPH samples was nine times greater than that of controls (p<0,001), and there were no significant correlations between syndecan-1 labeling in BPH and prostate volume, PSA, or patients age. Biglycan and decorin labeling were in the stroma exclusively, in control and BPH samples, and there were no significant differences in extent and intensity of the staining between these two groups. In conclusion, syndecan-1 immunolabeling in BPH is prominent and is located in the glandular epithelium exclusively, but intensity does not correlate with prostate size or PSA. Decorin and biglycan labeling, however, were unchanged in BPH.

No description available.

abstract: Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are a class of complex biomolecules comprised of linear, sulfated polysaccharides whose presence on cell surfaces and in the extracellular matrix involve them in many physiological phenomena as well as in interactions with pathogenic microbes. Decorin binding protein A (DBPA), a Borrelia surface lipoprotein involved in the infectivity of Lyme disease, is responsible for binding GAGs found on decorin, a small proteoglycan present in the extracellular matrix. Different DBPA strains have notable sequence heterogeneity that results in varying levels of GAG-binding affinity. In this dissertation, the structures and GAG-binding mechanisms for three strains of DBPA (B31 and N40 DBPAs from B. burgdorferi and PBr DBPA from B. garinii) are studied to determine why each strain has a different affinity for GAGs. These three strains have similar topologies consisting of five α-helices held together by a hydrophobic core as well as two long flexible segments: a linker between helices one and two and a C-terminal tail. This structural arrangement facilitates the formation of a basic pocket below the flexible linker which is the primary GAG-binding epitope. However, this GAG-binding site can be occluded by the flexible linker, which makes the linker a negative regulator of GAG-binding. ITC and NMR titrations provide KD values that show PBr DBPA binds GAGs with higher affinity than B31 and N40 DBPAs, while N40 binds with the lowest affinity of the three. Work in this thesis demonstrates that much of the discrepancies seen in GAG affinities of the three DBPAs can be explained by the amino acid composition and conformation of the linker. Mutagenesis studies show that B31 DBPA overcomes the pocket obstruction with the BXBB motif in its linker while PBr DBPA has a retracted linker that exposes the basic pocket as well as a secondary GAG-binding site. N40 DBPA, however, does not have any evolutionary modifications to its structure to enhance GAG binding which explains its lower affinity for GAGs. GMSA and ELISA assays, along with NMR PRE experiments, confirm that structural changes in the linker do affect GAG-binding and, as a result, the linker is responsible for regulating GAG affinity. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Biochemistry 2015

No description available.