O tratamento para a Leucemia Linfoblástica Aguda LLA utiliza, entre outros fármacos, a enzima L-asparaginase (ASNase) proveniente da bactéria Escherichia coli. Reações imunológicas estão entre os problemas do tratamento com ASNase, e a formação de anticorpos contra essa proteína pode impedir o sucesso no tratamento. Duas cisteíno proteases lisossomais estão relacionadas com a degradação de ASNase nos seres humanos, a Catepsina B (CTSB) e Asparagina Endopeptidase (AEP). Em estudos prévios do nosso grupo obteve-se mutantes de ASNase resistentes a degradação por CTSB e/ou AEP in vitro. Nesse trabalho avaliamos essas mutantes quanto a sua citotoxicidade em linhagens celulares de leucemia e conduzimos estudos in vivo, aplicando as proteoformas de ASNases em camundongos Balb C para avaliar a atividade asparaginase sérica das enzimas ao longo do tempo, bem como obter informações sobre a formação de anticorpos contra essas proteoformas. Nos ensaios de citotoxicidade, duas das proteoformas testadas tiveram efeito citotóxico semelhante a forma selvagem, enquanto uma outra proteoforma tem a citotoxicidade sensivelmente reduzida. Já nos ensaios in vivo, uma proteoforma demonstrou meia vida sérica maior da atividade asparaginásica, e duas proteoformas causaram reduzida formação de anticorpos. Juntos, esses resultados colaboram para a obtenção de uma nova geração de ASNases com melhor biodisponibilidade, e efeitos adversos reduzidos, gerando a possibilidade de menores doses e frequência de aplicações. / The Treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) includes the biopharmaceutical L-asparaginase (ASNase) from Escherichia coli. Immunological reactions are among the problems of treatment using ASNase, and the antibodies formation protein may prevent success in treatment. Lysosomal cysteine proteases are related to ASNase degradation, Cathepsin B (CTSB) and Asparagine Endopeptidase (AEP). In previous studies, ASNase mutants resistant to CTSB and / or AEP degradation in vitro were obtained. In this work, mutants were evaluated in cytotoxicity in ALL cell lines and, in vivo studies, applying doses of the wild and mutant ASNases in Balb C mice to evaluate serum asparaginase activity of the enzymes over time, as well as to obtain information on the formation of antibodies against these proteoforms. Regarding to the cytotoxicity, two proteoforms among the tested had similar cytotoxicity than the wild-type. While another proteoform had the cytotoxicity severely reduced. One proteoform have demonstrated greater serum half-life of asparaginase activity, while two other mutants caused reduced antibody formation. Together, these results collaborate to obtain a new generation of ASNases with increased bioavailability and reduced side effects, generating the possibility of lower doses and frequency of applications.

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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

Tripeptidyl-peptidase II (TPP II) is a subtilisin-like serine peptidase that forms a gigantic homooligomeric complex, and is involved in the degradation of peptides in the cytosol. In addition, TPP II has been implicated in specific cellular processes, such as apoptosis control and adipogenesis, but if this is dependent on its endo- or exopeptidase activity remains to be determined. This work is devoted to the structure and function of TPP II, and to finding connections between the two. Evolutionarily conserved regions of TPP II have been identified, and sequence signatures have been constructed as an aid in identification of TPP II homologues. The conserved regions highlight amino acid residues of potential importance to structure, function or both. In addition, the first TPP II homologue in a prokaryote has been documented, which was likely the result of a horizontal gene transfer. Substrate binding for the exopeptidase activity of TPP II has been studied through mutagenesis of Glu-331, which revealed a molecular ruler mechanism that positions substrates for cleavage at the third peptide bond from the N-terminus. Thus, the well-known tripeptidyl-releasing property of TPP II could be explained. The exopeptidase activity was also probed by pH dependence studies, which revealed that a substrate with a smaller residue in the P1 position could bind non-productively to the active site. Furthermore, a difference in the pH dependence of KM between TPP II from Drosophila and homologues from mammals indicated a difference in the configuration of the binding pockets between these species. The endopeptidase activity of TPP II has also been investigated, and was found to differ from the exopeptidase activity. The endopeptidase activity appeared to be promiscuous and the preference for basic amino acid residues in the P1 position reported earlier could not be substantiated. In conclusion, many structural and mechanistic features have been observed in this work. This might be of value to future drug discovery efforts towards TPP II, and in elucidating the physiological role of this gigantic enzyme. / Felaktigt tryckt som Digital Comprehensive Summaries of Uppsala Dissertations from the Faculty of Science and Technology 721

Thesis (Ph.D. in Microbiology) -- University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, 2006. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 142-160). Free to UCDHSC affiliates. Online version available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations;

Thesis (Ph.D.). / Written for the Dept. of Human Genetics. Title from title page of PDF (viewed 2008/02/12). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D. in Toxicology) -- University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, 2005. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 128-138).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Florida, 2005. / Typescript. Title from title page of source document. Document formatted into pages; contains 123 pages. Includes Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Prolyl endopeptidase SmPEP from the blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni is investigated here for the first time. This enzyme is potentially interesting as a drug target for the treatment of schistosomiasis. SmPEP was detected in the extract of adult worms by enzyme activity and immunoreactivity. Enzymatically active SmPEP was produced in the E. coli expression system and was chromatographically purified. The pH optimum of recombinant SmPEP was about 8. Substrate specificity analysis revealed that SmPEP cleaved peptide substrates by endopeptidase activity, however, macromolecular substrates were not fragmented. The residue preferences in the positions P3 to P1' were determined using synthetic fluorogenic peptide substrates. SmPEP was found to be highly sensitive to the inhibition by Z-Ala-Pro-CMK and Z-Arg-Pro-CHO. Primary screening of crystallization conditions for recombinant SmPEP was performed. " (In Czech)"