Intracellular sterol redistribution is an important step in the lipid homeostasis of organisms, a process directly linked to the organizational arrangement in the plasma membrane (PM) of cells. Previous studies in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae have demonstrated that the ARV1 (ACAT-related enzyme-2 required for viability 1) protein is a major regulator of sterol transport from the endoplasmic reticulum to the plasma membrane, contributing to the structural organization of the PM, rendering it resistant to anti-fungal compounds as well as maintaining ER integrity. This study assessed the significance of ARV1 in the plant pathogenic fungus Cryphonectria parasitica (Cparv1) and investigated its role in the pathogenesis and virulence of the fungus. C. parasitica is the causative agent of Chestnut blight, which has wreaked havoc on the American chestnut species. Genomic analysis revealed that the Cparv1 gene is very closely linked to another gene that putatively encodes a cyanamide hydratase (Cpcah). An initial gene deletion event resulted in the elimination of both genes and a highly deformed phenotype in C. parasitica that was fully recoverable by complementation. PCR-based expression analysis determined that the lack of Cparv1 was responsible for the debilitated phenotype of the double mutant, with no transcript detectable from Cpcah. Subsequent complementation of the Cparv1 gene was also observed to restore the wildtype phenotype. Mass spectrometry-based (MS) results indicated a decrease in sterol content of the DCparv1 mutant strain compared to wildtype EP155 thus confirming a role for Cparv1 in sterol homeostasis. It has been shown that infection of C. parasitica with virulence-attenuating hypoviruses altered intracellular lipid content and protein secretion. Ultrastructure studies conducted on the Cparv1 strain showed disrupted organelle integrity and the presence of cytoplasmic double membrane stretches. Decreased sterol content in C. parasitica infected with CHV1-EP713 was observed similar to DCparv1 suggesting a connection between the hypovirus-infected phenotype and Cparv1. Furthermore, a non-targeted metabolomic study on all three strains identified 324 metabolites. Through the subsequent pathway analysis, we have investigated the pleiotropic effects in the C. parasitica strains and established a mechanistic linkage between this the activity of the ARV-1 protein and the hypovirus-infected phenotype.

Submitted by (lucia.rodrigues@ufrpe.br) on 2017-02-16T14:00:28Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Alba Valeria da Silva Pereira.pdf: 458155 bytes, checksum: 80e5a16e6ef2e1ee3b97cac4fbc53703 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-02-16T14:00:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Alba Valeria da Silva Pereira.pdf: 458155 bytes, checksum: 80e5a16e6ef2e1ee3b97cac4fbc53703 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-03-16 / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / Application of fungicide is the main measure of management to stem-end rot and there is no information on the sensitivity and on the fitness costs arising from the reduction in sensitivity of its causal agent, Lasiodiplodia theobromae. One hundred and twenty monosporic isolates collected in producing areas of the Northeast region of Brazil, were divided into six populations. We evaluated the in vitro sensitivity (inhibition of mycelial growth) of the isolates to class the fungicides belonging to two groups: benzimidazoles and sterol demethylation inhibitors (DMIs). We also evaluated the fitness of isolates with different levels of sensitivity the fungicides both in vitro and in vivo (mycelial growth and aggressiveness). The average EC50 for DMIs ranged from 0,141 to 4,054, 0,045 to 0,691 and from 0,001 to 1,529 for tebuconazole, prochloraz and imazalil, respectively. The level of sensitivity to DMIs did not differ among populations. For the benzimidazoles EC50 of 91.6% of the isolates ranged from 0,002 to 0,14 and 0,36 in 1,272 (benomyl and thiabendazole,respectively).The 8.4% isolates, classified as not sensitive (NS) were not inhibited at the highest concentration evaluated (100μg ml of a.i-1). All NS isolates were from the same population. The aggressiveness of NS isolated was lower. / A aplicação de fungicida é a principal medida de manejo para podridão peduncular e não há informações sobre a sensibilidade e custos adaptativos decorrentes da redução de sensibilidade do seu agente causal, Lasiodiplodia theobromae. Cento e vinte isolados monospóricos, coletados em áreas produtoras da região Nordeste do Brasil, foram divididos em seis populações. Avaliou-se a sensibilidade in vitro (inibição de crescimento micelial) dos isolados aos fungicidas das classes dos benzimidazois e inibidores da biossíntese de ergosterol (IBEs) e a adaptabilidade in vitro e in vivo (crescimento micelial e agressividade) de isolados com níveis distintos de sensibilidade aos fungicidas testados. A CE50 média para os IBEs variou de 0,141 a 4,054, 0,045 a 0,691 e 0,001 a 1,529 para o tebuconazol, prochloraz e imazalil, respectivamente. O nível de sensibilidade aos IBEs não diferiu entre populações. Para os benzimidazóis a CE50 de 91,6% dos isolados variou de 0,002 a 0,14 e 0,36 a 1,272(benomyl e tiabendazol, respectivamente). Os 8,4%, classificados como não sensíveis (NS), não foram inibidos na maior concentração avaliada (100μg de i.a. ml-1). Todos os isolados NS foram oriundos de uma mesma população. A agressividade dos isolados NS foi menor. Para os IBEs, não foi detectado nenhum custo adaptativo.

<p>Lichens are fascinating symbiotic systems, where a fungus and a unicellular alga, most often green (bipartite green algal lichens; 90% of all lichens), or a fi lamentous cyanobacterium (bipartite cyanobacterial lichens; 10% of all lichens) form a new entity (a thallus) appearing as a new and integrated organism: in about 500 lichens the fungus is associated with both a cyanobacterium and an alga (tripartite lichens). In the thallus, the lichen bionts function both as individual organisms, and as a symbiont partner. Hence, in lichens, the participating partners must both be able to receive and acquire resources from the other partner(s) in a controlled way.</p><p>Lichens are particularly successful in harsh terrestrial environments. In part this is related to their poikilohydric nature and subsequent ability to repeatedly become desiccated and hydrated. Metabolic activity, i.e. photosynthesis, respiration, and for cyanobacterial lichens N2-fixation, is limited to periods when the thallus is suffi ciently hydrated. Mineral nutrients are mainly acquired from dry or wet deposition directly on the thallus. Taken together it then appears that lichens are to a large extent passively controlled by their environment, making their control over resource allocation and acquisition particularly challenging.</p><p>The aim of this thesis was to investigate resource acquisition and allocation processes in different lichens, and to see how these respond to changes in resource availability. This was done by following lichen growth in the fi eld during manipulation of water, light, and nutrient supply, and by assessing the responses of both the integrated thallus as well as the individual bionts. As a fi rst step, resource allocation and acquisition was investigated for a broad range of lichens aiming to determine the magnitude of metabolic variation across lichens. Seventy-fi ve lichen species were selected to cover as broad a spectrum as possible regarding taxonomy, morphology, habitat, and nitrogen requirements. The lichens had invested their nitrogen resources so that photosynthetic capacity matched respiratory carbon demand around a similar equilibrium across the contrasting species. Regulation of lichen growth was investigated in another study, using the two tripartite species <i>Nephroma arcticum</i> and <i>Peltigera aphthosa</i>, emphasizing the contribution of both internal and external factors. The empirical growth models for the two lichens were similar, showing that weight gain is to a higher extent dependent on those external factors that regulate their photosynthesis, whilst area gain is more controlled by internal factors, such as their nitrogen metabolism. This might be inferred from another study of the same species, where nitrogen manipulations resulted in an undisturbed weight gain, a similar resource allocation pattern between the bionts, but a distorted area gain. </p><p>Aiming to investigate lichen nitrogen relations even further, lichens’ capacities to assimilate combined nitrogen in the form of ammonium, nitrate and amino acids were assessed using 14 contrasting boreal species. All these had the capacity to assimilate all the three nitrogen forms, with ammonium absorption being more passive, and nitrate uptake being low in bipartite cyanobacterial lichens. Differences in uptake capacities between species were more correlated to photobiont than to morphology or substrate preferences. Finally, to investigate intra-specifi c plasticity in relation to altered nutrient supply, resource investments between photo- and mycobiont were investigated in the two bipartite green algal lichens <i>Hypogymnia physodes </i>and and <i>Platismatia glauca</i> in a low and a high nutrient environ- in a low and a high nutrient environ- ment. In both species, more of the resources had been directed to the photobiont in the high nutrient environment also increasing their overall carbon status. Taken together, my studies indicate that in spite of the apparent passive environmental control on lichen metabolism, these symbiotic organisms are able to both optimize and control their resource acquisition and allocation processes.</p>

<p>Bacteria and fungi dominate the decomposition of aquatic plants, a major process in the carbon and nutrient cycling in many aquatic systems. Although phylogenetically distant, bacteria and fungi often live in close proximity with each other. Since these microorganisms also have similar ecological functions, interactions have developed between them. This thesis explores the nature of such interactions, and the potential effects on key components of the decomposition process. The thesis includes a critical assessment of the ergosterol method for determination of fungal biomass, a survey of the environmental factors determining the distribution and taxa numbers of litter-decomposing bacteria and fungi in lakes, and a number of experiments on the interactions between bacteria and fungi. In all the experiments performed, fungi responded to bacterial presence through antagonism, although different fungal strains, bacterial communities and substrates were used. The antagonism seemed to be caused by interference competition for substrate. The fungal effect on bacteria was less consistent. Bacterial growth was suppressed, unaffected, or even enhanced by the presence of fungi. Fungi contributed more to extracellular enzyme production than bacteria, and bacteria were probably able to assimilate intermediate decomposition products formed through the activity of extracellular enzymes of fungal origin. Thus, the effect on bacteria from interacting with fungi was determined by the balance between competition and benefit from excreted enzymes. Bacteria and fungi also used different size fractions of the organic matter, according to their different enzymatic capacities. Hence, bacteria appeared to assimilate low-molecular-weight compounds, while high-molecular-weight compounds were utilized primarily by fungi. </p><p>In brief, the ecological interactions influenced the growth and hence also the biomass development of bacteria and fungi, which affected enzyme activity as well as utilization of dissolved organic matter. Therefore, I suggest that interactions between bacteria and fungi influence degradation of plant litter in aquatic systems.</p>

Lichens are fascinating symbiotic systems, where a fungus and a unicellular alga, most often green (bipartite green algal lichens; 90% of all lichens), or a fi lamentous cyanobacterium (bipartite cyanobacterial lichens; 10% of all lichens) form a new entity (a thallus) appearing as a new and integrated organism: in about 500 lichens the fungus is associated with both a cyanobacterium and an alga (tripartite lichens). In the thallus, the lichen bionts function both as individual organisms, and as a symbiont partner. Hence, in lichens, the participating partners must both be able to receive and acquire resources from the other partner(s) in a controlled way. Lichens are particularly successful in harsh terrestrial environments. In part this is related to their poikilohydric nature and subsequent ability to repeatedly become desiccated and hydrated. Metabolic activity, i.e. photosynthesis, respiration, and for cyanobacterial lichens N2-fixation, is limited to periods when the thallus is suffi ciently hydrated. Mineral nutrients are mainly acquired from dry or wet deposition directly on the thallus. Taken together it then appears that lichens are to a large extent passively controlled by their environment, making their control over resource allocation and acquisition particularly challenging. The aim of this thesis was to investigate resource acquisition and allocation processes in different lichens, and to see how these respond to changes in resource availability. This was done by following lichen growth in the fi eld during manipulation of water, light, and nutrient supply, and by assessing the responses of both the integrated thallus as well as the individual bionts. As a fi rst step, resource allocation and acquisition was investigated for a broad range of lichens aiming to determine the magnitude of metabolic variation across lichens. Seventy-fi ve lichen species were selected to cover as broad a spectrum as possible regarding taxonomy, morphology, habitat, and nitrogen requirements. The lichens had invested their nitrogen resources so that photosynthetic capacity matched respiratory carbon demand around a similar equilibrium across the contrasting species. Regulation of lichen growth was investigated in another study, using the two tripartite species Nephroma arcticum and Peltigera aphthosa, emphasizing the contribution of both internal and external factors. The empirical growth models for the two lichens were similar, showing that weight gain is to a higher extent dependent on those external factors that regulate their photosynthesis, whilst area gain is more controlled by internal factors, such as their nitrogen metabolism. This might be inferred from another study of the same species, where nitrogen manipulations resulted in an undisturbed weight gain, a similar resource allocation pattern between the bionts, but a distorted area gain. Aiming to investigate lichen nitrogen relations even further, lichens’ capacities to assimilate combined nitrogen in the form of ammonium, nitrate and amino acids were assessed using 14 contrasting boreal species. All these had the capacity to assimilate all the three nitrogen forms, with ammonium absorption being more passive, and nitrate uptake being low in bipartite cyanobacterial lichens. Differences in uptake capacities between species were more correlated to photobiont than to morphology or substrate preferences. Finally, to investigate intra-specifi c plasticity in relation to altered nutrient supply, resource investments between photo- and mycobiont were investigated in the two bipartite green algal lichens Hypogymnia physodes and and Platismatia glauca in a low and a high nutrient environ- in a low and a high nutrient environ- ment. In both species, more of the resources had been directed to the photobiont in the high nutrient environment also increasing their overall carbon status. Taken together, my studies indicate that in spite of the apparent passive environmental control on lichen metabolism, these symbiotic organisms are able to both optimize and control their resource acquisition and allocation processes.

Bacteria and fungi dominate the decomposition of aquatic plants, a major process in the carbon and nutrient cycling in many aquatic systems. Although phylogenetically distant, bacteria and fungi often live in close proximity with each other. Since these microorganisms also have similar ecological functions, interactions have developed between them. This thesis explores the nature of such interactions, and the potential effects on key components of the decomposition process. The thesis includes a critical assessment of the ergosterol method for determination of fungal biomass, a survey of the environmental factors determining the distribution and taxa numbers of litter-decomposing bacteria and fungi in lakes, and a number of experiments on the interactions between bacteria and fungi. In all the experiments performed, fungi responded to bacterial presence through antagonism, although different fungal strains, bacterial communities and substrates were used. The antagonism seemed to be caused by interference competition for substrate. The fungal effect on bacteria was less consistent. Bacterial growth was suppressed, unaffected, or even enhanced by the presence of fungi. Fungi contributed more to extracellular enzyme production than bacteria, and bacteria were probably able to assimilate intermediate decomposition products formed through the activity of extracellular enzymes of fungal origin. Thus, the effect on bacteria from interacting with fungi was determined by the balance between competition and benefit from excreted enzymes. Bacteria and fungi also used different size fractions of the organic matter, according to their different enzymatic capacities. Hence, bacteria appeared to assimilate low-molecular-weight compounds, while high-molecular-weight compounds were utilized primarily by fungi. In brief, the ecological interactions influenced the growth and hence also the biomass development of bacteria and fungi, which affected enzyme activity as well as utilization of dissolved organic matter. Therefore, I suggest that interactions between bacteria and fungi influence degradation of plant litter in aquatic systems.

A stereoselective synthesis of (25S)-Δ1-, (25S)-Δ1,4-, (25S)-Δ1,7-, (25S)-Δ8(14)-, (25S)-Δ4,6,8(14)-dafachronic acid, methyl (25S)-Δ1,4-dafachronate and (25S)-5α-hydroxy-3,6-dioxocholest-7-en-26-oic acid is described. (25S)-Δ1,4-Dafachronic acid and its methyl ester are natural products isolated from corals and have been obtained by synthesis for the first time. (25S)-5α-Hydroxy-3,6-dioxocholest-7-en-26-oic acid represents a promising synthetic precursor for cytotoxic marine steroids. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

L’étude de la réponse membranaire suite au stress éthanolique chez Saccharomyces cerevisiae vise à comprendre les mécanismes impliqués dans la survie des eucaryotes aux concentrations en éthanol élevées. La membrane cellulaire, par sa position entre l’environnement intra et extracellulaire, est la première cible des perturbations éthanoliques. Les expérimentations effectuées dans cette étude visent à caractériser le maintien de l’intégrité fonctionnelle en relation avec la composition en stérols membranaires chez la levure S. cerevisiae soumise à différents types de perturbations éthanoliques (augmentation de la concentrations en éthanol dans le milieu de croissance, chocs éthanoliques d’amplitude croissante et suivi au cours du temps ; choc à 20% pendant 15 minutes puis suivi au cours du temps après retour dans un milieu sans éthanol (« pulse » 20% d’éthanol)). Les résultats obtenus démontrent l’importance de l’ergostérol dans le maintien de l’intégrité membranaire et supportent également l’hypothèse du rôle « vecteur » de l’éthanol vis à vis d’une oxydation, dont l’efficacité serait dépendante de la nature des stérols présents au niveau membranaire. Les premiers résultats analysant la cinétique de transcription de gènes impliqués dans la réponse au stress oxydatif suggèrent une formation plus importante de formes réactives de l’oxygène (ROS), induite par le choc éthanol chez un mutant Δerg6, affecté dans la voie de biosynthèse de l’ergostérol. / The study of membrane response induced by ethanol stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae aims to understand mechanisms involved in the survival of eukaryotic cells submitted to high ethanol concentrations. The cell membrane by its position between the intra- and extracellular environment is the first target of ethanolic perturbations. Experiments performed in this study aimed to characterize the maintain of the functional integrity of the membrane in relation to the sterol composition in the yeast S. cerevisiae submitted to different types of ethanolic disturbances: increasing concentrations of ethanol in the growth medium; ethanolic shocks of increasing magnitude; shock 20% ethanol for 15 minutes and then return in a medium without ethanol ("pulse" 20% ethanol)). Our results demonstrate the importance of ergosterol in maintaining membrane integrity and also support the hypothesis of the vector role of ethanol in cell oxidation, whose effectiveness is dependent on the nature of sterols at the membrane level. In addition, our results analyzing the kinetics of transcription of genes involved in oxidative stress response suggest an increased formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by ethanol in the Δerg6 mutant, affected in the biosynthetic pathway of ergosterol.

The master thesis addresses the issue of cultivation of selected strains of carotenogenic yeasts on waste materials of the food industry using a laboratory bioreactor. Carotenogenic yeasts are able to produce highly valuable metabolites during cultivation, which are located predominantly in the lipid part of the cells. Particularly, they are carotenoids, ergosterol, coenzyme Q and fatty acids. The thesis is divided into two main parts, the theoretical part and the practical part. The theoretical part describes individual yeast strains, types of waste materials, produced metabolites and methods of their analysis. The experimental part deals with the processing of waste materials of the food industry, specifically animal fat, whey and spent coffee grounds into the form of substrates usable as nutrition sources for yeast cultivation. Furthermore, cultivations focused on the recovery of the monitored metabolites and their analysis by using HPLC/PDA and GC/FID assemblies were studied as well. The yeast strains Rhodotorula mucilaginosa (CCY 19-4-6), Rhodotorula kratochvilae (CCY 20-2-26), Rhodosporidium toruloides (CCY 062-002-001), Sporidiobolus pararoseus (CCY 19-9-6) a Cystofilobasidium macerans (CCY 10-1-2) were used in this work. As one of the best producing strains Sporidiobolus pararoseus (CCY 19-9-6) was found, which achieved very high productions of carotenoids, coenzyme Q and ergosterol.

Karotenoidy jsou přírodní pigmenty vyskytující se v mikroorganismech jako jsou řasy, kvasinky a sinice. Představují nejrozšířenější skupinu antioxidantů s významným biologickým účinkem. V současnosti vzrůstá zájem o karotenoidy vzhledem k jejich příznivým vlivům na lidské zdraví. Chlorofyly jsou zelená fotosyntetická barviva, která nacházejí uplatnění v potravinářství jako intenzivní zelená barviva. Koenzym Q je znám svým pozitivním vlivem pro správnou funkci řady orgánů v lidském těle. Ergosterol je nedílnou součástí membrán kvasinek a hub. Je to provitamin D2, který je důležitou součástí imunitního systému. Mikrobiální lipidy, nebo také ‚‚Single cell oils‘‘ jsou charakteristické vysokým obsahem zdraví prospěšných nenasycených mastných kyselin, které lze využít ve farmacii či kosmetice. Mikrobiální lipidy jsou dále studovány jako alternativa pro výrobu biopaliv. Dizertační práce byla zaměřena na studium a možnosti optimalizace produkce lipidů a lipidických látek vybranými kmeny karotenogenních kvasinek, mikrořas a sinic. V rámci práce byly testované kvasinky rodu Rhodotorula, Rhodosporidium, Cystofilobasidium a Sporidiobolus podrobené kultivacím na sérií médií s různými C/N poměry v rozsahu 13 až 100, obsahujících upravené odpadní substráty z potravinářského průmyslu. Vybrané kmeny byly poté kultivovány v bioreaktorech v médiu obsahujícím kombinaci odpadních substrátů. Kultivace mikrořas rodu Desmodesmus, Scenedesmus, Chlorella, Coccomyxa, Chlamydomonas, Botryococcus se zabývaly optimalizací jednotlivých komponent média a aplikací různých stresů s cílem navýšení produkce studovaných metabolitů. V rámci experimentů s extrémofilní mikrořasou Coccomyxa byly provedeny pilotní velkoobjemové kultivace v otevřených nádržích. V závěrečné části byl provedeny pilotní screeningové a velkoobjemové bioreaktorové experimenty zaměřené na možnosti kokultivace karotenogenních kvasinek a mikrořas. Testované kmeny kvasinek byly s rozdílnou úspěšností schopny utilizovat média obsahující hydrolyzované odpadní substráty. Nejlepším kmenem byl Sporidiobolus pararoseus, který na médiích dosahoval nejvyšších produkcí biomasy i sledovaných metabolitů. Z testovaných odpadních substrátů byla nejlepší kombinace odpadního fritovacího oleje a hydrolyzátu kávové sedliny. Úspěšná optimalizace složení hlavních komponent minerálního média vedla k zvýšené produkci studovaných metabolitů. Největší vliv měl optimální poměr P/N a aplikace oxidačního stresu. Nejlepších výsledků dosáhly mikrořasy rodu Desmodesmus a Scenedesmus. Velkoobjemové kultivace Coccomyxy onubensis potvrdily rezistenci kultury proti kontaminaci vnějšími vlivy a schopnost růstu za vysoké teploty a intenzity světelného záření. Kokultivační experimenty potvrdily schopnost symbiotického růstu kvasinek a mikrořas. Nejlepších výsledků dosahovaly všechny testované kvasinky s mikrořasami rodu Demsodesmus a Scenedesmus a v menší míře i rodu Coccomyxa.