Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of pulmonary tuberculosis, infects one-third of the world’s human population. Despite the multiplicity of antimicrobial mechanisms mounted by its host, M. tuberculosis shows a remarkable ability to survive either by evoking survival strategies or by interference with critical macrophage functions that are required to successfully respond to the infection. It has been postulated that the outcome of exposure to M. tuberculosis (in terms of disease symptoms) largely depends upon the selective gene expression of tuberculosis bacilli along with activation of specific signaling pathways in the infected host cells during different phases of infection. In this perspective, determination of the complete genome sequence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis has provided crucial information with respect to the physiology of this bacterium and the pathogenesis of tuberculosis. However, putative functional annotation to all hypothetical proteins coded by M. tuberculosis genome remains complex. One important outcome of the genome-sequencing project was the discovery of two new multigene families designated PE and PPE. About 10% of the M. tuberculosis coding capacity is devoted to the PE and PPE genes, named for the Pro-Glu (PE) and Pro-Pro-Glu (PPE) motifs near the N terminus of their gene products. In addition to these motifs, proteins of PE family share N-terminal domains of approximately 100 amino acids, whereas the PPE proteins possess an N-terminal domain of about 180 amino acids. Many PE and PPE proteins are composed only of these N-terminal homologous domains. However, other members possess an additional C-terminal segment of variable length, often composed of multiple copies of polymorphic GC rich sequences (PGRS). The uniqueness of the PE genes is further illustrated by the fact that these genes are restricted to mycobacteria. However, despite their abundance in mycobacteria, very little is known regarding the expression or the functions of PE family genes. Although the PE and PPE families of mycobacterial proteins are the focus of intense research, no precise function has so far been unraveled for any member of these families. In perspective of above-mentioned observations, we have chosen Rv0754 as a representative PE family gene. Rv0754 was shown to be upregulated in tubercle bacilli upon infection of bone marrow derived macrophages as well as in M. tuberculosis isolated from alveolar macrophages of infected mice. In the current investigation, we demonstrate that Rv0754 is hypoxia responsive gene based on promoter or transcript expression analysis. Further, extensive bioinformatics analysis predicated that Rv0754 posses possible Phosphoglycerate Mutase domain, an enzyme known for its significant role not only in the glycolytic pathway of the carbohydrate metabolism, but also for the crucial cell fate decision during conditions like oxidative stress as well as infection. Experimental data clearly suggests that hypoxic environment dependent expression of Rv0754 imparts resistance to macrophages from oxidative stress. These findings could be attributed to the presence of catalytically active Phosphoglycerate Mutase domain of Rv0754. More often, sophisticated regulation/modulation of key signaling events regulate the critical cell fate decisions during oxidative stress. In this context, TLR2 dependent triggering of PI3K-ERK1/2- NF-κB signaling axis by Rv0754 may be operative in imparting resistance to oxidative stress. Further, Rv0754 triggers COX-2 expression by activating PI3K-ERK1/2-NF-κB cascade in mouse macrophages. These observations are of relevance as Rv0754 is associated with cell wall and is exposed outside the surface of the bacterium suggesting the possible access to intracellular compartments of the infected macrophages. Additionally, Rv0754 elicited humoral antibody reactivities in a panel of human sera or in cerebrospinal fluid samples obtained from different clinical categories of tuberculosis patients. DNA immunizations experiments in mice clearly suggested that Rv0754 is an immunodominant antigen demonstrating significant T cell and humoral reactivity. These observations clearly advocate that Rv0754 protein is expressed in vivo during active infection with M. tuberculosis and that the Rv0754 is immunogenic. Taken together, our findings suggest that Rv0754 is a novel PE_PGRS protein with unique features which could generate conditions that favor survival of the mycobacteria.

One-third of the world’s population is latently infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes over 2 million deaths every year. The current live attenuated vaccine, Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG), protects against miliary tuberculosis in children, but fails to consistently protect against pulmonary tuberculosis in adults. The global resurgence of tuberculosis, together with the HIV pandemic and emerging multi-drug resistance, has heightened the need for an effective vaccine. Completion of the M. tuberculosis genome sequence paved way for identification of many new candidate antigens for protective vaccine against tuberculosis. This includes the discovery of two multigene families of proteins PE and PPE which constitute 10% of the coding capacity of the M. tuberculosis genome. Members of the PE and PPE protein families are characterized by highly conserved N-terminal domains and the C-terminus, however, exhibit considerable variation in the number of residues as well as in the sequence. Till date, little is known about the functional role of the proteins of PPE or PE family in the biology of M.tuberculosis. Some of the PE_PGRS proteins have been found to be associated with the cell wall and influence interactions with other cells. PE and PPE family of proteins are of potential interest from the point of view of immune response, since they show antigenic variation which may play a role in immune evasion. Very little is known about the immunogenecity of these two classes of proteins and only few proteins have been shown to be potent B or T cell antigens, like Rv3873, Mtb39 and Rv0915c. Two proteins from PE_PGRS subfamily, Rv1759c and Rv3367 are expressed during infection and show antibody response in humans and rabbits, respectively. Rv1196 and Rv0915c from PPE family have been shown to be good T cell antigens. Another study has shown that the PE domain of PE_PGRS protein Rv1818c upon immunization into mice induces good cell mediated immune response in mice, whereas the PGRS domain is responsible for good humoral response. In humans there is increasing evidence to suggest that CD8+ T cells are elicited in response to infection with mycobacteria. CD8+ CTL may play an important role through several mechanisms. They produce potent anti-bacterial cytokines such as IFN-γ and TNF-α in response to antigenic stimulation and IFN-γ is critical for immunity to TB. Thus, identification of antigens and peptides that induce T cell responses could be useful for designing new vaccines to protect against TB. Relatively few epitopes in mycobacterial antigens have so far been identified for human CD8 T cells. In this regard, release of genome sequences of M. tuberculosis has provided an opportunity to identify proteins with vaccine potential that could give immune protection in individuals with different HLA backgrounds. Objectives and scope of the present work 1. Prediction of putative T cell antigens in PE and PPE family of proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis through immuno-informatics approach 2. Evaluation of immune response to three of the PE and PPE proteins in mouse model. 3. Evaluation of immune response against chosen PE and PPE proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis with Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) from PPD positive healthy donors and TB patients. 4. Immune response to multi-epitope DNA vaccine construct for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Prediction of MHC class I peptides from PE and PPE proteins. In an effort to identify potential T cell antigens from PE and PPE family of proteins, we have carried out a systematic in silico analysis of the 167 different PE and PPE proteins. Employing immuno-informatics approach, a set of HLA class I binding peptides have been identified from these proteins. Further, their binding abilities have been ascertained using independent methods such as molecular modeling and structural analysis methods. The nonameric sequences from PE and PPE families of proteins were predicted to contain high percentage of binding peptides to human class I HLA, whereas PE_PGRS proteins show relatively low level of binding. This difference is seen in spite of PE and PE_PGRS being Sub-families of the same family, PE. Seventy-one high- as well as low-affinity peptides from both PE and PPE proteins have been analyzed for structural compatibility with crystal structures of HLA in terms of intermolecular energies and were found to correlate well with the corresponding affinities predicted by the BIMAS algorithm. Most of the peptides binding to HLA are specific with very few promiscuous binders. Identification of T cell epitopes from three of the PE/PPE proteins using DNA immunization This work describes the evaluation of immune responses to three of the PE and PPE proteins in mouse model. Three of PE and PPE proteins, coded by Rv1818c, Rv3812 and Rv3018c genes were chosen based on immuno-informatics approach. They were cloned, expressed in prokaryotic and mammalian expression vectors and recombinant protein expressing stable cell lines were made. T lymphocytes from DNA immunized mice recognize synthetic peptides from chosen proteins in vitro, indicating that these peptides are being processed and presented by MHC molecules to T cells. By MHC stabilization assay, 5 of the synthetic peptides were found to stabilize the MHC class I molecules on the cell surface for more than 6 hrs, validating the computational prediction. Recognition of T cell epitopes derived from PE/PPE proteins by human PBMCs This work describes the evaluation of immune response against three of PE and PPE proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis with Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) from PPD positive Healthy donors and TB patients. Proliferation response of PBMCs from ten PPD positive healthy donors as well as from ten TB patients, indicated that the peptides from PE and PPE proteins of Mtb can sensitize naive T cells and induce peptide specific IFN-γ and also the T cell response to the chosen peptides was both HLA class I restricted and CD8 mediated. After the peptide specific expansion, significant percentage of CD8+ T cells were shown to secrete IFN-γ and stained positive for perforin. Antigen specific CD8+ T cells were found to have cytolytic potential in addition to their cytokine function. Immune response to a multiepitope DNA vaccine in mouse model Minigene poly-epitope vaccine constructs coding for nine peptides derived from identified T cell antigens of PE and PPE proteins and three of the experimentally mapped epitopes from M tuberculosis was designed and constructed. The minigene was used to immunize mice and the immune response was tested. The DNA primed splenocytes recognized the full length poly-epitope protein as well as the individual peptides. T cell response to epitopes was enhanced by mere presence in multi-epitope construct compared to full length antigens. Human PBMCs derived from both PPD+ve and TB patients also recognized the peptides in vitro. It is thus obvious that a large cocktail of proteins are required to achieve reasonable population coverage. Besides, this work suggests the feasibility of designing haplotype specific subunit vaccine, which can be given to individuals with known HLA haplotype. The haplotype specific vaccines can be combined to target a population where the distribution of HLA alleles is known. This work also indicates that use of single or limited number of genes in a DNA vaccine may not be suitable to cover a given population.

The fetal lung epithelium secretes fluid into the potential pulmonary air-spaces by actively transporting chloride (Cl¯) into the lung lumen. This Cl¯-driven fluid secretion declines with the progression of lung development. Recent studies demonstrate that the A-type γ-aminobutyric acid receptor (GABAAR), a Cl¯ channel, and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65/67), key GABA-synthesizing enzymes, are expressed in adult pulmonary epithelial cells (ECs), forming an autocrine GABAAR signaling system. My thesis study revealed that GABAAR π- and β2- subunits are expressed in high levels in the fetal rat lung epithelium and decline at birth, consistent with pattern of fluid secretion. Immunohistochemistry showed distinct profiles of expression for GABAAR subunits and GAD65/67. Treatment of alveolar ECs with dexamethasone reduced the GABAAR π-subunit expression. These results suggest that the GABAAR signaling in the fetal pulmonary epithelium is developmentally regulated and the GABAAR expression and GABAAR-mediated Cl¯ secretion in pulmonary ECs may be regulated by glucosteroids.

The fetal lung epithelium secretes fluid into the potential pulmonary air-spaces by actively transporting chloride (Cl¯) into the lung lumen. This Cl¯-driven fluid secretion declines with the progression of lung development. Recent studies demonstrate that the A-type γ-aminobutyric acid receptor (GABAAR), a Cl¯ channel, and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65/67), key GABA-synthesizing enzymes, are expressed in adult pulmonary epithelial cells (ECs), forming an autocrine GABAAR signaling system. My thesis study revealed that GABAAR π- and β2- subunits are expressed in high levels in the fetal rat lung epithelium and decline at birth, consistent with pattern of fluid secretion. Immunohistochemistry showed distinct profiles of expression for GABAAR subunits and GAD65/67. Treatment of alveolar ECs with dexamethasone reduced the GABAAR π-subunit expression. These results suggest that the GABAAR signaling in the fetal pulmonary epithelium is developmentally regulated and the GABAAR expression and GABAAR-mediated Cl¯ secretion in pulmonary ECs may be regulated by glucosteroids.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-22T20:50:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2008-03-26. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2015-08-11T03:25:44Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 Publico-10777.pdf: 584483 bytes, checksum: e11ab9839fe48602b080e48c338291cc (MD5) / Introdução: A cefaléia crônica diária é constituída por um grupo de cefaléias, dentre elas a enxaqueca crônica, comórbida com patologias como a depressão, o abuso de medicamentos, a obesidade e, mais recentemente, associada a casos de hipertensão intracraniana idiopática sem edema de papila. Objetivos: Determinar a prevalência de hipertensão intracraniana idiopática sem edema de papila e os níveis liquóricos de glutamato e ácido gama-aminobutírico em pacientes com enxaqueca crônica comparado a outros grupos de pacientes. Métodos: Foram estudados pacientes com enxaqueca crônica, mediante a realização do exame do líquido cefalorraquidiano com medida da pressão de abertura e dosagens dos níveis liquóricos dos aminoácidos glutamato e ácido gama-aminobutírico pela técnica de cromatografia líquida de alta resolução. Resultados: Dos pacientes submetidos a punção lombar, seis pacientes, em grupo de sessenta, tiveram elevação na pressão liquórica maior que 200 mm H20 sem acusar edema de papila à fundoscopia. Os pacientes que abusavam de triptanos mostraram níveis liquóricos de glutamato menores que aqueles com uso abusivo de outros tipos de medicações analgésicas e pacientes que não abusavam de nenhum tipo de medicação. Quanto aos níveis de ácido gamaaminobutírico no líquido cefalorraquidiano, esses foram menores nos pacientes com enxaqueca crônica e depressão quando comparados aos pacientes que tinham apenas enxaqueca crônica. Conclusões: A realização do estudo do líquido cefalorraquidiano foi importante em pacientes com enxaqueca crônica para a exclusão da hipertensão intracraniana idiopática sem papiledema, possibilitando perspectivas futuras para o entendimento da fisiopatogênese e desenvolvimento de novas terapias medicamentosas para a enxaqueca e suas comorbidades. / Introduction: Chronic daily headaches consist of a group of headaches, among them chronic migraine, that is comorbid with depression, overuse of medication, obesity and recently, cases of idiopathic intracranial hypertension without papilloedema. Objectives: To establish idiopathic intracranial hypertension without papilloedema prevalence and glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid levels in cerebrospinal fluid from patients with chronic migraine compared to other groups of patients. Methods: We studied patients with chronic migraine, who underwent lumbar puncture to rule out idiopathic intracranial hypertension without papilloedema. Amino acids glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid levels were measured by high performance liquid chromatography in cerebrospinal fluid. Results: Six patients, among sixty, had CSF open pressure higher than 200 mm H20 without papilloedema on fundoscopy. Patients who overused triptans had glutamate levels lower than those with abuse of other analgesic types and nonoverusers. The gamma-aminobutyric acid levels in cerebrospinal fluid were lower in depressed patients when compared to patients without depression and controls. Conclusions: The study of the cerebrospinal fluid was important in patients with chronic migraine for the exclusion of idiopathic intracranial hypertension without papilloedema, opening perspectives for the understanding of the physiopathology and development of new drug therapies for migraine and its comorbidities. / TEDE / BV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertações

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / A riparina I, alcamida isolada do fruto verde de Aniba riparia, foi avaliada em modelos animais clÃssicos para screening de drogas com atividades antinociceptiva, antiinflamatÃria e antiulcerogÃnica, tais como, contorÃÃes abdominais induzidas por Ãcido acÃtico, teste da formalina, placa quente, edema de pata induzido por carragenina e dextrano, Ãlcera gÃstrica induzida por etanol e indometacina, edema de pata e nocicepÃÃo induzidos por glutamato, como tambÃm em modelos comportamentais que permitam excluir a possibilidade de uma atividade central induzir falsos-positivos nos modelos anteriores, tais como testes do campo aberto, rota rod e tempo de sono induzido por pentobarbital. A riparina I foi administrada de forma aguda em todos os testes, nas doses de 25 e 50 mg/kg, atravÃs das vias oral e intraperitoneal. Os resultados mostraram que esta alcamida nÃo alterou a atividade locomotora no teste do campo aberto, nem diminuiu o nÃmero de quedas no teste do rota rod, descartando a possibilidade de haver sedaÃÃo ou incoordenaÃÃo motora por parte de riparina I, de modo que tais parÃmetros gerassem falsos-positivos nos testes de nocicepÃÃo e inflamaÃÃo. A avaliaÃÃo sedativa/hipnÃtica da riparina I, no teste do tempo de sono induzido por pentobarbital, mostrou uma potencializaÃÃo do sono, que parece estar envolvido com processos farmacocinÃticos ou com mecanismos de regulaÃÃo do sono, jà que o efeito sedativo nÃo foi corroborado no campo aberto. No teste das contorÃÃes induzidas por Ãcido acÃtico, riparina I inibiu significativamente o nÃmero de contorÃÃes, sugerindo uma atividade antinociceptiva. Como este teste à inespecÃfico, jà que vÃrias classes de drogas revertem estas contorÃÃes, foram utilizados modelos mais especÃficos para avaliar a atividade antinociceptiva. No teste da formalina, riparina I inibiu significativamente o tempo de lambedura da pata, tanto na fase nociceptiva do teste, como na fase inflamatÃria. No entanto, o papel antinociceptivo de riparina I parece ser devido sua atividade antiinflamatÃria, jà que a naloxona, um antagonista opiÃide, nÃo foi capaz de reverter o efeito antinociceptivo de riparina I, porÃm, a L-arginina, substrato para o mediador inflamatÃrio Ãxido nÃtrico, foi capaz de reverter este efeito. Para melhor avaliar o papel antiinflamatÃrio de riparina I, utilizaram-se outros modelos mais especÃficos. No edema de pata induzido por carragenina, riparina I foi capaz de reverter significativamente o volume de edema, nos tempos estudados, sugerindo que possa estar inibindo a produÃÃo de histamina, bradicinina, serotonina e prostaglandinas, mediadores inflamatÃrios secretados durante o processo. Como a bradicinina à um mediador nociceptivo comum a primeira fase do teste da formalina e ao edema de carragenina, este resultado sugere uma razÃo para a reversÃo significativa no tempo de lambedura de pata na primeira fase do teste da formalina. Riparina I tambÃm foi capaz de reverter, de maneira significativa, o edema de pata induzido por dextrano, sugerindo que esteja inibindo a produÃÃo de histamina e serotonina, mediadores inflamatÃrios secretados no processo. Riparina I inibiu significativamente o percentual de Ãrea ulcerada tanto em Ãlceras induzidas por indometacina como por etanol, ressaltando sua utilidade como antiinflamatÃrio nÃo ulcerogÃnico. Por fim, riparina I tambÃm foi capaz de diminuir tanto a nocicepÃÃo quanto o volume do edema de pata induzidos por glutamato, sugerindo que possa estar atuando como antagonista dos receptores glutamatÃrgicos envolvidos no processo inflamatÃrio. Concluindo, riparina I parece apresentar propriedades antiinflamatÃrias pela inibiÃÃo de mediadores como histamina, serotonina, bradicinina, prostaglandinas, glutamato e Ãxido nÃtrico, descartando o envolvimento do sistema opiÃide neste processo. / Riparin I, an alkamide isolated from unripe fruit of Aniba riparia, was evaluated in animal classical models for screening of drugs with antinociceptive, antiinflammatory and antiulcerogenic effects. These models are acetic acid-induced writhing test, formalin test, hot plate test, carrageenan-induced paw oedema, dextran-induced paw oedema, glutamate-induced nociception and paw oedema, indomethacin- and ethanol-induced gastric ulcer. Some behavioral models were used to evaluate if a central activity of drug were involved in antiinflammatory and antinociceptive properties of riparin I. These models are open field, rota rod and pentobarbital-induced sleeping time. Riparin I was administered with doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg, orally and intraperitoneally. The results show that this alkamide did not have effects neither on open field test nor on the rota rod test, discarding the possibility of sedation or motor incordination have influence in antiinflammatory/antinociceptive effects of riparin I. The sedative/hypnotic evaluation in pentobarbital-induced sleeping time shows an increase in sleeping time, probably due pharmacokynetics or sleeping regulation mechanisms, because the sedative effect was not corroborated in the open field test. The open field test is considered more specific than pentobarbital-induced sleeping time. In acetic acid-induced writhing test, riparin I decrease the number of writhies, suggesting an antinociceptive effect. This test is a non-specific test, because antiinflammatory, antidepressant and opioid drugs can decrease the number of writhies. In formalin test, riparin I decrease pawÂs licking time in both phases of test, suggesting antinociceptive and antiinflammatory effects. The antinociceptive effect of riparin I seems to be due their antiinflamatory properties, since naloxone could not abolish the antinociceptive effect of riparin I, but, L-arginine could. In the carrageenan-induced paw oedema test, riparin I decrease this parameter, suggesting that riparin I acts inhibiting the syntesis of bradykinin, serotonin, hystamin and prostaglandins, mediators involved in this test. This result probably indicates why riparin I decrease the pawÂs licking time in first phase of formalin test, since bradykinin is a common mediator involved in first phase of formalin test and carrageenan-induced paw oedema test. In the dextran-induced paw oedema test, riparin I decrease this parameter, suggesting that riparin I acts inhibiting the syntesis of serotonin and hystamin, mediators involved in this test. Riparin I decreased the ulcerated area induced by indomethacin and ethanol, outstanding your properties like antiinflammatory drug, but not like an ulcerogenic drug. Riparin I could decrease the nociception and the paw oedema, both induced by glutamate, suggesting that riparin I can inhibit the glutamatergic receptors involved in inflammatory processes. In conclusion, riparin I seems act by inhibition of inflammatory mediators like hystamin, serotonin, bradykinin, prostaglandins, glutamate and nitric oxide and seems do not act by opioid system.

No / Drugs which upregulate astrocyte glutamate transport may be useful neuroprotective compounds by preventing excitotoxicity. We set up a new system to identify potential neuroprotective drugs which act through GLT-1. Primary mouse striatal astrocytes grown in the presence of the growth-factor supplement G5 express high levels of the functional glutamate transporter, GLT-1 (also known as EAAT2) as assessed by Western blotting and (3)H-glutamate uptake assay, and levels decline following growth factor withdrawal. The GLT-1 transcriptional enhancer dexamethasone (0.1 or 1 muM) was able to prevent loss of GLT-1 levels and activity following growth factor withdrawal. In contrast, ceftriaxone, a compound previously reported to enhance GLT-1 expression, failed to regulate GLT-1 in this system. The neuroprotective compound riluzole (100 muM) upregulated GLT-1 levels and activity, through a mechanism that was not dependent on blockade of voltage-sensitive ion channels, since zonasimide (1 mM) did not regulate GLT-1. Finally, CDP-choline (10 muM-1 mM), a compound which promotes association of GLT-1/EAAT2 with lipid rafts was unable to prevent GLT-1 loss under these conditions. This observation extends the known pharmacological actions of riluzole, and suggests that this compound may exert its neuroprotective effects through an astrocyte-dependent mechanism.

Die vorliegende Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit der Synthese und den Eigenschaften von doppelthydrophilen Blockcopolymeren und ihrer Anwendung in einem biomimetischen Mineralisationsprozeß von Calciumcarbonat und Bariumsulfat. Doppelthydrophile Blockcopolymere bestehen aus einem hydrophilen Block, der nicht mit Mineralien wechselwirkt und einem zweiten Polyelektrolyt-Block, der stark mit Mineraloberflächen wechselwirkt. Diese Blockcopolymere wurden durch ringöffnende Polymerisation von N-carboxyanhydriden (NCA′s) und a-methoxy-ω-amino[poly(ethylene glycol)] PEG-NH2 als Initiator hergestellt.<br /> Die hergestellten Blockcopolymere wurden als effektive Wachstumsmodifikatoren für die Kristallisation von Calciumcarbonat und Bariumsulfat Mineralien eingesetzt. Die so erhaltenen Mineralpartikel (Kugeln, Hantel, eiförmige Partikel) wurden durch Lichtmikroskopie in Lösung, SEM und TEM charakterisiert. Röntgenweitwinkelstreuung (WAXS) wurde verwendet, um die Modifikation von Calciumcarbonat zu ermitteln und die Größe der Calciumcarbonat- und Bariumsulfat-Nanopartikel zu ermitteln. / This work describes the synthesis and characterization of double hydrophilic block copolymers and their use in a biomimetic mineralization process of Calcium Carbonate and Barium Sulfate.<br /> Double hydrophilic block copolymers consist of a hydrophilic block that does not interact with minerals and another hydrophilic polyelectrolyte block that strongly interacts with mineral surfaces. These polymers were synthesised via ring opening polymerisation of N-carboxyanhydride (NCA), and the first hydrophilic block a-methoxy-ω-amino[poly(ethylene glycol)] PEG-NH2 was used as an initiator.<br /> The prepared block copolymers were used as effective crystal growth modifiers to control the crystallization of Calcium Carbonate and Barium Sulfate minerals. The resulting mineral particles (spheres, dumbbells, egg-like particles) were characterised by light microscopy in solution, by SEM, and by TEM. X-Ray scattering measurements (WAXS) were used to prove the modification of Calcium Carbonate particles and to calculate the size of Calcium Carbonate and Barium Sulfate nanoparticles.

蛋白激酶CK2（Casine kinase 2）為四單體所構成，針對配受質蛋白之絲胺酸或蘇胺酸位置進行磷酸化，先前研究已經發現在紋狀體腦區之CK2的表現量與活性皆高於大腦中其餘腦區，而紋狀體腦區主要神經細胞為-氨基丁酸神經元（GABAergic neurons）的medium spiny neuron（MSN），會受到來自黑質多巴胺神經細胞（dopaminergic neurons）的調控。此外，DARPP-32（dopamine- and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein, Mr 32 kDA）蛋白亦被發現大量表現於在MSN細胞中，且為CK2之受質蛋白質。雖然CK2已被證實參與多巴胺神經元的神經保護機制，但是否參與MSN細胞對運動行為調控之生理機制仍未清楚。由於已有研究發現施予1-甲基-4-苯基-1,2,3,6-四氢吡啶（MPTP）藥物處理造成黑質-紋狀體腦區受損之老鼠腦內-氨基丁酸（GABA）的生合成酵素─麩胺酸脫羧酵素67（GAD67）表現量與正常老鼠不同，因此本論文研究的主題擬在大鼠實驗模式中利用MPP+造成投射至紋狀體之多巴胺神經細胞受損，探討當多巴胺調控紋狀體神經細胞能力缺失的狀態下，MSN細胞之CK2、DARPP-32和GAD蛋白表現與動物運動行為之相關性。 實驗結果發現，直接於紋狀體給予1-甲基-4-苯基碘化啶 （MPP+ Iodide）皆會造成CK2、DARPP-32以及GAD67之蛋白質含量的減少，多巴胺及其代謝物和GABA等神經化學傳遞物質亦有減少的現象；另外，在MPP+給予前分別操弄CK2或DARPP-32 胺基酸Ser102磷酸化的表現，皆會改變GAD67蛋白質含量與黑質酪胺酸羥化酶（Tyrosine Hydroxylase, TH）蛋白質含量，同時神經化學傳遞物質的含量或代謝亦有改變。由現有之結果推測CK2/DARPP-32/GAD67細胞訊息傳遞機制可能參與巴金森氏症運動行為失常之細胞層面的調控。 / Protein kinase CK2 is a heterotetrameric and serine/threonine protein kinase. Its protein levels and activity are found to be elevated in the striatum when compared to other brain areas. CK2 is known to involve in the neuroprotective effects of dopaminergic neurons, whether it also regulates the neuronal function relative to motor behaviors is still unclear. DARPP-32 protein is known as one of the substrates for CK2 and is highly expressed in the GABAergic medium spiny neurons (MSN) responsible for dopamine stimulation in the striatum. Furthermore, other studies have indicated that the expression of glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 (GAD67) mRNA and protein was different in the striatum of MPTP vs. naïve animals, which is one of the enzymes responsible for the synthesis of neurotransmitter GABA. In the present study, we observed that the parallel changes in protein levels of CK2, DARPP-32 and GAD67 in the striatum and TH in the substantia nigra of MPP+-treated. We also found that manipulation of CK2 or DARPP-32 gene expression aggravated the MPP+-induced neuropathological dificts. The present results suggest that CK2/DARPP-32/GAD67 signaling pathway might involve in the cellular mechanism of motor-deficit in Parkinson’s disease.

Le repliement des protéines est principalement gouverné par les interactions spécifiques des structures secondaires. 1, 2 Toutefois, il existe expérimentalement peu d’informations sur les propriétés mécaniques fondamentales des hélices α et des feuillets β isolées. Les recherches antérieures sur l'étude du déploiement des hélices sont peu concluantes 3-5 et à notre connaissance l'étude des propriétés mécaniques d'un feuillet β isolé, intramoléculaire est sans précédent. Les copolymères PEG114-b-poly(L-lysine)134-(2-pyridyl disulfure),PEG114-b-poly(L-lysine)-b-PEG114 et poly(L-acide glutamique)85-b-(2-pyridyldisulfure) été synthétisés et utilisés comme systèmes modèles pour tester les propriétés mécaniques des motifs secondaires de type hélice α et feuillet β. Les résultats obtenus se sont révélés être en bon accord avec les résultats théoriques obtenus en utilisant un modèle statistique basé sur AGAGIR 6. La différence de force de déroulement comparant les hélices de poly(L-Lysine) ≈ 30 pN et de poly(L-acide glutamique) ≈ 20 pN des copolymères diblocs a été attribuée à l'hydrophobicité différente des chaînes latérales. La plus grande hydrophobie dumotif lysine conduit à de plus grandes interactions entre les chaînes latérales qui empêchent les fluctuations aléatoires au sein de l’hélice, et conduisent à une stabilité supérieure de l'hélice α. Lorsque les expériences ont été conduites dans des conditions favorisant la solubilité des chaînes latérales de lysine, les interactions ont diminué à une force de ≈ 20 pN, similaire à la force des interactions observées pour le poly(L-acide glutamique). Nous supposons qu'un minimum de ≈ 20 pN est nécessaire pour rompre la liaison hydrogène en maintenant l'hélice α, car cette force a été obtenue dans des conditions où les interactions de la chaîne latérale étaient minimisées. La présence de plateaux de force constants et d'inflexions correspondantes démontre une force de dépliement indépendante de la longueur, qui supporte un mécanisme de déroulement tour-par-tour pour l'hélice. De plus, la plus grande hydrophobie des chaînes latérales a été suggérée non seulement pour stabiliser la structure en hélice, mais également pour inhiber la formation d'une structure de type β-turn métastable intermédiaire lorsque les forces entropiques dominent. Des études préliminaires ont été effectuées sur le système de PEG114-bpoly(L-Lysine)134-(2-pyridyl disulfure) après induction d’une transition - β par un traitement thermique dans des conditions basiques. Une inflexion à une force≈ 70 pN a été obtenue, ce qui suggère la formation d'une interaction de type feuillet β. Une stratégie bottom-up a ainsi été proposée avec succès, démontrant le potentiel d'utilisation de tels systèmes artificiels pour simplifier et modéliser des systèmes biologiques réels. La compréhension de ces modèles isolés plus simples aidera sans doute la compréhension de systèmes plus complexes. / Proteins fold by the initial, preferential folding of secondarystructures 1, 2, however surprisingly little is known about the basic mechanicalproperties of isolated α-helices and β-sheets from an experimental standpoint.Previous investigations into studying the generic unfolding behaviour of α-heliceshave proved inconclusive 3-5, and to our knowledge the study of an isolated,intramolecular β-sheet is unprecedented.Bioinspired PEG114-b-poly(L-glutamic acid)85-(2-pyridyl disulphide),PEG114-b-poly(L-lysine)134-(2-pyridyl disulphide) and PEG114-b-poly(Llysine)134–b-PEG114 were designed, synthesized and utilized as model systems toprobe the mechanical properties of α-helix and β-sheet secondary motifs. Theobtained results were shown to be in good agreement with theoretical resultsobtained by utilizing a AGAGIR-based statistical mechanical model 6. Thedifference in unravelling force comparing the helices of poly(L-Lysine) ≈30 pNand poly(L-glutamic acid) ≈20 pN diblock copolymers was attributed to thediffering hydrophobicity of the side chains. The greater hydrophobicity of thelysine allowed greater interactions between the side chains and sterically hinderedrandom helix-coil fluctuations, which lead to a superior α-helix stability. Whenexperiments were conducted in conditions promoting the solubility of the lysineside chains, the interactions decreased to a force of ≈20 pN, similar to the force ofinteractions observed for the poly(L-glutamic acid). We infer that a minimum of≈20 pN is needed to rupture the hydrogen bonding maintaining the α-helix as thisforce was obtained in conditions where the side chain interactions wereminimized.The presence of constant force plateaus and corresponding inflectionsdemonstrates a length independent unfolding force, which supports a turn-by-turnunfolding mechanism for the α-helix.In addition, the greater hydrophobicity of the side chains was suggestedto not only stabilize the α-helix structure, but also to inhibit the formation of anintermediate metastable β-hairpin-like structure when entropic forces dominate.Preliminary studies were also conducted on the PEG114-b-poly(LLysine)134-(2-pyridyl disulphide) system after a α-β transition had been inducedby heat in basic conditions, where an inflection at a much higher force of ≈ 70 pNwas obtained suggesting the formation of a β-sheet interaction.A bottom-up, investigative strategy has thus been successfully proposeddemonstrating the potential of utilizing such artificial systems to simplify andexemplify real biological systems. The comprehension of these simpler isolatedmodels will no doubt aid the understanding of more complex systems.