Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1997. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [92]-96).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1999. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [78]-86).

Thesis (M.Sc.). / Written for the Dept. of Experimental Medicine. Title from title page of PDF (viewed 2008/05/14). Includes bibliographical references.

Cette thèse est consacrée à la régulation de la guanylate cyclase soluble (sGC), le récepteur endogène du monoxyde d'azote (NO) chez les mammifères qui est impliqué dans la transduction du signal. L'enzyme sGC est activée par la fixation du NO sur son hème et catalyse alors la formation du cGMP à partir du GTP. Alors que la sGC est présente dans de nombreuses cellules de mammifères, le domaine hémique bactérien homologue (H-NOX) est impliqué dans la détection du NO et la régulation du métabolisme. Un objectif important est la découverte d'inhibiteurs de la sGC pour ralentir la progression tumorale.Le criblage de composés naturels d'une chimiothèque mesurant l'activité de la sGC purifiée a révélé six inhibiteurs actifs (Ki = 0.2 – 1 µM). Avec deux autres composés actifs en photothérapie (hypericin et hypocrellin) nous avons démontré que ces inhibiteurs sont des effecteurs allostériques qui ne se fixent ni sur l'hème, ni sur le site catalytique ou de fixation des activateurs, découvrant une nouvelle classe de composés pharmacologiques ciblant la voie de signalisation NO/cGMP.La transition structurale induite par l'activateur riociguat en synergie avec le CO a été étudiée par spectroscopie d'absorption résolue en temps pour démontrer des changements de coordination de l'hème. Deux états d'activation distincts de la sGC par le CO existent simultanément avec les coordiantions 6c-hème et 5c-hème en présence de l'activateur qui induit la rupture de la liaison Fe-His de l'hème, à l'instar de l'activateur naturel NO. De plus, nous montrons que l'isoliquiritigénine, commercialisée comme activateur de la sGC, et en réalité un inhibiteur de la sGC.La dynamique ds ligands CO, NO, and O2 a été mesurée sur 12 ordres de grandeur temporelle pour le type sauvage et un mutant du transporteur bactérien du NO (AXCP). La simple mutation Leu16Ala augmente l'afinité pour le CO 108 fois, celle du NO 106 fois et rend cette protéine réactive à O2. Dans le cas de CO et NO dont les affinités pour L16A-AXCP sont les plus grandes jamais mesurées, la recombinaison bimoléculaire n'est pas détectable. Des simulations de dynamique moléculaire ont démontré que le CO dissocié est contraint de rester à 4 Å du Fe2+ par Ala16, contrairement au type sauvage Leu16.La dynamique de O2 a été mesurée dans la protéine senseur Tt H-NOX par spectroscopie d'absorption transitoire et confirme l'hypothèse que Tt H-NOX n'est sans doute pas un senseur de NO stricto sensu mais un senseur redox. Les propriétés de Tt-H-NOX ne sont pas compatibles avec le rôle d'un simple transporteur de NO. / This thesis is devoted to the regulation of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), the endogenous nitric oxide (NO) receptor in mammals involved in signal transduction. The enzyme is activated by the binding of NO to its heme and catalyzes the formation of cGMP from GTP. While sGC is present in many mammalian cells, the homologous bacterial domain (H-NOX) is involved in NO detection and metabolism regulation. An important objective was to find sGC inhibitors to slow down tumor progression.The screening of natural compounds from a chemical library, tested on purified sGC activity, revealed six active inhibitors (Ki = 0.2 – 1 µM). Together with two agents for photodynamic therapy (hypericin and hypocrellin) we demonstrated that these inhibitors are allosteric modulators which bind neither to the heme nor to the catalytic and activator sites, revealing a new class of pharmacological compounds targetting the NO/cGMP signaling pathway.The structural transition induced in sGC by stimulator riociguat in synergy with CO was studied by transient absorption spectroscopy to demonstrate coordination changes of the heme. Two different activation states of sGC with CO 6c-heme and 5c-heme exist simultaneously in the presence of the stimulator which induces the breaking of the heme Fe-His bond, as does the sGC natural effector NO. In addition, the effect of isoliquiritigenin, which is sold as a sGC activator, was shown to be actually an inhibitor of sGC.The dynamics of the ligands CO, NO and O2 were measured over 12 orders of magnitude in time in wild type and mutant of a bacterial NO transporter (AXCP). The single mutation Leu16Ala increased 108-fold the CO affinity, ~106-fold the NO affinity and makes this protein reactive to O2. In the case of CO and NO, whose affinities for L16A-AXCP are the largest ever measured, the bimolecular rebinding was absolutely not detectable. Molecular dynamic simulations demonstrated that dissociated CO is constrained to stay within 4 Å from Fe2+ by Ala16, contrarily to wild-type Leu16.The dynamics of O2 in Tt-H-NOX proteins measured by transient absorption spectroscopy confirmed the hypothesis that Tt-H-NOX may not be a NO-sensor stricto sensu but a redox sensor. The properties of the Tt-H-NOX protein are not compatible with the role a mere NO-carrier.

No description available.

Les protéines activatrices de la guanylate cyclase (GCAPs) font partie de la famille des neuroprotéines sensibles au Ca²⁺ (NCS) et celle des protéines à EF-Hand. Il a été proposé que le mécanisme de Ca²⁺-myristoyl switch avait lieu chez toutes les protéines de la famille des NCS. Les travaux présentés dans ce mémoire permettent de déterminer si ce mécanisme est observé chez la GCAP1. En effet, des travaux de liaison membranaire à des monocouches de Langmuir effectués avec la GCAP1 ont permis d’observer ce mécanisme. De plus, l’utilisation d’un analogue du myristoyle, le 13-oxa-myristoyle, a aussi permis d’observer un Ca²⁺-myristoyl switch chez la GCAP1. Effectivement, des mesures en résonance magnétique nucléaire (RMN) ont démontré que la présence de cet analogue favorise l’extrusion du myristoyle. Finalement, différentes analyses par RMN ont été effectuées afin de déterminer si cette méthode pourrait permettre de déterminer la structure de la forme active de la GCAP1.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 86-89).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1998. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [84]-100).

Nitric oxide (NO), a reactive diatomic gas and a potent signaling molecule, is required for proper cardiovascular functioning. Soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), a heterodimeric heme protein, is the key intracellular NO receptor protein which, upon NO binding, undergoes conformational changes leading to catalysis and the cGMP signaling cascade. Several small molecules that allosterically stimulate sGC have been developed for treatment of pulmonary hypertension, but little is known about their binding site or how they stimulate activity. This dissertation describes experiments designed to uncover the molecular basis for signal transduction in sGC by NO and small molecule stimulators. The crystal structure of the α-subunit PAS domain from Manduca sexta (Ms) sGC was solved at 1.8 Å resolution revealing the expected PAS fold but with an additional β strand and a shorter Fα helix. CO binding measurements on different Ms sGC N-terminal constructs and the β₁ (1-380) construct revealed that the α-subunit keeps the β₁ H-NOX domain in an inhibited conformation and this inhibition is relieved by removal of the α-subunit or by addition of stimulatory compounds such as compound YC-1. Linked-equilibria measurements on the N-terminal constructs show that YC-1 binding affinity is increased in the presence of CO. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) studies on the in-vitro biotinylated constructs showed that YC-1 binds near or directly to the β₁ H-NOX domain. Computational and mutational analysis of the β₁ H-NOX domain revealed a pocket important in allostery and drug action. Finally, we show that the coiled coil domain plays an important role in allosteric regulation of the β₁ H-NOX domain and possibly in signal transduction. Our data are consistent with a model of allosteric activation in which the α-subunit and the coiled coil domains function to keep heme in a low affinity conformation while YC-1 binding to the β₁ H-NOX domain switches heme to a high affinity conformation, and sGC to its high activity form.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / A guanilina e a uroguanilina foram recentemente descobertas, respectivamente, no intestino e na urina, (Currie et al., 1992; Hamra et al., 1993). Fazem parte da famÃlia de peptÃdeos que ativam a guanilato ciclase de membrana (GC-C), aumentando os nÃveis intracelulares de cGMP (Schulz et al., 1990). EstÃo presentes em diversos tecidos, como respiratÃrio, linfonodos, testÃculos, cÃrebro e medula adrenal (Field et a.l., 1978; Forte et al., 1988, 1989; Hamra et al., 1993; Schulz et al., 1992). Foi comprovado que adicionando uma lisina na porÃÃo N-terminal, obtÃm-se um anÃlogo mais estÃvel e potente que a guanilina. O objetivo desse estudo à pesquisar os efeitos renais de um novo anÃlogo, ser-thr-lys-guanilina em sistema de perfusÃo. Os rins foram perfundidos com a soluÃÃo de Krebs-Henseleit modificada com 6g% de albumina bovina. Os dados foram comparados atravÃs de teste t de Student e ANOVA, com significÃncia p<0,05. Na dose de 0,1 Âg/mL, esse peptÃdeo apresentou efeitos similares aos da uroguanilina, na dose de 0,5 Âg/mL, em todos os parÃmetros testados. Ambas causaram aumento na pressÃo de perfusÃo (PP: de 101,5Â3,7 para 111Â2,9mmHg; de 101,2Â2,6 para 113,4Â2,5mmHg), no fluxo urinÃrio (FU: de 0,158Â0,016 para 0,223Â0,01 mL.g-1.min-1; de 0,16Â0,016 para 0,226Â0,2mL.g-1.min-1) e diminuiÃÃo no transporte tubular total e proximal de sÃdio (%TNa+: de 0,774Â0,06 para 0,724Â0,035; de 0,735Â0,065 para 0,773Â0,084), potÃssio (%TK+: de 66,89Â2,77 para 47,29Â3,34; de 63,54Â3,82 para 42,54Â8,14) e cloreto (%TCl-: de 85,69Â1,19 para 73,59Â2,63). Esses resultados foram similares aos previamente descritos apÃs a administraÃÃo da toxina termo-estÃvel da Escherichia coli (STa), guanilina, uroguanilina e lys-guanilina no mesmo sistema (Lima et al., 1992; Fonteles et al., 1996 e 1998). A dose maior (1 Âg/mL) causou aÃÃo antidiurÃtica (FU: de 0,165Â0,004 para 0,111Â0,009mL.g-1.min-1) e nenhum efeito sobre o transporte de sÃdio, embora a diminuiÃÃo na reabsorÃÃo tubular de potÃssio (%TK+: de 72,29Â1,2 para 49,73Â6,75) e cloreto (%TCl-: de 85,96Â0,79 para 81,9Â1,47) continuassem presentes. Nesta dose, nÃo apenas bloqueou o efeito diurÃtico da uroguanilina, como continuou causando um efeito antidiurÃtico significativo (FU: de 0,168Â0,004 para 0,116Â0,006). No entanto, nÃo foi capaz de bloquear os efeitos natriurÃticos da uroguanilina (%TNa+: de 85,35Â2,55 para 79,92Â1,05). O mecanismo de aÃÃo renal preciso dos peptÃdeos da famÃlia das guanilinas ainda nÃo foi completamente esclarecido. Sabe-se que esses peptÃdeos se ligam aos receptores GC-C (Schulz et al., 1990), porÃm hà indÃcios de que existam outras vias de aÃÃo renal, independentes desse receptor. Hà ainda a possibilidade de que haja duas entidades agindo de modo antagÃnico no sistema. Talvez haja a necessidade de isolÃ-los. A descoberta dos peptÃdeos da famÃlia das guanilinas promoveu avanÃos significativos na compreensÃo da regulaÃÃo endÃgena dos transportes de Ãgua e eletrÃlitos. O completo esclarecimento do seu mecanismo de aÃÃo renal oferece perspectivas reais para o tratamento de doenÃas como a hipertensÃo arterial. / Guanylin and uroguanylin are members of a family of peptides that stimulates cGMP production in several organic tissues, as intestine, kidney, airway, linfonodes, testis, brain and adrenal medulla (Field et a.l., 1978; Forte et al., 1988, 1989; Hamra et al., 1993; Schulz et al., 1992). Their 15 amino acid structures have been identified from rat intestine and opossum urine, respectively (Currie et al., 1992; Hamra et al., 1993), and they seem to be the link between intestine and kidney functions in controling blood pressure, as the âintestinal natriuretic hormoneâ suggested by some authors (Carey, 1978; Lennane et al., 1975). It was demonstrated that a Lysine-1 analog of guanylin is a more potent natriuretic and kaliuretic peptide. The aim of this study was to evaluate the renal effects of a novel analog of guanylin: ser-thr-lys-guanylin. Its effects were examined using isolated perfused kidneys from Wistar rats. All experiments were preceded by a 30 minutes internal control period and an external control group (C), in which the kidneys were perfused only with Krebs-Henseleit solution containing 6g% of a previously dialysed bovine albumine serum. The data was analyzed by Student t-test and ANOVA. The level of significance was set at p<0,05. Ser-thr-lys-guanylin, at the lowest dose (0.1 Âg/mL) and uroguanylin (0.5Âg/mL) caused similar effects. Both groups were able to increase perfusion presure (PP: 101.5Â3.7 to 111Â2.9mmHg; 101.2Â2.6 to 113.4Â2.5 mmHg), urinary flow (UF: 0.158Â0.016 to 0.223Â0.019 mL.g-1.min-1; 0.16Â0.016 to 0.226Â0.2mL.g-1.min-1) and to decrease sodium (%TNa+: 0.774Â0.06 to 0.724Â0.035; 0.735Â0.065 to 0.773Â0.084), potassium (%TK+: 66.89Â2.77 to 47.29Â3.34; 63.54Â3.82 to 42.54Â8.14) and cloride (%TCl-: 85.69Â1.19 to 73.59Â2.63) tubular reabsorption. Similar effects were also found in response to the Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin (STa), guanylin, uroguanylin and lys-guanylin in the same system (Lima et al., 1992; Fonteles et al., 1996 e 1998). However, a greater dose (1Âg/mL), not only caused signifcantly decrease in the urinary flow (UF: 0.165Â0.004 to 0.111Â0.009 mL.g-1.min-1), but was also able to block the diuretic effects of uroguanylin (UF: 0.168Â0.004 to 0.116Â0.006 mL.g-1.min-1), although it still decreased potassium (%TK+: 72.29Â1.2 to 49.73Â6.75) and cloride(%TCl-: 85.96Â0.79 to 81.9Â1.47) tubular reabsorption. The precise renal mecanism of action of this family of peptides has not yet been fully elucidated. Deletion of GC-C genes in transgenic mice reveals that intestinal fluid secretion responses to STa are completely lost (Schulz et al., 1997 & Mann et al., 1997), but the natriuretic responses to STa and uroguanylin are retained (Carrithers et al., 1999), suggesting that other receptors are envolved. There is a possibility that there are to peptides causing antagonic effects. Further isolation may be necessary. Further studies are required to elucidate the specific renal mechanism of action of this new peptide. The discovery of guanylin and its family has promoted significant advances in the understanding of endogenous control of salt, water and eletrolites. The study of its analogs in perfused rat kidneys could help in elucidating their specific renal mecanism of action and bring great perspectives in the control of blood pressure.