Estudos em modelos animais transgênicos possibilitaram o conhecimento de parte dos genes envolvidos na embriogênese hipofisária e da etiologia genética do hipopituitarismo em humanos. Entretanto, a etiologia da maior parte dos casos de hipopituitarismo congênito, principalmente os associados à neuro-hipófise ectópica (NE), ainda é pouco definida. Mutações no gene PROP1 são a causa genética mais comum de hipopituitarismo descritas até o momento, mas estão sempre associadas à neuro-hipófise tópica. Estudos destinados a esclarecer o mecanismo molecular da mutação do gene Prop1 em camundongos demonstraram a participação da via de sinalização Notch e de seus componentes, dentre eles, o gene Hes1. O HES1 é um gene que codifica um fator de transcrição que participa de estágios precoces do desenvolvimento hipofisário e está envolvido com a morfogênese da neuro-hipófise. A avaliação do camundongo com nocaute em homozigose deste gene acarreta uma hipoplasia da adeno-hipófise e ausência da neuro-hipófise; e sua expressão constitutiva está associada ao hipopituitarismo. Como a NE é um achado comum no hipopituitarismo congênito e o gene HES1 pode estar relacionado a sua fisiopatologia, a região codificadora do gene HES1 foi avaliada em 192 pacientes com hipopituitarismo congênito. A variante alélica c.578G > A (p.G193D) em heterozigose foi encontrada em um paciente com hipopituitarismo congênito associado à NE. A avaliação da predição in silico do efeito funcional da variante pela ferramenta MutationTaster sugere que a troca do aminoácido glicina, altamente conservado entre os mamíferos, por ácido aspártico, seja deletéria. No estudo da segregação familiar, quatro irmãos aparentemente normais apresentam a mesma variante, sendo que dois deles possuem alterações discretas na imagem da hipófise. Em conclusão, esta é uma nova variante alélica descrita no gene HES1, ausente em grandes bancos de dados e controles saudáveis da população brasileira, mas presente em irmãos não afetados. Estudos funcionais in vitro são necessários para esclarecer o efeito biológico desta variante. Um padrão de herança complexo com penetrância incompleta é possível e já descrito em outros genes associados ao hipopituitarismo. Na tentativa de elucidar a causa genética do hipopituitarismo neste caso, o material genético deste paciente e de seus familiares foram submetidos ao sequenciamento do exoma, mas os resultados estão inconclusivos até o momento / Studies of transgenic animal models have allowed for the discovery of genes involved in human pituitary embryogenesis and the genetic etiology of hypopituitarism. However, the genetic causes of most cases of congenital hypopituitarism, especially those associated with an ectopic posterior pituitary, remain poorly defined. Mutations in the gene PROP1 are the most common genetic causes of hypopituitarism described to date, and are always associated with an ectopic posterior pituitary. Studies to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of Prop1 mutations in mice have demonstrated the involvement of the Notch signaling pathway, including its downstream target Hes1. The HES1 gene encodes a transcription factor that participates in early stages of pituitary development and is involved in posterior pituitary morphogenesis. Hes1 knockout mice exhibit a hypoplastic anterior pituitary and absence of a posterior pituitary. Conversely, constitutive expression of Hes1 is associated with hypopituitarism. Since an ectopic posterior pituitary is commonly found in congenital hypopituitarism and the HES1 gene may be related to its pathophysiology, the coding region of gene HES1 was screened in 192 patients with congenital hypopituitarism. A heterozygous allelic variant c.578G >A (p.G193D) was identified in a patient with congenital hypopituitarism associated with an ectopic posterior pituitary. Assessment by MutationTaster, a bioinformatic tool for in silico prediction of functional effect of missense variants, suggests that substitution of glycine (a highly conserved amino acid in this position among mammals) for aspartic acid is deleterious. In the genetic study of family members, we identified four apparently normal siblings with the same variant, two of which have discrete changes in their pituitary MRI. In conclusion, we described a new allelic variant in the gene HES1, absent in large databases and healthy Brazilian controls, but present in the unaffected siblings. In vitro functional studies are needed to clarify the biological effect of this variant. A complex pattern of inheritance with incomplete penetrance is possible in this case, as it has already been described in other genes associated with hypopituitarism. In an attempt to elucidate the genetic cause of hypopituitarism in the family described, DNA samples of this patient and his family were submitted to exome sequencing, but results are inconclusive at this time

No description available.

Estudos em modelos animais transgênicos possibilitaram o conhecimento de parte dos genes envolvidos na embriogênese hipofisária e da etiologia genética do hipopituitarismo em humanos. Entretanto, a etiologia da maior parte dos casos de hipopituitarismo congênito, principalmente os associados à neuro-hipófise ectópica (NE), ainda é pouco definida. Mutações no gene PROP1 são a causa genética mais comum de hipopituitarismo descritas até o momento, mas estão sempre associadas à neuro-hipófise tópica. Estudos destinados a esclarecer o mecanismo molecular da mutação do gene Prop1 em camundongos demonstraram a participação da via de sinalização Notch e de seus componentes, dentre eles, o gene Hes1. O HES1 é um gene que codifica um fator de transcrição que participa de estágios precoces do desenvolvimento hipofisário e está envolvido com a morfogênese da neuro-hipófise. A avaliação do camundongo com nocaute em homozigose deste gene acarreta uma hipoplasia da adeno-hipófise e ausência da neuro-hipófise; e sua expressão constitutiva está associada ao hipopituitarismo. Como a NE é um achado comum no hipopituitarismo congênito e o gene HES1 pode estar relacionado a sua fisiopatologia, a região codificadora do gene HES1 foi avaliada em 192 pacientes com hipopituitarismo congênito. A variante alélica c.578G > A (p.G193D) em heterozigose foi encontrada em um paciente com hipopituitarismo congênito associado à NE. A avaliação da predição in silico do efeito funcional da variante pela ferramenta MutationTaster sugere que a troca do aminoácido glicina, altamente conservado entre os mamíferos, por ácido aspártico, seja deletéria. No estudo da segregação familiar, quatro irmãos aparentemente normais apresentam a mesma variante, sendo que dois deles possuem alterações discretas na imagem da hipófise. Em conclusão, esta é uma nova variante alélica descrita no gene HES1, ausente em grandes bancos de dados e controles saudáveis da população brasileira, mas presente em irmãos não afetados. Estudos funcionais in vitro são necessários para esclarecer o efeito biológico desta variante. Um padrão de herança complexo com penetrância incompleta é possível e já descrito em outros genes associados ao hipopituitarismo. Na tentativa de elucidar a causa genética do hipopituitarismo neste caso, o material genético deste paciente e de seus familiares foram submetidos ao sequenciamento do exoma, mas os resultados estão inconclusivos até o momento / Studies of transgenic animal models have allowed for the discovery of genes involved in human pituitary embryogenesis and the genetic etiology of hypopituitarism. However, the genetic causes of most cases of congenital hypopituitarism, especially those associated with an ectopic posterior pituitary, remain poorly defined. Mutations in the gene PROP1 are the most common genetic causes of hypopituitarism described to date, and are always associated with an ectopic posterior pituitary. Studies to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of Prop1 mutations in mice have demonstrated the involvement of the Notch signaling pathway, including its downstream target Hes1. The HES1 gene encodes a transcription factor that participates in early stages of pituitary development and is involved in posterior pituitary morphogenesis. Hes1 knockout mice exhibit a hypoplastic anterior pituitary and absence of a posterior pituitary. Conversely, constitutive expression of Hes1 is associated with hypopituitarism. Since an ectopic posterior pituitary is commonly found in congenital hypopituitarism and the HES1 gene may be related to its pathophysiology, the coding region of gene HES1 was screened in 192 patients with congenital hypopituitarism. A heterozygous allelic variant c.578G >A (p.G193D) was identified in a patient with congenital hypopituitarism associated with an ectopic posterior pituitary. Assessment by MutationTaster, a bioinformatic tool for in silico prediction of functional effect of missense variants, suggests that substitution of glycine (a highly conserved amino acid in this position among mammals) for aspartic acid is deleterious. In the genetic study of family members, we identified four apparently normal siblings with the same variant, two of which have discrete changes in their pituitary MRI. In conclusion, we described a new allelic variant in the gene HES1, absent in large databases and healthy Brazilian controls, but present in the unaffected siblings. In vitro functional studies are needed to clarify the biological effect of this variant. A complex pattern of inheritance with incomplete penetrance is possible in this case, as it has already been described in other genes associated with hypopituitarism. In an attempt to elucidate the genetic cause of hypopituitarism in the family described, DNA samples of this patient and his family were submitted to exome sequencing, but results are inconclusive at this time

Neurogenin 3 and its downstream target NeuroD are basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors which promote endocrine differentiation in the gastrointestinal tract. However, mice lacking Ngn3 still produce several hormones in the stomach. Lineage tracing mouse models demonstrated that a majority of hormone cells in the corpus region of the stomach did not express Ngn3 or NeuroD during differentiation. Serotonin and histamine cells were entirely NeuroD-independently derived, and serotonin cells were additionally entirely Ngn3-independently derived. In this study, we isolated serotonin and histamine cells from the gastric corpus of transgenic mice expressing the fluorescent marker CFP. Serotonin cells expressed multiple mast cell markers by RT-PCR, and were found to be nearly absent in a mast cell-deficient mouse model. Labeled bone marrow transplant mice showed all serotonin cells derived from bone marrow. Histamine-expressing ECL cells, while lacking NeuroD, did not appear to express granulocyte or mast cell markers by analytical flow cytometry and RT-PCR, and resemble other enteroendocrine cell populations. Mouse gastric corpus serotonin cells, but not antral serotonin cells, are bone marrow-derived mast cells.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / The heart is a complex organ that is composed of numerous cell types, which must integrate their programs for proper specification, differentiation, and cardiac morphogenesis. During cardiac development the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor Hand2 is dynamically expressed within the endocardium and extra-cardiac lineages such as the epicardium, cardiac neural crest cells (cNCCs), and NCC derived components of the autonomic nervous system. To investigate Hand2 function within these populations we utilized multiple murine Hand2 Conditional Knockout (H2CKO) genetic models. These studies establish for the first time a functional requirement for Hand2 within the endocardium, as several distinct phenotypes including hypotrabeculation, tricuspid atresia, aberrant septation, and precocious coronary development are observed in endocardial H2CKOs. Molecular analyses reveal that endocardial Hand2 functions within the Notch signaling pathway to regulate expression of Nrg1, which encodes a crucial secreted growth factor. Furthermore, we demonstrate that Notch signaling regulates coronary angiogenesis via Hand2 mediated modulation of Vegf signaling. Hand2 is strongly expressed within midgestation NCC and endocardium derived cardiac cushion mesenchyme. To ascertain the function of Hand2 within these cells we employed the Periostin Cre (Postn-Cre), which marks cushion mesenchyme, a small subset of the epicardium, and components of the autonomic nervous system, to conditionally ablate Hand2. We find that Postn-Cre H2CKOs die shortly after birth despite a lack of cardiac structural defects. Gene expression analyses demonstrate that Postn-Cre ablates Hand2 from the adrenal medulla, causing downregulation of Dopamine Beta Hydroxylase (Dbh), a gene encoding a crucial catecholaminergic biosynthetic enzyme. Electrocardiograms demonstrate that 3-day postnatal Postn-Cre H2CKO pups exhibit significantly slower heart rates than control littermates. In conjunction with the aforementioned gene expression analyses, these results indicate that loss of Hand2 function within the adrenal medulla results in a catecholamine deficiency and subsequent heart failure.

No / The Lhx2 transcription factor plays essential roles in morphogenesis and patterning of ectodermal derivatives as well as in controlling stem cell activity. Here, we show that during murine skin morphogenesis, Lhx2 is expressed in the hair follicle (HF) buds, whereas in postnatal telogen HFs Lhx2(+) cells reside in the stem cell-enriched epithelial compartments (bulge, secondary hair germ) and co-express selected stem cell markers (Sox9, Tcf4 and Lgr5). Remarkably, Lhx2(+) cells represent the vast majority of cells in the bulge and secondary hair germ that proliferate in response to skin injury. This is functionally important, as wound re-epithelization is significantly retarded in heterozygous Lhx2 knockout (+/-) mice, whereas anagen onset in the HFs located closely to the wound is accelerated compared with wild-type mice. Cell proliferation in the bulge and the number of Sox9(+) and Tcf4(+) cells in the HFs closely adjacent to the wound in Lhx2(+/-) mice are decreased in comparison with wild-type controls, whereas expression of Lgr5 and cell proliferation in the secondary hair germ are increased. Furthermore, acceleration of wound-induced anagen development in Lhx2(+/-) mice is inhibited by administration of Lgr5 siRNA. Finally, Chip-on-chip/ChIP-qPCR and reporter assay analyses identified Sox9, Tcf4 and Lgr5 as direct Lhx2 targets in keratinocytes. These data strongly suggest that Lhx2 positively regulates Sox9 and Tcf4 in the bulge cells, and promotes wound re-epithelization, whereas it simultaneously negatively regulates Lgr5 in the secondary hair germ and inhibits HF cycling. Thus, Lhx2 operates as an important regulator of epithelial stem cell activity in the skin response to injury.

Inspiriert von den natürlich vorkommenden Antibiotika der Gramicidin Familie und ihrer d-(alt)-l Aminosäuresequenz, die es diesen Oligopeptiden ermöglicht, eine beta–helikale Sekundärstruktur einzunehmen, war das Hauptziel dieser Arbeit die Synthese und Charakterisierung von Peptiden und diversen Pseudopeptiden mit regulärer all-l und d-(alt)-l Sequenz und die Untersuchung des Einflusses dieser stereochemischen Variation auf die Strukturen und Eigenschaften dieser Verbindungen. Zusätzlich ergab der Austausch von Amid-Bindungen im Peptid-Rückgrat durch verschiedene Isostere diverse, teils einzigartige Pseudopeptid-Strukturen, wohingegen Verzweigung des linearen Peptid-Rückgrates zu sphärischen Molekülen führte. Alle Projekte zielten auf die Entwicklung und Synthese diskreter Oligomere für Strukturuntersuchungen, sowie auf die Einbindung der jeweiligen Strukturelemente in Polymere. Die Polymerization geeigneter Monomere zu Polymeren soll zu makro- und supramolekularen Nano-Objekten führen. Die divergent/konvergente Synthese einer Serie von Oligo-d-(alt)-l-lysinen zielte auf die Generierung hydrophiler, pH-sensitiver nanotubularer Strukturen. Schrittweiser Austausch von Amid-Bindungen des Peptid-Rückgrates durch Ester-(alt)-Urea-Einheiten führte zu all-l und d-(alt)-l Oligopseudoleucinen mit 50% und 0% Amid-Bindungs-Anteil. Design, Synthese und Polymerisation von AB-“Click”-Monomeren, basierend auf all-l and l-(alt)-d lysin Dipeptiden, ergaben hochmolekulare, Triazol-enthaltende Polypseudopeptide, deren Seitenketten mit Pyrenbuttersäure quantitativ postfunktionalisiert werden konnten. Die Einführung von Verzweigung in Glutamat-Peptide ergab chirale Dendrimere mit adressierbaren fokalen und periphären Funktionalitäten, sowie variabler Ladungsdichte. Design, Synthese und Polymerisation eines Glutamat basierenden AB2-“Click”-Monomers lieferte verwandte chirale hyperverzweigte Polypseudopeptide. / Inspired by the naturally occurring antibiotics of the Gramicidin family and their d-(alt)-l amino acid sequence, enabling these oligopeptides to adopt a beta–helical secondary structure, the work presented in this thesis targeted the syn-thesis and characterization of peptides and diverse pseudopeptides with regular all-l and d-(alt)-l sequences and the influence of this stereochemical variation on the compounds’ structures and properties. Further diversification of the struc-tures as obtained by replacing amide bonds in the peptide backbone with differ-ent isosteres, affording unique pseudopeptide structures. In addition spherical molecules were generated by introducing branching into the linear peptide scaf-fold. Throughout all projects, the aim was the design and synthesis of discrete oligomers for structural investigations and the incorporation of the respective structural elements into polymers via the polymerization of suitable monomers, in order to generate nanoscale macromolecular and supramolecular objects. The divergent/convergent synthesis of a series of oligo-d-(alt)-l-lysines targeted the generation of hydrophilic, pH-sensitive nanotubular structures. The stepwise replacement of peptide backbone amide bonds with ester-(alt)-urea moieties afforded all-l and d-(alt)-l oligopseudoleucines with 50% and 0% amide content. The design, synthesis, and polymerization of an AB-“Click”-monomer, based on all-l and l-(alt)-d lysine dipeptides afforded high molecular weight, triazole con-taining polypseudopeptides. Quantitative coupling to pyrene butyric acid afforded the respective side chain labeled polymers. The introduction of branching into glutamate peptides afforded fully chiral den-drimers with addressable focal and peripheral functionalities and variable charge density. The design, synthesis, and polymerization of a glutamate based AB2-“Click”-monomer led to related chiral hyperbranched polypseudopeptides.

Exotic species alter the streamside plant community by changing the resources available to the stream food web, causing cascading changes throughout the entire aquatic ecosystem. To better understand the impacts of exotic litter species on stream communities, investigations were made at global and local levels. A meta-analysis was performed to understand which environmental and litter quality factors impact native and exotic litter decay rates on the global scale. It was found that exotic species are likely to decay faster than native species at larger mesh sizes, and in warm temperature environments because high quality exotic leaves have a lower C:N ratio than native leaves. An urban litter decay experiment in Victoria, B.C. streams contrasting Alnus rubra, Salix sitchensis, Hedera sp., Rubus armeniacus and plastic trash found that trash decays more slowly than leaf litter, but leaf species all decay at the same rate, and stream invertebrates colonize all litter types equally. Significant differences in litter decay rates and invertebrate community alpha and Shannon diversities were also observed across the four different streams. The more that is learned about the impacts of exotic leaf litter, the better we are able to respond to keep streams as healthy and as biodiverse as possible. / Graduate / 2017-08-10 / 0329 / 0793 / kimkenn@uvic.ca

Oxygen dependent prolyl-4-hydroxylation of the alpha-subunit of the hypoxia inducible transcription factor (HIF-alpha) plays an essential role in the hypoxic response. Hydroxylation of proline residues in the N- or C-terminal oxygen dependent degradation domains (NODD or CODD) increases the affinity of HIF-alpha to the von Hippel-Lindau protein (pVHL) by approx. 1000 fold so signalling for HIF-alpha degradation. With limiting oxygen, HIF-alpha hydroxylation slows, it dimerises with HIF-beta and activates the transcription of a gene array. Prolyl-4-hydroxylation also stabilises the triple helix structure of collagen, the most abundant human protein. Both the collagen and the HIF prolyl hydroxylases (PHDs) are Fe(II) and 2-oxoglutarate (2OG) dependent oxygenases. Crystal structures of PHD2 in complex with CODD were determined in the current study. Together with biochemical analyses, the results demonstrate that catalysis involves a mobile region of PHD2 that encloses the hydroxylation site and stabilises the PHD2.Fe(II).2OG complex. When bound to PHD2 the pyrrolidine ring of the non-hydroxylated proline-residue adopts a C⁴-endo conformation. Evidence is provided that 4R-hydroxylation enables a stereoelectronic effect that changes the proline conformation to the C⁴-exo state, as observed when hydroxylated HIF-alpha is bound to pVHL and in collagen. The results help to rationalise NODD/CODD selectivity data for PHD isoforms and the effects of clinically observed mutations on PHD2 catalysis. Analyses on the interaction of nitric oxide with PHD2 are described and discussed with respect to regulation of the hypoxic response by nitric oxide.

Submitted by William Justo Figueiro (williamjf) on 2015-07-16T21:04:12Z No. of bitstreams: 1 22c.pdf: 4652907 bytes, checksum: ab21111b63aa4aebf99649423c80f786 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-16T21:04:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 22c.pdf: 4652907 bytes, checksum: ab21111b63aa4aebf99649423c80f786 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-08-16 / UNISINOS - Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos / O conhecimento é o fator-chave para a criação do novo e a inovação é dependente do capital humano e da cooperação entre as pessoas e organizações. Este estudo qualitativo utiliza o método do estudo de caso e busca compreender a evolução de estratégias bem sucedidas de interação universidade e empresa e identificar os principais diferenciais que explicam os ganhos estratégicos decorrentes das parcerias. A seleção das instituições para este estudo – PUC-Rio e Fundação Dom Cabral e o relacionamento com a Petrobras – considerou o fato de serem de natureza privada, com trajetórias bem sucedidas de relacionamento com empresas e reconhecidas pela excelência no ensino e pesquisa. A trajetória destas empresas é marcada por eventos que permitem observar as implicações dos relacionamentos e da mobilização dos recursos estratégicos para a prática da inovação. O aporte teórico que embasa a análise da interação Universidade-Empresa se utiliza da abordagem da Hélice Tríplice, das Redes Interorganizacionais, da Visão Baseada em Recursos e da Visão Relacional. A análise dos dados coletados apresentou evidências de que o diferencial estratégico das instituições pesquisadas é obtido a partir de posicionamentos e ações estratégicas ao longo do tempo; da capacidade de gerar conhecimento e inovar; da capacidade de conexão com o mercado e de desenvolver novas competências organizacionais; da capacidade de mobilizar recursos internos e de estabelecer parcerias através de relacionamentos interorganizacionais; e da capacidade de atrair e reter talentos que possam contribuir para a excelência acadêmica, a sustentabilidade e a efetiva participação no desenvolvimento social. / Knowledge is the key factor for the creation of anything new and innovation is dependent on human capital and cooperation among people and organizations. This qualitative study uses the case study method and seeks to understand the evolution of successful strategies of interaction between university and industry and to identify key differences that explain the gains arising from strategic partnerships. The selection of the institutions for this study - PUC-Rio and Fundação Dom Cabral and the relationship with Petrobras - considered the fact that they are private in nature, with histories of successful relationships with companies and recognized for excellence in teaching and research. The trajectory of these companies is marked by events that allow us to observe the implications of the relationships and the mobilization of strategic resources for the practice of innovation. The theoretical bases that support the University-Industry interaction are the Triple Helix approach, the Interorganizational Network, the Resource-Based View and the Relational Vision. The data analysis presented evidence that the strategic differentiator of the institutions surveyed is derived from placements and strategic actions over time, the ability to generate knowledge and innovate, the ability to connect with the market and to develop new organizational skills, the ability to mobilize domestic resources and to establish partnerships through interorganizational relationships, and the ability to attract and retain talent that can contribute to academic excellence, sustainability and effective participation in social development.