Receptores nucleares formam uma superfamília de proteínas responsáveis pela regulação da expressão de genes. Estruturalmente, são formados por três domínios: um domínio N-terminal bastante variável, um domínio altamente conservado de ligação com o DNA e um domínio C-terminal, menos conservado, denominado domínio de ligação com o ligante (LDB). Diversos experimentos mostram que a interação com o ligante afeta a estrutura e a mobilidade da hélice C-terminal dos receptores nucleares (hélice 12 do domínio de ligação com o ligante), sendo o principal mecanismo de ativação e repressão da transcrição. As primeiras estruturas de LBDs de receptores nucleares revelaram importantes diferenças entre estruturas contendo ligantes (holo) e estruturas apo, principalmente no que diz respeito a posição da hélice 12: em estruturas apo, foi observada a H12 em uma conformação aberta, expondo o sítio de ligação com o ligante, enquanto que em estruturas holo, foi observada a H12 em uma conformação fechada, dobrada sobre o corpo do LBD e envolvendo completamente o ligante. Essa diferença sugeriu um mecanismo para a entrada e saída de ligantes do sítio de ligação denominado modelo da ratoeira, entretanto, esse modelo apresenta diversas inconsistências e tem sido desacreditado. Estudos experimentais e teóricos recentes mostram que a hélice 12 é mais móvel na ausência de ligantes, entretanto, esses estudos não fornecem evidencias de que o aumento da mobilidade da está associado com o deslocamento da H12 em relação ao corpo do LBD, como sugerido pelo modelo da ratoeira. Embora esteja claro que a hélice 12 é mais móvel na ausência de ligantes, a dimensão da variação conformacional sofrida pela hélice 12 ainda não está clara. Nesse trabalho buscamos a construção de um modelo capaz de dimensionar a mobilidade da hélice 12 através da comparação direta entre simulações de dinâmica molecular e experimentos de anisotropia de fluorescência resolvida no tempo. Utilizando simulações de dinâmica molecular reproduzimos experimentos de anisotropia de fluorescência acoplando a sonda cys-flúor a hélice 12 do PPARγ para estudar sua mobilidade. Mostramos que as observações experimentais só podem ser explicadas por conformações onde a sonda fluorescente permanece presa a superfície do LBD. Foi mostrado também que curvas de anisotropia com decaimentos comparáveis com os decaimentos experimentais estão associados a pequenas variações conformacionais de hélice 12. Simulações para dois modelos de apo-PPARγ com a H12 aberta em relação ao corpo do LBD e para as estruturas cristalográficas de apo-RXR e apo-ER, onde a H12 também adota uma conformação aberta, revelaram curvas de anisotropia com decaimentos mais rápidos que os experimentais. Esses resultados implicam em um modelo onde a H12 sofre alterações conformacionais locais, não apresentando variações tão dramáticas como o proposto pelo modelo da ratoeira. / Nuclear Hormone Receptors comprise a protein superfamily responsible for regulation of gene expression. Structurally, they are composed by three domains: a variable N-terminal domain, a highly conserved DNA-binding domain (DBD), and a less conserved C-terminal domain, known as ligand binding domain (LBD). Many experiments have shown that the interaction with ligands affects the structure and the mobility of nuclear receptors C-terminal helix (LBDs Helix 12), being the main mechanism of transcription activation and repression. The first nuclear receptor LBDs structures revealed important differences between ligand bound (holo) and apo-structures concerning the position of the H12: in apo structures, H12 adopted an open conformation, exposing the ligand binding pocket, whereas in holo structures, the H12 was closed, packed over the body of the LBD, burying completely the ligand. This difference suggested a mechanism for ligand entry and exit from the binding pocket called mouse-trap model, however this model has several inconsistencies and has been discredited. Recent experimental and theoretical studies have shown that H12 is more labile in the absence of ligand, but these studies dont provide evidences that the increase in the mobility is associated with the detachment of H12 from the body of the LBD as suggested by the mouse-trap model. Although its clear that H12 is more flexible in the absence of ligands, the size of the conformational changes undergone by H12 is not yet clear. In this work we seek to construct a definitive model for the range of motions that H12 may undergo in the presence or absence of ligand using molecular dynamics simulations. Through direct comparison between molecular dynamics simulations and time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy experiments, we show that experimental observation can only be explained by conformations where the fluorescent probe is interacting with the surface of the PPARγ surface. We also show that simulations with anisotropy decay rates comparable to the experimental decay are associated with small helix 12 conformational changes. Simulations with two models of apo-PPARγ with H12 detached from the body of the LBD and with crystallographic structures of apo-RXR and apo-ER, where the H12 also is in an open conformation, display anisotropy decay rates significantly faster than the experimental ones. These results imply a model for the molecular mobility of the LBD where H12 undergoes local conformational changes and should exhibit dynamic properties less dramatic than proposed by the mouse trap model.

Os receptores tireoidianos (TRs) são proteínas envolvidas em várias funções fisiológicas importantes para os organismos, pois são potentes reguladores do desenvolvimento, divisão e diferenciação celular, metabolismo e homeostase. Eles são responsáveis pela regulação da transcrição de genes-alvo específicos, mediando efeitos pleiotrópicos de hormônios lipofílicos nas células. Na ausência de ligantes essas proteínas estão complexadas a correpressores, impedindo a transcrição de genes por elas regulados. Por outro lado, a presença do ligante induz à transcrição através da ligação a elementos responsivos do DNA e coativadores. Nesse trabalho alguns aspectos do TR foram evidenciados, permintindo-se um melhor conhecimento acerca do funcionamento e estrutura desse receptor. Os experimentos de oligomerização revelaram a presença dos tetrâmeros do TR, os quais estavam restritos ao Receptor X Retinóico, sugerindo mecanismos novos na regulação do receptor. Os ensaios de raios-X a baixos ângulos resultaram nos primeiros modelos estruturais de baixa resolução de construções maiores do TR, demonstrando o correto posicionamento de seus domínios em sua estrutura geral, o que forneceu informações importantes sobre sua estrutura geral. Os experimentos de fluorescência avaliaram a ligação desses receptores a diversos elementos responsivos, em termos de constantes de dissociação e seletividade para cada um deles. E, por fim, os experimentos de troca de hidrogênio por deutério revelaram a movimentação que ocorre no domínio de ligação do ligante do receptor antes e após a adição do ligante T3. Esses resultados ampliam um pouco mais os conhecimentos sobre os mecanismos de ação e sobre a estrutura quaternária dos TR, promovendo um melhor entendimento dos conceitos básicos envolvidos na atuação dessas macromoléculas, as quais estão inseridas em redes complexas de regulação e interação com outras proteínas. / The thyroid receptors (TRs) are proteins, which are involved in diverse and important physiological functions in the organisms, since they are regulators of development, cell divison and differentiation, metabolism and homeostasis. They are responsible by the regulation of specific gene transcription, through pleiotropic effects of lipophilic hormones in the cells. In the absence of the ligand these proteins are complexed to correpressors and block the transcription of genes that are regulated by them On the other hand, in the presence of the ligand transcription is induced through the binding of the receptors to DNA response elements and coactivators. New findings about TR described in this study helped to improve the understanding of the function and structure of the receptor. This was accomplished by: oligomerization experiments which showed the presence of TR tetramers, a quarternary structure described before only for the Retinoid Receptor X, and suggested new regulation mechanisms for the receptors; the small angle X-ray scattering assays which resulted in the first low resolution structural models of bigger constructions of TR, showing the correct position of TR domains and providing important information about the global TR structure; the anisotropy fluorescence experiments which evaluated the binding of these receptors to diverse response elements, in terms of dissociation constants and selectivity for each one of the HREs tested; and finally, the hydrogen/deuterium experiments which revealed the ligand binding domain mobility before and after the ligand addition. In summary, we can say that these results all together extended the knowledge about the TR action mechanisms and its quarternary strucuture, providing better understanding of the basic concepts involved in these macromolecules behavior, which are inserted into a complex network of regulation and interaction with other proteins.

Two fundamental problems of developmental biology are the understanding of cell fate specification, and the integration of broader environmental contexts into developmental programs. While cell fate specification is largely achieved by differential gene expression programs, environmental integration relies on cellular receptors. A predominant mechanism to mediate both processes utilizes nuclear hormone receptors (NHRs). However, it remains unclear how diverse the NHR’s modes of action are in regulating gene expression. This thesis utilizes the development of the C. elegans germ line as a model system to study a novel link that integrates cell fate specification and the nutritional environment. In C. elegans, germ cell fate specification is chiefly controlled by posttranscriptional mechanisms. Furthermore, overall germline development is influenced by the animal’s nutritional status. However, it remains unknown whether germline posttranscriptional control mechanisms and germ cell fate decisions are linked to nutrition, and if so, how this link may operate in molecular terms. This thesis reports the characterization of the nuclear hormone receptor nhr-114 and its crucial functions for germline development and fertility. Depending on the tissue of expression, nhr-114 regulates overall germline organization, germ cell proliferation and oogenesis. Importantly, all aspects of nhr-114 function are linked to diet. Feeding nhr-114 mutants with a specific E. coli strain, or a tryptophan-supplemented diet significantly reduces germline development defects and sterility. Based on mutant analysis, nhr-114 was found to have overlapping functions with gld-4 cytoplasmic poly(A) polymerase (cytoPAP). This thesis provides evidence that nhr-114 may function in germ cells in a posttranscriptional manner linked to gld-4 cytoPAP. Further evidence shows that NHR-114 interacts with GLD-4 cytoPAP. Together these findings suggest that NHR-114 may control gene expression by transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms in a tissue-specific manner. This thesis proposes that NHR-114 ensures the input of tryptophan to allow germline development; and that this function integrates nutritional information into the germline gene expression programs according to the environment of the worm. Therefore, NHR-114 potentially provides a direct molecular link to how a developmental program is coordinated with the nutritional status of an animal.

The gene encoding cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A), the rate-limiting enzyme in bile acid synthesis, is transcriptionally regulated by bile acids and hormones. Previously, we have identified two bile acid response elements (BARE) in the promoter of the CYP7A gene. The BARE II is located in nt - 149/-118 region and contains three hormone response element (HRE)-like sequences that form two overlapping nuclear receptor binding sites. One is a direct repeat separated by one nucleotide DR1 (-146-TGGACTtAGTTCA-134) and the other is a direct repeat separated by five nucleotides DR5 (-139- AGTTCAaggccGGGTAA-123). Mutagenesis of these HRE sequences resulted in lower transcriptional activity of the CYP7A promoter/reporter genes in transient transfection assay in HepG2 cells. The orphan nuclear receptor, hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 (HNF-4)1, binds to the DR1 sequence as assessed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay, and activates the CYP7A promoter/reporter activity by about 9-fold. Cotransfection of HNF-4 plasmid with another orphan nuclear receptor, chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter- transcription factor II (COUP-TFII), synergistically activated the CYP7A transcription by 80-fold. The DR5 binds the RXR/RAR heterodimer. A hepatocyte nuclear factor-3 (HNF-3) binding site (-175-TGTTTGTTCT-166) was identified. HNF-3 was required for both basal transcriptional activity and stimulation of the rat CYP7A promoter activity by retinoic acid. Combinatorial interactions and binding of these transcription factors to BAREs may modulate the promoter activity and also mediate bile acid repression of CYP7A gene transcription.

Flies are a widely distributed pest insect that poses a significant threat to food security. Flight is essential for the dispersal of the adult flies to find new food sources and ideal breeding spots. The supply of metabolic fuel to power the flight muscles of insects is regulated by adipokinetic hormones (AKHs). The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, the flesh fly, Sarcophaga crassipalpis, and the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis all have the same AKH that is present in the blowfly, Phormia terraenovae; this AKH has the code-name Phote-HrTH. Binding of the AKH to the extracellular binding site of a G protein-coupled receptor causes its activation. In this thesis, the structure of Phote-HrTH in SDS micelle solution was determined using NMR restrained molecular dynamics. The peptide was found to bind to the micelle and be reasonably rigid, with an S 2 order parameter of 0.96. The translated protein sequence of the AKH receptor from the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, the flesh fly, Sarcophaga crassipalpis, and the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis were used to construct two models for each receptor: Drome-AKHR, Sarcr-AKHR, and Bacdo-AKHR. It is proposed that these two models represent the active and inactive state of the receptor. The models based on the crystal structure of the β-2 adrenergic receptor were found to bind Phote-HrTH with a predicted binding free energy of –107 kJ mol–1 for Drome-AKHR, –102 kJ mol–1 for Sarcr-AKHR and –102 kJ mol–1 for Bacdo-AKHR. Under molecular dynamics simulation, in a POPC membrane, the β-2AR receptor-like complexes transformed to rhodopsin-like. The identification and characterisation of the ligand-binding site of each receptor provide novel information on ligand-receptor interactions, which could lead to the development of species-specific control substances to use discriminately against these pest flies.

No description available.

No description available.

Neurons commonly have a primary cilium, which is a non-motile organelle extending from the centrosome into the extracellular space. In most brain regions, neuronal cilia are enriched in either somatostatin receptor type 3 (SstR3) or melanin concentrating hormone receptor type 1 (MCHR1), or both. The present immunohistochemical study provides novel evidence that primary cilia regulate neuronal excitability via G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), and that their identity is governed by brain region and by competition, both in adulthood and in postnatal development. The hippocampus, which is particularly vulnerable to seizures, has opposing gradients of SstR3(+) and MCHR1(+) ciliary GPCRs. We hypothesized that there is a competition between these two ciliary GPCRs, which might take place on any level from gene expression to presence in the cilium. We examined whether receptor colocalization occurs transiently in development before ciliary GPCR dominance is established in neurons in the CNS. In postnatal CA1 and CA3, the first GPCR to appear in cilia was the one that will dominate in adults: MCHR1 in CA1 and SstR3 in CA3. Some days later, the second GPCR was expressed along with the first; dual-receptor cilia were the exclusive type until single-receptor cilia emerged again around P14. Single-receptor cilia then increased in numbers through adulthood. By identifying ciliary receptors that modulate seizure activity in mice, the present study lays a foundation for therapeutic approaches to reduce neuronal excitotoxicity underlying cell death in epilepsy, CNS injury, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Prognostic or predictive biomarkers in HER2-positive early breast cancer (EBC) may inform treatment optimization. The ADAPT HER2-positive/hormone receptor-positive phase II trial (NCT01779206) demonstrated pathological complete response (pCR) rates of ~40% following de-escalated treatment with 12 weeks neoadjuvant ado-trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) ± endocrine therapy. In this exploratory analysis, we evaluated potential early predictors of response to neoadjuvant therapy. The effects of PIK3CA mutations and immune (CD8 and PD-L1) and apoptotic markers (BCL2 and MCL1) on pCR rates were assessed, along with intrinsic BC subtypes. Immune response and pCR were lower in PIK3CA-mutated tumors compared with wildtype. Increased BCL2 at baseline in all patients and at Cycle 2 in the T-DM1 arms was associated with lower pCR. In the T-DM1 arms only, the HER2-enriched subtype was associated with increased pCR rate (54% vs. 28%). These findings support further prospective pCR-driven de-escalation studies in patients with HER2-positive EBC.

No description available.