Proteins are the functional units of cells. However, a major portion of the proteome does not have a known functional annotation. This dissertation explores protein -protein interactions, involving these uncharacterized or unknown function proteins. Initially, protein – protein interactions were tested and analyzed for paralogous proteins in Escherichia coli. To expand this concept further and to get an overview, protein – protein interactions were analyzed using ‘comparative interactomics’ for four pathogenic bacterial species including Escherichia coli, Yersinia pestis, Vibrio cholerae and Staphylococcus aureus. This approach was used to study unknown function protein pairs as well as to focus on uncharacterized hub proteins. The dissertation aims at using protein – protein interactions along with other research data about proteins as a possible approach to narrow down on functions of proteins.

Les nématodes à galles (RKN), Meloidogyne spp. sont des petits vers parasites qui infectent les racines des plantes où ils induisent la formation de sites nourriciers. Les RKN sont des endoparasites à large gamme d'hôtes, englobant les principales espèces de plantes cultivées. Meloidogyne javanica, M. graminicola et M. incognita sont les principales espèces parasitant le riz (Oryza sativa). Le succès infectieux des RKN repose sur la production de protéines effecteurs de virulence, secrétées dans leurs glandes oesophagiennes et libérées dans les cellules de la plante hôte par leur stylet. La caractéristique principale des RKN est leur capacité à déréguler des cellules du parenchyme vasculaire pour induire la formation de cellules géantes multinucléées, à haute activité métabolique. Les processus moléculaires sous-jacents restent encore mal connus, alors que l’identification d’effecteurs de virulence et de leurs cibles végétales pourrait fournir de nouvelles perspectives pour le contrôle des RKN. Ainsi, les objectifs de cette étude étaient (1) d’évaluer le rôle de protéines de Meloidogyne sécrétées (MSP) au cours des interactions riz - RKN et (2) d'identifier des cibles des MSP parmi les principales protéines Hub d’Arabidopsis thaliana impliquées dans l'immunité des plantes, afin d'évaluer la fonction putative des MSP dans les cellules hôtes. Pour la première partie de notre étude, nous avons sélectionné trois MSP exprimées dans les glandes oesophagiennes et possiblement sécrétées. L’analyse de l’expression des gènes par RT-qPCR a montré que MSP2 est fortement exprimé dans les premiers stades du cycle du nématode, tandis que MSP18 et MSP19 sont activés au cours du parasitisme dans les racines du riz. Les essais de localisation subcellulaire dans les cellules d'oignon ont identifié le noyau (pour MSP2) et le cytoplasme (pour MSP7 et MSP18) comme compartiments cellulaires ciblés par les protéines du nématode. Des plants de riz (O. sativa Nipponbare) transgéniques ont été produits pour évaluer le rôle des MSP au cours des interactions riz-RKN. Des lignées de riz surexprimant MSP18 ont permis un taux de reproduction plus élevé de M. javanica et M. graminicola. Au contraire, des retards de développement et de reproduction de M. javanica ont été observés sur des lignées de riz exprimant des micro-RNAs capables de supprimer l’expression des gènes MSP2 ou MSP19. Ces données ont montré que MSP2, MSP18 et MSP19 peuvent être des gènes importants pour le parasitisme ou le développement du nématode. Les tests d'expression transitoire dans le tabac (Nicotiana benthamiana) ont montré que MSP18 peut interférer avec la mort cellulaire programmée déclenchée par INF1, ce qui suggère que MSP18 pourrait supprimer les voies de défense des plantes pour faciliter l’infection. Dans une deuxième partie de ce travail, des analyses systématiques en double-hybride chez la levure ont été menées pour vérifier les interactions protéine-protéine entre 6 MSP et 18 protéines Hub d’A. thaliana. Chez la levure, la protéine du nématode MSP400 interagit avec trois protéines Hub, l’Anaphase-Promoting-complex 8 (At-APC8) et les facteurs de transcription At-TCP14 et At-TCP15. L'interaction physique de MSP400 avec At-APC8, un régulateur clé du cycle cellulaire de la plante, a été confirmée in planta par complémentation bimoléculaire de fluorescence (BiFC). Ces résultats démontrent pour la première fois qu'un effecteur de nématode est capable d'interagir directement avec une protéine régulatrice du cycle cellulaire chez la plante, révélant un nouveau mécanisme utilisé par les RKN pour commander la machinerie du cycle de la cellule hôte et induire ainsi la formation du site d'alimentation. Les données obtenues dans cette étude élargissent considérablement notre connaissance des acteurs moléculaires qui contribuent à la pathogénicité des nématodes, mettant en évidence les différents mécanismes exploités par les RKN pour promouvoir la sensibilité des plantes. / Root-knot nematodes (RKN), Meloidogyne spp. are small parasitic worms that infect plant roots where they induce the formation of highly specialized nutrient feeding sites. RKN are endoparasites with a wide host range encompassing major plant crops, impairing effective specific control. Meloidogyne javanica, M. graminicola, and M. incognita are the principal RKN species responsible for rice (Oryza sativa) production losses. Successful plant infection is likely achieved by nematode effector proteins produced in their esophageal gland cells and released into the host plant cells through their stylet. In particular, one of the striking features of RKN is their ability to deregulate vascular parenchyma cells to induce the formation of multinucleated giant cells with a high metabolic activity in the roots. The molecular processes underlying plant-RKN interactions still remain poorly understood. Identification of nematode virulence effectors and their plant targets may provide new insights for developing control strategies towards RKN. Thus, the aims of this study were to (1) assess the role of Meloidogyne secreted proteins (MSP) in rice – RKN interactions and (2) identify MSP targets among the major Arabidopsis thaliana Hub proteins involved in plant immunity, to assess the putative MSP function into host cells. For the first part of our study, we selected three Meloidogyne-genus specific proteins expressed in esophageal glands and predicted to be secreted. Gene expression analysis by RT-qPCR showed that MSP2 is highly expressed in the early stages of the nematode cycle, while MSP18 and MSP19 are up-regulated during parasitism in rice roots. Subcellular localization assays in onion cells identified the nucleus (for MSP2) and cytoplasm (for MSP7 and MSP18) as the main cellular compartments targeted by nematode proteins. Transgenic rice (O. sativa Nipponbare) plants expressing the MSP cDNAs or artificial micro-RNAs (amiRNAs) able to silence MSP genes were used to assess the role of MSPs during rice-RKN interactions. Homozygous transgenic lines were inoculated with pre-parasitic juveniles (J2) and (i) the number and developmental stage of nematodes present in roots after 21 days, (ii) the number of egg masses laid after 28 days and, (iii) the number of next-generation hatched J2 after 45 days were assessed. Rice lines overexpressing MSP18 allowed a higher reproduction rate of M. javanica and M. graminicola. On the contrary, impaired M. javanica development and reproduction was observed in rice lines expressing amiRNAs against MSP2 or MSP19 genes. These data showed that MSP2, MSP18, and MSP19 genes might be important genes for nematode parasitism or development. Transient expression assays in tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana) revealed that MSP18 interfered with the INF1-triggered programmed cell death, suggesting that MSP18 could suppress the plant defense pathways to facilitate nematode parasitism. In the second part of this work, systematic yeast-two-hybrid paired assays were conducted to check for protein-protein interactions between 6 MSP and 18 A. thaliana Hub proteins. In yeast, the nematode MSP400 protein interacts with three Hub proteins, the Anaphase-Promoting-Complex 8 (At-APC8) and the transcription factors At-TCP14 and At-TCP15. Physical interaction of MSP400 with At-APC8, a key plant cell cycle regulator, was confirmed in planta by bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assays. These results demonstrated for the first time that a plant parasitic nematode effector is able to directly interact with a cell cycle regulatory protein, revealing a novel mechanism utilized by RKN to control the host cell cycle machinery and thereby induce feeding site formation. The data obtained in this study significantly broaden our knowledge of the molecular players contributing to nematode pathogenicity, highlighting the different mechanisms exploited by RKN to promote plant susceptibility.

Orientador: Jorg Kobarg / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-18T17:04:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Meirelles_GabrielaVaz_D.pdf: 11269390 bytes, checksum: bfd22a079ffc68a78b96b3e50dd60b1c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Resumo: A proteína NIMA foi identificada e caracterizada funcionalmente em Aspergillus nidulans como sendo uma serina/treonina cinase critica para a progressão do ciclo celular. As Neks (NIMA-related kinases) constituem uma família de cinases composta por 11 membros em mamíferos, que compartilham 40-45% de identidade com a proteína NIMA no domínio catalítico N-terminal. As Neks estão associadas a funções do ciclo celular e diversas patologias, o que as torna potenciais alvos quimioterápicos. Mutações no gene da Nek1 levam ao desenvolvimento da doença renal policistica e ao aparecimento de diversos efeitos pleiotrópicos, sugerindo sua participação em vias reguladoras de vários processos celulares. A Nek6, por sua vez, e ativada durante a mitose, e a super-expressão de mutantes inativos ou a sua depleção por RNAi produz células exibindo defeitos no fuso, anormalidades nucleares, parada na metáfase e apoptose. A Nek6 humana foi recentemente associada a carcinogênese, mas, assim como para a maioria das Neks, sua estrutura molecular, parceiros de interação e vias de sinalização permanecem ainda desconhecidos. Nesse trabalho, introduzimos a hNek6 como uma hub no interactoma humano. Uma extensa comparação de bancos de dados baseada em analises de conectividade mostrou que o quinoma humano e enriquecido em hubs. Nossas redes de interação incluem um amplo espectro de novos parceiros de interação para a hNek6 identificados em screenings de duplo - hibrido em levedura, classificados em 18 categorias funcionais. Alguns novos parceiros de interação da hNek6 são também possíveis substratos e, ainda, colocalizam com a hNek6 e ?-tubulina em células humanas, apontando para uma possível interação centrossomal. Os diversos parceiros de interação conectam a hNek6 a novas vias, como a sinalização de Notch e a regulação do citoesqueleto de actina, ou fornecem novas pistas de como a hNek6 poderia regular vias previamente propostas, como ciclo celular, reparo de DNA e sinalização do NF-?B. Alem disso, obtivemos o primeiro modelo estrutural de baixa resolução para a hNek6 a partir de SAXS. Analises estruturais revelaram que a hNek6 e um monômero em solução, apresentando uma conformação predominantemente globular, mas levemente alongada. Particularmente, a curta região N-terminal desordenada da hNek6 e importante para mediar as interações com seus parceiros. No caso da hNek1, observamos que ela interage com Fez1 e Clasp2 através de seus motivos coiled-coil, e colocaliza com essas proteínas em uma região candidata ao centrossomo / Abstract: NIMA was identified and functionally characterized in Aspergillus nidulans as a critical Ser/Thr kinase for cell cycle progression. The mammalian Neks (NIMA-related kinases) represent an evolutionarily conserved family of 11 serine/threonine kinases that share 40-45% identity with NIMA N-terminal domain. Neks are associated to cell cyclerelated functions and diverse pathologies, which highlight them as potential chemotherapeutic targets. Nek1 gene mutations lead to the development of polycystic kidney disease and the emergence of several pleiotropic effects, suggesting its involvement in pathways regulating various cellular processes. Nek6, in turn, is activated during mitosis, and overexpression of inactive mutants or its depletion by iRNA produces cells exhibiting mitotic spindle defects, nuclear abnormalities, metaphase arrest and apoptosis. Human Nek6 was recently found to be linked to carcinogenesis, but as for the majority of Neks, the molecular structure, interacting partners and signaling pathways remain elusive. Here we introduce hNek6 as a hub kinase in the human interactome. We performed a broad databank comparison based on degree distribution analysis and found that the human kinome is enriched in hubs. Our networks include a large set of novel hNek6 interactors identified in our yeast two-hybrid screens, classified into 18 functional categories. Some novel interactors are also putative substrates and colocalized with hNek6 and ?-tubulin in human cells, pointing to a possible centrosomal interaction. The interacting proteins link hNek6 to novel pathways, e.g. Notch signaling and actin cytoskeleton regulation, or give new insights on how hNek6 may regulate previously proposed pathways such as cell cycle, DNA repair and NF-?B signalings. Furthermore, we obtained the first low-resolution structural model of hNek6 by SAXS. Structural analysis revealed that hNek6 is a monomer in solution with a mostly globular, though slightly elongated conformation. Notably, we found that hNek6 unfolded short N-terminal region is important to mediate the interactions with its partners. In the case of hNek1, we found that it interacts with Fez1 and Clasp2 through coiled-coil motifs and colocalizes with these proteins in a candidate centrosomal region / Doutorado / Bioquimica / Doutor em Biologia Funcional e Molecular

La importancia de comprender los procesos biológicos ha estimulado el desarrollo de métodos para la detección de interacciones proteína-proteína. Esta tesis presenta PIANA (Protein Interactions And Network Analysis), un programa informático para la integración y el análisis de redes de interacción proteicas. Además, describimos un método que identifica motivos de interacción basándose en que las proteínas con parejas de interacción comunes tienden a interaccionar con esas parejas a través del mismo motivo de interacción. Encontramos que las proteínas altamente conectadas (i.e., hubs) con múltiples motivos tienen mayor probabilidad de ser esenciales para la viabilidad de la célula que los hubs con uno o dos motivos. Finalmente, presentamos un método que predice genes relacionados con cáncer mediante la integración de redes de interacción proteicas, datos de expresión diferenciada y propiedades estructurales, funcionales y evolutivas. El valor de predicción positiva es 71% con sensitividad del 1%, superando a otros métodos usados independientemente. / The importance of understanding cellular processes prompted the development of experimental approaches that detect protein-protein interactions. Here, we describe a software platform called PIANA (Protein Interactions And Network Analysis) that integrates interaction data from multiple sources and automates the analysis of protein interaction networks. Moreover, we describe a method that delineates interacting motifs by relying on the observation that proteins with common interaction partners tend to interact with these partners through the same interacting motif. We find that highly connected proteins (i.e., hubs) with multiple interacting motifs are more likely to be essential for cellular viability than hubs with one or two interacting motifs. Furthermore, we present a method that predicts cancer genes by integrating protein interaction networks, differential expression studies and structural, functional and evolutionary properties. For a sensitivity of 1%, the positive predictive value is 71%, which outperforms the use of any of the methods independently.