Cocaine dependence is a major health concern worldwide, but despite this high rate of abuse there are currently no approved therapies for cocaine dependence. Replacement pharmacotherapies are one possible approach for treating cocaine dependence, and identification of such therapeutics for cocaine abuse is the long-term goal of this research. Cocaine binds to, and inhibits uptake at the dopamine (DAT), serotonergic (SERT) and noradrenaline (NET) uptake transporters, but studies have shown that cocaine produces its strong behavioural and positive reinforcing effects through inhibition of the DAT. To this end a great number of diverse, non-selective DAT-inhibiting compounds have been investigated as potential cocaine replacement therapies. It was the initial objective of this research to determine whether the behavioral profile of a novel, selective DAT inhibitor, D-84, fit with that thought for an ideal cocaine replacement therapy. Results indicated that D-84 stimulated locomotor activity, incompletely generalized to the cocaine cue in discrimination tests, attenuated cocaine-self-administration and was self-administered. These observations provide a profile consistent, although perhaps not ideal, with one possible treatment strategy for cocaine dependence. Although it is well established that cocaine predominantly produces its abuse-related effects through inhibition of the DAT, recent evidence suggests that inhibition at the SERT may have modulating effects on the pharmacology of cocaine-like compounds. The second part of this dissertation investigated what effects that increasing SERT inhibition had on the cocaine-like behavioural effects of DAT inhibitors, as a method of determining the fruitfulness of incorporating this feature into future drug candidates to improve them. RTI-55 (DAT Ki 2.7 nM SERT Ki 3 nM) and GBR-12909 (DAT Ki 4.3 nM SERT Ki 73 nM) were selected based on their high and intermediate SERT inhibitory effects, respectively. They were compared in behavioural studies with D-84, which is considered to be a selective DAT inhibitor. The results indicated that although increasing SERT inhibition attenuated locomotor activity effects, it had less effect on cocaine-like discriminative stimulus and reinforcing effects, at least with the doses tested

In this Master’s Thesis Research the results can be summarized from two major tasks: (1) In our first task, we utilized our two protein system (BAG-1 and HSP 70) as part of beta testing of a computational software 1 that can take three dimensional x-ray crystallography information about protein complexes and predict the strength of atom –atom interactions between amino-acid residues Open Contact predicts binding hotspots that can be used to identify short amino acid chains or peptides that mimic that particular binding segment of the larger protein. These peptides are called pepidyl-biomimetics. The peptide can potentially act as an antagonist drug by binding to the hotspot on protein A before protein B of the A-B complex can form. Two potential peptide candidates were identified. In particular, a helical peptide was discovered that demonstrated a variety of different types of atom-atom interactions. (2) Our second task is to experimentally test the helical peptide for its ability to block the binding that occurs between the 70-kilodalton Heat Shock Protein (HSP-70) and the Bcl-2 Associated Athanogene (BAG-1) Protein. As reviewed here, the binding between HSP-70 and BAG-1 elicits a cascade of cellular events that maintain high cancer growth rates and a greatly increased resistance to chemotherapy. In addition, BAG-1 has been implicated in a number of onco-signal pathways, as reviewed here, and its inhibition alone is believed to act as an agent against cancer cell growth

Serine racemase (SR) is a pyridoxal-5'-phosphate-dependent enzyme responsible for biosynthesis of D-serine, a recognized neurotransmitter acting as a co-activator of N-methyl- D-aspartate (NMDA) type of glutamate receptors in the mammalian central nervous system. The hyperfunction of the mentioned receptors have been shown to be implicated in many neuropathological conditions including Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and epilepsy. To alleviate the symptoms of these diseases, several artificial blockers of NMDA receptors have been introduced into the clinical practice. However, many of these compounds cause undesirable side effects and it is thus necessary to search for either less harmful blockers or regulators of other targets of pharmaceutical intervention that are involved in NMDA receptor activation. In this context, specific inhibition of serine racemase seems to be a promising strategy for regulation of NMDA receptor overstimulation. Mouse serine racemase shares 89% identity with its human ortholog and it was also shown that both enzymes possess similar kinetic parameters and inhibitor specificity. Therefore, the mouse models can be used to search for a potent human serine racemase inhibitor. Although many different compounds for their inhibitory potency towards serine...

Le traitement du VHC connaît une évolution rapide avec le développement d'antiviraux à action directe plus efficaces et mieux tolérés qui vont modifier les stratégies thérapeutiques, les facteurs prédictifs de réponse et les modalités de suivi des patients. Notre travail s'intéresse aux paramètres de suivi du traitement que sont les dosages pharmacologiques de ribavirine et le suivi des cinétiques virales lors d'une trithérapie. L'étude d'une cohorte prospective incluant 186 patients sous trithérapie par IP montre que 60% d'entre-eux présentent une SVR12 et que les facteurs prédictifs sont le génotype de l'IL28B et la réponse au précédent traitement. Une diminution de la filtration glomérulaire réversible est également observée. La mesure du taux résiduel de ribavirine permet de réduire les risques hématologiques chez des patients insuffisants rénaux, la réalisation de l'ASC témoigne d'une moins bonne exposition à la ribavirine chez des patients co-infectés par le VIH/VHC et la biodisponibilité de la ribavirine et la sévérité des anémies augmentent chez des patients traités par télaprévir. Au sein de la cohorte CUPIC, la négativation ou la diminution >50-70% de la charge virale initiale à S2 de trithérapie sont fortement prédictives de la SVR12. Cette mesure à S2 permet aussi de dépister les échappements viraux précoces. La place de la ribavirine est importante dans les associations thérapeutiques actuelles et futures. Sa surveillance pharmacologique peut avoir un intérêt au cours de futures multi-thérapies exposant à d'éventuelles interactions médicamenteuses / The rapid development of new direct antiviral agents (DAA) against HCV gives hope of more potent and well tolerated treatments. These new compounds will deeply modify therapeutic schedules, virological response prognostic factors and patients’ monitoring. The aim of our work was to define the relevance of ribavirin plasma concentration and viral kinetics monitoring during triple therapy. The study of a prospective cohort including 186 patients under triple therapy showed an SVR12 rate of 60%. Associated predictive factors were IL-28B genotype and previous treatment response. A reversible decrease of glomerular filtration rate was also observed. Ribavirin plasma concentration monitoring reduced hematological risks among patients with renal insufficiency. Early ribavirin plasma exposure showed an underexposure among HIV/HCV patients and ribavirin biodisponibility with severe anemia increased among telaprevir-treated patients. Within the CUPIC cohort, the initial viral load undetectability or decrease up to 50% or 70% at week 2 of triple therapy were predictive of SVR12. Moreover, this week 2 viral load assessment allowed the detection of early viral breakthrough. Ribavirin still plays a major role in current and future therapeutic strategies. Ribavirin monitoring could also be important during future multi-drug therapy that could be associated with drug interactions

Am Modell des tumorinduzierten Schmerzes der Maus wurden sowohl das Schmerzverhalten der Tiere als auch spezifische morphologische Veränderungen im Hinterhorn des Rückenmarks (Aktivierung von Astrozyten) und im tumorbefallenen Knochen analysiert. Durch Analyse von Mäusen mit Defizienz für TNF-Rezeptor 1, TNF-Rezeptor 2 oder für beide Rezeptoren konnte die Rolle von TNF-α seiner Rezeptoren bei der Entstehung von tumorinduziertem Schmerz untersucht werden. Im Unterschied zu neuropathischen Schmerzmodellen konnte gezeigt werden, dass beide TNF-Rezeptoren ausgeschaltet werden müssen, um eine signifikante Schmerzreduktion zu erzielen. Die systemische Behandlung mit dem TNF-neutralisierenden Fusionsprotein Etanercept konnte die im genetischen Modell gezeigte Reduktion der mechanischen Allodynie teilweise, aber nicht vollständig reproduzieren. Eine Hemmung der Mikrogliaaktivierung mittels Minocyclin erbrachte im Tumor-schmerzmodell keinen Effekt auf das Schmerzverhalten der Tiere. Die histologische Analyse der tumoraffizierten Knochen zeigte eine signifikante Zunahme der Osteoklastenaktivität in tumortragenden Tieren. Die Behandlung mit Minocyclin war ohne erkennbaren Effekt auf die Differenzierung und die Aktivität der Osteoklasten. Es ergaben sich jedoch Hinweise, dass TNF-α einen hemmenden Einfluss auf die Osteoklastenaktivität im Knochentumormodell hat, da sowohl in den TNFR-KO-Tieren als auch unter Gabe von Etanercept eine Steigerung der Osteoklastenaktivität nachgewiesen werden konnte. Die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit zeigen, dass TNF-α eine wichtige Rolle, sowohl in der Entstehung, als auch in der Aufrechterhaltung von tumorinduziertem Schmerz spielt. Hier liegt der Ansatzpunkt für weitere Studien mit dem Ziel, eine spezifische Pharmakotherapie zu entwickeln mit wirksamer TNF-α Blockade auch bei Patienten mit Tumorschmerzen. Nach den Erkenntnissen dieser Arbeit mit Etanercept sollte ein spezielles Augenmerk auf die ZNS-Gängigkeit dieser Substanzen gelegt werden und die Gefahr der Möglichkeit eines vermehrten Tumorwachstum bedacht werden. / Bone-cancer-related pain is one of the most disabling factors in patients suffering from primary bone cancer or bone metastases. Recent studies point toward an important role of proinflammatory cytokines, example tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF), for tumor growth and bone-cancer-associated pain. Mechanisms by which TNF, through its receptor subtypes, TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) and -2 (TNFR2), elicits altered sensation and pain behavior, are still incompletely understood. To look for a potential role of TNF in bone cancer pain, cancer-related pain was analyzed in fibrosarcoma-bearing C57Bl/6J wild type mice after systemic antagonism of TNF. To further clarify the role of TNF receptor (TNFR) in bone-cancer pain, naive and fibrosarcoma-bearing C57Bl/ 6J wild type and transgenic mice with a deficiency of TNFR1 (TNFR1ko), TNFR2 (TNFR2ko), and TNFR1+2 (TNFR1+2ko) were compared regarding cancer-related pain and hyperalgesia, tumor growth, osteoclast activation, and spinal astrogliosis. Systemic antagonism of TNF significantly alleviated tactile hypersensitivity and spontaneous bone-cancer-related pain behavior. Most interestingly, combined deletion of the TNFR1 and TNFR2, but not of either gene alone, almost completely inhibited the development of tactile hypersensitivity, whereas spontaneous pain behavior was transiently increased. Accordingly, spinal astrogliosis was markedly reduced, whereas tumor growth was significantly increased in TNFR1+2ko mice. In contrast, deletion of the TNFR1 or TNFR2 gene alone did not change tumor growth or spinal astrogliosis. Our findings suggest that the combined absence of TNFR1 and TNFR2 is necessary for the attenuation of cancer-related tactile hypersensitivity and concomitant spinal astrogliosis, whereas tumor growth seems to be inhibited by combined TNFR activation. These findings support the hypothesis of cytokine-dependent pain development in cancer pain. Differential targeting of TNFR activation could be an interesting strategy in bone-cancer-related pain conditions.

Tratamentos de metais contra a corrosão usando formulações contendo derivados de cromo hexavalente (Cr6+) tem sido padrão na indústria de tratamento de superfície durante muitas décadas. Esses tratamentos oferecem excelente proteção contra a corrosão, fornecem boa base para pinturas, são baratos e relativamente fáceis de aplicar. Além do mais oferecem proteção ativa ao substrato devido à capacidade de autorregeneração. Porém, restrições ambientais e de saúde, tornadas mais severas a partir das últimas décadas, requerem a substituição destes tratamentos por processos que sejam ambientalmente corretos e não agressivos à saúde humana. Neste contexto, a indústria aeroespacial, amplamente dependente de ligas de alumínio com elevada resistência mecânica para a construção das aeronaves, é uma das mais atingidas, visto que várias das etapas do tratamento superficial e dos processos de proteção contra a corrosão destas ligas utilizam compostos de Cr6+. Dentro dessa nova realidade, a utilização de revestimentos híbridos derivados de silanos, obtidos pelo processo sol-gel, tem se apresentado como uma das alternativas mais investigadas para a substituição dos pré-tratamentos à base de cromato. Estes revestimentos formam uma cadeia polimérica compacta sobre a superfície do metal constituindo uma barreira efetiva contra espécies agressivas, podendo também ser funcionalizados para apresentarem compatibilidade com revestimentos orgânicos. Entretanto os mesmos não exibem proteção ativa contra a corrosão. Nesse trabalho o comportamento anticorrosivo, em solução de NaCl 0,1 M, de um revestimento híbrido produzido pela hidrólise e condensação do 3-glicidóxipropiltrimetóxisilano (GPTMS) e do tetraetil ortosilicato (TEOS) aplicado sobre a liga AA2024-T3 foi investigado por espectroscopia de impedância eletroquímica (EIS) e analisado por SEM/EDX. Com a finalidade de melhorar o desempenho dos revestimentos, as soluções de hidrólise foram modificadas pela introdução de 0,005 M de inibidores de corrosão derivados de triazol (benzotriazol (BTAH) e toliltriazol (TTA)) ou de organofosfonatos (ácido trimetileno fosfônico (ATMP) e ácido 1-hidróxietileno 1,1-difosfônico (HEDP)). Os resultados dos ensaios eletroquímicos mostraram que, apesar de eficientes para a proteção contra a corrosão da liga, o BTAH e o TTA interferem negativamente nas propriedades anticorrosivas do revestimento híbrido. Por sua vez, a modificação do híbrido com o ATMP ou HEDP melhorou a resposta de impedância do revestimento e aumentou sua estabilidade, se mostrando como um enfoque promissor para aumentar o desempenho do revestimento. A espectroscopia por emissão de fotoelétrons (XPS) e a espectroscopia Raman foram utilizadas para caracterizar o híbrido modificado com os organofosfonatos. Através da primeira técnica foi possível evidenciar a interação das moléculas de inibidor com a superfície metálica. Já os resultados de espectroscopia Raman indicaram a incorporação dos inibidores no revestimento, tendo sido mais eficaz para esta finalidade que as análises por XPS. Entretanto, para evidenciar esse processo, foi necessário aumentar a concentração dos inibidores em 10 vezes com relação à quantidade empregada nos ensaios eletroquímicos. / Anticorrosion metals treatments using formulations containing derivatives of hexavalent chromium (Cr6+) have been standard in the surface treatment industry for many decades. These treatments afford excellent corrosion protection, offer good base for paintings, are inexpensive and relatively easy to apply. Besides, they provide active protection to the substrate due to their selfhealing abilities. However, environmental and health restrictions, made more severe from the end of the eighties, require replacement of these treatments by processes that are environmentally friendly and not aggressive to human health. In this context, the aerospace industry, which is strongly dependent on high strength aluminium alloys, is one of the most heavily affected, as (Cr6+) compounds are used in several steps of the surface treatment and corrosion protection processes. Within this new reality, the use of hybrid coatings derived from silanes and obtained by the sol-gel process, has emerged as one of the most investigated alternatives to replace the chromate based pre-treatments. These coatings form a compact polymer network on the metal surface providing an effective barrier against aggressive species, they may also be tailored to present compatibility with organic coatings. However they do not exhibit active corrosion protection. In this study the corrosion behavior, in 0.1 M NaCl, of a hybrid coating produced by hydrolysis and condensation of 3glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) applied on AA2024-T3 alloy was investigated by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and analysed by SEM/EDX. Aiming to improve the coatings performances, the hydrolysis solutions were modified by the addition of 0.005 M of triazoles (benzotriazole (BTAH) and tolyltriazole (TTA)) or organophosphates (trimethylene phosphonic acid (ATMP) and 1hydroxyethylidene-1 1-diphosphonic acid (HEDP)) based corrosion inhibitors. The results of the electrochemical tests showed that, although effective for corrosion protection of the alloy, BTAH and TTA adversely impacted the anticorrosive properties of the hybrid coating. In turn, the modification of the hybrid with ATMP or HEDP improved the impedance response of the coating and increased its stability, proving to be a promising approach to enhance the coating performance. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize the hybrid modified with organophosphates. With the first technique it was possible to demonstrate the interaction of the inhibitor molecules with the metal surface. Raman spectroscopy results indicated the incorporation of the inhibitors in the coating, being more effective for this purpose than the XPS analysis. However, to demonstrate this process, it was necessary use the concentration of the inhibitors 10 times more than the amount employed in the electrochemical tests.

O comportamento eletroquímico do aço inoxidável 304 foi estudado em meios de ácido sulfúrico a várias temperaturas, utilizando reagentes de diferentes graus de pureza, na ausência e presença de benzotriazol (BTAH). Foram feitos ensaios gravimétricos, medidas de potencial de circuito aberto e curvas de polarização potenciostática anódicas e catódicas e análise dos produtos de corrosão por espectrometria de emissão atômica. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a performance do BTAH como inibidor em banhos de decapagem industriais de H2SO4. O BTAH mostrou-se um inibidor efetivo para o aço 304 em toda a faixa de concentração de ácido e temperatura estudadas. A eficiência do inibidor- decresce com o aumento de temperatura e da concentração de H2SO4. O filme inibidor obedece à isoterma de Langmuir, tanto a 28,0 °C quanto 70,0°C, e os valores de energia livre de adsorção sugerem adsorção química. As impurezas presentes nos reagentes exercem pouco efeito na eficiência do inibidor. Estudos potenciostáticos mostraram que o BTAH é um inibidor anódico em toda a faixa de potencial e temperatura estudadas. Do ponto de vista tecnológico, os resultados mais importantes são: o BTAH inibe o processo de corrosão do aço, mas não impede a dissolução dos óxidos (carepa); o BTAH não promove dissolução seletiva dos elementos de liga. / The electrochemical behaviour of 304 stainless steel in sulfuric acid media containing benzotriazole (BTAH), was studied at different temperatures, using reagents of different purity grades. Weight loss experiments, open circuit potential measurements, anodic and cathodic potentiostatic polarisation curves and corrosion product analysis by atomic emission spectrometry were made. This study had as objective to evaluate the BTAH perfonnance as corrosion inhibitor in H2SO4 pick1ing baths. BTAH showed to be an effective inhibitor for 304 SS on the entire range of acid concentration and at alI studied temperatures . Inhibitor efficiency decreases as the temperature or acid concentration mcrease. The inhibitive film obeys to Langmuir isothenn, at 28,0 °C as well at 70,0 °C, and free energy adsorption values suggest chemical adsorption. The impurities present in the reagents have little effect on the inhibitor efficiency. Potentiostatic studies have shown that BTAH is an anodic inhibitor on the entire range of potential and at alI studied temperatures. The principal result for pickling baths aplication are that BTAR prevents the steel corrosion, but it does not avoid the scale dissolution and it does not promote selective steel dissolution.

O ciclo celular é controlado pela atividade das quinases dependentes de ciclinas (Ciclin-dependent kinases, CDKs). As CDKs são inativas como monômeros, e a sua ativação necessita da ligação às ciclinas, uma família diversa de proteínas cujos os níveis oscilam durante o ciclo celular, e fosforilação pela CAK (CDK-activating kinase) sobre um resíduo de treonina específico. As CDKs são capazes de fosforilar muitas proteínas que estão envolvidas nos eventos do ciclo celular, incluindo histonas e proteínas supressoras de tumores como pRb. Além da função de regulação positiva das ciclinas e CAK, muitas proteínas inibidoras de CDKs (CDK inhibitors, CKIs) têm sido descobertas, tais como p16, p21 e p28. Visto que, a desregulação das ciclinas e/ou alteração ou ausência de CKIs têm sido associadas com muitos cânceres, há um forte interesse em inibidores químicos de CDKs que possam ter uma função importante na descoberta de novas famílias de agentes anti-tumores. Vistoque, ATP é o autêntico co-fator da CDK2 este pode ser considerado como um \"pseudo-composto líder\" para a descoberta de inibidores de CDK2. Entretanto, há duas preocupações maiores a serem consideradas: composto contendo adenina são ligantes comuns para muitas enzimas nas células, desta forma, qualquer composto altamente carregado como ATP não será absorvido pelas células. Nós descrevemos aqui as estruturas determinadas por difração de raios-X da CDK2 em complexo com dois inibidores diferentes, descloro-flavopiridol (DFP) e Roscovitine. A estrutura do complexo binário CDK2-DFP foi resolvida por substituição molecular e refinada até um Rfactor=20,3% e a estrutura da CDK-2Roscovitine foi refinada até um Rfactor=18%. O descloro-flavopiridol é uma flavona com uma nova estrutura,comparável àquelas de flavonas polihidroxiladas. Estudos prévios mostraram que flavopiridol, um flavonóide, pode inibir cânceres de mama e de pulmão. O Roscovitine é um derivado de adenina e um potente inibidor de CDK2. A comparação das estruturas tridimensionais de CDK2-DFP e CDK2-Roscovitine com a de CDK2-ATP mostraram que o bolsão hidrofóbico de ligação de adenina tem a habilidade surpreendente de acomodar estruturas moleculares diferentes daquelas da ATP / Cell cycle progression is tightly controlled by the activity of ciclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). CDKs are inactive as monomers, and activation requires binding to cyclins, a diverse family of proteins whose levels oscillate during cell cycle, and phosphorilation by CDK-activating kinase (CAK) on a specific threonine residue. CDKs are able to phosphorylate many proteins that are in volvedin cell cycle events, including histones and tumor suppressor proteins like the retinoblastoma gene product pRb. In addition to the positive regulatory role of cyclins and CAK, many negative regulatory proteins (CDK Inhibitors, CIGs) have been discovered, such as p16, p21, and p28. Since deregulation of cyclins and/or alteration or absence ofCKIs have been associated with many cancers, there is strong interest in chemical inhibitors of CDKs that could play an important role in the discovery of new family of antitumor agents. Since ATP is the authentic cofactor of CDK2 it can be considered as a \"pseudo-lead compound\" for discovery of CDK2 inhibitors. However there are two major concerns: adenine containing compounds are common ligants for many enzymes in cells, thus, any adenine derivatives may inhibit many enzymes in the cells: second, any highly charged compounds such as ATP will prevent them from uptake by cells. We report here the x-ray structures of CDK2 in complex with two different inhibitors, deschloro-flavopiridol(DFP) and Roscovitine. The structure of the binary complex CDK2-DFP was solved by molecular replacement and refined to Rfactor = 20.3% and the structure ofCDK2-Roscovitine was refined to Rfactor = 18.0 %. The deschloro-flavopiridol(DFP) is a flavone with a novel structure, compared to that of polyhydroxylated flavones. Previous studies have shown that flavopiridol, a flavonoid, can inhibit growth of breast and lung carcinoma cell lines. The Roscovitine is an adenine derivative and a potent CDK2 inhibitor. The two inhibitors are competitive inhibitors for ATP binding to CDK2 and bind to the ATP binding pocket ofCDK2. The comparison of the three-dimensional structures of CDK2-DFP and CDK2-Roscovitine with the CDK2-ATP shows that the hydrophobic adenine-binding pocket has a surprising ability to accommodate molecular structures that are different from ATP.

A adubação nitrogenada de soqueira de cana-de-açúcar no Brasil normalmente é feita no período seco do ano e a principal fonte de N é o nitrato de amônio, apesar de a ureia ser o principal fertilizante nitrogenado consumido no Brasil e no mundo. Para viabilizar o uso de ureia em áreas de cana-de-açúcar colhida sem queima, com grande quantidade de palha recobrindo o solo, devem ser adotadas estratégias que reduzam as perdas de amônia por volatilização, como uso de ureia estabilizada com inibidores de urease. Trabalhos prévios indicaram a necessidade de aumentar a concentração do inibidor de urease NBPT na ureia para reduzir perdas de amônia por volatilização em áreas de cana-crua, porém os efeitos na produtividade da cultura ainda não foram estudados. A hipótese deste trabalho é de que o aumento da concentração do inibidor de urease NBPT na ureia irá proporcionar ganhos de produtividade comparado à ureia convencional, demonstrando a viabilidade do uso de ureia estabilizada para adubação de soqueira de cana-crua. O presente trabalho foi executado em dois locais (Experimento 1, Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo distrófico de textura muito argilosa e Experimento 2, Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo eutrófico de textura média) para avaliar o comportamento produtivo de soqueiras de cana-de-açúcar em função de doses de N nas formas de nitrato de amônio, ureia e ureia estabilizada com diferentes concentrações de NBPT. O delineamento experiemental foi de blocos inteiramente casualizados no esquema fatorial 6 x 2 + 1, sendo seis fontes de N (nitrato de amônio, ureia e ureia estabilizada com quatro doses de NBPT variando de 530 a 2000 mg kg-1), duas doses de N (50 e 100 kg ha-1 de N) e um tratamento adicional (Controle, sem adubação nitrogenada). Foram avaliados o perfilhamento, teor foliar de N, índice SPAD, produtividade de colmos, acúmulo de N na parte aérea e os atributos tecnológicos. Também foi avaliada a atividade enzimática da glutamina sintetase (GS) e nitrato redutase (NR) no Experimento 2. Os dados foram submetidos a análise de variância ao nível de 10 % de significância pelo teste F, e os fatores significativos foram comparados pelo teste Tukey a 10 % de significância. Os teores foliares de N não foram alterados pela interação dos fatores, sendo mais importante o aumento da dose de N, o que também ocorreu para atividade das enzimas GS e NR e para o índice SPAD. A produtividade de colmos foi influenciada distintamente entre as áreas. No Experimento 1, houve resposta significativa para as doses de N, independente da fonte de N . No Experimento 2 não houve diferença significativa na produtividade de colmos entre as doses e fontes de N. Os resultados deste trabalho indicam que não é necessário aumentar a concentração de NBPT na ureia e que, tanto a ureia convencional quanto a ureia estabilizada podem ser utilizadas para adubação nitrogenada de soqueira de cana-de- açúcar como fontes opcionais ao nitrato de amônio. / Nitrogen fertilization of sugarcane ratoon in Brazil is usually performed in the dry period of the year and the main source of N is ammonium nitrate, although urea is the main nitrogen fertilizer consumed in Brazil and in the world. In order to allow urea usage in green cane trash blanketing (GCTB) systems, with high amount of straw left on soil surface, strategies that reduce ammonia losses are required, such as the use of urea stabilized with urease inhibitors. Previous research indicated the need to increase the concentration of the urease inhibitor NBPT in urea to reduce ammonia losses in GCTB systems, but the effects on such increase on yield performance is unclear. This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that increasing the concentration of NBPT in urea will provide yield gains when compared to untreated urea, demonstrating the feasibility of using stabilized urea in GCTB areas. Two field trials (Experiment 1, Oxisols of very clayey texture and Experiment 2, medium-texture Oxisols) were set up to evaluate the yield performance of sugarcane fertilized with N rates as ammonium nitrate, urea and urea stabilized with different concentrations of NBPT. The experimental design was a complete randomized blocks on factorial scheme 6 x 2 + 1, with six N sources (ammonium nitrate, urea and urea stabilized with NBPT concentration ranging from 530 to 2000 mg kg-1), two doses of N (50 and 100 kg ha-1 of N) and an additional control (no N fertilization). It was evaluated the tillering, foliar N content, SPAD index, crop yield, shoot N accumulation and the technological attributes. The enzymatic activity of glutamine synthetase (GS) and nitrate reductase (NR) was also evaluated in Experiment 2. Data were submitted to analysis of variance at the 10 % level of significance by the F test, and the significant factors were compared by the Tukey test at 10 % significance. Leaf N contents weren\'t affected by the interaction of the factors, being more important the increase of the dose of N, which also occurred for the activity of GS, NR and for the SPAD index. Sugarcane response to N fertilization varied among sites. In Experiment 1, there was a significant response to N rates, independently of N sources evaluted. In Experiment 2 there was no significant effect of N sources or rates on sugarcane yield. The results of this study indicate that increasing NBPT concentration in urea will not improve sugarcane yield. However, both urea and stabilized urea resulted in similar yield performance when compared to ammonium nitrate for fertilization of GCTB systems.

Inibidores de alfa amilase de feijão (Phaseolus vulgaris) foram caracterizados. O inibidor da variedade Jalo apresentou peso molecular de 50kDa (por filtração em gel), ponto isoelétrico de 4,75 e 9,6% de carboidratos. O inibidor da variedade Argentino apresentou peso molecular de 48kDa, ponto isoelétrico de 4,90 e 7,6% de carboidratos. Ambos inibidores apresentaram pH ótimo de interação com alfa amilase pancreática de porco de 5,0 e, a pH 6,9, a complexação com a mesma enzima se deu na proporção de 1:1. Esses resultados, mais a composição de aminoácidos, indicaram que as características desses inibidores são semelhantes às de outros já purificados de diferentes variedades de feijão. As principais diferenças entre o IA do Jalo e do Argentino, foram observadas através de termogramas, do teor de carboidratos e dos ensaios imunológicos. Além disso, são sintetizados entre 20 e 30 dias após a floração, sendo que o processo ocorre simultaneamente ao da síntese das proteínas de reserva do grão. Inibidores purificados das variedades Jalo, Argentino e Rico 23, em diferentes fases do desenvolvimento, indicaram ausência de grandes alterações estruturais durante esse processo. / α-amylase inhibitors of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) were characterized. The amylase inhibitor from Jalo had molecular weight of 50 kDa (by gel filtration), an isoeletric point of 4.75 and a carbohydrate content of 9.6%. Argentino presented molecular weight of 48 kDa, an isoeletric point of 4.90 and a carbohydrate content of 7.6%. The optimum pH for inhibition of porcine pancreatic α-amylase for both inhibitors was about 5.0 and they formed 1:1 stoichiometric complex. These results and the amino acid composition indicated that these inhibitors have characteristics similar to others already purified from beans. They were synthesized between 20 and 30 days after anthesis and this process occurred simultaneously to the storage proteins synthesis. Purified inhibitors from seeds in different phases of development indicated lack of great structural changes during this process.