In the 19th century, halothane hepatitis became a sensitive and well-known subject in human anesthesiology due to the production of a noxious metabolite further discovered, trifluoroacetic acid. Subsequently, isoflurane, enflurane, and desflurane were also investigated for potentially causing hepatitis through the same metabolite. Sevoflurane, however, does not generate trifluoroacetic acid and is quickly conjugated and excreted. For more than four decades these anesthetics have been experimentally developed for intravenous injection by having added either a lipid or fluorocarbon-based carrier to produce general anesthesia with less drug and faster onset of action. The use of intravenous emulsified halogenated anesthetics as an alternative to inhalation brought contradictory findings, therefore they are still not utilized in the clinical settings of veterinary and human anesthesia. The high solubility of these anesthetic emulsions increases their tissue uptake, volume of distribution, and potency. By this means, the amount of anesthetic necessary to establish general anesthesia could be significantly reduced but would still carry the risk of causing hepatic toxicity. On the other hand, because the emulsified anesthetics have a higher tissue uptake and are liposoluble, they remain for longer periods in the cellular membrane providing cellular pre- and postconditioning effects by minimizing cellular deleterious responses to a critical environment. Emulsified isoflurane and sevoflurane are the most investigated anesthetics for this purposein the heart, brain, kidneys, liver, and central nervous system of laboratory animals and human volunteers. The focus of this study is to evaluate the cellular effects of the loaded-lipid emulsified isoflurane and sevoflurane at different concentrations on cultured primary canine hepatocytes considering their viability and apoptosis response. Specifically, the overall objective is to establish a basis for in vitro metabolism of these emulsified anesthetics on canine hepatocytes under normal oxygen tension and on canine hepatocytes exposed to extreme hypoxia (1% O2). Thus, this study is sectioned into three major chapters followed by conclusions and future studies to determine the safety and indication of these anesthetic formulations in canine hepatocytes to be further explored in the clinical setting with live animals.

Plants respond to pathogens both locally at the site of infection, as well as systemically in distant leaves. Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR) is an immune response that involves the long-distance transport of SAR signal via the phloem from the site of infection to distant, uninfected leaves to establish long-lasting resistance. The Arabidopsis thaliana Defective in Induced Resistance 1 (DIR1) protein, which is required for SAR, accesses the phloem during SAR for long-distance travel to systemic leaves, and is thought to be part of a SAR signal complex. However, many questions remain about the long-distance movement of DIR1 during SAR – including the cellular route travelled to reach the phloem and whether other proteins are required for DIR1 movement. Fluorescent fusion lines of DIR1 and the related protein DIR1-like were previously created were investigated as potential tools to trace the movement of DIR1/DIR1-like during SAR. Immunoblot analysis of leaf extracts from these DIR1/DIR1-like fluorescent fusion lines revealed no signal, indicating that no fusion protein was present in these lines and therefore, they were likely not useful as a tool for assessing the movement of DIR1/DIR1-like during SAR. Lipid Transfer Protein 2 (LTP2) is required for SAR and interacted with DIR1 in a yeast-two-hybrid assay. To investigate if LTP2 is required for DIR1 movement into the phloem and long-distance, DIR1 signal was investigated by immunoblotting of phloem exudates from SAR induced ltp2-1 mutant plants. The presence of DIR1 signal in phloem exudates of local ltp2-1 leaves but not distant ltp2-1 leaves suggested that LTP2 may be required for the long-distance movement of DIR1 during SAR, but not for DIR1 to enter the phloem in induced leaves. Gene expression changes in the systemic, uninfected leaves are associated with the establishment of SAR, however, it remains less clear if there is a core set of genes important for SAR induction upregulated at the initial site of infection. To investigate this question, SAR was induced through differing treatments that first activated the PAMP-triggered immunity (PTI) pathway or Effector-triggered immunity (ETI) pathway. Common genes upregulated between all three SAR-inducing treatments were identified, revealing genes previously and currently under investigation by the Cameron lab, as well as genes that represent candidates for possible future studies. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Many biological processes, pathogens, and pharmaceuticals act upon, cellular membranes. Accordingly, cell membrane mimics are attractive targets for biosensing, with research, pathology, and pharmacology applications. Lipid bilayers represent a versatile sensor functionalization platform providing antifouling properties, and many receptor integration options, uniquely including transmembrane proteins. Bilayer-coated sensors enable the kinetic characterization of membrane/analyte interactions. Addressed theoretically and experimentally is the self-assembly of model membranes on plasmonic sensors. Two categories of plasmonic sensors are studied in two parts. Part I aims to deposit raft-forming bilayers on planar nanoaperture arrays suitable for multiplexing and device integration. By vesicle fusion, planar bilayers are self-assembled on thiol-acid modified flame-annealed gold without the need for specific lipid head-group requirements. Identification of coexisting lipid phases is accomplished by AFM imaging and force spectroscopy mapping. These methods are successfully extended to metallic, plasmon-active nanohole arrays, nanoslit arrays and annular aperture arrays, with coexisting phases observed among the holes. Vis-NIR transmission spectra of the arrays are measured before and after deposition, indicating bilayer detection. Finally, the extraction of membrane proteins from cell cultures and incorporation into model supported bilayers is demonstrated. These natural membrane proteins potentially act as lipid-bound surface receptors. Part II aims to encapsulate in model lipid bilayers, metallic nanoparticles, which are used as probes in surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Three strategies of encapsulating particles, and incorporating Raman-active dyes are demonstrated, each using a different dye: malachite green, rhodamine-PE, and Tryptophan. Dye incorporation is verified by SERS and the bilayer is visualized and measured by TEM, with support from DLS and UV-Vis spectroscopy. In both parts, lipid-coated sensors are successfully fabricated and characterized. These results represent important and novel solutions to the functionalization of plasmonic surfaces with biologically relevant cell membrane mimics.

No description available.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Statistics / Gary L. Gadbury / High-throughput metabolite analysis is an approach used by biologists seeking to identify the functions of genes. A mutation in a gene encoding an enzyme is expected to alter the level of the metabolites which serve as the enzyme’s reactant(s) (also known as substrate) and product(s). To find the function of a mutated gene, metabolite data from a wild-type organism and a mutant are compared and candidate reactants and products are identified. The screening principle is that the concentration of reactants will be higher and the concentration of products will be lower in the mutant than in wild type. This is because the mutation reduces the reaction between the reactant and the product in the mutant organism. Based upon this principle, we suggest a method to screen the possible lipid reactant and product pairs related to a mutation affecting an unknown reaction. Some numerical facts are given for the treatment means for the lipid pairs in each treatment group, and relations between the means are found for the paired lipids. A set of statistics from the relations between the means of the lipid pairs is derived. Reactant and product lipid pairs associated with specific mutations are used to assess the results. We have explored four methods using the test statistics to obtain a list of potential reactant-product pairs affected by the mutation. The first method uses the parametric bootstrap to obtain an empirical null distribution of the test statistic and a technique to identify a family of distributions and corresponding parameter estimates for modeling the null distribution. The second method uses a mixture of normal distributions to model the empirical bootstrap null. The third method uses a normal mixture model with multiple components to model the entire distribution of test statistics from all pairs of lipids. The argument is made that, for some cases, one of the model components is that for lipid pairs affected by the mutation while the other components model the null distribution. The fourth method uses a two-way ANOVA model with an interaction term to find the relations between the mean concentrations and the role of a lipid as a reactant or product in a specific lipid pair. The goal of all methods is to identify a list of findings by false discovery techniques. Finally a simulation technique is proposed to evaluate properties of statistical methods for identifying candidate reactant-product pairs.

Une étude comparative de la régulation nutritionnelle du métabolisme des lipides chez la vache et la chèvre laitières a été réalisée afin d’identifier les mécanismes et préciser les spécificités de ces 2 espèces en vue d’une meilleure maîtrise de la quantité et de la qualité de la matière grasse laitière (MGL). Les effets respectifs de régimes riches en concentrés non supplémenté (CTL) ou supplémentés en huile de maïs et en amidon (COS), ou en poudre d’algues (MAP) ou en huile de palme hydrogénée (HPO) sur la plasticité et la composition de la MGL, et sur des indicateurs des métabolismes ruminal, intermédiaire et mammaire ont été étudiés chez la vache et la chèvre (n=12 par espèce) conduites simultanément selon un carré latin 4X4. Les régimes n’ont pas eu d’effet sur la production laitière quelle que soit l’espèce. Cependant, une différence de réponse inter-espèces au régime COS a été observée avec une forte chute de la teneur en MGL (-45%) chez la vache mais pas chez la chèvre. Le régime MAP a conduit à une diminution de la teneur en MGL chez la vache (-22%) et, dans une moindre mesure, chez la chèvre (-15%), tandis que HPO l'a augmentée seulement chez la vache (+13%). Les différences majeures observées avec COS entre les 2 espèces sont attribuées 1/ à des différences de biohydrogénations ruminales (BHR) des AG polyinsaturés avec une plus grande stabilité des voies classiques de BHR chez la chèvre ; 2/ au métabolisme intermédiaire, avec une augmentation des lipides circulants chez la chèvre suggérant une plus grande disponibilité en AG longs pour la glande mammaire (GM). Les réponses à MAP ont été attribuées à des mécanismes similaires chez les 2 espèces mais différents en termes d’indicateurs des métabolismes ruminal et intermédiaire de ceux identifiés pour COS. Chez la vache HPO se distingue par une augmentation du C16:0 et C16:1 cis-9 du lait suggérant un transport et/ou un captage privilégié du C16:0 chez cette espèce. Quel que soit le régime, le métabolisme mammaire des lipides, étudié via l’abondance des ARNm de gènes de la lipogenèse, n’a pas été relié aux données de sécrétions des AG du lait. Nos résultats montrent que la plasticité de la MGL chez deux espèces de ruminants, à priori proches, est contrôlée par des mécanismes différents selon l’espèce et le régime. Nous avons construit une base de données phénotypiques sur 24 animaux de 2 espèces recevant 4 régimes dont l’analyse nous a permis de préciser les mécanismes de synthèse de la MGL. Ce projet de recherche pourrait permettre, in fine, de proposer des outils de monitoring via le phénotypage de la composition fine du lait et de proposer des stratégies d’élevage pour moduler les performances de l’animal. / A comparative study of the nutritional regulation of lipid metabolism in dairy cows and goats was performed to identify the mechanisms and clarify the specificities of these 2 ruminant species in order to better control milk fat yield and quality. The effects of diets containing no additional lipid (CTL) or supplemented with corn oil (5% dry matter intake (DMI)) and wheat starch (COS), marine algae powder (MAP) (1.5% DMI), or hydrogenated palm oil (HPO) (3% DMI), on milk fat plasticity and composition, and on indicators of ruminal, intermediary and mammary metabolisms were studied in cows and goats (n=12 per species) conducted simultaneously according to a 4x4 Latin square design. Dietary treatments had no significant effects on milk yield in both species. Conversely, species-specific response of milk fat content to dietary treatment were observed: in cows, milk fat content was lowered by COS (-45%) and MAP (-22%) and increased by HPO (+13%) compared with CTL, and in goats, only MAP had an effect compared with CTL by decreasing milk fat content by 15%. The major differences observed for COS among species were attributed 1/ at differences in the polyunsaturated fatty acids (FA) ruminal biohydrogenation (RBH) processes with a greater stability of the classical RBH pathways in goats; 2/ at the intermediary metabolism, with an increase in circulating lipids in goats suggesting a higher availability of long chain FA for mammary gland (MG). Responses on MAP treatment were attributed to similar mechanisms among species but different to those outlined for COS in terms of indicators of ruminal and intermediary metabolisms. In cows, HPO was characterized by an increased in milk 16:0 et cis-9 16:1 suggesting a favoured transport and/or uptake of 16:0 in this species. Whatever the dietary treatment the mammary lipid metabolism studied by the mRNA abundance of few lipogenic genes was not related with milk FA yields. Our results demonstrated that the milk fat plasticity in two closely related ruminant species is controlled by different mechanisms depending on species and dietary treatments. We produced a database on 24 animals of 2 species receiving 4 dietary treatments. The dataset analysis allowed us to enhance our knowledge on regulation mechanisms of milk fat synthesis. This research project will contribute for the development of monitoring tools based on milk composition phenotyping, and to propose husbandry strategies that modulate animal performance.

Neste estudo investigamos os efeitos dos ácidos graxos sobre a função e sinalização intracelular de linfócitos humanos. Os ácidos oléico (OA) e linoléico (LA), em baixas concentrações, estimularam a proliferação celular induzida pela IL-2 através do aumento da fosforilação da proteína PKC-<font face=\"symbol\">Z que levou a um aumento da fosforilação de ERK 1/2. Já os ácidos palmítico (PA), esteárico (SA), DHA e EPA diminuíram a proliferação destas células e inibiram a fosforilação de JAK1 e 3, STAT5, ERK e Akt. Os resultados obtidos são sugestivos de que o efeito inibitório promovido por PA, SA, DHA e EPA sobre a proliferação de linfócitos ocorreu devido à diminuição da fosforilação de proteínas fundamentais para a proliferação celular. Por outro lado, OA e LA estimularam a proliferação de linfócitos aumentando a fosforilação de ERK 1/2 através da ativação de PKC-<font face=\"symbol\">Z, efeito dependente da PI3K. O efeito inibitório promovido pelo DHA está associado a uma alteração na quantidade de lipid rafts na membrana plasmática nos quais o receptor de IL-2 está localizado. / The effect of fatty acids (FA) on interleukin -2 (IL-2) signaling pathway in human lymphocytes was investigated. Docosahexaenoic (DHA), eicosapentaenoic (EPA), palmitic (PA) and stearic (SA) acids decreased lymphocyte proliferation in concentrations above 50 <font face=\"symbol\">mM. However, oleic (OA) and linoleic (LA) acids increase lymphocyte proliferation at 25 <font face=\"symbol\">mM. PA, SA, DHA and EPA decreased JAK 1, JAK 3, STAT 5 and AKT phosphorylation induced by IL-2 but OA and LA did not cause any effect. OA and LA increased ERK1/2 phosphorylation whereas the other FA caused a marked decrease. PKC-<font face=\"symbol\">Z phosphorylation was decreased by OA and LA only. In conclusion, the inhibitory effect of PA, SA, DHA and EPA on lymphocyte proliferation observed in our previous study was due to a decrease in protein phosphorylation activated by IL-2. Probably, OA and LA stimulated lymphocyte proliferation by increasing ERK 1/2 phosphorylation throught PKC-<font face=\"symbol\">Z activation. The inhibition of JAK 1, JAK3, STAT 5, ERK1/2 and Akt phosphorylation caused by DHA is associated to a decrease in membrane lipid rafts contend.

Submitted by Marlene Santos (marlene.bc.ufg@gmail.com) on 2014-09-03T21:30:23Z No. of bitstreams: 2 DISSET Correção FINAL 03-07-14 FOLHA PDF.pdf: 1467526 bytes, checksum: 196b53fbd9a59de359b14f8fd82c2ee5 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-09-03T21:30:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 DISSET Correção FINAL 03-07-14 FOLHA PDF.pdf: 1467526 bytes, checksum: 196b53fbd9a59de359b14f8fd82c2ee5 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-01-29 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Goiás - FAPEG / Paclitaxel (PTX) is a natural product extracted from the bark of the Pacific Yew and has numerous antitumor actions, including skin cancers. The topical treatment of skin and pre-cancerous lesions cancer is desired, since the systemic treatment has many side effects However, PTX to be incorporated into formulations suitable for it to penetrate the stratum corneum and skin tumors reached. Lipid nanoparticles have potential to increase drug retention in the stratum corneum, thus providing controlled release and great percutaneous absorption. Within this context, the aim of this study was to develop and characterize solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) containing the antineoplastic PTX and evaluate its permeation into the pig ear skin in vertical diffusion cells type "Franz". Quantification of PTX paclitaxel was performed by high performance liquid chromatography. The NLS and CLNs were obtained by the method of dilution of the microemulsion containingcetylpyridinium chloride, glyceryl behenate, triglycerides of caprylic / capric acid, polysorbate 80 and sorbitan trioleate 85. The particles were characterized by medium size, PdI, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, drug loading and recovery. Stability studies were carried out for a period of 30 days with storage at 4 °C (± 2 °C). Theskin permeation studies of the PTX nanoparticles were conducted in “Franz” type diffusion cells in pig ear skin. The NLS obtained showed average size of 314.1 ± 10.9 to 335.9 ± 0.9nm. The CLN obtained with more oil in the lipid matrix (CLN100)showed average size 270.6 ± 13.5 nm. The encapsulation efficiency of the systemsobtained was above 90% when 3.75% was added PTX formulations. The stability studies revealed a trend in increasing the size of the particles PdI along the storage period, but these differences are not statistically significant. The CLN100 increased about 3 times the amount of drug in the stratum corneum (SC) as compared to the administration of unencapsulated drug and also increased by 1.5 times the amount of PTX in the SC in relation to the topical application of other lipid particles. Thus, the lipid particles appear to be promising systems for topical application of PTX. / O paclitaxel (PTX) é um produto natural extraído da casca do Teixo do Pacífico e possui númeras ações antitumorais, inclusive em neoplasias cutâneas. O tratamento tópico do câncer de pele e de lesões pré-cancerígenas é almejado, visto que o tratamento sistêmico possui diversos efeitos colaterais. Entretanto, o PTX precisa ser incorporado em formulações adequadas para que o mesmo penetre no estrato córneo e atinja os tumores cutâneos. As nanopartículas lipídicas apresentampotencial para aumentar a retenção de fármacos no estrato córneo, proporcionandouma liberação controlada e um aumento na absorção percutânea. Dentro destecontexto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver e caracterizar nanopartículaslipídicas sólidas (NLS) e carreadores lipídicos nanoestruturados (CLN) contendo o antineoplásico PTX e avaliar sua permeação cutânea em pele de orelha de suíno em células de difusão vertical tipo “Franz”. A quantificação do paclitaxel PTX foi realizada por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência. As NLS e CLN foram obtidas pelo método de diluição da microemulsão contendo cloreto de cetilpiridínio, behenato de glicerila, triglicerídeos do ácido cáprico/ caprílico, polissorbato 80 e trioleato de sorbitano 85. As partículas foram caracterizadas quanto ao tamanho médio, PdI, potencial zeta, eficiência de encapsulação, carga de fármaco e recuperação. Os estudos de estabilidade foram realizados por um período de 30 dias com armazenamento a 4°C (± 2°C). Os estudos de permeação cutânea do PTX nas nanopartículas foram realizados em células de difusão tipo “Franz” em pele de orelha de suíno. As NLS obtidas apresentaram tamanho médio entre 314,1 ± 10,9 a 335,9 ± 0,9nm. Os CLN obtidos com mais óleo na matriz lipídica (CLN100), apresentaram tamanho médio 270,6 ± 13,5nm. A eficiência de encapsulação dos sistemas obtidos foi superior a 90% quando 3,75% de PTX foi adicionado as formulações. Nos estudos de estabilidade observou-se uma tendência no aumento do tamanho e PdI das partículas ao longo do período de armazenamento, porém estas diferenças não são estatisticamente significativas. Os CLN100 aumentaram aproximadamente 3 vezes a quantidade de fármaco no estrato córneo (EC) quando comparados com a administração do fármaco não encapsulado e, ainda ,aumentaram 1,5 vezes a quantidade de PTX no EC em relação à aplicação tópica das demais partículas lipídicas. Desta forma, as partículas lipídicas parecem ser sistemas promissores para aplicação tópica do PTX.

Salicylic acid binding protein 2 (SABP2) is known to play a key role in Salicylic acid mediated defense pathway. SBIP-470 is SABP2 interacting protein that might be putatively involved in transfer of lipids. SBIP-470 was cloned without the signal peptide and expressed in E. coli. In vitro lipid binding assay using recombinant SBIP-470 failed to detect lipid binding. In vitro lipid transfer assay showed recombinant SBIP-470 does not transfer phospholipid. Study has shown that SBIP-470 is highly inducible upon infection with viral as well as bacterial pathogens. Induction of SBIP-470 expression upon the TMV infection most likely depends upon the SABP2 while its expression upon non-host bacterial pathogens is most probably inhibited by the SABP2. A study of Arabidopsis knockout mutants (ltp12 mutant and ltp2 mutant) lacking the SBIP-470 homolog genes showed defects in growth phenotype, and they were found susceptible to bacterial pathogens.

The structure and functions of lipid rafts and the mechanisms of intracellular membrane trafficking are major topics in current cell biological research. Rafts have been proposed to act as sorting platforms during biosynthetic transport, especially along pathways that deliver proteins to the apical membrane of polarised cells. Based on this, the aim of this work was to contribute to the understanding of apical sorting in epithelial cells. The study of how lipid rafts are structured has been hampered by the scarcity of techniques for their purification. Rafts are thought to be partially resistant to solubilisation by mild detergents, which has made the isolation of detergent-resistant membranes (DRMs) the primary method to characterise them biochemically. While a growing number of detergents is being used to prepare DRMs, it is not clear what can be inferred about the native structure of cell membranes from the composition of different DRMs. This issue was addressed by an analysis of DRMs prepared with a variety of mild detergents. The protein and lipid content of different DRMs from two cell lines, Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) and Jurkat cells, was compared. It was shown that the detergents differed considerably in their ability to selectively solubilise membrane proteins and lipids. These results make it unlikely that different DRMs reflect the same underlying principle of membrane organisation. Another obstacle for understanding apical sorting is that the evidence implicating certain proteins in this process has come from various disparate approaches. It would be helpful to re-examine the putative components of the apical sorting machinery in a single experimental system. To this end, a retroviral system for RNA interference (RNAi) in MDCK cells was established. Efficient suppression of thirteen genes was achieved by retroviral co-expression of short hairpin RNAs and a selectable marker. In addition, the system was extended to simultaneously target two genes, giving rise to double knockdowns.Retroviral RNAi was applied to deplete proteins implicated in apical sorting. Surprisingly, none of the knockdowns analysed caused defects in surface delivery of influenza virus hemagglutinin, a common marker protein for apical transport. Therefore, none of the proteins examined is absolutely required for transport to the apical membrane of MDCK cells. Cells may adapt to the depletion of proteins involved in membrane trafficking by activating alternative pathways. To avoid such adaptation, a visual transport assay was established. It is based on the adenoviral expression of fluorescent marker proteins whose surface transport can be followed microscopically as soon as RNAi has become effective. With this assay, it should now be possible to screen the knockdowns for defects in surface transport. Taken together, this work has provided a number of experimental tools for the study of membrane trafficking in epithelial cells. First, the biochemical analysis of DRMs highlighted that DRMs obtained with different detergents are unlikely to correspond to distinct types of membrane microdomains in cell membranes. Second, the retroviral RNAi system should be valuable for defining the function of proteins, not only in membrane transport, but also in processes like epithelial polarisation. Third, the visual assay for monitoring the surface transport of adenovirally expressed marker proteins should be suitable to detect defects in polarised sorting.