De plus en plus de preuves montrent que le transport axonal rapide (FAT) joue un rôle crucial au cours des maladies neurodégénératives (NDs). La maladie de Huntington est une maladie neurodégénérative causée par une expansion anormale de polyglutamines dans la partie Nterminale de la protéine huntingtine (HTT) : une grande protéine d’échafaudage impliquée dans la régulation du transport. La présence de HTT mutante comme l’absence de la HTT induisent des défauts de transport chez les mammifères. Chez la Drosophile, la HTT mutante reproduit le phénotype observée chez les mammifères, cependant la fonction conservée de la HTT chez la Drosophile melanogaster (DmHTT) n’est pas encore clairement établie. Ici nous mettons en évidence que DmHTT s’associe aux vésicules, aux microtubules et intéragit avec la proteine dynéine. Dans les neurones corticaux de rat, DmHTT remplace partiellement la HTT de mammifère dans le transport axonal rapide, et les drosophiles invalidées pour la HTT montrent des défauts de transport axonal in vivo. Ces résultats suggèrent que la fonction de la HTT est conservée dans le modèle Drosophile.Le FAT est un processus qui requiert un apport constant d’énergie. Les mitochondries sont les principales sources de production d’ATP de la cellule. Cependant nous avons démontré que le FAT ne dépend non pas de cette source d’énergie là, contrairement à ce que l’on pensait, mais de l’ATP glycolytique produit par les vésicules. La dérégulation de GAPDH ou de PK, les deux enzymes glycolytiques productrices d’ATP, ralentit le transport vésiculaire. Néanmoins, l’invalidation de GAPDH n’affecte pas le transport mitochondrial. En outre, toutes les enzymes glycolytiques sont associées à des vésicules dynamiques et sont capables de produire leur propre ATP. Enfin nous montrons que l’ATP produit est suffisant pour assurer leur propre transport, prouvant l’autonomie énergétique des vésicules pour le transport. / Growing evidence support the idea that impairments in Fast Axonal Transport (FAT) play a crucial role in Neurodegenerative Diseases (NDs). Huntington’s Disease is neurodegenerative disorder caused by an abnormal polyglutamine expansion in the N-Terminal part of huntingtin (HTT), a large scaffold protein implicated in transport regulation. Both the presence of the mutated HTT as the loss of HTT leads to transport defects in mammals. In the fruit fly overexpression of the mutant HTT recapitulates the phenotype observed in mammals. However, it is still unclear whether HTT’s function is conserved in D. melanogaster. Here, we show that D. melanogaster HTT (DmHTT) associates with vesicles, microtubules, and interacts with dynein. In rat cortical neurons, DmHTT partially replaces mammalian HTT in fast axonal transport, and DmHTT KO flies show axonal transport defects in vivo. These results suggest that HTT function in transport is conserved in D. melanogaster.FAT is a process that requires a constant supply of energy. Mitochondria are the main producers of ATP in the cell. However, we have demonstrated that FAT does not depend on this source of energy, as previously thought, but it depends on glycolytic ATP produced on vesicles. Perturbing GAPDH or PK, the two ATP generating glycolytic enzymes, slows down vesicular transport. However, knocking down GAPDH does not affect mitochondrial transport. Furthermore, all of the glycolytic enzymes are associated with dynamic vesicles, and are capable of producing their own ATP. Finally, we show that this ATP production is sufficient to sustain their own transport, demonstrating the energetical autonomy of vesicles for transport.

Esta dissertação faz uma análise dos resultados de diversas simulações de transcrição usando o modelo binário da expressão gênica regulado externamente. Foram consideradas como variáveis estocásticas o número de moléculas de mRNA e o estado do gene. Neste modelo o gene pode estar no estado ativo (ON) ou reprimido (OFF) e a mudança de estado do gene ocorre a taxas deteminadas para a ativação e para a repressão em cada simulação. O número de moléculas de mRNA é alterado pela transcrição de novas moléculas e pela degradação das moléculas existentes, sendo que esses processos também ocorrem a taxas determinadas. Nas simulações foi utilizado o algoritmo de Gillespie para simulação estocástica exata de reações químicas acopladas / This dissertation analyzes the results of several transcription simulations using the binary model of externally regulated gene expression. The number of mRNA molecules and the state of the gene were considered as stochastic variables. In this model the gene may be in the active state (ON) or repressed state (OFF) and the change of gene state occurs at determined rates in each simulation for activation and for repression. The number of mRNA molecules is changed by the transcription of new molecules and by the degradation of existing molecules at determined rates. These simulations used the Gillespie algorithm for exact stochastic simulation of coupled chemical reactions was used

Dentre as vantagens do sistema de expressão gênica em células de drosófila observa-se ainda o estabelecimento rápido de linhagens estáveis de células que secretam de forma eficiente a proteína recombinante. Temos estabelecidas populações de células co-transfectadas S2AcGPV e transfectadas S2AcGPVHy. O objetivo deste trabalho é a comparação da expressão de GPV em células S2 co-transfectadas com os vetores pAcGPV (vetor de expressão) e o pCoHygro (vetor de seleção) ou transfectadas com um único vetor pAcGPVHygro (contendo o vetor de expressão e seleção). As populações obtidas foram analisadas em relação à expressão de GPV em imunoensaios: teste ELISA, Dot Blot, géis de SDS-PAGE, Western Blot, citometria de fluxo (FACS) e microscopia confocal. Os ensaios de imunofluorescência em citometria fluxo (FACS) realizados demonstraram que as células transfectadas e co-transfectadas estão expressando a proteína GPV. Valores entre 0,3 e 4 mg/107 células foram obtidos. Além disso, anticorpos anti-GPV foram capazes de reconhecer a proteína GPV . / Among the advantages of the system of gene expression in cells drosófila there is still the rapid establishment of stable cell lines that secrete efficiently the recombinant protein. We have established populations of cells co-transfected S2AcGPV and transfected S2AcGPVHy. The objective of this study is a comparison of the expression of GPV in S2 cells co-transfected with vector pAcGPV (vector of expression) and pCoHygro (vector of selection) or transfected with a single vector pAcGPVHygro (containing the vector of expression and selection gene). The populations were analyzed in relation to the expression of GPV in immunoassays: ELISA test, Dot Blot, the SDS-PAGE gels, Western Blot, flow cytometry (FACS) and confocal microscopy. Tests of immunofluorescence in flow cytometry (FACS) have shown that cells co-transfected and transfected are expressing the protein GPV. Values between 0.3 and 4 mg/107células were obtained. Moreover, anti-GPV were able to recognize the protein GPV.

Esta dissertação faz uma análise dos resultados de diversas simulações de transcrição usando o modelo binário da expressão gênica regulado externamente. Foram consideradas como variáveis estocásticas o número de moléculas de mRNA e o estado do gene. Neste modelo o gene pode estar no estado ativo (ON) ou reprimido (OFF) e a mudança de estado do gene ocorre a taxas deteminadas para a ativação e para a repressão em cada simulação. O número de moléculas de mRNA é alterado pela transcrição de novas moléculas e pela degradação das moléculas existentes, sendo que esses processos também ocorrem a taxas determinadas. Nas simulações foi utilizado o algoritmo de Gillespie para simulação estocástica exata de reações químicas acopladas / This dissertation analyzes the results of several transcription simulations using the binary model of externally regulated gene expression. The number of mRNA molecules and the state of the gene were considered as stochastic variables. In this model the gene may be in the active state (ON) or repressed state (OFF) and the change of gene state occurs at determined rates in each simulation for activation and for repression. The number of mRNA molecules is changed by the transcription of new molecules and by the degradation of existing molecules at determined rates. These simulations used the Gillespie algorithm for exact stochastic simulation of coupled chemical reactions was used

L’étude des interactions hôte-pathogène permettra de mieux comprendre les bases des maladies infectieuses. Durant ma thèse, j’ai étudié les interactions entre l’organisme modèle Drosophila melanogaster et la bactérie pathogène à Gram négatif Serratia marcescens (S.m). Cette bactérie est capable de tuer les mouches en moins de 24 heures une fois introduite directement dans l’hémolymph. Au contraire, les mouches peuvent survivre plusieurs jours après avoir ingéré du Serratia malgré les dommages à l’épithélium intestinal qui en résulte. Le travail de ma thèse a mené à comprendre la virulence des vésicules de la membrane externe purifiés de S.m et injectés dans la mouche. En plus, nous avons mis en évidence deux gènes qui jouent un rôle dans la virulence de la bactérie en infection intestinale, notamment dans la capacité de S.m à endommager les cellules intestinales. Enfin, nous avons identifié plusieurs gènes impliqués dans un mécanisme de résilience de la drosophile aux infections intestinales par S.m. / The study of host-pathogen interactions will provide a better understanding of the basics of infectious diseases. During my thesis, I studied the interactions between the model organism Drosophila melanogaster and the Gram-negative pathogen Serratia marcescens (S.m). This bacterium is capable of killing flies in less than 24 hours once introduced directly into the hemolymph. On the contrary, flies can survive several days after ingesting Serratia despite he resulting damages to the intestinal epithelium. The work of my thesis led to an understanding of the virulence of the outer membrane vesicles purified from S.m and injected into the fly. In addition, we have identified two genes that play a role in the virulence of the bacterium in the intestinal infection model, particularly in the ability of S.m to damage the intestinal cells. Finally, we have identified several Drosophila genes involved in a resilience mechanism to intestinal infections by S.m.

Human Usher syndrome is a severe and congenital form of syndromic deafness that affects 1 person in 25,000 people in the world population. Normally the stereocilia, microvillar protrusions of the apical membrane of inner ear hair cells, are organized into coherent bundles. This precise organization is critical for mechanosensing, i.e. for hearing. Mutation in any of the five known Usher syndrome genes is sufficient to alter the precise organization of stereocilia, a condition that results in deafness. To date, however, the molecular mechanisms responsible for the splaying of stereocilia and genesis of the disease are not well understood. Here, I identified Drosophila melanogaster genes related to human Usher syndrome and characterized some of them (Cad99C, DSANS and crinkled) during Drosophila development, in the processes of microvilli morphogenesis in the follicular and wing imaginal disc epithelia. Cadherin Cad99C is a transmembrane protein with putative cell adhesion properties. Similar to its human ortholog Protocadherin 15, Drosophila Cad99C localizes to microvillar protrusions in the follicular epithelium. In this epithelium, Cad99C is required for the proper morphogenesis and organization of microvilli into bundles, similar to human Protocadherin 15. Further, overexpression of the full-length Cad99C or of a deleted version, devoid of the cytoplasmic region, promotes microvilli bundling. This finding suggests that Cad99C establishes adhesive interactions between microvilli via its extracellular region. Interestingly, morphological alteration of follicle cell microvilli associates with defective deposition of the vitelline membrane, an extracellular matrix that protects the embryo from osmotic stresses. These findings suggest that microvilli are normally required for the even deposition of the extracellular matrix. In order to test whether Cad99C is involved in microvilli morphogenesis and bundling in other tissues, I analyzed the function of Cad99C in a larval tissue, the wing imaginal disc. Cad99C overexpression, but not Cad99C removal, is sufficient to alter microvilli morphology and organization in the columnar epithelium of the wing imaginal disc. Likely, other molecules can compensate for Cad99C loss of function in this tissue. To possibly get some insights on the molecular function of other Usher syndrome proteins, I analyzed the function of Drosophila SANS and crinkled in the follicular epithelium, where both these genes are expressed. crinkled is the ortholog of myosinVIIa, that encodes a motor protein of the actin cytoskeleton. DSANS is related to human SANS and encodes a cytoplasmic protein of unknown function. It has been puzzling how removal of SANS, a cytoplasmic protein, could impair adhesion and bundling of stereocilia. To study the function of DSANS, I generated null mutant flies and observed that, in the absence of DSANS, delivery of Cad99C to microvilli is impaired. Cad99C localization is however unperturbed in crinkled mutant follicle cells. By immunostaining, DSANS immunoreactivity was detected diffusively in the cytoplasm and in dot-like structures, possibly corresponding to vesicles. In conclusion, DSANS is a cytoplasmic protein that is required for the efficient delivery of Cad99C to microvilli protrusions. Taken together, the analysis that I here performed of Drosophila Usher syndrome related genes indicates two novel molecular mechanisms of function for the corresponding human Usher syndrome proteins. First, human Protocadherin 15, like Drosophila Cad99C, could be involved in establishing adhesive interactions between microvilli protrusions of the inner ear (stereocilia). Removal of Protocadherin 15 would then cause splaying of stereocilia due to lack of inter-stereocilia adhesive links. Second, the analysis here performed suggests that SANS is involved in the efficient delivery of Protocadherin 15 to stereocilia. Mutations in SANS would then lead to splaying of stereocilia and deafness due to poor localization of Protocadherin 15 to stereocilia.

No description available.

Für alle Tiere ist die Nahrungsaufnahme ein überlebenswichtiger Vorgang. Das konsumatorische Verhalten ist Teilaspekt eines homöostatischen Prozesses. Ausgelöst wird konsumatorisches und appetitives Verhalten durch interne, motivationale Zustände. Die internen Zustände „gesättigt“ und „ungesättigt“ werden bei vielen Tierarten durch ein Wechselspiel zwischen orexigen- und anorexigen-wirkenden Neuropeptiden vermittelt. Um die zentralnervöse Steuerung von Appetit und Sättigung genauer zu klären, wurde in dieser Studie die schwarzbäuchige Taufliege Drosophila melanogaster als Modellorganismus genutzt. Dabei konnte gezeigt werden, dass durch eine artifizielle, thermogenetisch induzierte Aktivierung von Neuronen, welche das Neuropeptid SIFamid exprimieren, das Verhalten der Insekten verändert wird. Die Tiere zeigen vermehrte Nahrungsaufnahme und sind motivierter, auf appetitive gustatorische und olfaktorische Reize zu reagieren. Des Weiteren wurden Hinweise gesammelt, dass das Neuropeptid SIFamid keinen inhibitorischen Einfluss auf das Balzverhalten der Taufliegen ausübt. Mit immunhistochemischen Färbungen konnte gezeigt werden, dass die Dendriten der SIFamidergen Neurone in unmittelbarer Nähe zu den Axonendigungen von Neuronen, die orexigen- oder anorexigen-wirkende Neuropeptide produzieren, liegen. Dieser Befund lässt auf ein mögliches Zusammenspiel zwischen den diversen peptidergen Neuronen schließen. Mit Hilfe der split-GFP-Technik konnte das peptiderge Netzwerk der SIFamidergen Neurone detaillierter untersucht werden. Es wurde gefunden, dass die SIFamidergen Neurone in enger räumlicher Nachbarschaft zu Neuronen, die in die Nahrungsaufnahme sowie die nervöse Steuerung des Metabolismus involviert sind, stehen. In Kombination mit einem zweiten, unabhängigen Expressionssystem konnten die SIFamidergen Neurone thermogenetisch depolarisiert werden und die neuronale Antwort der olfaktorischen Rezeptorneurone auf Duftstimuli in den Antennalloben mit Hilfe von in-vivo Calcium Imaging untersucht werden. Es konnte dadurch gezeigt werden, dass die neuronale Aktivität in den Duftsinneszellen erhöht ist. Aufgrund vorliegender Daten aus Anatomie, Verhaltensexperimenten und in-vivo Calcium Imaging lässt sich schlussfolgern, dass SIFamid ein bis dato unbekannter „Mitspieler“ bei der Steuerung der Nahrungsaufnahme ist und modulierend auf sensorische neuronale Schaltkreise sowie insgesamt appetitfördernd auf die Taufliege wirkt.

Thesis (Ph.D.). / Written for the Dept. of Biology. Title from title page of PDF (viewed 2008/07/24). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--State University of New York at Binghamton, Department of Biological Studies, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references.