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Cancer, group of diseases characterized by an uncontrolled cell growth, represents one of the great challenges of modern clinical research. Currently, the standard treatment of the cancer disease relies mainly on the whole body exposition to various factors, which targets the dividing cells, combined with surgical resection of the tumor. Unfortunately, this treatment is sometimes accompanied by numerous severe side-effects (e.g., nausea, loss of hair, infertility etc.). Therefore, in the past 40 years enormous resources and effort have been invested into finding a way how to specifically target and destroy the cancerous cells. This goal has been primarily addressed by the search for molecules, mainly proteins, which are predominantly expressed in the cancerous tissues compared to the healthy cells. Glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCPII), also known as prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA), represents such a target since it is highly expressed in a prostate carcinoma as well as in a solid tumor neovasculature. Additionally, GCPII is widely used as a model target molecule for proof-of-principle studies on targeted drug delivery. GCPII thorough biochemical characterization is essential for its appropriate use. Therefore, our laboratory has been investigating GCPII from various perspectives for more...

O valor prognóstico da expressão do Fator 1 de Transcrição Tireoideano (TTF-1) e da metaloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) foi avaliado em 51 pacientes com adenocarcinoma pulmonar avançado. Foram fatores de mau prognóstico: baixa capacidade funcional (P = 0,017), baixa expressão do TTF-1 (P = 0,001) e alta expressão da MMP-9 (P = 0,008). Identificaram-se três grupos de risco para mortalidade: baixo risco (TTF-1 > 40% e MMP-9 < 80%; sobrevida: 127,6 semanas), risco intermediário (TTF-1 < 40% ou MMP-9 > 80%; sobrevida: 39,0 semanas) e alto risco (TTF-1 < 40% e MMP-9 > 80%; sobrevida: 16,4 semanas). Com a detecção destes marcadores é possível a identificação de subgrupos de pacientes com prognósticos clinicamente distintos. / The prognostic value of Thyroid Transcription Factor-1 (TTF-1) and Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) tumor expression was evaluated in 51 patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma. Poor performance status (P = 0.017), low TTF-1 (P = 0.001), and high MMP-9 (P = 0.008) were independent prognostic factors. There was three risk groups: low risk (TTF-1 > 40% and MMP-9 < 80%; median survival: 127.6 wk), intermediate risk (TTF-1 < 40% or MMP-9 > 80%; median survival: 39.0 wk), and high risk (TTF-1 < 40% and MMP-9 > 80%; median survival: 16.4 wk). Evaluation of TTF-1 and MMP-9 may allow us to identify different, clinically meaningful, prognostic groups of lung adenocarcinoma patients.

O valor prognóstico da expressão do Fator 1 de Transcrição Tireoideano (TTF-1) e da metaloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) foi avaliado em 51 pacientes com adenocarcinoma pulmonar avançado. Foram fatores de mau prognóstico: baixa capacidade funcional (P = 0,017), baixa expressão do TTF-1 (P = 0,001) e alta expressão da MMP-9 (P = 0,008). Identificaram-se três grupos de risco para mortalidade: baixo risco (TTF-1 > 40% e MMP-9 < 80%; sobrevida: 127,6 semanas), risco intermediário (TTF-1 < 40% ou MMP-9 > 80%; sobrevida: 39,0 semanas) e alto risco (TTF-1 < 40% e MMP-9 > 80%; sobrevida: 16,4 semanas). Com a detecção destes marcadores é possível a identificação de subgrupos de pacientes com prognósticos clinicamente distintos. / The prognostic value of Thyroid Transcription Factor-1 (TTF-1) and Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) tumor expression was evaluated in 51 patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma. Poor performance status (P = 0.017), low TTF-1 (P = 0.001), and high MMP-9 (P = 0.008) were independent prognostic factors. There was three risk groups: low risk (TTF-1 > 40% and MMP-9 < 80%; median survival: 127.6 wk), intermediate risk (TTF-1 < 40% or MMP-9 > 80%; median survival: 39.0 wk), and high risk (TTF-1 < 40% and MMP-9 > 80%; median survival: 16.4 wk). Evaluation of TTF-1 and MMP-9 may allow us to identify different, clinically meaningful, prognostic groups of lung adenocarcinoma patients.

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are a class of enzymes that play a crucial role in DNA expression by removing an acetyl group from the ɛ-N-acetyl lysine residue on histone proteins. Out of 18 isoforms of HDAC enzymes which are classified into 4 classes, only 11 of them are metalloenzymes that require zinc for its catalytic activity. HDACs are considered promising target for drug development in cancer and other parasitic diseases due to their role in gene expression. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) can cause cell cycle arrest, and induce differentiation or apotosis. While HDACi shows promising antitumor effects, their mechanism of action and selectivity against cancer cells have not been adequately defined yet. In addition, low oral bioavailability, short half-life time, bone marrow toxicity, and cardiotoxicity limit their use in clinic. Therefore, there is considerable interest in developing compounds with selectivity and specificity towards individual family members of HDACs. The prototypical pharmacophore for HDAC inhibitors consist of a metal-binding moiety that coordinates to the catalytic metal ion within the HDAC active site, a capping group that interacts with the residues at the entrance of the active site and a linker that appropriately positions the metal-binding moiety and capping group for interactions in the active site. It has been shown that modification of cap, cap linking moiety, linker or zinc binding group (ZBG) shows promises of superior potency and isoform selectivity. My thesis research involves manipulating different aspects of the pharmacophoric model to yield not only more potent, selective, and effective drugs but also to help understand the biology of HDAC isoforms. In addition, I was successful in extending studies on HDAC isoforms to other zinc metalloenzymes such as leishmanolysin (gp63) and spliceosome associated zinc-metalloenzymes to understand biology of these zinc metalloenzymes by developing potent and selective small molecule inhibitors. This will aid in improvement of existing therapeutics for treatment of cancer, leishmania, malaria and other genetic disorders.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv., 2002. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-22T20:49:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-07-28 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Aranhas do gênero Loxosceles, são responsáveis por acidentes em todo o mundo, com grande importância clínica no Sul do Brasil. Os venenos destas aranhas são compostos por diversas toxinas, entre elas proteínas, responsáveis pelo quadro conhecido como loxoscelismo. No intuito de descrever o perfil transcricional da glândula produtora de veneno da aranha Loxosceles intermedia geramos uma biblioteca de cDNA bastante ampla e seus transcritos foram funcionalmente caracterizados. Após o processamento inicial das sequências, 1.843 ESTs (Expressed Sequence Tags) apresentavam qualidade suficiente para as análises posteriores. Estas sequências foram montadas em 538 clusters, sendo que 281 eram singletons. Após análises de similaridade, mais de 50% das ESTs demonstraram algum grau de semelhança com proteínas conhecidas. As análises de similaridade também demonstraram que os transcritos que codificavam para toxinas, perfaziam 43% de todas as sequências e abrangem uma parte significativa das ESTs. As toxinas mais frequentes foram anotadas como pertencentes à família LiTx de toxinas inseticidas. As fosfolipases-D e as metaloproteases semelhantes à astacinas perfazem, cada uma, cerca de 9% do total de transcritos. Componentes tóxicos tais como inibidores de serino-proteases, hialuronidase e proteínas alergênicas foram também identificadas, porém com menor representação. Quase 10% das ESTs codificam para proteínas envolvidas em processos celulares. O presente trabalho descreve também as etapas para clonagem, expressão heteróloga e purificação de um transcrito semelhante a um inibidor de serino-protease, identificado na biblioteca de cDNA. É sabido que proteínas desta família apresentam um grande potencial de aplicação como drogas antitrombóticas, atuando como agentes terapêuticos que influenciam a atividade de fatores de coagulação. Esses dados fornecem uma visão global do perfil de expressão da glândula de veneno de L. intermedia, revelam diferenças significantes entre venenos de aranhas do gênero Loxosceles e descrevem a produção de uma nova toxina recombinante. / Loxosceles genus spiders are responsible for accidents all over the world and have clinical importance in the South of Brazil. The venom of these spiders is made up of several toxins, including proteins, which are responsible for the clinical pattern called loxoscelism. To describe the transcriptional profile of the L. intermedia venom gland, we generated a wide cDNA library, and its transcripts were functionally and structurally analyzed. After initial analyses, 1,843 ESTs produced readable sequences that were grouped into 538 clusters, 281 of which were singletons. Nine hundred eighty-five reads (53% of total ESTs) matched to known proteins. Similarity searches showed that toxinencoding transcripts totalize 43% of the total library and comprise a great number of ESTs. The most frequent toxins were from the LiTx family, which are known for their insecticidal activity. Both phospholipase-D and astacin-like metalloproteases toxins account for approximately 9% of total transcripts. Toxins components such as serine proteases, hyaluronidases and venom allergens were also found but with minor representation. Almost 10% of the ESTs encode for proteins involved in cellular processes. This work also describes the stages for cloning, heterologous expression and purification of a cDNA similar to a protease inhibitor identified in the cDNA library. It is known that proteins belonging to this family have an application potential as antithrombotic drugs, acting as therapeutic agents that influences the activity of coagulation factors. These data provide an important overview of the L. intermedia venom gland expression scenario, revealed significant differences from profiles of other spiders from the Loxosceles genus and describe the production of a novel recombinant toxin. / TEDE / BV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertações

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-06-18Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:31:46Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 lima_pm_me_botfmvz.pdf: 842879 bytes, checksum: 6d83f475b744d68583fa0fe06786a4aa (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / No presente trabalho foi feito uma análise qualitativa de cálcio, ferro e zinco em spots de proteínas de amostras de tecido hepático de tilápia do Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus) por Fluorescência de Raios-X de Radiação Síncroton, após a separação das proteínas por Eletroforese Bidimensional em Gel de Poliacrilamida (2D-PAGE). Os espectros de fluorescência obtidos indicaram a presença de cálcio, ferro e zinco em doze, seis e oito spots protéicos das amostras de fígado, respectivamente. Os íons metálicos detectados nas amostras estão distribuídas principalmente em proteínas de massa molar menor que 45 kDa e com pI na faixa de 4,5 a 9,0. Além do cálcio, ferro e zinco foram detectados a presença de enxofre e fósforo, elementos não metálicos, que podem ser constituintes da estrutura das proteínas. As concentrações de cálcio, ferro e zinco ligados às proteínas foram determinadas por FAAS após a mineralização ácida dos spots protéicos, encontrando-se concentrações na faixa de 1,08 a 5,80 mg g-1, 2,02 a 8,03 mm g-1 e 1,60 a 8,55 mg g-1, respectivamente / An investigation was made into calcium, iron and zinc in protein spots in samples of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) liver tissue obtained after protein separation by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) and subsequent qualitative and quantitative evaluation by synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence (SRXRF) and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). An analysis of the fluorescence spectra indicated the presence of calcium, iron and zinc in twelve, six and eight liver protein spots, respectively. The metal ions found were distributed mainly in proteins with a molar mass of less than 40.00 kDa and more than 12.00 kDa, with pI in the range of 4.70 to 9.40. The only exception was a spot presenting protein with a molar mass of 10.10 kDa. In addition to calcium, iron and zinc, sulfur and phosphorus – which are non-metals that may be part of the protein structure, were also detected. After microwave-assisted acid mineralization of the proteins spots, a FAAS estimation of the concentration of calcium, iron and zinc bound to these proteins indicated a range of 1.08 to 5.80 mg g-1, 2.02 to 8.03 mg g-1 e 1.60 to 8.55 mg g-1, respectively

Orientador: Pedro de Magalhães Padilha / Resumo: Diabetes mellitus tipo 1 é caracterizado pelo aumento significativo de glicose circulante no sangue, resultado da deficiência na secreção e/ou ação de insulina. O quadro hiperglicêmico, quando cronicamente instalado, leva a anormalidades no metabolismo de lipídios, proteínas e carboidratos, além de alterar o balanço entre pró-oxidantes e antioxidantes. É um importante problema de saúde pública, pois compromete a qualidade de vida e sobrevida dos indivíduos, além de envolver elevados custos no seu tratamento. Quando se consegue identificar os fatores determinantes para o desenvolvimento do diabetes, novas estratégias de prevenção e tratamento são necessárias. Nesse contexto, as proteínas e os minerais apresentam fundamental importância como componentes estruturais e funcionais dos seres vivos. Estudos proteômicos e metaloproteômicos, auxiliam na compreensão da variabilidade do diabetes, contribuindo assim na elucidação dos aspectos fisiológicos e funcionais das biomoléculas presentes em amostras biológicas, como plasma e tecido animal, além disso, a possível identificação de biomarcadores relacionados ao desenvolvimento de doenças crônicas degenerativas, como o diabetes. O objetivo geral do trabalho foi utilizar ferramentas proteômicas e metaloproteômicas na identificação de possíveis biomarcadores presentes no plasma e fígado de ratos diabéticos tipo 1 induzido experimentalmente com estreptozotocina. Foram utilizados 24 ratos Wistar, distribuídos em 3 grupos experimentais (n=... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Type 1 diabetes mellitus is characterized by the significant increase in circulating glucose in the blood as a result of deficiency in the secretion and/or insulin action. The hyperglycemic state, when chronically installed, leads to abnormalities in the metabolism of lipids, proteins and carbohydrates, in addition to changing the balance between pro-oxidants and antioxidants. This is an important public health problem because it affects the quality of life and the survival of individuals, often necessitating high-cost treatment. When one can identify the determining factors for the development of diabetes, new strategies for prevention and treatment are needed. In this context, our results reflect the fundamental importance of protein and minerals such as structural and functional components of living things, proteomic and metalloproteomic studies that can assist in the understanding of diabetes variability, thus helping to elucidate the physiological and functional aspects of biomolecules in biological samples such as plasma and animal tissue. In addition, the possible identification of biomarkers related to the development of chronic degenerative diseases like diabetes. The overall objective of the study was to use proteomics and metalloproteomic in identifying potential biomarkers present in the plasma and liver of diabetic rats type 1 experimentally induced with streptozotocin. The total of 24 rats, Wistar, were divided into 3 groups (n = 8): C (control); DM1 (type 1 dia... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor