>Magister Scientiae - MSc / Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common form of cancer in men around the world. In many parts of Africa, data on prostate cancer is sparse. This is attributed to poor access to testing and diagnostics. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (GLOBOCAN) estimated that 28,000 deaths occurred as a result of PCa in Africa in 2008, 4500 of which were in South Africa. This figure (28,000) is predicated a rise to 57,000 over the next two decades. Currently, the most commonly used diagnostic tests for PCa are the DRE and PSA tests. The former is highly invasive and both have low specificity and poor sensitivity. Therefore, the need for a less invasive early detection method with the ability to overcome the lack of specificity and sensitivity is required. Biomarkers have recently been identified as a viable option for early detection of disease. Examples of biological indicators for disease are miRNAs. miRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules which play a key role in controlling gene expression and certain biological processes. Studies have shown that aberrantly expressed miRNAs are a hallmark of several diseases like cancer. miRNA expression has been shown to be associated with tumour development, progression and response to therapy, suggesting their possible use as diagnostic, prognostic and predictive biomarkers. The study aimed to investigate the potential of miRNAs implicated in prostate cancer as putative biomarkers for the disease and evaluating these miRNAs in a panel of prostate as well as several other cancer cell lines using qRT-PCR. An in silico approach was used to identify 13 putative miRNAs implicated in prostate cancer of which 8 were further analysed in a parallel study and 5 in this study. Two publicly available target prediction software were used for target gene prediction of the 5 identified miRNAs. The target genes were subjected to functional analysis using web-based software, DAVID. Functions which were clustered with an enrichment score of 1.3 and greater were considered significant. Targets with gene ontologies linked to “transcription regulation”, “regulation of “apopotosis”, “extracellular region” and “metal ion binding” were considered for further analyses. Protein gene interaction analysis was performed to determine the pathways the target genes are involved in using STRING. Expression profile analysis of the genes in various tissues was also carried out using in silico methods through the TiGER and GeneHub-GEPIS databases. Analysis using DAVID resulted in 9 gene targets for the 5 miRNAs. It was found that miR3 seemed the most promising miRNA for biomarker validation based on the in silico analyses. Its target gene MNT was found to be abundantly expressed in prostate tissue from the TiGER results. The GeneHub-GEPIS results also indicated that the gene’s expression is up-regulated during prostate cancer. The expression levels of the miRNAs analysed using qRT-PCR indicated that miR3 is significantly over-expressed in prostate cancer cells when compared to the other cancer cell lines used in this study, corroborating the results observed from the in silico analyses. Another miRNA with interesting results was miR5. It was predicted to target two genes, YWHAZ and TNFSF13B. In TiGER, both were found to be expressed in prostate tissue. The genes were also found to be up regulated during prostate cancer in GeneHub-GEPIS. The expression level of miR5 in LNCaP was 15.32; it was significantly up-regulated in the cell line using qRT-PCR. However, miR5 was also present in HEPG2-7.06, MCF7-0.79, HT29-1.61 and H157-3.59. Thus, it was concluded it can be used as a biomarker in combination with other miRNAs. The miRNA miR2 was found to target the actin filament protein encoding gene AFAP1. The gene was predicted to be upregulated with a DEU of 33.25 in GeneHuB-GEPIS. The qRT-PCR analysis showed that the expression ratio in LNcaP was 8.79. However, miR2 expression was up-regulated in MCF7-0.85 and HT29-1.09 as well. The expression level of miR1 in BHP1 was found to be 4.85. It can be considered as an indicator for benign prostate hyperplasia. Future work would include investigating the expression of miR3 in a larger panel of cancer cells as well as in patient samples. In addition, analysis of the UTR sequences of the miRNAs targets experimentally to prove that the target genes identified using in silico methods, are indeed regulated by these miRNAs. Furthermore, performing gene “knock-out” studies on the genes that code for the miRNAs to study their roles in prostate cancer development.

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is an adult onset, autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease caused by a CAG repeat expansion in ataxin-1, which encodes the ataxin-1 protein. SCA1 is one of nine polyQ-expansion gain-of-function diseases which includes Huntington's disease, spinal-bulbar muscular atrophy, dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy and other ataxias. Clinical symptoms of SCA1 include ataxia, dysarthria, ophthalmoparesis, muscle wasting, and extrapyramidal and bulbar dysfunction. Cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs), neurons in the inferior olive and nuclei of the brainstem are affected. No disease-modifying therapy exists for SCA1. The goals of my thesis were to assess the safety and efficacy of AAV-delivered artificial miRNAs targeting ataxin-1 to alleviate neuropathological and behavioral phenotypes in the knock-in and transgenic SCA1 mouse models. In the knock-in SCA1 mouse model AAVs expressing an artificial miRNA (miSCA1) targeting sequences conserved in mouse and human ataxin-1 were injected directly to the deep cerebellar nuclei. This achieved long term silencing of ataxin-1 mRNA and significantly improved rotarod performance, gait deficiencies, and neuropathology of the cerebellum. In the transgenic SCA1 mouse model the same method of delivery was executed with an artificial microRNA (miR) (miS1) designed to optimize potency, efficacy and safety to suppress Atxn1 expression. Additionally the therapeutic potential of continuous overexpression of ataxin-1-like was examined. Delivery of either ataxin-1-like or miS1 viral vectors to SCA1 mouse cerebellum resulted in widespread cerebellar Purkinje cell transduction. There was significant improvement to rotarod performance, gait deficiencies, coordination and balance, as well as the neuropathology of cerebellar Purkinje cells. In summary, these data indicate the utility of these approaches as possible therapies for SCA1 patients.

Coral reefs form marine-biodiversity hotspots of enormous ecological, economic, and aesthetic importance that rely energetically on a functional symbiosis between the coral animal and a photosynthetic alga. The ongoing decline of corals worldwide due to anthropogenic influences heightens the need for an experimentally tractable model system to elucidate the molecular and cellular biology underlying the symbiosis and its susceptibility or resilience to stress. The small sea anemone Aiptasia is such a model organism and the main aims of this dissertation were 1) to assemble and analyze its genome as a foundational resource for research in this area and 2) to investigate the role of miRNAs in modulating gene expression during the onset and maintenance of symbiosis. The genome analysis has revealed numerous features of interest in relation to the symbiotic lifestyle, including the evolution of transposable elements and taxonomically restricted genes, linkage of host and symbiont metabolism pathways, a novel family of putative pattern-recognition receptors that might function in host-microbe interactions and evidence for horizontal gene transfer within the animal-alga pair as well as with the associated prokaryotic microbiome. The new genomic resource was used to annotate the Aiptasia miRNA repertoire to illuminate the role of post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms in regulating endosymbiosis. Aiptasia encodes a majority of species-specific miRNAs and first evidence is presented that even evolutionary conserved miRNAs are undergoing recent differentiations within the Aiptasia genome. The analysis of miRNA expression between different states of Symbiodinium infection further revealed that species-specific and conserved miRNAs are symbiotically regulated. In order to detect functional miRNA-mRNA interactions and to investigate the downstream effects of such miRNA action, a protocol for cross-linking immunoprecipitations of Argonaute, the central protein of the miRNA-induced silencing complex, was developed. This method identified binding sites of miRNAs on a transcriptome-wide scale and revealed target genes of symbiotically regulated miRNAs that were identified previously to be involved in the symbiosis. In summary, this dissertation provides novel insights into miRNA-mediated post-transcriptional modulation of the host transcriptome and by presenting a critically needed genomic resource, lays the foundation for the continued development of Aiptasia as a model for coral symbiosis.

No description available.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) contribute to high mortality rates during sepsis, but how sepsis induces MDSCs is unclear. Previously we reported that microRNA (miR)-21 and miR-181b reprogram MDSCs in septic mice by increasing levels of DNA binding transcription factor, nuclear factor 1 (NFI-A). Here, we provide evidence that miR-21 and miR-181b stabilize NFI-A mRNA and increase NFI-A protein levels by recruiting RNA-binding proteins HuR and Ago1 to its 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR). We also find that the NFI-A GU-rich element (GRE)-binding protein CUGBP1 counters miR-21 and miR-181b dependent NFI-A mRNA stabilization and decreases protein production by replacing 3′UTR bound Ago1 with Ago2. We confirmed the miR-21 and miR-181b dependent reprogramming pathway in MDSCs transfected with a luciferase reporter construct containing an NFI-A 3′UTR fragment with point mutations in the miRNA binding sites. These results suggest that targeting NFI-A in MDSCs during sepsis may enhance resistance to uncontrolled infection.

La famille des microARN (miARN) let-7 comprend treize membres qui jouent des rôles critiques dans de nombreux processus biologiques, notamment la différenciation et le développement cellulaires. Plus spécifiquement, ils fonctionnent comme des suppresseurs de tumeurs en ciblant plusieurs oncogènes. La dérégulation des niveaux de miARN let-7 a été associée à diverses maladies humaines, y compris des cancers et des troubles neurodégénératifs. Il est bien établi que Drosha et Dicer, appartenant à la famille des RNases III, sont deux enzymes clés de la voie de maturation des miARN, et qu'un traitement défectueux par ces endoribonucléases pourrait affecter l'expression des gènes. Au cours des dix dernières années, plusieurs recherches ont permis d'identifier les caractéristiques structurales de l'ARN et les protéines qui régulent la voie de maturation des miARN. Cependant, les détails moléculaires menant à la régulation des niveaux d’expression des miARN nécessitent des investigations supplémentaires. L'objectif principal de cette thèse est d'étudier l'activité de clivage in vitro des endoribonucléases Drosha et Dicer envers leurs substrats let-7, en se concentrant sur la façon dont diverses caractéristiques de séquence et de structure affectent leurs activités. Tout d'abord, un criblage structural de type SHAPE suivi d'investigations thermodynamiques et cinétiques détaillées pour les treize pré-miARN de la famille let-7 ont été réalisés avec une enzyme Dicer purifiée in vitro. Cette étude a révélé que malgré les différences structurales des membres de la famille let-7, Dicer ne discrimine pas entre ses substrats, y compris les pré-miARN avec une extension de 1-nt et 2-nt à leur extrémité 3'. L'ensemble de ces travaux met en évidence la remarquable promiscuité de Dicer vis-à-vis divers pré-miARN de la famille let-7. Deuxièmement, le mécanisme enzymatique du clivage du pré-let-7a-1 a été examiné. Les résultats de la cinétique de l'état stable, de l'état pré-stable et de l'impulsion-chase sont conformes à l'opinion dominante, soutenue par de récentes structures de cryo-EM, selon laquelle le ou les changements de conformation d'un complexe enzyme-substrat dans une conformation catalytiquement productive sont importants pour l'activité de clivage. Troisièmement, nous avons étudié la séquence et les déterminants structuraux du clivage du pri-let-7 par le complexe microprocesseur (MP) composé de Drosha et de son partenaire obligatoire DGCR8. Sur la base d'études de clivage de plusieurs substrats pri-let-7 avec un complexe MP reconstitué in vitro, il a été constaté que le clivage du pri-let-7g donne des produits multiples. En utilisant des variantes de pri-let-7g, il a été révélé qu'un élément structural conservé de pri-let-7g favorise un clivage improductif, peut-être en raison du clivage de son substrat par la MP dans l'orientation inverse. Cette étude fournit un cadre pour des investigations futures dans l'étude du clivage de pri-let-7g par Drosha et éventuellement l'identification de nouveaux mécanismes de régulation. Dans l'ensemble, nos résultats donnent un aperçu de la façon dont les caractéristiques structurales des pri-miARN et des pré-miARN de la famille let-7 modulent le traitement par Drosha et Dicer et ouvrent la voie à de futures études visant à examiner le rôle des facteurs protéiques dans la régulation de la maturation des miARN let-7. / The let-7 family of microRNAs (miRNAs) comprises of thirteen members that play critical roles in many biological processes, including cell differentiation and development. More specifically, they function as tumor suppressors by targeting several oncogenes. Deregulation in let-7 miRNA levels has been associated with various human diseases, including cancers and neurodegenerative disorders. It is well established that Drosha and Dicer are the two key enzymes of the miRNA maturation pathway, and that faulty processing by these endoribonucleases could affect gene silencing. Thus, it is crucial to better understand how Drosha and Dicer respectively process the primary miRNAs (pri-miRNAs) and precursor miRNAs (pre-miRNAs) to yield mature miRNAs, and how these enzymes are regulated. In the last decade of miRNA research, several investigations have identified RNA structural features and RNA-binding proteins that regulate the miRNA maturation pathway, adding another layer of regulation in this pathway. However, the molecular detail of this regulation requires further investigations. The main goal of this thesis is to investigate the in vitro processing activity of Drosha and Dicer toward their let-7 substrates, focusing on how diverse sequence and structural features affect their activities. First, SHAPE structural probing followed by detailed thermodynamic and kinetic investigations for all thirteen pre-miRNAs of the let-7 family were performed with in vitro purified Dicer. Surprisingly, this study revealed that despite structural differences in the pre-let-7 members, Dicer does not discriminate between these substrates, including pre-miRNAs with a 1 nt and a 2-nt overhang at their 3'-end. Additional binding and cleavage investigations of pre let-7 substrates carrying 3'-end modifications (mono- and oligo-uridylation, mono- and oligo-adenylation) were performed to clarify how these modifications affect Dicer binding and cleavage activities. Together, this work highlights the remarkable substrate promiscuity of Dicer toward diverse pre-miRNAs of the let-7 family. Second, the enzymatic mechanism of pre-let-7 cleavage by Dicer was examined using pre-let-7a-1 as a model substrate. The results from the steady-state, pre-steady state and pulse-chase kinetics are consistent with the prevailing view, supported by recent cryo-EM structures, that the conformational change(s) of an enzyme-substrate complex into a catalytically productive conformation are important for cleavage activity. Third, the sequence and structural determinants of pri-let-7 processing by the Microprocessor (MP) complex composed of Drosha and its obligatory partner DGCR8 were investigated. Based on cleavage studies of several pri-let-7 substrates with an in vitro reconstituted MP complex, it was found that cleavage of pri-let-7g yields multiple products. Using pri-let-7g variants, it was revealed that a conserved structural element of pri-let-7g promotes unproductive cleavage, possibly as a result of the MP cleaving its substrate in the reverse orientation. This study provides the framework for future investigations in studying pri-let-7g processing by Drosha and possibly identifying novel mechanisms of regulation. Overall, our findings provide insights on how the structural features of pri-miRNAs and pre-miRNAs of the let-7 family modulate processing by Drosha and Dicer and pave the way for future studies aimed at examining the role of protein factors in regulating the maturation of let-7 miRNAs.

Sarcopenia is the age-related progressive loss of skeletal muscle (SkM) mass, function, and strength. It has been well elucidated that resistance exercise can attenuate the development of sarcopenia. A population of extracellular vesicles, termed ‘exosomes’ (EXO), can contain microRNA and facilitates intercellular communication, including within SkM, though the response to prolonged training is not well understood. Given the potential role of SkM-derived exosomes in the response to exercise, we examined older adults (n = 30, OLD) before (PRE) and after a 12-week (POST), resistance training program. Healthy, young controls (n = 12, YNG) were used for comparison of baseline measures. Exosomes were isolated from platelet-free plasma using size exclusion chromatography in combination with ultracentrifugation (SEC-UC) and characterized via western blotting, nanoparticle tracking analysis and electron microscopy. To assess exosome biogenesis and miRNA synthesis in skeletal muscle, biopsies were taken from the vastus lateralis. Circulating EXO-enclosed and SkM miRNA expression was measured using RT-PCR. In SEC-UC isolates, EXO-markers CD81 and CD9 were significantly lower in PRE compared to YNG (p<0.05) but did not change with training. At baseline, ALIX, TSG101 and CD63 (markers of exosomes) were not altered with aging as compared to YNG; however, their expression significantly increased with training (p<0.05) Circulating EXO-derived mir-1, -133, -23 and -27a were significantly lower in expression of OLD participants as compared to YNG. Following resistance training, their expression significantly increased (p<0.05), returning to a YNG phenotype. Next, we aimed to investigate the contribution of skeletal muscle in the exosome responses. Our data indicate that a small fraction of circulatory exosomes may originate from skeletal muscle. In addition, in biopsy-derived SkM tissue, expression of proteins involved in EXO and miRNA biogenesis (Alix, XPO-5, DICER) were significantly higher in PRE compared to YNG (p<0.05), and further increased with resistance training (POST, p<0.05). Expression of Rab27a, a marker of exosome trafficking, was significantly higher in PRE (p<0.05) but did not respond to training. In conclusion, here we show alterations in circulating EXO content and cargo with age and resistance training partially restores the values to a younger phenotype. / Thesis / Master of Science in Medical Sciences (MSMS) / Aging is the slow and time-dependent process that our organs, down to the cellular level, deteriorate in function reducing the biological fitness of our bodies. Aging specific to skeletal muscle, or sarcopenia, is especially important because skeletal muscle makes up 40% of our weight, is essential for posture, balance, locomotion and breathing. Sarcopenic individuals have low muscle mass, strength, and function and as a result are associated with low independence in activities of daily living and increased risks of falls and fractures. Exercise, and in particular resistance training, has been shown to be beneficial and cost-effective in treating sarcopenia and delaying aging throughout the body. Part of the underlying mechanism regarding how exercise affects us in a multi-systemic manner is not well understood. We know that skeletal muscle releases a multitude of molecular factors during exercise. Amongst them, extracellular vesicles and specifically exosomes are worth investigating because they have been shown to function in intercellular communication by delivering molecular signals, called microRNAs, from origin cells to recipient cells throughout the body. In this thesis project, we investigate exosomes in circulation of older individuals before and after a 12-week resistance training program. We found that aging alters the exosome pool in circulation as well as their miRNA content. After resistance training, many of miRNAs altered with age, return to levels comparable to young. In addition, we showed that at the skeletal muscle level, aging and resistance training affect exosome biogenesis and miRNA expressions. In conclusion, we provide evidence that aging significantly alters circulatory exosomes and miRNA and show that resistance training normalizes the miRNA profile to levels seen in exosomes derived from young plasma. How exosomes and their molecular signals change with aging and how exercise affects them gives us an insight on how exercise elicits multi-systemic benefits against aging and sarcopenia.

No description available.

Micro RNA sind nicht-kodierende dsRNA ~22 Nukleotiden lang, die eine wichtige Rolle in der Entwicklung und Regulation in beinahe allen Eukaryoten spielen. MiRNAs binden target mRNA, was zu einer Blockierung der Proteintranslation führt. Viele Krankheiten sind bekannt, die durch veränderte miRNA Expressionsmuster entweder beeinflusst oder verursacht werden. Demnach könnte eine Manipulation der miRNA-Bildung einen therapeutischen Ansatz darstellen. MiRNA werden im Zytoplasma von längeren haarnadelförmigen prekursor RNA (pre-miRNA) durch das Enzym Dicer freigsetzt. Inhibition dieser Spaltung könnte durch spezifische pre-miRNA-bindende Moleküle erfolgen. Selektive Binder der pre-miRNA als Inhibitoren der miRNA-Reifung können durch testen von Substanzbibliotheken mit Hochdurchsatzscreening (HTS) gefunden werden. Diese Arbeit beschreibt den ersten homogenen Assay der miRNA-Reifung. Eine Fluoreszenzsonde in Form einer pre-miRNA wurde benutzt, die einen 5´-Fluorophor (FAM, Cy3, oder TMR) und einen 3´-Quencher (DABCYL) aufweist. Durch die nahe Nachbarschaft von Fluorophor und Quencher in der nativen Haarnadelstruktur erfolgt Fluoreszenzlöschung. Dicer spaltet diese Struktur effizient, was zur Dissoziation von Fluorophor und Quencher und somit zu einem Fluoreszenzanstieg führt. Der Assay wurde für HTS optimiert. Die ersten Verbindungen wurden auf deren Inhibition der miRNA-Reifung getestet. Mit einem Duplexassay, wobei zwei unterschiedliche pre-miRNA Sonden mit verschiedenen Fluorophoren eingesetzt wurden, konnte etwas spezifische Inhibition gezeigt werden. Der Assay wurde in Zellen durchgeführt und der Fluoreszenzanstieg mit Fluoreszenzmikroskopie detektiert. Somit ist ein Zell-basiertes Screening von Inhibitoren möglich. Eine einfachere Synthese der Sonde mittels in vitro Transkription und anschließender enzymatischen Ligation wurde entwickelt. Verwendung des Assays um hoch selective Inhibitoren der miRNA-Reifung zu entdecken könnte zu therapeutischen Ansätzen führen. / Micro RNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding dsRNAs of ~22 nucleotides that play a vital role in development and regulation in nearly all eukaryotes. MiRNAs bind target mRNA, thus blocking protein translation. Many diseases have been found to be influenced or caused by aberrant expression of miRNAs. A manipulation of miRNA formation may have therapeutic potential. MiRNAs are cleaved from longer hairpin precursor RNA (pre-miRNA) in the cytoplasm by the enzyme Dicer. It might be possible to inhibit this cleavage through specific pre-miRNA binding molecules. Selective binders of pre-miRNA as inhibitors of miRNA maturation can be found by testing large libraries of substances through high throughput screening (HTS) using an appropriate assay. This work describes the first homogenous assay of miRNA maturation. A fluorescent probe in the form of a pre-miRNA containing a 5´-fluorophore (FAM, Cy3, or TMR) and a 3´-quencher (DABCYL) was used. This ‘beacon’ in its native hairpin formation brings the fluorophore and quencher moieties into close proximity, resulting in fluorescence quenching. Dicer efficiently cleaves this structure, leading to dissociation of fluorophore and quencher and thus a fluorescence increase. In the presence of an RNA ligand that blocks cleavage, a lower fluorescence increase is seen. The assay was optimized for HTS. The first compounds were tested for their inhibition of miRNA maturation. Using a duplex assay, with two different pre-miRNA probes each containing a different fluorogenic group, some specific inhibition was shown. The assay was performed in cells using fluorescence microscopy to measure the fluorescence. This would allow for a cell-based screening of inhibitors. A simpler approach of beacon synthesis using in vitro transcription followed by enzymatic ligation was also established. Use of this assay to discover highly selective inhibitors of miRNA maturation may lead to disease therapeutics.

miRNA sind kurze 21 – 23 nukleotidlange nicht kodierende RNAs endogenen Ursprungs und regulieren auf post-transkriptionaler Ebene die Genexpression. Da aberrante Expressionsmuster der miRNAs im Zusammenhang mit verschiedenen Krankheiten stehen, ist das Interesse groß, Kontrolle über die miRNA-vermittelte Genexpression zu erhalten. Bei Krankheitsbildern, die eine Überexpression der miRNA aufweisen, kann die Inhibition der miRNA Reifung als Therapieansatz dienen. Inhibition kann z. B. durch peptidische Strukturen und durch small molecules, wie Aminoglykoside erfolgen. Ziel dieser Arbeit war die nahezu vollständig festphasenbasierte Synthese von zyklischen Peptiden und Peptid-Aminoglykosid-Konjugaten als potentielle Inhibitoren der miRNA Reifung. Ferner sollte die Guanidinylierung an fester Phase mit verschiedenen Testsubstraten gezeigt werden. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden im ersten Teilprojekt zehn zyklische Peptide mit Hilfe eines bisfunktionalen Linkermoleküls in den Seitenketten zweier im Peptid enthaltener Cysteine synthetisiert und isoliert. Basierend darauf wurden neun weitere zyklische Peptide an fester Phase synthetisiert, mit ausgewählten Aminoglykosiden in einer CuAAC gebunden und erfolgreich isoliert. Im zweiten Teilprojekt dieser Arbeit wurde die Guanidinylierung an fester Phase mittels des Goodman’s Reagent gezeigt. In ersten Studien wurden vier Testpeptide an fester Phase guanidinyliert. Im Anschluss wurde die Limitierung dieser Methode geprüft. Dazu wurden Aminoglykoside mittels CuAAC an verschiedene Peptid- und Peptid PNA-Rückgrate geknüpft und guanidinyliert. Nicht für alle Substrate konnte die vollständige Guanidinylierung an fester Phase gezeigt werden. Ein weiteres Teilprojekt zeigte die Funktionalisierung von kommerziell erhältlichen Polymeren für die SPPS in Hinsicht auf fluorophorbasierte „Hochdurchsatz Screening-Methoden“. Dazu wurde ein peptidischer Spacer entworfen, der eine Knüpfungsstelle für Fluorophore mittels CuAAC enthielt. / miRNA are short long non-coding RNAs endogenous origin with a length of 21 – 23 nucleotides. MicroRNAs regulate the gene expression on post-transcriptionally level. Starting in the nucleus, primary transcripts are processed into precursor-miRNAs. Accordingly, the miRNA matures after export into cytosol. Since aberrant expression patterns are related to different diseases, it’s from interest to gain control about miRNA mediated gene expression. Some diseases are related to over expression of miRNA. For that reason, the inhibition of the miRNA maturing is object of research. The inhibition can be resulted from peptide structures or with small molecules like aminoglycosides. Aim of this work was the solid phase synthesis of cyclic peptides derivatives and peptide aminoglycoside conjugates as potential inhibitors of the miRNA maturing. In addition, the guanidinylation on solid phase should be evidenced with different substrates. In the first part of the project ten cyclic peptides were synthesized on solid phase. The cyclization was carried out with a bifunctional linking molecule in the side chains of two cysteines. Based on that nine cyclic peptides were synthesized and elected aminoglycosides were bound with help of CuAAC. The second part of this work showed the guanidinylation on solid phase by using Goodman’s reagent under mild conditions. Four peptides were used for initial studies. Due to the success of this method the limit was evaluated. Therefore, aminoglycosides were bound via CuAAC to different peptide and peptide-PNA backbones. By mischance, not all the chosen substrates were fully guanidinylated on solid phase. A further short project showed the functionalization of commercially available resins for solid phase peptide synthesis in relation to fluorophore based high throughput screening methods. For this purpose, a peptide spacer was devised with a binding site for fluorophores via CuAAC.