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The first identfied 2-oxoglutarate (2OG) dependent oxygenase was a collagen modifying enzyme in the work by Hutton et al. in 1967. Subsequent work has revealed that 2OG dependent oxygenases are a large family with diverse biological roles. With small molecule substrates, these enzymes catalyse a wide range of oxidative reactions, including those that form part of antibiotic biosynthetic pathways. The currently accepted consensus mechanism for catalysis by 2OG-dependent oxygenases is based on crystallographic data, kinetics and on quantum chemical calculations. The consensus mechanism involves oxidative decarboxylation of 2OG by reaction with an oxygen molecule producing CO₂, succinate and a reactive oxidising species that reacts with the 'prime' substrate. Deacetoxycephalosporin C synthase (DAOCS) is a 2OG-dependent oxygenase involved in cephalosporin biosynthesis. The mechanism of DAOCS is of particular interest because it has recently been proposed to be different from the consensus mechanism. The new mechanism proposal from Valeg ard et al. is primarily based on high-resolution crystallographic data with support from steady-state kinetic experiments and quantum-chemical calculations. The work in discussed in this thesis aimed to test the proposal of Valegård et al. by using a combination of spectroscopic and spectrometric methods analysing enzyme-substrate interactions. Substrate binding was investigated using both protein-observe (Chapter 3) and ligand-observe (Chapter 4.1 and 4.2) methods. Preliminary UV-visible data on enzyme-substrates complex formation was also obtained. The strength of substrate and cosubstrate binding was characterised through dissociation constant measurement. An activity assay (Chapter 2) that allows for direct and simultaneous monitoring of 2OG decarboxylation and penicillin ring expansion was optimised. Both the ligand-observe and protein-observe binding experiments as well as the preliminary UV-visible data indicate that the formation of a ternary complex between DAOCS, 2OG and the penicillin substrate is viable. The activity assay conclusively showed that in the presence of unnatural substrates, such as penicillin G, 2OG oxidation is significantly uncoupled from penicillin oxidation. Uncoupled turnover does not occur in the presence of the natural substrate, penicillin N, which is an aspect that should be considered in the analysis of the steady-state kinetic data. Overall, the results provide evidence that, the consensus mechanism for 2OG-dependent oxygenases is viable for DAOCS, at least in the presence of the natural substrate, penicillin N. It is possible that in the presence of an unnatural substrate, the catalytic process undergoes a more complex mechanism, possibly with the direct involvement of reducing agents in the system.

Les préparations de Viscum album (VA), connu sous le nom vernaculaire de gui européen, sont fréquemment utilisées en support des traitements anticancéreux, principalement pour améliorer la qualité de vie des malades et réduire la croissance des tumeurs. Elles sont connues pour exercer des effets anti-tumoraux. Il existe de plus en plus de données scientifiques faisant état de liens étroits entre cancer et inflammation. Étant donné que la prostaglandine E2 (PGE2) induite par la cyclo-oxygénase 2 (COX-2) joue un rôle clef dans l’inflammation, j’ai exploré la régulation du système COX-2-PGE2 par VA et ses mécanismes sous-jacents. J’ai montré que VA exerce ses effets anti-inflammatoires en inhibant sélectivement l’expression de COX-2 et en diminuant la production de PGE2 qui en découle, par le biais d’une déstabilisation de l’ARNm de COX-2. En plus de leurs propriétés cytotoxiques, il a été montré que les préparations de VA ont également des effets immunostimulants. Les différentes préparations de VA sont hautement hétérogènes du fait de leurs compositions biochimiques qui varient selon la récolte, l’espèce de l’arbre hôte et les méthodes de préparation qui peuvent influer sur leur efficacité clinique. De ce fait, j’ai réalisé une étude comparative sur cinq préparations de VA dans le but d’analyser leurs capacités de maturation et d’activation des cellules dendritiques (DC) qui peuvent à leur tour présenter une réponse immunitaire anti-tumorale. Les résultats ont montré que parmi les cinq préparations,VA Qu Spez induit de manière significative l’activation des DC et la sécrétion de cytokines pro-inflammatoires telle que l’IL-6, l’IL-8 et le TNF-α qui induisent la production d’IFN-γ,orientant de ce fait la réponse immunitaire vers une réponse Th1. L’orchestration de la11fonction des cellules myélomonocytiques est un élément central à l’interface entre inflammation et cancer. Il constitue un paradigme expliquant la plasticité et la fonction des macrophages. Mon étude met en évidence l’influence de VA Qu Spez sur la polarisation des macrophages qui passent d’un état alternatif (M2) à un état dit classique (ou M1). Les macrophages M2 sont connus pour polariser les réponses immunitaires Th2, pour participer à l’élimination des parasites, pour diminuer l’inflammation, pour promouvoir le remodelage tissulaire et la progression des tumeurs et pour avoir des fonctions immunorégulatrices. Les macrophages M1 sont impliqués dans la réponse Th1, favorisent la résistance aux pathogènes intracellulaires et aux tumeurs et promeuvent des réactions de désagrégation tissulaires. L’ensemble de ces résultats permet de comprendre les propriétés anti-inflammatoires et immunostimulantes des préparations de VA. Des recherches complémentaires permettront d’améliorer les stratégies d’utilisation thérapeutique de VA et son utilisation dans les soins de support aux traitements anticancéreux. / Viscum album (VA) preparations, commonly known as European mistletoe, are frequentlyused as complementary therapy in cancer, mainly to improve quality of life of the patients andto reduce the tumor growth. They are known to exert anti-tumoral effects. There is increasing evidence of the convoluted connection of cancer and inflammation. As cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2)-induced prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) plays a key role in the inflammation, I explored the regulation of COX-2-PGE2 axis by VA and underlying mechanisms. I found that VA exerts anti-inflammatory effects by selectively inhibiting COX-2 expression and ensuing PGE2 production. Inhibition of COX-2 expression implicates COX-2 mRNA destabilisation. In addition to their cytotoxic properties, they have also been shown to have immunostimulatory properties. Each VA preparations are highly heterogeneous because oftheir chemical composition which varies depending on the time of harvest, species of host treeand manufacturing methods, together which might influence clinical efficacy of VA.Therefore I performed a comparative study involving five different preparations of VA concerning maturation and activation of dendritic cells (DCs) which in turn may manifestanti-tumoral immune response. Results showed that among all five preparations, VA Qu Spez significantly induces DC activation, secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, Il-8 and TNF-α, enhancing IFN-γ production hence promoting Th1 immune response. The orchestration of myelomonocytic cell function is a key element that links inflammation and cancer and provides a paradigm for macrophage plasticity and function. My study reveals the effect of VA Qu Spez in switching the M2 macrophages which are known to participate inpolarizing Th2 responses, help with parasite clearance, dampen inflammation, promote tissue remodelling and tumor progression and have immunoregulatory functions, towards classicallyactivated M1 macrophages which are part of a polarized Th1 response and mediate resistance13to intracellular pathogens and tumors and elicit tissue-disruptive reactions. These results together should assist in understanding the anti-inflammatory and immunostimulatory properties of VA preparations and further research is warranted to improve the therapeutic strategies of use of VA and their role as complimentary therapy in cancer.

Protein nitration is considered as a marker of reactive nitrogen species formation. Heme oxygenases (HOs) are important for the defence against oxidative stress. We evaluated the involvement of the neuronal (nNOS), the endothelial (eNOS), and the inducible (iNOS) in nitrotyrosine formation and localitzation, and both the expression and funcional significance (HO inhibition and contractility studies) of HOs in sepsis-induced muscle contractile dysfunction. Sepsis was elicited by injecting rats and transgenic mice deficient in either nNOS, eNOS, or iNOS isoforms with E.Coli lipolysaccharide (LPS). Nitrotyrosine formation and HO expressions were assessed by immunoblotting. Oxidative stress was assessed measuring protein oxidation, lipid peroxidation, and muscle glutathione. We conclude that protein tyrosine nitration occurs in normal muscles, and sepsis-mediated increase in nitrotyrosine formation is limited to the mitochondria and membrane muscle fractions. The iNOS isoform is mostly involved in nitrotyrosine formation. HOs protect normal and septic muscles from the deleterious effects of oxidants. / En un model de sepsi de disfunció diafragmàtica, s´ha avaluat el paper de les sintetases de l'òxid nítric (NOS) en la formació i localitzacio de 3-nitrotirosina, i l´expressió i significat biològic de les hemo oxigenases (HOs) (inhibidor de les HOs i estudis de contractilitat) davant l' estrès oxidatiu. La sepsi s'induí mitjançant injecció de 20 mg/kg del lipolisacàrid (LPS) d´Escherichia Coli a rates, i a ratolins deficients en les NOS induïble (iNOS), neuronal (nNOS) i endotelial (eNOS). Les proteïnes nitrificades i les HOs es van detectar amb anticossos específics. L' estrès oxidatiu s' avaluà mitjançant l' oxidació proteica, la peroxidació lipídica i el glutation muscular. Concloem que hi han proteïnes nitrificades en el múscul normal i aquestes s'incrementen durant la sepsi en les fraccions mitocondrial i membranar. L'isoforma iNOS és majorment responsable de la formació de nitrotirosina. Les HOs protegirien el múscul normal i sèptic dels efectes deleteris dels oxidants.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 2005. / Typescript (photocopy).