Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2009. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 111-127).

Aim of this work was to find out how mitochondrial processing peptidases are working in the mitochondrion of Trypanosoma brucei. I have shown by RNA interference that mitochondrial processing peptidase (MPP) and mitochondrial intermediate peptidase (MIP) are essential for procyclic stages. Moreover, processing of human frataxin in T. brucei has a similar pattern as in human cells.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-22T20:49:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2012-02-01. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2015-08-11T03:26:15Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 Publico-13096a.pdf: 2003675 bytes, checksum: 7b943b5a99d94b77ff03b7af8a8f03d5 (MD5). Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2015-08-11T03:26:16Z : No. of bitstreams: 2 Publico-13096a.pdf: 2003675 bytes, checksum: 7b943b5a99d94b77ff03b7af8a8f03d5 (MD5) Publico-13096b.pdf: 2021148 bytes, checksum: db1f43adb607e0bfce131b4f141309cc (MD5). Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2015-08-11T03:26:16Z : No. of bitstreams: 3 Publico-13096a.pdf: 2003675 bytes, checksum: 7b943b5a99d94b77ff03b7af8a8f03d5 (MD5) Publico-13096b.pdf: 2021148 bytes, checksum: db1f43adb607e0bfce131b4f141309cc (MD5) Publico-13096c.pdf: 465188 bytes, checksum: e302770e64587fa7f70b463355dc3c59 (MD5) / As enzimas proteolíticas estão amplamente distribuídas em todos os organismos e desempenham diversas funções essenciais a estes. Atualmente são reconhecidos sete grupos de proteases (serino, cisteíno, aspártico, metalo, treonino, glutâmico e a recém identificada asparagino peptídeo liases) que são classificadas de acordo com o seu mecanismo catalítico. As glutâmico peptidases são proteases carboxílicas (ou ácidas) insensíveis à pepstatina e foram reconhecidas como um grupo novo somente em 2004 (Família G1 Merops). Estas peptidases apresentam díade catalítica formada por ácido glutâmico (Glu) e glutamina (Gln) e estrutura única entre as proteases. O protótipo das glutâmico peptidases é a scytalidoglutamico peptidase (SGP), isolada do fungo decompositor de madeira Scytalidium lignicolum na década de 1970. A caracterização da estrutura das glutâmico peptidases scytalidoglutamico peptidase (SGP) e aspergiloglutamico peptidase (AGP), isolada de Aspergillus Níger, mostra que estas enzimas são praticamente idênticas, porém baseados nestes dados estruturais, dois mecanismos catalíticos diferentes foram propostos para SGP e AGP, sendo inconsistentes entre si. Com o propósito de entender o mecanismo catalítico das glutâmico peptidases, nesta tese são demonstrados (1) a caracterização bioquímica do mecanismo catalítico da SGP através da análise da dependência do pH e efeito isotópico cinético do solvente frente a peptídeos FRET e (2) a especificidade da protease para as posições P1 e P1’, descrevendo o papel das interações do subsítio S1 na catálise. Os resultados destes estudos são apresentados no artigo em anexo (Kondo, MY et al, JBC 2010). / Proteolytic enzymes are widespread in all organisms and are involved in a wide range of biological roles. There are seven distinct classes of proteases (serine, cysteine, aspartate, metalloproteases, threonine, glutamate and the newly identified asparagine peptide lyases), grouped according to their catalytic mechanism. The glutamic peptidases are carboxylic (acidic) proteases insensitive to pepstatin inhibitor and were annotated as a new group in 2004 (Family G1 Merops). These proteases have a unique catalytic dyad of residues Glu and Gln and a previously undescribed structure fold. Scytalidoglutamic peptidase (SGP), isolated from the wood-degrading fungus Scytalidium lignicolum on the 1970’s, is the forming member of glutamic peptidases. The three dimensional structures of scytalidoglutamic peptidase (SGP) and aspergilloglutamic peptidase (AGP) from Aspergillus niger revealed that the overall structure of these enzymes are almost identical, however two different catalytic mechanisms were proposed. Aiming at understanding the reaction mechanism of glutamic peptidases, in this thesis the following topics are highlighted, (1) biochemical characterization of the catalytic mechanism of SGP by use of pH rates profiles and solvent kinetic isotopic effects (SKIE) on the enzyme hydrolysis of FRET peptides and (2) specificity of the protease for P1 and P1’ positions describing the interactions of S1 subsite during catalysis. The paper showing results of these studies is attached to this thesis (Kondo, MY et al, JBC 2010). / TEDE / BV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertações

Orientador: Prof. Dr. Luciano Puzer / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal do ABC, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biossistemas, 2017. / As calicreinas teciduais humanas (KLKs) compreendem uma familia de quinze serino proteases encontradas em uma diversidade de fluidos e tecidos biologicos. Estas enzimas sao identificadas como possuindo papel em diferentes doencas como Alzheimer, cancer, dermatite atopica, esclerose multipla, Parkinson, psoriase e outras. Existe, portanto, uma crescente demanda por inibidores especificos para cada uma das calicreinas e este e o objetivo do nosso grupo de pesquisa na UFABC. Neste trabalho pretendemos gerar inibidores para as calicreinas teciduais humanas 3, 5 e 7, utilizando bibliotecas baseadas em duas serpinas diferentes: uma expressando a forma Pittsburgh do inibidor de proteinase-¿¿1 (IP-¿¿1 M358R), randomizada nos residuos 352-356 (P7-P3); e outra expressando a serpina bacteriana vioserpina, randomizada nos residuos 343-347 (P3-P2f). A abordagem do phage display foi eficaz para gerar as bibliotecas e o protocolo de bioselecao utilizado adequado para enriquecer diversas variantes reativas. Na selecao da biblioteca do IP-¿¿1 M358R, consensos PSEAL e PSRIL foram observados, para KLK5 e KLK7, respectivamente, e varias das sequencias selecionadas exibiram maiores taxas de inibicao para ambas as calicreinas, quando comparadas a molecula molde (IP-¿¿1 M358R). A variante HDVIL e o consenso PSRIL foram identificados como sendo altamente seletivos para a KLK7, com constantes de segunda ordem 14 e 33 vezes maiores que as para KLK5. Pudemos realizar uma selecao efetiva da biblioteca de vioserpina contra a KLK7, cujas variantes enriquecidos demonstraram uma preferencia geral pelo aminoacido Serina ocupando as posicoes P3, P1f, P2f e P1, seguido por uma Tirosina, tambem preferida em P2. A tecnica de phage display foi, portanto, eficiente como base para um estudo de especificidade, e para o desenvolvimento de melhores e mais especificos inibidores para as Calicreinas Teciduais Humanas, e pode ser utilizada para o desenvolvimento de novas bibliotecas, com outras regioes da RCL randomizadas, ou mesmo baseadas em outras serpinas. / The human tissue kallikreins (KLKs) comprise a family of fifteen serine proteases found in a diversity of biological fluids and tissues. These enzymes are identified as having a role in different diseases such as Alzheimer's, cancer, atopic dermatitis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, psoriasis, and others. Thus there is a growing demand for specific inhibitors for each of these kallikreins, and this is the aim of our group at UFABC. In this work we intended to generate inhibitors for the human tissue kallikreins 3, 5 and 7, using libraries based on two different serpins: one expressing the Pittsburgh form of the human serpin á1-proteinase inhibitor (á1-PI M358R), randomized at residues 352-356 (P7-P3); and another one expressing the bacterial vioserpin, randomized at residues 343-347 (P3-P2¿). The phage display approach was effective to generate the libraries and the biopanning protocol used suitable to enrich numerous reactive variants. On the á1-PI M358R selection, loose consensus of PSEAL and PSRIL were observed, for KLK5 and KLK7, respectively, and several of the selected sequences exhibited higher inhibition rates when compared to the template molecule for both kallikreins. The variant HDVIL and consensus PSRIL were found to be highly selective for the KLK7, with second order constants 14- and 33-fold higher than the ones for KLK5. We could only perform an effective selection with the vioserpin library for the KLK7, whose enriched variants demonstrated a general preference for the amino acid Serine occupying the positions P3, P1¿, P2¿ and P1, followed by a Tyrosine, also preferred on the P2. The phage display approach was therefore effective as basis for a specificity study, and for the development of improved, more specific inhibitors for the Human Tissue Kallikreins, and can be used to develop new libraries, with other randomized RCL regions, or even based on other serpins.

La conception de nouveaux produits laitiers fermentés fonctionnalisés avec les peptides bioactifs est l'une des stratégies prometteuses pour le développement d'aliments fonctionnels. L'objectif de cette thèse s'inscrit ainsi dans une démarche de production d'un lait fermenté contenant un peptide anxiolytique, l'alpha-casozépine (alpha-CZP ; f91-100 de la CN-alpha s1 bovine) ou du fragment plus court (f91-97). Dans un premier temps, nous avons étudié la stabilité des peptides bioactifs vis-à-vis des souches ayant le phénotype PrtS+ (LMD-9) et PrtS- (CNRZ1066) de S. thermophilus. Il s'est avéré que les deux souches sont capables d'hydrolyser le peptide en fragments plus courts par l'activité peptidasique de surface. Il a été vérifié que l'hydrolyse n'est due ni aux peptidases intracellulaires issues d'une éventuelle lyse cellulaire ni à la protéase chaperonne HtrA. Les activités de type amino-, X-prolyl dipeptidyl-, carboxy-peptidases et peptidyl dipeptidase de surface ont été mises en évidence. L'ajout de peptides bioactifs dans des laits fermentés nécessite donc la caractérisation préalable du potentiel protéolytique des bactéries lactiques. Afin de n'ajouter qu'un type de peptides et non pas une fraction peptidique, nous avons exprimé de manière hétérologue l'alpha-CZP sous forme multimérique chez L. lactis en utilisant le système d'induction NICE. Il a été révélé par le test ELISA qu'une petite quantité d'alpha-CZP multimérique a été produite par les cellules induites mais également non induites par la nisine. Le ralentissement important de la croissance des cellules de L. lactis recombinante induites par la nisine suggère que le multimère peptidique a des effets toxiques sur les cellules / The designing of novel fermented milk products functionalized with bioactive peptides is one of the promising strategies to develop functional foods. The objective of the thesis is thus the development of fermented milks comprising of an anxiolytic peptide, alpha-casozepine (f91-100 of bovine alpha s1 CN) or its shorter fragment (f91 97). Firstly, we studied the stability of different bioactive peptides towards two strains, with PrtS+ (LMD¬9) and PrtS- (CNRZ1066) phenotypes, of S. thermophilus, a starter bacterium widely used for the manufacture of yogurt. It was revealed that both strains hydrolysed the peptides into shorter fragments by surface peptidases. The hydrolysis was neither due to intracellular peptidases eventually released from cell lysis nor to extracellular chaperone protease HtrA, since mutant LMD-9-deltahtrA also showed the same type of hydrolysis. Aminopeptidase, X-prolyl dipeptidyl peptidase, peptidyl dipeptidase and carboxypeptidase activities associated to the cell-surface of both strains were observed. Therefore, addition of bioactive peptides in fermented milks requires well prior characterization of the proteolytic potential of lactic acid bacteria. Finally, in order to add only one type of peptides instead of a peptide fraction, we expressed heterologously alpha-CZP in multimeric form in L. lactis using NICE system. It was revealed by ELISA test that a small quantity of recombinant alpha-CZP multimer was produced by both nisin-induced as well as non-induced cells. The significant decrease in the growth of nisin-induced recombinant L. lactis suggests that the peptide multimer has toxic effects on the cells

O escorpião amarelo é uma das principais espécies de interesse médico no Brasil e o tratamento recomendado em caso de acidentes é o uso do antiveneno. Pouco se sabe sobre os componentes proteolíticos de seu veneno e seus efeitos no envenenamento. O objetivo deste trabalho foi isolar peptidases do veneno de T. serrulatus e as caracterizar bioquimicamente, além de avaliar o potencial neutralizante de antivenenos. O veneno total foi caracterizado, buscando atividades proteolíticas relevantes. Após isso, foram isoladas duas metalloserrulases (ms3 e ms4) e uma ACE-like do veneno. Estudos bioquímicos como determinação de temperatura e pHs ótimos, influência de sais, determinação de constantes catalíticas e pontos de hidrólise dos substratos foram determinados para as proteases purificadas. Conclui-se que ativação/inativação de peptídeos bioativos in vitro pelas proteases são informações importantes e que deverão continuar sendo estudadas no futuro. / The yellow scorpion is one of the main species of medical interest in Brazil and the recommended treatment in case of accidents is the use of antivenom. Little is known about the proteolytic components of its venom and its effects on envenomation. The objective of this work was to isolate peptidases from T. serrulatus venom and to characterize them biochemically, besides to evaluating the neutralizing potential of antivenoms. The total venom was characterized, in searching for relevant proteolytic activities. After that, two metalloserrulases (ms3 and ms4) and one ACE-like venom were isolated. Biochemical studies such as determination of temperature and optimum pHs, influence of salts, determination of catalytic constants and hydrolysis points of the substrates were determined for the purified proteases. It was concluded that the activation / inactivation of bioactive peptides in vitro by proteases are important information and should be further studied in the future.

O escorpião amarelo é uma das principais espécies de interesse médico no Brasil e o tratamento recomendado em caso de acidentes é o uso do antiveneno. Pouco se sabe sobre os componentes proteolíticos de seu veneno e seus efeitos no envenenamento. O objetivo deste trabalho foi isolar peptidases do veneno de T. serrulatus e as caracterizar bioquimicamente, além de avaliar o potencial neutralizante de antivenenos. O veneno total foi caracterizado, buscando atividades proteolíticas relevantes. Após isso, foram isoladas duas metalloserrulases (ms3 e ms4) e uma ACE-like do veneno. Estudos bioquímicos como determinação de temperatura e pHs ótimos, influência de sais, determinação de constantes catalíticas e pontos de hidrólise dos substratos foram determinados para as proteases purificadas. Conclui-se que ativação/inativação de peptídeos bioativos in vitro pelas proteases são informações importantes e que deverão continuar sendo estudadas no futuro. / The yellow scorpion is one of the main species of medical interest in Brazil and the recommended treatment in case of accidents is the use of antivenom. Little is known about the proteolytic components of its venom and its effects on envenomation. The objective of this work was to isolate peptidases from T. serrulatus venom and to characterize them biochemically, besides to evaluating the neutralizing potential of antivenoms. The total venom was characterized, in searching for relevant proteolytic activities. After that, two metalloserrulases (ms3 and ms4) and one ACE-like venom were isolated. Biochemical studies such as determination of temperature and optimum pHs, influence of salts, determination of catalytic constants and hydrolysis points of the substrates were determined for the purified proteases. It was concluded that the activation / inactivation of bioactive peptides in vitro by proteases are important information and should be further studied in the future.

Thèse numérisée par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

No description available.

Les maladies pulmonaires obstructives chroniques (MPOC) sont une cause importante de mortalité et de morbidité dans le monde. L'emphysème pulmonaire fait partie de ces maladies. Il est caractérisé par une inflammation pulmonaire chronique ainsi qu'un élargissement des alvéoles et aucun traitement efficace n'est disponible à ce jour. La préélafine est une protéine de petite taille (9.9 kDa) constituée de deux domaines distincts: un domaine cémentoïne dont la fonction est peu connue et un domaine WAP responsable de l'inhibition protéolytique. La fonction la plus connue de la préélafine est l'inhibition spécifique de peptidases à serine. Cette protéine possède aussi un pouvoir anti-inflammatoire et est un agent anti-microbien, notamment contre Pseudomonas aeruginosa. La préélafine est exprimée localement, entre autres au niveau des alvéoles pulmonaires, et son expression est augmentée lors de réactions inflammatoires. Mon projet de doctorat a consisté à étudier les fonctions de la préélafine dans le contexte de l'inflammation pulmonaire et de faire la relation entre sa structure protéique et ses fonctions biologiques. La première étude présentée dans cette thèse décrit l'effet de la préélafine sur l'inflammation et la destruction du tissu pulmonaire dans un modèle murin d'emphysème pulmonaire induit par l'élastase. Lors de ces expérimentations, nous avons démontré que la préélafine était efficace à diminuer l'accumulation de neutrophiles 24 heures après le traitement et qu'elle empêchait l'élargissement des alvéoles observé deux semaines après l'administration d'élastase. La préélafine permet aussi l'accumulation du granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) au sein des poumons. Ce facteur est associé à la réparation des alvéoles suite à des lésions et ce résultat suggère que la préélafine serait impliquée dans le processus de réparation tissulaire. Le deuxième article présente l'implication de la fonction anti-protéolytique de la préélafine dans sa capacité anti-inflammatoire et de protection pulmonaire en utilisant le même modèle animal. L'étude de deux mutants de la préélafine présentant des activités inhibitrices réduites démontre que les interactions hydrophobes entre l'inhibiteur et la peptidase au site Pl'- Sl' sont essentielles à l'inhibition protéolytique. La préélafine et ses variants sont tous efficaces à réduire la quantité de neutrophiles retrouvés dans les alvéoles 24 heures après le traitement des animaux à l'élastase. Ceci indique que la préélafine possède une fonction anti-inflammatoire dissociée de son inhibition protéolytique. Toutefois, la fonction anti-protéolytique de la préélafine est absolument nécessaire afin de préserver l'intégrité structurale pulmonaire et ainsi protéger contre les lésions emphysémateuses. L'inhibition protéolytique est aussi requise afin d'observer une augmentation du G-CSF dans les lavages bronchoalvéolaires (LBA). Finalement, des résultats complémentaires, joints en annexe, présentent l'effet de l'héparine sur l'inhibition de l'élastase neutrophilique humaine (ENH) par la préélafine et ses variants ainsi que la mise au point d'un nouveau système d'expression de la préélafine. Donc, nos travaux ont démontré que la préélafine était efficace à diminuer l'influx neutrophilique et à préserver le poumon contre la destruction suite à une réaction inflammatoire aigûe. Certaines de ces fonctions sont dissociées de la fonction inhibitrice de la préélafine. De plus, nos résultats suggèrent que la préélafine serait impliquée dans la réparation du tissu pulmonaire après que des dommages aient été causés à celui-ci. Ceci fait donc de la préélafine une molécule présentant un potentiel intéressant pour le traitement des personnes souffrant de maladies pulmonaires obstructives chroniques.