The aims of this thesis were to establish a suitable model system for the study of glucose and nutrient regulation of insulin secretion and biosynthesis. This would serve as a basis for investigating the GLP-1 effects on pancreatic b-cell biology. This thesis shows that two b-cell model systems, namely MIN6 and INS-1 cells, respond to increasing concentrations of glucose, by increasing insulin secretion and cell proliferation in a physiological manner. The MIN6 cell line also responds to other cellular nutrients, L-arginine and L-leucine in a manner similar to primary islet cells. The MIN6 cells however, fail to consistently increase insulin secretion in response to GLP-1, a known potentiator of insulin secretion in b-cells, despite the presence of the GLP-1 receptor. Incubation of GLP-1 with INS-1 cells, increases insulin secretion in a glucose-dependent manner, and causes a small increase in cell proliferation. GLP-1 is also known to increase cAMP levels within the cell and interact with cAMP response elements (CRE) via activation protein kinase A (PKA). Using a luciferase reporter gene construct containing 4 copies of the CRE, glucose, GLP-1 and forskolin failed to increase luciferase activity in MIN6 cells, suggesting that a defect in cAMP signalling may explain the inconsistent effect of GLP-1 in MIN6 cells. A stimulatory effect of GLP-1 and forskolin was observed in the INS-1 cells. Using both a rat insulin I and human insulin gene promoter construct, a stimulatory effect of GLP-1 on insulin gene transcription was observed in INS-1 cells. An insight into the signalling pathways involved in GLP-1 stimulation of the rat insulin I gene was gained through the use of protein kinase inhibitors, which inhibit signalling of known signal transduction cascades. It was found that an inhibitor of protein kinase A (H-89) was effective in blocking the increase in insulin promoter activity induced by GLP-1 using the rat insulin I promoter construct. Interestingly, the p38/SAPK2 inhibitor, SB203580, further increased the GLP-1 stimulation of rat insulin I promoter activity, indicating that this pathway usually invokes an inhibitory effect on insulin promoter activity.

These studies have characterized the peptide transport systems of Candida albicans, with a view to the rational design of peptide antifungal agents exploiting the 'smugglin' concept. In initial studies, a series of polyoxin complexes (peptide-nucleoside antibiotics) and individual components, were isolated from a batch of agricultural fungicide (Polyoxin Z). Isolated fractions were toxic to a particulate chitin synthetase preparation from Candida albicans. Different strains of Candida albicans exhibited varied sensitivities to a series of peptide analogues. From a sensitive strain, B2630, spontaneous mutants were selected for resistance to each analogue; certain mutants showed cross-resistance to other analogues and associated defects in peptide transport. A bacilysin-resistant mutant was cross-resistant to the other analogues and to m- fluorophenylalanylalanylalanine a but retained sensitivity to m- fluorophenylalanylalanylalanine. This mutant showed defective dipeptide transport but normal oligopeptide transport, and was unable to utilize Ala-Ala as a sole nitrogen source. Thus, Candida albicans has distinguishable mechanisms for dipeptide and oligopeptide transport which can be exploited for uptake of peptide-drug adducts. Peptide transport was shown to be stimulated by the presence of peptides (peptone) in the growth medium. On transferring cells from minimal to peptone medium, this stimulatory effect was shown to be rapid, independent of protein synthesis and to override ammonia regulation of peptide transport. The reduction of transport activity on transferring cells from peptone to minimal medium was also rapid. It was speculated that regulation of peptide transport is achieved by a rapid, reversible activation of preformed transport components, or a mechanism of exocytotic insertion and endocytic retrieval of preformed transporters. The effect of protein-modification reagents on transport activity was also examined. Dipeptide transport was specifically inhibited by N-ethyl-5-phenylisoxazolium-3'-sulphonate (Woodwards Reagent K), offerring potential for the specific labelling of the component(s) of this system. Peptide transport was shown not to be sensitive to osmotic shock though a series of uncharacterized polypeptides was released by the shock treatment.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2001. / Härtill 6 uppsatser.

Heidelberg, Univ., Diss., 2008.

Univ., Diss.--Marburg, 1994.

Thesis (M.S.)--Worcester Polytechnic Institute. / Keywords: QCM-D; AFM; bacterial adhesion; E. coli; antimicrobial peptides Includes bibliographical references (leaves 135-157).

Zugl.: Leipzig, Univ., Diss., 2008

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2004. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 129-156).

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 66-73).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Virginia Commonwealth University, 2009. / Prepared for: Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology. Bibliography: leaves 69-85. Also available online via the Internet.