Resumo: Mediadores inflamatórios como mieloperoxidase (MPO) e óxido nítrico (NO) participam do processo inflamatório da doença periodontal e na associação ao diabetes. Inibidores da Óxido Nítrico Sintase (NOS), como o L-NAME têm sido administrados na tentativa de minimizar danos teciduais decorrentes da inflamação. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito do L-NAME sobre os níveis da isoforma induzível de óxido nítrico (iNOS), sobre a perda óssea alveolar e sobre os níveis de mieloperoxidase (MPO) em ratos diabéticos com periodontite induzida. Foram utilizados 192 ratos divididos em grupos de 24 animais cada: grupo C: Controle com ingestão de água; grupo C-L: Controle com ingestão de LNAME; grupo D: Ratos diabéticos com ingestão de água; grupo D-L: Ratos diabéticos com ingestão de L-NAME; grupo P: Ratos com periodontite experimental e ingestão de água; grupo P-L: Ratos com periodontite experimental e ingestão de L-NAME; grupo DP: Ratos diabéticos com periodontite experimental e ingestão de água; e grupo DP-L: Ratos diabéticos com periodontite experimental e ingestão de L-NAME. O sacrifício dos animais foram realizados aos 3,7,15,e 30 dias após a indução da periodontite experimental. Foram realizadas análises da taxa glicêmica, da perda óssea alveolar, da atividade de mieloperoxidase e da expressão de iNOS. Os grupos com D, P e DP mostraram níveis de iNOS estatisticamente mais altos quando comparados aos grupos D-L, P-L e DP-L que ingeriram L-NAME em todos os períodos. (p < 0.05). Os grupos que ingeriram L-NAME mostraram perda óssea estatisticamente menor quando comparados aos grupos que ingeriram água (p < 0.05). A alta expressão de MPO foi observada nos grupos com periodontite P e DP que ingeriram água. Foi verificado um pico nos níveis de MPO aos 7 dias em todos os grupos experimentais que ingeriram água... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Inflammatory mediators such as myeloperoxidase (MPO) and nitric oxide (NO) play a role in inflammatory processes related to periodontal disease and diabetes. NO-Synthase (NOS) inhibitors as L-NAME have been administered in attempts to reduce tissue damage resulting from such inflammation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of L-NAME on alveolar bone loss, NO and MPO levels in diabetic rats with experimental periodontitis. A hundred ninety-two rats were divided into one of the following groups with 24 animals each: group C-W: control group with water intake; group C-L: control group with L-NAME intake; group D-W: diabetic rats with water intake; group D-L: diabetic rats with LNAME intake; group P-W: chronic periodontitis rats with water intake; group PL: chronic periodontitis rats with L-NAME intake; group DP-W: diabetic chronic periodontitis rats with water intake, and group DP-L: diabetic chronic periodontitis rats with L-NAME intake. The killing was performed at 3, 7, 15 and 30 days after ligature-periodontitis induction to obtain gingival specimens and to evaluate MPO and NO activity and radiographic bone loss. Groups with D-W or P-W and DP-W showed statistically higher iNOS expression compared to LNAME groups in all periods (p < 0.05). L-NAME treatment (L) statistically decreased iNOS expression in all groups with inflammatory pathological conditions, such as D, P and DP. In general, groups with L-NAME intake showed lower bone loss compared to water intake groups. In addition, P-L or DP-L rats demonstrated statistically lower bone loss compared to diabetics and controls at 30 days (p < 0.05). The highest MPO expression was verified in periodontitis groups with water intake (P-W e DP-W). There was a peak in MPO levels at 7 days in all experimental groups with water intake during experimental evolution. The L-NAME statistically decreased MPO levels from all groups... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Orientador: Denise Madalena Palomari Spolidorio / Coorientador: Juliana Rico Pires / Banca: Poliana Mendes Duarte / Banca: Sheila Cavalca Cortelli / Banca: Bruno Herrera Shneider / Banca: Benedicto Egbert Corrêa de Toledo / Doutor

La lignine est un des polymères naturels les plus abondants sur la terre particulièrement résistant à la dégradation du fait de sa structure particulière qui lui permet de participer au renforcement des parois végétales ainsi qu'à la protection de celles-ci contre l'attaque de pathogènes. Peu d'organismes peuvent dégrader efficacement la lignine et la plupart de ceux-ci appartiennent au Règne Fongique. Dans la plupart des cas la dégradation des composants de la paroi végétale est réalisée par des enzymes sécrétées. Des études récentes soulignent combien l'arsenal enzymatique des champignons est intéressant dans plusieurs domaines :- nombreuses de ces enzymes sont déjà utilisées en biotechnologies dans de nombreux et divers processus industriels,- grâce à la possibilité de comparer les génomes de nombreuses espèces fongiques, au travers de l'étude des gènes impliqués dans la matière organique il apparait que l'évolution fongique et l'écologie de ces microorganismes sont étroitement liés,- les champignons dégradateurs de la matière organique végétale sont les principaux décomposeurs en milieu terrestre. Ils contribuent notamment de manière décisive dans le cycle biogéochimique du carbone en milieu forestier tempéré et boréal. L'étude et une meilleure compréhension des flux de carbone est importante pour mieux appréhender les phénomènes de changements climatiques.L'appareil enzymatique fongique permettant la dégradation de la matière organique est composé de dizaines, sinon de centaines d'enzymes aux rôles bien décrits pour certaines. Mais pour d'autres, leurs rôles restent à définir. C'est le cas des peroxydases de type DyP, une famille enzymatique découverte récemment et déjà bien connue dans le domaine des biotechnologies, étant capables de catalyser de nombreuses réactions. Leurs rôles dans la nature sont toutefois incertains. Il a été suggéré qu'elles puissent jouer un rôle dans la dégradation de la lignine, mais certaines études suggèrent plutôt un rôle de détoxification durant la dégradation de la biomasse.Au cours de cette thèse, nous nous sommes attachés à mettre en lumière les rôles potentiels joués par ces enzymes. La famille des DyP a récemment été divisée en sous-groupes, mais pour ce qui concerne les DyP fongiques, il n'existait pas d'analyse approfondie de leur évolution phylogénique. Un tel travail nous a conduit à mettre en lumière l'existence ignorée jusqu'à présent de DyP aussi bien intracellulaires qu'extracellulaires.Afin d'améliorer nos connaissances sur cette famille enzymatique nous nous sommes orientés sur des analyses écologiques pour lesquelles nous avons dû au préalable développer des outils appropriés tel qu'un protocole d'extraction d'ARN à partir de bois en décomposition.Par une approche d'écologie moléculaire, nous avons évalué quelle est la source et la diversité des champignons producteurs de DyP dans 3 habitats distincts : des sols forestiers, des sols de prairies et du bois en décomposition.Une analyse par métabarcoding des communautés fongiques de ces environnements a au préalable été réalisée et a démontré le bénéfice que l'on peut tirer en métabarcoding de l'analyse comparative de l'ADN et de l'ARN environnemental pour une description optimale de ces communautés.L'étude de la diversité des DyP exprimées au sein des communautés fongiques présentes dans ces différents habitats a été réalisée par capture de séquences à partir d'ARN environnementaux.Les résultats préliminaires obtenus démontrent la capacité de l'approche expérimentale à isoler les gènes pleine longueur correspondants de tous les échantillons étudiés. Certaines de ces DyP environnementales ont été transformées dans le champignon Podospora anserina, et l'expression de l'une d'entre elle dans ce système hétérologue a pu être démontrée [etc...] / Lignin is one of the most abundant natural polymers on earth whose resistance to degradation contributes to the mechanical strength of plant cellwalls and protects plant cells from pathogen attack. Few organisms are candegrade lignin efficiently; most of them belong to the fungal Kingdom. Inmost cases, plant cell wall degradation results from enzymatic attack. Recent studies also underline the contribution of secreted fungal enzymes in many areas:- many of these enzymes are already in use in numerous industrial processes,- thanks to the comparison between fungal genomes, through the study ofgenes implicated in organic matter degradation, it becomes obvious that fungal evolution and their ecology are two tightly linked phenomena,- saprotrophic fungi degrading organic matter are the main decomposers in terrestrial ecosystems. Among other, they contribute in a decisive way tothe carbon biogeochemical cycle in temperate and boreal ecosystems. Thestudy and a better comprehension of carbon fluxes are of prime importance in the evaluation of climate changes.The fungal enzymatic machinery involved in organic matter decomposition is compozed of dozens of enzymes whose functions are diversely understood. The roles of several of them need to be clarified. This is the case for the DyP peroxidases, an enzyme family recently described but already well known in the field of biotechnology for their capacity of catalyzing many reactions. Their natural role in natural ecosystems are however matter of discussion. It has been suggested that they could participate in lignin degradation although a role in detoxification during biomass degradation cannot be excluded.In the course of this thesis, we highlighted the potential roles of these enzymes.The DyP gene family had been divided in different sub-families but nostudy specifically dealt with the phylogeny of fungal DyPs. Such an analysis revealed the unsuspected existence of both intracellular and extracellular DyPs in fungi. To better understand the potential roles of this fungal gene family we developed ecological analyses that first required the development of specific tools such as a protocol to extract RNA directly from decomposing wood. Following a molecular ecology approach, we evaluated the source and diversity of DyP-producing fungi in three distinct habitats; grassland soils, forest soils and decomposing wood. A metabarcoding analysis of the fungal communities present in these different environments has first been conducted and has revealed the beneficial impact of performing metabarcoding on both environmental DNA and RNA to accurately describe fungal communities.The study of DyPs expressed within fungal communities colonizing these different habitats has been conducted by sequence capture on environmental RNA. Preliminary results demonstrate the validity of this approach to isolate the corresponding full-length genes from all studies environmental samples. Several of these environmental DyP genes were transformed in the fungus Podospora anserina and the expression of one of them in this heterologous host was demonstrated.In conclusion, DyP peroxidases still represent a family of fungal enzymes of unclear role. We suggest that extracellular and intracellular DyPs may play complementary roles in both lignin degradation and detoxification of toxic environmental compounds, respectively. This enzyme family is more specifically present in the genomes of basidiomycete fungi capable of enzymatic deconstrustion of lignin. A restricted number of DyP genes has been isolated from each of the different studied environmental samples, thus suggesting that the corresponding enzymes are not abundantly produced although present in all environments

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / O Ãcido ascÃrbico (AA) à um dos antioxidantes mais importante na proteÃÃo das plantas contra o estresse oxidativo gerado por estresses abiÃticos. Em cÃlulas animais, diversos trabalhos tÃm demonstrado que concentraÃÃes elevadas desse Ãcido podem causar toxicidade e morte celular. O mecanismo proposto à de uma aÃÃo pro-oxidante, por meio da reduÃÃo de Fe+3para Fe+2 e aÃÃo desse Ãltimo na reaÃÃo de Fenton, com geraÃÃo de espÃcies reativas de oxigÃnio (EROs). Atà o nosso conhecimento, esse mecanismo ainda nÃo foi relatado em plantas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi elucidar mecanismos de toxicidade de concentraÃÃes elevadas de AA em plantas, utilizando como modelo mutantes de arroz com deficiÃncia (silenciamento gÃnico) nas duas APX de cloroplasto (estromal e tilacoidal). Plantas silenciadas e nÃo transformadas (NT) com 45 dias de idade foram expostas a 10 mM (concentraÃÃo moderada) e 50 mM (concentraÃÃo elevada) de AA exÃgeno (pulverizado nas folhas). Essas concentraÃÃes foram definidas a partir de experimentos dose-dependente de 0 a 50 mM utilizando segmentos foliares em placa. No sentido de avaliar o efeito protetor (antioxidante) do AA, plantas e segmentos foliares foram expostos a intensidade de luz elevada (1000 Âmol m-2 s-1) para induzir estresse fotoxidativo. ConcentraÃÃes de AA acima de 30 mM induziram estresse oxidativo (aumento no nÃvel de TBARS) em segmentos de folhas e esse efeito foi potencializado por luz elevada. AlÃm de dano oxidativo, esses nÃveis de AA induziram aumento no dano de membrana (vazamento de eletrÃlitos) e reduÃÃo na integridade do fotossistema II (Fv/Fm). à interessante notar que as concentraÃÃes de 10 e 20 mM de AA nÃo mitigaram os efeitos negativos causados pelo o excesso de luz. A concentraÃÃo elevada de AA (50 mM) induziu senescÃncia foliar na presenÃa de luz elevada, indicada por reduÃÃo nos conteÃdos de clorofilas e carotenoides. As plantas deficientes nas duas APXs de cloroplasto (APX7/8) apresentaram maior sensibilidade a toxicidade do AA, especialmente na combinaÃÃo com luz elevada. Esses efeitos foram indicados por exibirem maiores nÃveis de TBARS (peroxidaÃÃo lipÃdica), vazamento de eletrÃlitos, H2O2e radical superÃxido. Curiosamente, as plantas mutantes na presenÃa de AA elevadonÃo apresentaram diferenÃas em diversos parÃmetros da fotossÃntese: taxa de assimilaÃÃo de CO2 e indicadores de eficiÃncia doFSII (&#934;PSII, ETR, NPQ e Fv/Fm) e FSI (&#934;PSI, ETR e P700), alÃm da estimativa do fluxo cÃclico (CEF), quando compradas com as NT. A despeito da toxicidade de AA nÃo ter alterado os parÃmetros da fotossÃntese nas plantas deficientes em APX, a presenÃa de luz elevada, isoladamente, causou mudanÃas em alguns parÃmetros da atividade fotoquÃmica nessas plantas. O conjunto dos dados deste trabalho mostra que o excesso de AA pode causar toxicidade em plantas. A intensidade desses efeitos à fortemente potencializada pelo excesso de luz, mas eles nÃo sÃo dependentes da fotossÃntese. O papel das duas APXs de cloroplasto e da luz elevada na toxicidade de AA nÃo ficou claro neste trabalho, apesar das plantas deficientes terem mostrado maior sensibilidade. Aparentemente, o mecanismo de toxicidade de AA em plantas à semelhante ao proposto para cÃlulas animais. Esse antioxidante quando em excesso pode atuar como pro-oxidante estimulando as reaÃÃes de Fenton, induzindo a acumulaÃÃo de EROs e gerando estresse oxidativo. Novos estudos sÃo necessÃrios para elucidar o papel das APXs de cloroplasto e da luz elevada na toxicidade de Ãcido ascÃrbico em plantas. / Ascorbic acid (AA) is one of the most important antioxidants in plant protection against the oxidative stress generated by abiotic stresses. In animal cells, several works have shown that high concentrations of this acid can cause toxicity and cell death. The proposed mechanism is related to a pro-oxidant action by the reduction of Fe+3 to Fe+2 and by the action of this Fe+2 in the Fenton reaction with generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). To the best of our knowledge, this mechanism has not been reported yet. The objective of this work was to elucidate toxicity mechanisms of high concentrations of AA in plants using rice mutants with deficiency (gene silencing) in two chloroplastic APX (stromal and thylakoidal) as model. Forty-five days old silenced plants and non-transformed (NT) were exposed to 10 mM (moderate concentration) and 50 mM (high concentration) of exogenous AA (sprayed on leaves). These concentrations were defined based on dose-dependent experiments from 0 to 50 mM using leaf segments in plates. In order to assess the protective effect (antioxidant) of the AA, plants and leaf segments were exposed to high light intensity (1000 Âmol m-2 s 1) to induce photooxidative stress. AA concentrations higher than 30 mM induced oxidative stress (increase in the TBARS level) in leaf segments and this effect was enhanced by high light. In addition to the oxidative damage, these AA concentrations induced an increase in membrane damage (electrolytes leakage) and reduction in photosystem II integrity (Fv/Fm). Interestingly, the 10 and 20 mM concentrations did not mitigate the negative effects caused by the light excess. The high AA concentration (50 mM) induced leaf senescence under high light, indicated by the decrease in chlorophyll and carotenoids contents. Plants deficient in two chloroplast APX (APX7/8) displayed higher sensibility to AA toxicity, especially in combination with high light. These effects were indicated by exhibition of higher levels of TBARS (lipid peroxidation), electrolyte leakage, H2O2 and superoxide radical. Curiously, the transgenic plants under high AA concentrations did not exhibited differences for several photosynthetic parameters: CO2 assimilation rate and PSII (&#934;PSII, ETR, NPQ e Fv/Fm) and PSI efficiency indicators (&#934;PSI, ETR e P700), apart from the estimation of cyclic flux (CEF), compared with NT. Despite the AA toxicity have not changed the parameters of photosynthesis in APX-deficient plants, the sole presence of high light caused changes in some parameters of photochemical activity in these plants.The data set of this work shows that the excess of AA may cause toxicity in plants. The intensity of these effects is strongly enhanced by the excess of light but they are not dependent on photosynthesis. In this work, the roles of the two chloroplastic APX and/or high light on the AA toxicity still unclear, despite the deficient plants had showed increased sensibility. Apparently, the mechanism of AA toxicity in plants is similar to the proposed for animal cells.This antioxidant, when in excess, can act as a pro-oxidant stimulating Fenton reactions, inducing the accumulation of ROS and resulting oxidative stress. Further studies are needed to elucidate the role of the chloroplast APXs and high light on the toxicity of ascorbic acid in plants.

Após um intervalo de duas décadas, ressurgiu um novo interesse em estudos sobre alucinógenos que visam a compreensão de como estes compostos interagem com o sistema nervoso central (SNC). Sabendo-se que enzimas do tipo peroxidases estão presentes em células do tipo leucócitos, neurônios e microglia, e que, são capazes de oxidar compostos indólicos, esta, portanto, poderia representar uma rota ativa de metabolização de alucinógenos no SNC, ainda não conhecida. Nesta perspectiva, este trabalho contribui com a descrição da metabolização da dietilamida do ácido lisérgico (LSD) e da N,N-dimetiltriptamina (DMT) por peroxidase de rábano (HRP) e mieloperoxidase (MPO) proveniente de neutrófilos ativados. A formação de produtos de reação foi acompanhada por HPLC com detectores de arranjo de diodos (DAD) e fluorescência, e a identificação por espectrometria de massas (MS). Ambas as peroxidases foram capazes de metabolizar LSD a compostos que coincidem com produtos de sua metabolização in vivo, como 2-oxo-3-hidroxi-LSD (O-H-LSD) e nor-LSD, por enzimas hepáticas do complexo P450. Entretanto, um terceiro produto formado não havia sido descrito anteriormente. Apresenta como característica principal a abertura do anel indólico e foi nomeado pelo nosso grupo como N,N-dietil-7-formamido-4-metil-6-oxo-2,3,4,4a,5,6-hexahidrobenzo[f]quinolina-2-carboxamida (FOMBK). De uma maneira semelhante, HRP e MPO também metabolizaram DMT a um produto hidroxilado (OH-DMT), que possivelmente apresenta considerável ação alucinógena, e a um segundo produto nomeado N,N-dimetil-N-formil-quinuramina (DMFK). Visto que peroxidases estão presentes em diferentes tipos celulares, é razoável supor que a formação dos produtos descritos neste estudo possa ocorrer in vivo, numa possível via alternativa de metabolização de LSD e DMT ainda não descrita em humanos. / After a gap of two decades a new interest in hallucinogen studies that aim the comprehension of how these compounds interact with the central nervous system (CNS) rose again. It is known that peroxidases enzymes are present in cells such as leukocytes, neurons and microglia and that they are capable of oxidizing indolic compounds. Then it could represent an active metabolization pathway for hallucinogens in the CNS, not known yet. In this perspective, this study contributed with the description of the metabolization of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) by horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) from activated neutrophils. The formation of the reaction products was attended by HPLC with diode array and fluorescence detectors, and the identification by mass spectrometry (MS). Both peroxidases were capable of metabolizing LSD to compounds that coincide with products from its in vivo metabolization, as 2-oxo-3-hydroxy-LSD (O-H-LSD) and nor-LSD by the liver enzymes from P450 complex. However, a third compound had not been described before. It has the opened indolic ring as main characteristic and was named by our group as N,N-diethyl-7-formamido-4-methyl-6-oxo-2,3,4,4a,5,6-hexahydrobenzo[f]quinoline-2-carboxamide (FOMBK). In a similar way, HRP and MPO also metabolized DMT to a hydroxylated product (OH-DMT) that possibly shows a considerable hallucinogen action and to a second product named as N,N-dimethyl-N-formyl-kynuramine (DMFK). Since peroxidases are present in different cell types, it is reasonable to assume that the formation of the products described in this study may occur in vivo as well, in a possible alternative metabolic pathway for LSD and DMT that has not been described in humans yet.

Background: The heme enzyme lactoperoxidase is found in body secretions where it significantly contributes to the humoral immune response against pathogens. After activation the peroxidase oxidizes thiocyanate to hypothiocyanite which is known for its microbicidal properties. Yet several pathologies are accompanied by a disturbed hypothiocyanite production which results in a reduced immune defense. Methods: The results were obtained by measuring enzyme-kinetic parameters using UV–vis spectroscopy and a standardized enzyme-kinetic test system as well as by the determination of second order rate constants using stopped-flow spectroscopy. Results: In this study we systematically tested thirty aromatic substrates for their efficiency to promote the lactoperoxidase-mediated hypothiocyanite production by restoring the native ferric enzyme state. Thereby hydrophobic compounds with a 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl partial structure such ashydroxytyrosol and selected flavonoids emerged as highly efficient promotors of the (pseudo-)halogenating lactoperoxidase activity. Conclusions: This study discusses important structure-function relationships of efficient aromatic LPO substrates and may contribute to the development of new agents to promote lactoperoxidase activity in secretory fluids of patients. Significance: This study may contribute to a better understanding of the (patho-)physiological importance of the (pseudo-)halogenating lactoperoxidase activity. The presented results may in future lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies which, by reactivating lactoperoxidase-derived hypothiocyanite production, promote the immunological activity of this enzyme.

Plus de 50 % des handicaps neurodéveloppementaux sont dus à une exposition périnatale à des stress toxiques ou oxydants. Comprendre comment le cerveau est protégé au cours du développement périnatal et pourquoi ses mécanismes de défense sont dépassés lorsque l’enfant est soumis à un stress important est donc crucial. La barrière sang – liquide céphalorachidien (LCR), localisée au niveau des plexus choroïdes, présente une capacité de détoxification élevée et pourrait donc avoir un rôle prépondérant dans la protection du cerveau au stade périnatal. Nous avons étudié la capacité de plusieurs enzymes choroïdiennes à protéger l'environnement liquidien cérébral pendant la période postnatale chez le rat, et évalué si leurs activités pouvaient être induites par la voie du nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Le facteur Nrf2 peut en effet moduler l’expression de différents gènes codant pour des enzymes de détoxification. Nous avons montré que les glutathion transférases (Gst) et les glutathion peroxydases (Gpx), intervenant respectivement dans l’inactivation des molécules toxiques et dans la régulation du stress oxydant, présentaient des activités choroïdiennes élevées pendant la période postnatale, et avons caractérisé fonctionnellement leur capacités de neuroprotection. Le traitement des ratons avec du diméthylfumarate (DMF), inducteur de la voie Nrf2, induit la migration nucléaire de Nrf2, augmente l’activité choroïdienne Gst, et réduit de 40 % le passage cérébral de toxiques substrats des Gst. Ces données montrent la capacité neuroprotectrice précoce des plexus choroïdes, et indique qu’elle peut être induite pharmacologiquement / More than 50 % of intellectual or sensory-motor deficits in children are due to perinatal exposure to oxidative stress or toxicants. Understanding brain protection mechanisms during development is crucial to design therapeutic strategies to address these disabilitating disorders. The choroid plexuses, forming an interface between the blood and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), have a high detoxifying capacity, suggesting their involvement in neuroprotection. The nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway can modulate the expression of several genes encoding for antioxidant proteins and detoxifying enzymes. We studied the ability of several choroidal enzyme families to protect the brain fluid environment during the postnatal period in rat and explored whether this protection can be enhanced by Nrf2 pathway. We focused on glutathione transferases (Gsts), which conjugate toxic compounds to glutathione, and glutathione peroxidases (Gpxs), which detoxify reactive oxygen species. Gst and Gpx specific activities were high during the postnatal period in choroid plexuses compared to the cerebral cortex, and their neuroprotective functions were efficient. The Nrf2 factor is expressed in choroid plexuses during the perinatal period. Treatment of rat pups with Nrf2 activator dimethylfumarate induced Nrf2 nuclear translocation and increased Gst activities in choroid plexus tissues. The dimethylfumarate treatment resulted in a large decrease of the blood-to-CSF permeability of a prototypical Gst substrate. These data substantiate the early neuroprotective functions of choroid plexuses, which can be enhanced upon treatment with clinically used pharmacological compounds

Les spermatozoïdes acquièrent leur pouvoir fécondant et leur mobilité lors de leur transit le long de l’épididyme. Paradoxalement, cette maturation épididymaire nécessite la présence d’espèces oxygénées réactives (EOR) pour condenser la chromatine spermatique afin de mieux protéger l’ADN de ces mêmes molécules. Nous avons étudié la façon dont l’épididyme parvient à assurer l’équilibre entre un déficit et un excès d’EOR en caractérisant le phénotype épididymaire de souris dont la production de deux enzymes antioxydantes glutathion peroxydases a été invalidée, GPx5 et snGPx4. L’épididyme de ces souris génère une réponse antioxydante élevée et augmente l’activité de pontage disulfure sur les gamètes en modulant l’expression génique d’enzymes antioxydantes (Trx, Prx, GST, SOD3, catalase) et de protéines disulfide isomérases (Pdia). Bien que ce sursaut d’activité soit efficace pour protéger les membranes du tissu et des spermatozoïdes, la chromatine des spermatozoïdes présente un défaut de condensation, laissant l’ADN spermatique vulnérable face aux EOR. Les gamètes présentent alors des dommages oxydants dans le noyau qui s’aggravent avec la diminution de l’activité antioxydante lors du vieillissement. Des approches immunologiques et biochimiques ont montré que les dommages oxydants se produisent préférentiellement sur l’ADN spermatique situé à la périphérie du noyau, qui est enrichi en nucléosomes persistants et qui est associé à la matrice nucléaire. Afin de déterminer s’il est possible de diminuer ces atteintes oxydantes sur les gamètes, nous avons étudié les effets d’une supplémentation orale antioxydante sur des souris sauvages et sur l’un de nos modèles murins mutant. / The spermatozoa acquire their fertilizing ability and their motility through the epididymis. Paradoxically, this epididymal maturation needs reactive oxygen species (ROS) to condense the sperm chromatin permitting to protect the DNA against these molecules. We studied how the epididymis ensure the equilibrium between deficit and excess of ROS by characterizing the epididymal phenotype of mice lacking two antioxidant activities of the glutathione peroxidase family, GPx5 & snGPx4. The epididymis of these mice produce a strong antioxidant response and also increase the disulfide bridging activity by adjusting the gene expression of antioxidant enzymes (Trx, Prx, GST, SOD3, catalase) and disulfide isomerase proteins (Pdia). This protection is efficient for tissue and sperm membranes but not for sperm chromatin which is susceptible to decondensation. The sperm cells show oxidative damage in the nucleus, which worsen with the decrease of the antioxidant activity upon aging. Immunological and biochemical approaches indicated that oxidative damage occurred only on the sperm DNA at the periphery of the nucleus, which is enriched with persisting nucleosomes and associated to the nuclear matrix. Finally, to determine if these oxidative damages on the spermatozoa can be lowered, we studied the effects of an oral antioxidant supplement on wild type and gpx5-/- mice (Chabory et al., 2009).

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-17T18:39:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 4644.pdf: 10384990 bytes, checksum: c8ab8c109d1671b477c700f556bd68bc (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-08-26 / Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais / The thioredoxin peroxidase (Tpx) is a group of antioxidant proteins that has been widely studied due to its role in the decomposition of different peroxides such as H2O2, peroxynitrite and organic peroxides. The ability of peroxide decomposition by Tpx is related to the presence of a conserved cysteine called peroxidatic cysteine (CysP). Most Tpx has a second cysteine (resolving cysteine - CysR) which forms a disulfide with CysP after peroxide decomposition. In addition to the peroxidase activity, some Tpx have molecular chaperone activity and are also involved in signaling of cell growth induced by hydroperoxides. It has been demonstrated that the Tpx cytosolic isoform of Schizosaccharomyces pombe is able to interact directly with MAPK (Sty1) via mixed disulfide, which is stabilized when the CysR is replaced by a serine residue. Saccharomyces cerevisiae have a nuclear isoform of Tpx (nTPx) and review of the literature shows the importance of this protein in maintaining the telomere silencing and decomposition of organic peroxides in the nucleus. Scale proteomic studies using mass spectrometry and two-hybrid indicate the nTPx association with MAP kinases. However, despite its location and participation in biological processes of relevance, works related to nTPx are scarce. Scale proteomics studies reported the physical interaction between nTPx and Mec3, Gts1, Pc1 and Dog2. These proteins are related to cell signaling or maintenance of telomeric silencing. However, no specific studies were performed to confirm these interactions and if they are established by mixed disulfides. This study aimed to evaluate the interactions previously described in the literature between nTPx and Mec3, Pcl1, Dog2 and Gts1 through the expression and purification of these proteins and in vitro evaluation of interactions as well as in vivo tests using two-hybrid. Several efforts were made with different approaches, nevertheless it was impossible overexpression of Mec3, Pcl1, Dog2, indicating a toxic effect of these proteins on the strains used. Furthermore, we found great success in overexpression of nTPx and nTpxC112S (8 mg and 10 mg per liter of cell culture) in Eschericchia coli strain BL21 (DE3) C43. This is the first time that these proteins were expressed in native form. It was also possible to overexpress the Gts1 protein in the same strain. These results could lead for new approaches in future studies in order to determine these threedimensional structures, by methods such as X-ray crystallography or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Finally, the results obtainedusing the technique of two-hybrid yeast confirmed the interaction in vivo among nTPx and Mec3, Gts1, Dog2. However, opposing the results described in the literature, no interaction was detected between nTPx and PCL1, emphasizing the necessity of specific experiments in addition to the large-scale ones. / As tiorredoxinas peroxidases (TPx), constituem um grupo de proteínas antioxidantes que vêm sendo bastante estudadas pela sua atuação na decomposição de diversos tipos peróxidos, como o H2O2, peroxinitritos e peróxidos orgânicos. A capacidade de decomposição de peróxidos pelas TPx está relacionada a presença de uma cisteína conservada denominada de cisteína peroxidásica (CysP). A maioria das TPx possuem uma segunda cisteína (cisteína de resolução - CysR) a qual forma um dissulfeto com CysP após a decomposição de um peróxido. Adicionalmente, à atividade peroxidásica, algumas TPx possuem atividade de chaperona molecular e também estão envolvidas em processos de sinalização de crescimento celular induzidos por hidroperóxidos. Já foi demonstrado que a isoforma citosólica de TPx de Schizosaccharomyces pombe é capaz de interagir diretamente com uma MAPK (Sty1) através da formação de um dissulfeto misto entre as proteínas, que é estabilizado quando a CysR é substituída por um resíduo de serina. Entretanto, nenhuma interação deste tipo foi descrita para outros organismos. Em Saccharomyces cerevisiae ocorre uma isoforma de TPx no núcleo (nTPx) e a revisão da literatura demonstra a relevância desta proteína na manutenção do silenciamento dos telômeros e decomposição de peróxidos orgânicos no núcleo. Estudos em escala proteômica utilizando espectrometria de massa e duplo híbrido indicam a associação de nTPx com MAP quinases, entretanto, apesar de sua localização e participação em processos biológicos de relevância, trabalhos relacionados com nTPx são escassos. Estudos em escala proteômica relataram a interação física entre nTPx e as proteínas Mec3, Gts1, Pcl1 e Dog2 relacionadas a sinalização celular ou manutenção do silenciamento telomérico. No entanto, não foram efetuados estudos pontuais visando confirmar estas interações como também averiguar a possibilidade das interações entre nTPx e as proteínas supracitadas serem estabelecidas através de dissulfetos mistos. Este trabalho teve por objetivo a avaliação de interações previamente descritas na literatura entre nTPx e Mec3, Pcl1 e Dog2 por meio da expressão e purificação destas proteínas e avaliação in vitro de interações como também in vivo através de ensaios de duplo híbrido. Diversos esforços com diferentes abordagens foram efetuados, entretanto não foi possível a superexpressão de Mec3, Pcl1, Dog2, indicando um efeito tóxico destas proteínas sobre as linhagens utilizadas. Por outro lado, obtivemos grande sucesso na superexpressão de nTPx e nTpxC112S (8 mg e 10 mg por litro de cultura de células) em linhagens de Eschericchia coli BL21 (DE3) C43, o que representa a primeira vez que estas proteínas foram expressas sem trucamentos. Também foi possível expressar na mesma linhagem a proteína Gts1. Estes resultados abrem a possibilidade de estudos posteriores visando a determinação de suas estruturas tridimensionais, por metodologias como cristalografia de raios-X ou ressonância magnética nuclear (RMN). Por fim, os resultados de interação in vivo utilizando a técnica de duplo híbrido em levedura, confirmaram a interação entre nTPx e Mec3, Gts1 e Dog2. Entretanto ao contrario dos resultados descritos na literatura, não foi detectada interação entre nTPx e Pcl1, reforçando que experimentos pontuais são necessários em adição aos experimentos de larga escala.

Объектом исследования были растения табака (Nicotiana tabacum L.), выращенные в трех разных условиях: контроль (р-р Кнопа), р-р Кнопа с добавлением 100 µM CuSO4 и 300 µM CuSO4. Цель работы – изучить анатомо-морфологическое строение, активность антиоксидантных ферментов растений табака в период последействия ионов меди, оценить способность табака к восстановлению после стресса. Исследовали всхожесть семян, биомассу и анатомо-морфологические характеристики корня, стебля и листа. Определяли биохимические параметры (содержание пероксида водорода, продуктов ПОЛ, фенольных соединений, активность ферментов – КАТ, АПО, СОД, цитозольных и апопластных ГПО и БПО, изоформы пероксидаз). Проведенное исследование дает представление о том, как изменяются прорастание, анатомо-морфологические и биохимические параметры растений N. tabacum при последействии ионов меди. Выявлено, что воздействие 100 µM привело к увеличению биомассы корня, при этом длина корней, высота стеблей, толщина корней и стеблей, а также площадь листьев снизились. Действие 300 µM привело к более сильному снижению данных параметров, а также уменьшению сухой массы стеблей и листьев. Содержание пероксида водорода и уровень ПОЛ увеличился при действии 100 и 300 µM. Содержание фенольных соединений снизилось в корнях при 100 µM и увеличилось в корнях и листьях и 300 µM и 100 µM соответственно. Влияние ионов меди активировало работу ферментов антиоксидантной защиты – АПО и КАТ во всем растении, цитозольной ГПО и апопластных ГПО и БПО в корнях, в то же время активность СОД снизилась в обоих вариантах опыта. Белковый электрофоре показал, снижение активности общих для тканей корня, стебля и листьев изоформ пероксидаз. Отмечено снижение ферментативной активности изоформ, найденных в стеблях, в случае предобработки растений 300 µM, при этом активность специфичных для корня изоформ оставалась высокой во всех вариантах опыта. / The object of the study were tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum L.) grown under three different conditions: control (Knop's solution), Knop's solution with 100 µM CuSO4 and 300 µM CuSO4. The purpose of the work was to study the anatomical and morphological structure, the activity of antioxidant enzymes in tobacco plants after prolonged exposure to copper ions and their after-action, to assess the ability of tobacco to recover from stress. Seed germination, biomass and anatomical and morphological characteristics of the root, stem and leaf were studied. Biochemical parameters were determined (the content of hydrogen peroxide and phenolic compounds, the activity of enzymes - CAT, APX, SOD, cytosolic and apoplastic GPX and BPX). The study gives an idea of how the germination, anatomical, morphological and biochemical parameters of N. tabacum plants change under the influence of copper ions. It was revealed that exposure to 100 μm led to an increase in root biomass, whereas the length of roots, height of stems, thickness of roots and stems, as well as leaf area were decreased. The effect of 300 μM led to even lower decrease in these parameters, as well as a decrease in dry weight of stems and leaves. The content of hydrogen peroxide and the level of lipid peroxidation increased upon exposure to 100 and 300 µM. The content of phenolic compounds decreased in roots at 100 µM and increased in roots and leaves at 300 µM and 100 µM, respectively. The influence of copper ions activated the work of antioxidant defense enzymes - APO and CAT in the whole plant, cytosolic GPO and apoplastic GPO and BPO in the roots, at the same time, SOD activity decreased in both variants of the experiment. Protein electrophoresis showed a decrease in the activity of peroxidase isoforms common for the root, stem and leaves. A decrease in the enzymatic activity of the peroxidase isoforms found in the stems was noted in plants pretreated with 300 μM, while activity of the root specific isoforms remained high in all variants of the experiment.

Background: The heme enzyme lactoperoxidase is found in body secretions where it significantly contributes to the humoral immune response against pathogens. After activation the peroxidase oxidizes thiocyanate to hypothiocyanite which is known for its microbicidal properties. Yet several pathologies are accompanied by a disturbed hypothiocyanite production which results in a reduced immune defense. Methods: The results were obtained by measuring enzyme-kinetic parameters using UV–vis spectroscopy and a standardized enzyme-kinetic test system as well as by the determination of second order rate constants using stopped-flow spectroscopy. Results: In this study we systematically tested thirty aromatic substrates for their efficiency to promote the lactoperoxidase-mediated hypothiocyanite production by restoring the native ferric enzyme state. Thereby hydrophobic compounds with a 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl partial structure such ashydroxytyrosol and selected flavonoids emerged as highly efficient promotors of the (pseudo-)halogenating lactoperoxidase activity. Conclusions: This study discusses important structure-function relationships of efficient aromatic LPO substrates and may contribute to the development of new agents to promote lactoperoxidase activity in secretory fluids of patients. Significance: This study may contribute to a better understanding of the (patho-)physiological importance of the (pseudo-)halogenating lactoperoxidase activity. The presented results may in future lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies which, by reactivating lactoperoxidase-derived hypothiocyanite production, promote the immunological activity of this enzyme.