Les mégacaryocytes sont des cellules de la moelle osseuse qui par un processus complexe et encore mal caractérisé, mégacaryopoïèse/thrombopoïèse, donnent naissance, in fine, aux plaquettes sanguines. La différenciation mégacaryocytaire nécessite un intense remodelage nucléaire et cytoplasmique, guidé à la fois par des facteurs intrinsèques mais aussi par des facteurs extrinsèques tel que le microenvironnement médullaire. Les plaquettes sanguines sont des acteurs essentiels du maintien de l'intégrité vasculaire. Elles sont les premiers éléments cellulaires à intervenir dans l'arrêt du saignement lors d'une blessure vasculaire par la formation d'un thrombus via des mécanismes d'adhésion, de sécrétion et d'agrégation, trois étapes majeures de l'hémostase physiologique. Dans un premier temps, mes travaux de thèse visent à déterminer le rôle inconnu de l'isoforme alpha des PI3Ks de classe II (PI3KC2a), de la PI3K de classe III (Vps34) et de leur produit, le phosphatidylinositol 3 monophosphate (PI3P), dans la production et les fonctions plaquettaires. Grâce à un modèle murin présentant une inactivation partielle de la PI3KC2a, j'ai mis en évidence son rôle clé dans la génération d'un pool basal de PI3P dans les plaquettes. L'inactivation de la PI3KC2a affecte la composition du cortex sous-membranaire plaquettaire induisant une morphologie plaquettaire anormale, une accumulation de plaquettes à deux corps appelées " barbell-shaped proplatelets ", un défaut de formation du thrombus ex vivo et un retard d'occlusion de la carotide après lésion in vivo. Ainsi, la PI3KC2a joue un rôle majeur dans le maintien de l'intégrité du squelette membranaire contrôlant la structure et la dynamique membranaire, processus critique à la production de plaquettes fonctionnelles. D'autre part, la délétion de Vps34 spécifiquement dans la lignée mégacaryocyte/plaquette se traduit par une microthrombopénie modérée associée à une migration anormale des mégacaryocytes liées à un défaut de trafic vésiculaire et une diminution du taux de PI3P. De façon intéressante, Vps34 joue aussi un rôle dans l'activation plaquettaire en régulant la production de PI3P sous stimulation, la croissance du thrombus ex vivo et les capacités thrombotiques in vivo. Le rôle de Vps34 dans la plaquette indépendamment de son rôle dans le mégacaryocyte a été confirmé via l'utilisation de nouveaux inhibiteurs spécifiques de Vps34, SAR405 et INH1, ex vivo. Vps34 est donc critique dans la régulation de la production plaquettaire par les mégacaryocytes ainsi que dans l'activation plaquettaire. Dans un deuxième temps, je me suis intéressé à l'impact du microenvironnement médullaire sur la mégacaryopoïèse, et plus spécifiquement sur la communication entre adipocytes médullaires et progéniteurs hématopoïétiques lors de leur différenciation en mégacaryocytes. Grace à un système de coculture in vitro, j'ai montré que les adipocytes améliorent la différenciation mégacaryocytaire via un transfert direct de lipides, dans un but non-énergétique. Dans un contexte d'obésité, nous observons, in vivo, associée à une adiposité médullaire augmentée une maturation mégacaryocytaire exacerbée, une production et une demi-vie plaquettaire défectueuses ayant pour conséquence une macrothrombopénie. Ainsi, le microenvironnement médullaire et plus particulièrement l'adipocyte impacte directement sur la mégacaryopoïèse et la production plaquettaire. En conclusion, ces travaux de thèse contribuent à caractériser les mécanismes de production et de fonction plaquettaire régulés par des facteurs intrinsèques tels que le PI3KC2a et Vps34, ainsi que par des facteurs extrinsèques tels que l'adipocyte médullaire. / Megakaryopoiesis is a highly specialised and complex process occurring in the bone marrow, by which megakaryocytes give rise to de novo circulating blood platelets. Megakaryocyte differentiation implies cytoplasmic and nuclear rearrangements regulated by intrinsic as well as extrinsic factors such as bone marrow microenvironment. Platelets play a critical role in preventing blood loss after vascular injury by orchestrating clot formation through mechanisms of adhesion, secretion and aggregation. These mechanisms are the three major steps of physiological haemostasis leading to the maintenance of vascular integrity. Firstly, my thesis work focused on characterizing the role of class II PI3K alpha isoform (PI3KC2a), class III PI3K (Vps34) and their common product the phosphatidylinositol 3 monophosphate (PI3P) in platelet production and function. Using a unique mouse model partially inactivated for PI3KC2a, I highlighted its key role in the production of a basal PI3P housekeeping pool in platelets. PI3KC2a partial inactivation affects platelet membrane skeleton composition leading to an abnormal platelet morphology, an enrichment of platelet with two cell bodies recently called "barbell-shaped proplatelets", an ex vivo defective thrombus formation and an in vivo delayed carotid occlusion following injury. Thus, PI3KC2a plays a major role in membrane structure and dynamics by maintaining membrane skeleton integrity, which is crucial for functional platelet production. On the other hand, Vps34 specific deletion in megakaryocyte/platelet lineage induced mild microthombopenia correlated to an abnormal megakaryocyte migration linked to an affected PI3P production as well as vesicular trafficking in megakaryocytes. In platelets, Vps34 plays a role in their activation by regulating PI3P production under stimulation, ex vivo thrombus growth and in vivo thrombotic capacity. Vps34 role in platelet independently from its role in megakaryocyte was confirmed using two recently developed inhibitors, SAR405 and INH1, which reproduced ex vivo thrombus growth defects. Therefore, Vps34 is critical for platelet production by megakaryocyte as well as platelet activation. Secondly, I studied the impact of bone marrow microenvironment on megakaryopoiesis and more specifically the crosstalk between medullar adipocytes and hematopoietic progenitors differentiating towards the megakaryocyte lineage. Using an in vitro coculture assay, I demonstrated that adipocytes enhanced megakaryocyte differentiation through a direct lipid transfer, in a non-energetic aim. In the context of obesity, increased marrow adipocity is associated to enhanced megakaryocyte differentiation and defective platelet production and lifespan leading to macrothrombopenia. Thus, bone marrow microenvironment through adipocytes impact directly on megakaryopoiesis and platelet production. Altogether my thesis work contributes to better understand platelet production and function, mechanisms regulated by intrinsic factors such as PI3KC2a and Vps34 as well as extrinsic factors like medullar adipocytes.

Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV), the prototypic β-herpesvirus, is the most common cause of congenital infections as well as morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. The anti-HCMV drugs currently available have a number of drawbacks (i.e. detrimental side-effects and/or the appearance of drug resistant strains), which limit their clinical usefulness. Therefore, a better understanding of host-virus interactions is important to develop new, safe and effective ways to treat HCMV. HCMV has evolved various strategies to make the host cell more conducive for the replication process, many of these involve modulation of host signalling pathways through proteins or non-coding RNAs. The focus of this thesis is on the regulation of one class of non-coding RNA, microRNAs (miRNA) by HCMV as well as murine CMV (MCMV). miRNAs are short ~22 nucleotide RNA sequences, which negatively regulate the stability and translational efficiency of specific target messenger RNAs (mRNAs). It has been previously shown that three host-encoded miRNAs, miR-199-3p, miR-199-5p and miR-214, are down-regulated in both MCMV and HCMV infected cells. Despite the biological and genomic differences between the two viruses, this down-regulation occurs in both infections, suggesting a possible conserved antiviral role of the miRNAs in mouse and human cells. Consistent with this, miR-199-3p and miR-214 manifest antiviral properties against MCMV and HCMV when over-expressed in vitro. This thesis investigates two hypotheses: 1) CMV down-regulates the expression of these host miRNAs through a mechanism involving viral factors, 2) The down-regulation of miR-199-3p leads to the up-regulation of its targets and this influences the cell in a way that favours some aspect of the viral life cycle. The first part of this project examined the regulation of miR-199-3p, miR-199-5p, and miR-214, which derive from a single primary transcript (pri-miRNA). The down-regulation of all three miRNAs was found to occur at the transcriptional level by 4 hours post infection. The promoter of the miR-199a/214 cluster was therefore cloned into a reporter vector in order to interrogate the factors regulating transcription of pri-miRNA in infection; this was carried out in the murine model based on availability of reagents. The reduction in the pri-miRNA was found to correlate with a decrease in the transcriptional activity of miR-199a/214 promoter in infected cells. Further analysis revealed the presence of a sequence between -421 to -273 relative to the transcription start site (TSS) that was critical for promoter activity. This sequence contains a putative serum response element (SRE), which includes two binding sites for the SRF dimer (serum response factor) and a binding site for a molecule of TCF (ternary complex factor), ELK-1. Initial knock-down studies suggest that these transcription factors are required for basal activity but it remains unknown whether they are involved in the differential expression of miR-199a/214 observed during infection. Another binding site for the transcription factor TWIST-1 was found outside this region, which is known to regulate the miR-199a/214 cluster in other cell types. Western blot analysis showed reduced expression of TWIST-1 in cells infected with HCMV and MCMV infections, by 24 and 48 hours, respectively, suggesting a role of TWIST-1 in regulating miR-199a/214 cluster during these infections. This regulation seems to be dependent on viral gene expression, as a replication deficient viral mutant fails to repress the promoter function and subsequent pri-miRNA production. Taken together, these results suggest an active viral mechanism for transcriptional repression of the miR-199a/214 promoter. To understand the antiviral function of miR-199-3p, the second part of this thesis examined whether miR-199-3p regulates host signalling pathways important for CMV replication and/or the life cycle. A microarray analysis was carried out with samples from cells transfected with miR- 199-3p mimic versus inhibitor. This revealed 198 genes significantly down-regulated by the miRNA. From the 198 genes, Ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) software identified several host pathways with a potential role in HCMV infection including: PI3K/AKT signalling, the ERK-MAPK cascade, and prostaglandin production. This thesis examined the role of miR-199-3p in regulating the PI3K/AKT pathway in HCMV infection. It was found that miR-199-3p modulates the phosphorylation of the central regulator of PI3K/AKT signalling, AKT. Transfection of miR-199-3p before the infection impedes the complete phosphorylation of AKT, which is known to be required for the immediate early viral gene expression and replication. This provides an explanation for the antiviral function of miR-199-3p, through its ability to modulate AKT phosphorylation. An open question, however, is how the natural down-regulation of miR-199-3p from 24 to 72 hours post infection naturally affects AKT phosphorylation. Several predicted targets of miR-199-3p, such as PIK3CB, ITGA3, and ITGA6 were shown to be up-regulated at these late time points, correlating with the miR-199-3p down-regulation. The interaction of miR-199-3p with target sites in the 3′UTRs of PIK3CB and ITGA3 was validated by luciferase reporter assays and western blotting and qRT-PCR results indicated that protein and mRNA levels of ITGA6 were regulated by miR-199-3p mimic transfection. However, the knock-down of these three targets did not result in a significant decrease of the viral growth, and thus cannot alone explain the antiviral function of miR-199-3p. Overall, this study suggests that the transcriptional repression of miR- 199a/214 is likely a strategy employed by CMV to support its own growth through attenuating the biological effect of miR-199-3p within the host cell.

Thesis advisor: Mary F. Roberts / The phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) from Listeria monocytogenes (a monomer in solution) shows unusual kinetic properties compared to other well-studied phospholipases: (i) increased specific activity with decreasing protein concentration, (ii) activation of the phosphotransferase step by salts, and (iii) activation of both the interfacial phosphotransferase and water-soluble phosphodiesterase steps by zwitterionic and neutral amphiphiles. A variety of biophysical studies (fluorescence, NMR, monolayer, vesicle binding) of enzyme/lipid complexes coupled with kinetics have allowed us to propose a model that accounts for these features. The enzyme binds tightly to anionic surfaces and much more weakly to a zwitterionic interface. The tight binding can be reduced by adding KCl at concentrations that activate the enzyme. In the crystal structure of the enzyme, many basic residues are clustered on the sides and bottom of TIM-barrel far away from the opening to the active site. These cause the enzyme to adopt a non-productive orientation on negatively charged membranes that leads to a reversible clustering of anionic lipids and vesicle aggregation. An increased surface concentration of zwitterionic / neutral amphiphiles along with the salt disperses the anionic substrate, shields charges on the protein, and enhances productive encounters of the protein with substrate molecules. This model has been tested by examining the behavior of enzyme with citraconylated lysines and mutants of neutral surface residues at the rim of the active site. The unusual kinetic behavior of this PI-PLC also appears to contribute to the escape of L. monocytogenes from vacuoles during infection. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2008. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Chemistry.

Although phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphoinositides (PIPs) only comprise a small percentage of the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane, they mediate a large variety of signaling events. In previous studies, we have observed the absence of macroscopically discernible domains in mixtures of PI/PC and PI(4,5)P2/PC. The addition of cholesterol to these mixtures results in condensation of the monolayer and hence domain formation. To better mimic the ionic conditions and hydrogen bonding properties of the inner leaflet plasma membrane, we investigated in this study the effect of common inner leaflet plasma membrane lipids like phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylserine (PS) and PI, on phosphoinositide domain behavior in the presence of cholesterol and/or bivalent cations.

Ulm, Univ., Diss., 2008.

Zugl.: Berlin, Humboldt-Univ., Diss., 2008

Berlin, Freie Universiẗat, Diss., 2000. / Dateiformat: zip, Dateien im PDF-Format.

The genus Phytophthora contains a large number of species that are known plant pathogens of a variety of important crops. Phytophthora sojae, a hemibiotroph, causes approximately 1-2 billion dollars (US) of lost soybean world-wide each year. P. infestans, the causative agent of the Irish potato famine, is responsible for over 5 billion dollars (US) worth of lost potato each year. These destructive plant pathogens facilitate pathogenesis through the use of small secreted proteins known as effector proteins. A large subset of effector proteins is able to translocate into host cells and target plant defense pathways. P. sojae Avr1b is able to suppress cell death triggered by BAX and hydrogen peroxide. The W-domain of Avr1b is responsible for this functionality, and is recognized by the Rps1b gene product to induce effector triggered immunity. These oomycete effector proteins translocate into host cells via a highly conserved N-terminal motif known as RXLR-dEER without the use of any pathogen encoded machinery. In fungi an RXLR-like motif exists, [R,K,H] X [L,F,Y,M,~I] X, that is able to facilitate translocation without pathogen encoded machinery. Both functional RXLR and RXLR-like motifs are able to bind phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate (PtdIns- 3-P) to mediate entry into host cells. The use of novel inhibitory mechanisms has shown effector entry can be blocked either by sequestering PtdIns-3-P on the outer leaflet of plant and animal cells or by competitive inhibition of the binding pocket of the RXLR or RXLR-like motifs. / Ph. D.

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden ausgehend von HIV-1 basierten Minigenkonstrukten und der proviralen NL4-3 DNA die Einflüsse der PI3K Signalwegmodulation auf das alternative Spleißen der HIV-1 prä-mRNA sowie auf die Virus Replikation untersucht. Mittels RT-PCR Analysen konnte gezeigt werden, dass die PI3K Inhibition im Falle der HIV-1 basierten Minigenkonstrukte in einer erhöhten Abundanz ungespleißter bzw. intronhaltiger mRNAs resultierte, während im Kontext des Virus die Induktion alternativer Tat Transkriptvarianten nachgewiesen werden konnte. Als Folge der Inhibition des PI3K Signalwegs kam es zu einem vermehrten Einschluss der HIV-1 Leader Exone2/2b und 3. Da der Einschluss dieser Exone durch die hnRNP A/B- und F/H-abhängigen Silencer Elemente ESSV und GI2-1 negativ reguliert wird, wurde vermutet, dass die PI3K Inhibition mit der Funktionalität dieser spleißregulatorischen Aktivität interferiert. Unterstützt wurde diese Hypothese durch Replikationsexperimente mit ESSV und GI2-1 Mutanten in Gegenwart und Abwesenheit des PI3K-Inhibitors. Zusätzlich wurde auch der Einfluss des Inhibitors unter Überexpressionsbedingungen von hnRNP H auf das alternative HIV-1 Spleißen analysiert. In dieser Arbeit konnte ebenfalls gezeigt werden, dass die PI3K Inhibition ein verändertes hnRNP H Spleißmuster bedingt sowie die SR-Protein Phosphorylierung und Expression beeinflusst. Des Weiteren war es im Verlauf der vorliegenden Arbeit möglich, eine Interferenz der PI3K Modulation mit der Virus Replikation nachzuweisen. Die Überexpression der aktivierten Akt-Kinase lies hier nur eine sehr geringe Virus Produktion zu während die PI3K Inhibition diese auf ca. die Hälfte reduzierte. Weiterführende Experimente zeigten, dass die Überexpression der aktivierten Akt-Kinase den nuklearen Export Rev-abhängiger HIV-1 mRNAs zu blockieren scheint. Darüber hinaus beeinflusste die PI3K Inhibition neben dem alternativen HIV-1 Spleißen auch die virale Transkription sowie die zelluläre Translation. Zusammen könnten diese Effekte die reduzierte virale Replikation erklären. Der PI3K Signalweg spielt somit eine zentrale Rolle bei dem alternativen HIV-1 Spleißen und der viralen Replikation und bietet so die Möglichkeit der Entwicklung neuer Ansätze einer antiviralen Therapie. / In this thesis outgoing from HIV-1 based minigenes and the proviral NL4-3 DNA the influences of the PI3K signaling modulation on the alternative HIV-1 pre-mRNA splicing and also the viral replication were investigated. By performing RT-PCR analysis it could be shown that in the case of the minigene experiments the PI3K inhibition displayed an increased amount of unspliced or intron containing mRNAs, while the production of alternative Tat variants was demonstrated in the context of the virus. As a result of the PI3K inhibition an increased inclusion of the HIV-1 leader exons2/2b and 3 was observed. Because the inclusion of these exons is negatively regulated by the hnRNP H/F- and hnRNP A/B-dependent silencere elements ESSV and GI2-1, it was suggested that the PI3K inhibition interferes with the functionality of this splicing regulatory activity. Replication experiments either with GI2-1 or ESSV mutants in the presence or absence of the PI3K-Inhibitior supported this hypothesis. In addition, the influence of the inhibitor on the alternative HIV-1 splicing was analyzed under hnRNP H overexpression conditions. Furthermore, it was shown that the hnRNP H splicing pattern as well as the SR-protein phosphorylation and expression were altered as a consequence of the PI3K inhibition. During this thesis an interference of the PI3K modulation with the viral replication was also shown. The overexpression of the activated Akt kinase nearly prevented viral production while the PI3K inhibition reduced viral production by half. In further experiments it was shown that the overexpression of the activated Akt kinase seems to block the nuclear export of Rev-dependent HIV-1 mRNAs. In addition, beside the effect on the viral splicing pattern the PI3K inhibition also showed an influence on the viral transcription and the cellular translation suggesting that the sum of all these effects could contribute to the reduced virus production. These findings demonstrate that the PI3K signaling pathway has indeed a central influence on the alternative HIV-1 splicing as well as on the viral replication and may offer a new approach for antiviral therapy.

Phosphatidylinositol is a a minor membrane component of eukaryotic cells, however, it plays a crucial role in cell signaling pathways as a precursor for a number of signaling molecules and second messengers. Among the most significant ones are phosphoinositides created by phosphorylation of the hydroxyl groups of phosphatidylinositol at positions 3,4, and 5 of the inositol ring. Despite its significance, the spatial and temporal distribution and dynamics of phosphatidylinositol remains unclear owing mainly to the lack of a specific optical probe (biosensor) to visualize phosphatidylinositol in living cells. Biosensor for inositol phospholipids are based on lipid-binding domains of their effector proteins with high enough affinity and specificity for a given phosphoinositide - but nosuch domain is known for PI. However, an enzyme - phosphatidylinositol-dependent phospholipase C - that specifically recognizes phosphatidylinositol is known. This enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol into diacylglycerol and inositol 1-phosphate and unlike eukaryotic homologs does not act upon the phosphorylated forms of phosphatidylinositol. The main aim of this thesis was to solve the structures of several inactive mutant forms of phospholipase C from Bacillus cereus complexed to myo-inositol which...