Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:26:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-08-21Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:54:00Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 giusti_j_me_jabo.pdf: 404389 bytes, checksum: 4ca4ff97dca68401b3e43806b72f5f85 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Todas as características de um organismo vivo são controladas pela expressão de genes específicos, e na qualidade da carne não é diferente. O presente estudo teve como objetivo correlacionar a expressão dos genes μ-Calpaína (CALP 1), m-Calpaína (CALP 2), Calpastatina (CAST), Tireoglobulina (TG), Diacilglicerol aciltransferase 1 (DGAT1) e a Leptina (LEP) com a qualidade da carne do Longissimus dorsi em dois grupos genéticos: Nelore (Bos indicus) e Canchim (5/8 de Bos taurus x 3/8 Bos indicus) em dois períodos (carne não maturada e com sete dias de maturação), e utilizá-la como marcador genético. Foram analisados 30 touros jovens, 15 Nelore e 15 Canchim, todos mantidos nas instalações do confinamento experimental da FMVZ-UNESP Botucatu, recebendo a mesma dieta e mesmo manejo. Alcançando peso de 370 kg e espessura de gordura de cobertura de 4 mm, foram abatidos e amostras do músculo Longissimus dorsi foram coletadas para análises de: lipídeos totais (LT), força de cisalhamento (FC), índice de fragmentação miofibrilar (MFI) e análise da expressão gênica por RT-qPCR. Entre as características de qualidade da carne, LT e MFI0 apresentaram diferença entre as raças (P<0,01), sendo MFI0 superior no Canchim e LT no Nelore. Quanto à expressão gênica, as CALPs não mostraram expressão diferencial entre os grupos (P>0,05), assim como DGAT1, TG e LEP. CAST foi mais expresso na raça Nelore (P<0,05). Quanto às correlações, foi observada apenas uma positiva entre DGAT1 e MFI0 (r=0,79, P<0,01) no Canchim. Diante dos resultados, sugere-se que a maior expressão de CAST no Nelore propiciou aos animais uma carne mais dura, quando comparados ao Canchim, e que a expressão gênica não pode ser usada como um marcador genético / All the features of a living organism are controlled by the expression of specific genes, and the quality of the meat is no different. The present study was performed to correlate gene expression μ-calpain (CALP 1), m-calpain (CALP 2), calpastatin (CAST), thyroglobulin (TG), Diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGTA1) and leptin (LEP) with the meat quality of Longissimus dorsi muscle in two genetic groups: Nellore (Bos indicus) and Canchim (5/8 Bos taurus x 3/8 Bos indicus) in two periods, and use it as a genetic marker. We analyzed 30 young bulls, 15 and 15 Canchim Nellore. The animals were kept on the installation of the experimental confinement FMVZ-UNESP-Botucatu, receiving the same diet and management. When reached a weight of approximately 370 kg and a subcutaneous fat thickness of 4 mm, they were slaughtered and samples of the Longissimus dorsi muscle were collected for analysis of the: total lipids (TL), shear force (SF), myofibrillar fragmentation index (MFI) and analysis of gene expression by RT-qPCR. Among the characteristics of meat quality, LT and MFI0 showed differences between breeds (P<0,01), higher MFI0 in Canchim and LT higher in Nellore. Regarding gene expression, the CALPs showed no differential expression between groups (P>0.05), as well as DGAT1, TG, and LEP. CAST was more expressed in Nellore (P<0.05). Regarding the correlation was only observed a positive relationship between DGAT1 and MFI0 (r = 0.79, P <0.01) in Canchim. Considering the results, it is suggested that the increased expression of CAST in Nellore animals led to a tougher meat compared to Canchim, and that gene expression can not be used as a genetic marker

Enzimas são biocatalisadores específicos que são utilizadas em vários campos de atuação, desde a indústria de alimentos, até na formulação de detergentes. As proteases são biocatalisadores de grande interesse comercial na indústria, movimentando bilhões de dólares com produção de toneladas de detergentes para diferentes aplicações. A demana de proteases no mercado brasileiro promove pesquisas como também o empreendorismo nesse segmento embora mais investimentos por parte das agências do governo devem ser necessárias. A potencialidade da matéria prima renovável e o aumento do desenvolviemnto de tecnologias para enzimas, como o conhecimento sobre a conformação protéica e estabilidade com atividades catalítica são as bases que podem promover a exportação de enzimas. Ligações de hidrogênio, forças iônicas e de van der Walls, como também as interações hodrofóbicas precisam ser matindas entre os amimoácidos para gerenciar a conformação espacial das enzimas, evitando desnaturação protéica. No processo de formulação, é necessário investigar a interrrelação de parâmetros físicos e aditivos químicos cujas variáveis são importantes para manter a estabilidade da conformação espacial, adicionando elementos como conservantes, sais, polímeros, surfactantes, solventes, detergentes e outros elementos para manter a estrutura da enzima. Nesse trabalho foram analizadas as composições de três bioprodutos dispostos no mercado brasileiro para lavagem de roupa. A presença de agentes ativos entre eles: enzimas e tensioativos e, a interação entre esses aditivos durante o armazenamento e as condições operacionais promovem as respectivas diferenças e características que impulsionam a competitividade desses produtos. / Enzymes are specific biocatalysts that work in wide field of applications as food industry as detergent formulation. The proteases represents an important commercial bioproduct used in industry, managing billion of dollars year by year, producing tons of detergents for different applications. Enzymatic reactions are processed under mild temperature and pressure with great commercial interest, being these catalysts biodegradable. The proteases demand in the brazilian market promoves the researches, as the entrepreneurship in this area althought more investments from government agencies must be necessary. The potenciality in renewable raw material and the increase of development of enzyme technologies are the bases that can promove the enzymes exportation. Hydrogen and disulfide bonds, van der Waals and ionic powers, as well as hydrophobic interactions need to be keeped among these amino acids to manage the spacial conformation of the enzymes, avoiding the inactivation or the protein desnaturation. The formulation process need of physical and chemical managements to promove the stability of the protein chains to try to protect the catalytic site and the spacial structure, adding elements like preservatives, salts, polymers, surfactantes, solvents, detergents and others elements to manage the structure of the enzyme in this process of formulation is necessary. In this work was analyzed the chemical composition of three bioprocts sold in the brazilian market used for domestic laundry, the presence of the main active agents among them like: enzymes, tensioactives and others, and the interaction these additives during the formulation process that could promove the respective differences and characteristics that make these products competitive.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / As refinarias de petróleo, assim como outros processos industriais em grande escala, são fontes potenciais de poluição ambiental. Os acidentes ocorridos com derramamento de petróleo e seus derivados no Brasil, no período de 1975 a 2012, somam milhões de litros de poluentes que promoveram a contaminação de solos, rios e mar. Os processos fisíco-químicos tais como, a centrifugação, ultrafiltração e flotação por ar dissolvido (FAD), podem ser eficazes quando usados para separar óleos emulsionados. Nesse sentido, o processo de FAD continua sendo amplamente utilizado nas indústrias, tanto para águas de abastecimento como para águas residuárias. A FAD pode ser considerada como uma tecnologia limpa, uma vez que utiliza pequenas quantidades de coagulantes e ar para promover a separação. A utilização de coletores/coagulantes é essencial para melhorar a eficiência do processo, tendo em vista suas características específicas que facilitam a adesão das partículas e, consequentemente, a separação dos poluentes. Por outro lado, esses coletores químicos são tóxicos, fator que representa um agravante no sentido da geração de outros poluentes ambientais. Assim, os surfactantes microbianos ou biossurfactantes, biomoléculas anfipáticas produzidas por bactérias e leveduras, em detrimento dos coagulantes sintéticos, apresentam-se como uma tecnologia sustentável e promissora no aumento de eficiência da flotação. Essas biomoéculas, além de serem muito eficientes, são biodegradáveis e atóxicas, motivando as pesquisas no sentido de produzir e utilizar cada vez mais esses agentes tensoativos. Dessa forma, o presente trabalho foi desenvolvido na busca de uma estratégia para comparar as eficiências de separação água/derivado de petróleo por FAD, em escala piloto, com e sem a adição de um biossurfactante. De acordo com os resultados obtidos, o biossurfactante produzido por Candida sphaerica cultivada em residuos industriais foi considerado adequado como coletor do processo de separação. A utilização da biomolécula elevou a eficiência do processo de FAD de 80,0% para 98,0%, proporcionando a determinação das melhores condições operacionais. Dessa forma, concluiu-se que o uso de biossurfactantes como auxiliares na flotação constitui uma alternativa promissora na mitigação da poluição provocada pelo derramamento de petróleo e derivados em ambientes marinhos. / Oil refineries, as well as other large-scale industrial processes, are potential sources of environmental pollution. Accidents involving spills of oil and oil products in Brazil, in the period 1975-2012, add infective million liters of soil, rivers and sea. In this sense, the process of dissolved air flotation (DAF) is still widely used in industry, both for water supply and for wastewater. The physico-chemical processes such as centrifugation, ultrafiltration and dissolved air flotation (DAF), can be effective when used to separate emulsified oils. The effluent from the oily water type cause many environmental problems, particularly in thermal power plants (TPPs). Thus the aim of the study was to propose the separation water/oil by FAD in pilot scale and to compare the efficiency of the pilot prototype of FAD with and without addition of biosurfactant separation of oily waste waters. According the results, the biosurfactant produced by Candida sphaerica was selected, this being cultivated in using low cost industrial waste. Use of this bioproduct increased the efficiency of the flotation 80.0% to 98.0 %, to provide better determination of the operating conditions. Thus, it is suggested that the use of biosurfactants as auxiliary flotation is a promising alternative for the mitigation of pollution caused by the accumulation of synthetic surfactants in the environment.

Submitted by Jean Medeiros (jeanletras@uepb.edu.br) on 2018-04-11T14:25:22Z No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Suellen Emilliany Feitosa Machado.pdf: 24739108 bytes, checksum: 438a71a15a2d959f1a98b9e35d78fdb3 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Secta BC (secta.csu.bc@uepb.edu.br) on 2018-04-23T20:27:13Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Suellen Emilliany Feitosa Machado.pdf: 24739108 bytes, checksum: 438a71a15a2d959f1a98b9e35d78fdb3 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-23T20:27:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Suellen Emilliany Feitosa Machado.pdf: 24739108 bytes, checksum: 438a71a15a2d959f1a98b9e35d78fdb3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-03-02 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Proteases are essential constituents of all living beings, since they are involved in essential biological processes such as blood clotting, cell death, tissue differentiation, protein transport across the membrane etc. They also have important biotechnological applicability, because they can be used in food processing, manufacture of detergents, leather processing, meat softening, drug formulation, in the textile industry etc. These enzymes represents about 60% of the global market for industrial enzymes; so, they are considered an important group of enzymes. This work was divided into two stages and aimed to isolate filamentous fungi collected from coconut trees and soil from a coconut located in Varzeas de Sousa, Paraiba, Brazil and do a screening for the production of proteases and to evaluate, in a bioreactor, the production of proteases by the yeast Rhodotorula mucilaginosa L07. In all, 32 fungi were isolated in Paraiba semiarid. They were grown in rotary shaker and sent to the analysis of proteolytic activity. The specie, originally called Fung1, showed better results in the qualitative stage and was taken to the molecular identification and selected for production in rotary shaker (30°C / 200rpm / 240h). R. mucilaginosa L07, originally from Antarctica, was cultivated in a bioreactor (25°C / 72h), varying agitation and aeration. The maximum enzyme activity by the Fung1, identified as Aspergillus tubingensis, was 29 U.mL^-1, after 144h cultivation. This fungus is not a fumonisin B2 and ochratoxin A producer. The greatest value of proteolytic activity of R. mucilaginosa L07 was 124.88 U.mL^-1 with agitation of 500rpm and aeration 1,0vvm. The results indicated that A. tubingensis produces proteases, but other studies are needed to optimize production and classify proteases. The supply of oxygen to R. mucilaginosa L07 were positive for proteolytic activity, because it increased from 33.36 to 124.88 U.mL^-1 in rotary shaker and bioreactor, respectively. / Proteases são constituintes essenciais em todos os seres vivos, pois estão envolvidas em processos biológicos essenciais como coagulação sanguínea, morte celular, diferenciação de tecidos, transporte de proteínas através da membrana etc. Também possuem importante aplicabilidade biotecnológica, pois podem ser usadas no processamento de alimentos, formulação de detergentes, processamento de couro, amaciamento de carnes, formulação de medicamentos, na indústria têxtil etc. Por representarem aproximadamente 60% do mercado mundial de enzimas industriais, são consideradas um importante grupo de enzimas. Este trabalho foi dividido em duas etapas e objetivou isolar fungos filamentosos coletados em coqueiros e solo de um coqueiral localizado nas Várzeas de Sousa, Paraíba, Brasil e fazer um screening quanto à produção de proteases, além de avaliar, em biorreator, a produção de proteases pela levedura Rhodotorula mucilaginosa L07. Ao todo, 32 fungos foram isolados no semiárido paraibano, cultivados em agitador rotatório e encaminhados à análise da atividade proteolítica. A espécie inicialmente denominada Fung1 apresentou melhor resultado na etapa qualitativa, foi encaminhada à identificação molecular e selecionada para a produção em agitador rotatório (30°C/ 200rpm/ 240h). A R. mucilaginosa L07, coletadada na Antártida, foi cultivada em biorreator (25°C/ 72h), variando agitação e aeração. A atividade enzimática máxima do Fung1, identificado como Aspergillus tubingensis, foi 29 U.mL , após 144h de cultivo. Este fungo não é produtor de fumonisina B2 e ocratoxina A. O maior valor de atividade proteolítica da R. mucilaginosa L07 foi de 124,88 U.mL^-1 , com agitação de 500rpm e aeração de 1,0vvm. Os resultados indicaram que A. tubingensis produz proteases, porém outros estudos são necessários para otimizar a produção e classificar as proteases. O fornecimento de oxigênio em cultivos da R. mucilaginosa L07 foi positivo para a atividade proteolítica, pois a mesma aumentou de 33,36 para 124,88 U.mL^-1, em agitador rotatório e biorreator, respectivamente.

Com o objetivo de estudar a potencialidade do emprego de termolisina como catalisador nas reações de incorporação de N-acil-asparagina a ésteres de aminoácidos e peptídeos, foram sintetizados os seguintes di- e tripeptídeos: Boc-Asn-Ile-OBzl, Z-Asn-Ile-OBzl, Moz-Asn-Ile-OBzl, Boc-Asn-Leu- OBzl, Z-Asn-Leu-OBzl, Moz-Asn-Leu-OBzl, Z-Asn-Leu-OEt, Boc-Asn-Phe-OBzl, Z-Asn-Phe-OBzl, Moz-Asn-Phe-OBzl, Z-Asn-Phe- OEt, Z-Asn-Val-OBzl, Moz-Asp-Val-OBzl, Moz-Asn-Ile-Gly-OBzl, Moz-Asn-Ile-Ala-OBzl, Moz-Asn-Ile-Leu-OBzl e Moz-Asn- Ile-Phe-OBzl. Todos os peptídeos foram obtidos na forma pura, com bom rendimento e foram analisados e caracterizados por cromatografia em camada delgada, ponto de fusão, análise elementar, análise de aminoácidos e ressonância magnética protônica. Entre os grupos protetores de asparagina, benziloxicarbonil e p-metoxibenziloxicarbonil permitiram a obtenção dos dipeptídeos com excelentes rendimentos. Foi observado que os tripeptídeos requerem para a sua síntese menores concentração de enzima e tempo de reação em relação aos dipeptídeos. Não foi possível estabelecer a especificidade secundária da termolisina para o resíduo P\'2 pois os rendimentos dos tripeptídeos sintetizados não apresentaram diferença significativa. Foi também realizado um estudo metodológico para determinar as condições ótimas de síntese de Boc-Asn-Ile-OBzl, que consistiu em analisar a influência do pH, concentração de enzima, concentraçao e volume da solução de acetato de sódio, proporção entre os componentes carboxílico e amínico, temperatura e adição de solvente orgânico ao meio de reação. / With de objective of studying the potential for the use of thermolysin as a catalyst in reactions of incorporation of N-acyl-asparagine into esters of aminoacids and peptides, the following di- and tripeptides were synthesized: Boc-Asn-Ile-OBzl, Z-Asn-Ile-OBzl, Moz-Asn-Ile-OBzl, Boc-Asn-Leu-OBzl, Z-Asn-Leu-OBzI, Moz-Asn-Leu-OBzl, Z-Asn-Leu-OEt, Boc-Asn-Phe-OBzl,Z-Asn-Phe-OBzl, Moz-Asn-Phe-OBzl, Z-Z-Asn-Phe-OEt, Z-Asn-Val-OEt, Moz-Asn-Val-OBzl, Moz-Asn-Ile-Gly-OBzl, Moz-Asn-Ile-Ala-OBzl, Moz-Asn-Ile-Leu-OBzl e Moz-Asn-Ile-Phe-OBzl. All of these peptides were obtained in pure form in good yield and analyzed and characterized by thin layer chromatography, melting point, elemental analysis, aminoacid analysis and proton magnetic resonance. Among the protecting groups of asparagine, benzyloxycarbonyl and p-methoxybenzyloxycarbonyl gave excellent yields of the dipeptides. Relative to the dipeptides, the synthesis of the tripeptides was found to require lower enzyme concentrations and temperatures. Since the yields of the tripeptides failed to exhibit significant differences, it was not possible to establish the existence of a secondary specificity of thermolysin for the residue P\' 2 . A methodological study was also performed to determine the optimum conditions for synthesis of Boc-Asn-Ile-OBzl. This study consisted of an analysis of the influence of pH, enzyme concentration, concentration and volume of the solution of sodium acetate, relative proportions of the carboxyl and amino components, temperature, and addition of organic solvent to the reaction medium.

Orientador: Helia Harumi Sato / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia de Alimentos / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-06T15:33:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Fleuri_LucianaFrancisco_D.pdf: 2217112 bytes, checksum: 6e5410649f00f4a57c5ec78f758b6ebb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: O presente trabalho visou o estudo da produção, purificação e aplicação de b-1,3 glucanases, proteases e quitinases. A linhagem Cellulosimicrobium cellulans 191 foi utilizada para o estudo da produção de b-1,3 glucanases e quitinases e as linhagens B26 e C. cellulans 191 foram utilizadas para a produção de proteases, em meios de cultivo contendo diferentes indutores. Foram realizados planejamentos fatorias 23, e os fatores estudados foram: pH inicial, temperatura (oC) e agitação dos frascos. No planejamento experimental para a produção de b-1,3 glucanase foi verificado maior produção da enzima (0,64 U/mL) em meio de cultivo A composto por 2,0 g/L de (NH4)2SO4; 0,2 g/L de MgSO4.7H2O e 10 g/L de parede celular de levedura em tampão fosfato 0,2 M, pH 8,5, após 24 h de fermentação, a 33oC e 200 rpm. Nos planejamentos experimentais para a produção de protease pelas linhagens B26 e 191 foi verificado maior produção da enzima em meio de cultivo B composto por 2,0 g/L de (NH4)2SO4; 0,2 g/L de MgSO4.7H2O e 80 g/L de levedura seca utilizada como indutor em tampão fosfato 0,15 M, pH 6,5, após 30 h de fermentação a 20oC e 200 rpm, sendo obtido 5,01 U/mL e 4,25 U/mL, respectivamente. No planejamento experimental para a produção de quitinase foi verificado maior produção da enzima (7,06 U/mL) em meio de cultivo C composto por 4,0 g/L de extrato de levedura; 2,0 g/L de triptona; 4,0 g/L de MgSO4.7H2O; 1,2 g/L de KH2PO4; 2,8 g/L de K2HPO4 e 15 g/L de quitina neutralizada utilizada como indutor, com pH inicial de 5,5 após 72 h de fermentação a 25oC e 200 rpm. Todos os modelos obtidos foram preditivos e significativos a um nível de confiança de 95%. No estudo de produção das enzimas da linhagem C. cellulans 191 em fermentador de 5 L, a maior produção de b-1,3 glucanase, utilizando meio de cultivo A e 1,5 vvm e 3 vvm, foi respectivamente 0,32 U/mL e 0,72 U/mL, após 24 h de fermentação a 30oC. Na produção de protease em fermentador de 5 L, utilizando meio de cultivo B e 1,5 vvm foi obtido 1,87 U/mL e 2,34 U/mL, respectivamente, após 6 h e 30 h de fermentação a 30oC; enquanto que com 3 vvm, foi obtido 4,89 U/mL e 6,14 U/mL de protease após 6 h e 33 h de fermentação, a 30oC. Em fermentador de 5 L, a maior produção de quitinase em meio de cultivo C foi de 4,19 U/mL com 1,5 vvm após 168 h de fermentação e 4,38 U/mL de quitinase após 144 h de fermentação com 3 vvm, a 25oC. No estudo de produção de b-1,3 glucanases, proteases e quitinases da linhagem C. cellulans 191 em frascos agitados, em meios de cultivo A, B e C, foram produzidos respectivamente, 1,12 U/mL de b-1,3 glucanase; 4,2 U/mL de protease e 6,9 U/mL de quitinase. A b-1,3 glucanase (45 KDa) foi purificada 11,83 vezes com rendimento de 25% em resina de troca iônica DEAE-Sephadex A50. Na purificação das proteases em resina de troca iônica DEAE-Sephadex A50 foram obtidas três frações de proteases denominadas P1, P2 e P3. A fração P3 apresentou duas bandas de massas moleculares de 14 e 16 KDa em eletroforese SDS-PAGE. A quitinase (61 KDa) foi purificada cerca de 6,65 vezes com rendimento de 46,61% em resina de filtração em gel Sepharose CL4B200. A b-1,3 glucanase purificada apresentou atividade de lise de diversas leveduras e foi capaz de formar protoplastos da levedura Saccharomyces cerevisiae KL-88. O pré-tratamento das leveduras com protease P3 purificada não aumentou a lise das leveduras com a ß-1,3 glucanase. A quitinase purificada foi capaz de lisar células de algumas espécies de fungos em suspensão aquosa, mas não foi capaz de inibir, o crescimento dos fungos em placas de ágar batata dextrose. A preparação bruta de quitinase apresentou halo de inibição do crescimento de alguns fungos estudados. Os produtos formados pela reação da b-1,3 glucanase purificada sobre a laminarina e da protease purificada sobre a levedura seca apresentaram capacidade antioxidante / Abstract: The aim of this work was to study the production, purification and application of b-1,3 glucanases, proteases and chitinases. The strain Cellulosimicrobium cellulans 191 was used to study the production of b-1,3 glucanases and chitinases and strains B26 and C. cellulans 191 for the production of proteases, using culture media containing different inductors. 23 factorial experimental designs were performed and the factors studied were: initial pH, temperature (oC) and flask rotatory speed. In the experimental design for the production of b-1,3 glucanase, greater enzyme production (0.64 U/mL) was obtained in culture medium A containing 2.0 g/L (NH4)2SO4; 0.2 g/L MgSO4.7H2O and 10 g/L cell wall yeast in 0.2 M phosphate buffer, pH 8.5, after 24 h of fermentation at 33oC and 200 rpm. In the experimental design for the production of protease by strains B26 and 191, greater enzyme production was obtained in culture medium B containing 2.0 g/L (NH4)2SO4; 0.2 g/L de MgSO4.7H2O and 80 g/L dry yeast in 0.15 M phosphate buffer, pH 6.5, after 30 h of fermentation at 20oC and 200 rpm, with yields of 5.01 U/mL and 4.25 U/mL, respectively. In the experimental design for the production of chitinase, greater enzyme production (7.06 U/mL) was obtained in culture medium C containing 4.0 g/L yeast extract; 2.0 g/L tryptone; 4.0 g/L MgSO4.7H2O; 1.2 g/L KH2PO4; 2.8 g/L K2HPO4 and 15 g/L of neutralized chitin with an initial pH of 5.5, after 72 h of fermentation at 25oC and 200 rpm. All models obtained were predictive and significant at a confidence level of 95%. In the study on the production of enzymes from C. cellulans strain 191 in a 5 L fermenter, the highest productions of b-1,3 glucanase in medium A with 1.5 vvm and 3.0 vvm were 0.32 U/mL and 0.72 U/mL respectively, after 24 h of fermentation at 30oC. In the production of protease in a 5 L fermenter using culture medium B and 1.5 vvm, 1.87 U/mL and 2.34 U/mL were obtained after 6 h and 30 h respectively of fermentation at 30oC, whilst with 3 vvm, 4.89 U/mL and 6.14 U/mL of protease were obtained after 6 h and 33 h respectively of fermentation at 30oC. In a 5 L fermenter, the highest production of chitinase from C. cellulans strain 191 using 1.5 vvm was 4.19 U/mL after 168 h of fermentation, whilst with 3 vvm, the production was 4.38 U/mL of chitinase after 144 h of fermentation at 25oC. In the study on the production of b-1,3 glucanases, proteases and chitinases from C. cellulans strain 191 in shaken flasks and culture media A, B and C, 1.12 U/mL of b-1,3 glucanase; 4.2 U/mL of protease and 6.9 U/mL of chitinase were produced respectively. In the purification study, the b-1,3 glucanase (45 KDa) was purified 11.83 times with a yield of 25% using a DEAE-Sephadex A50 ion-exchange resin. In the purification of the proteases using the DEAE-Sephadex A50 ion-exchange resin, three protease fractions were obtained named P1, P2 and P3. Fraction P3 presented two proteins with molecular weights of 14 and 16 KDa in SDS-PAGE electrophoresis. The chitinase (61 KDa) was purified about 6.65 times with a yield of 46.61% in a Sepharose CL4B200 gel filtration resin. The purified b-1,3 glucanase presented lysis activity against several yeasts and was able to form protoplasts from the Saccharomyces cerevisiae KL-88 yeast. Pre-treatment of the yeasts with the purified protease P3 did not increase cell lysis by the b-1,3 glucanase. The purified chitinase was able to lyse the cell walls of some fungal species in aqueous suspension, but was not able to inhibit the growth of these fungi on potato dextrose agar plates. The crude chitinase preparation presented growth inhibition halos for some of the fungi studied. The products formed from the reaction between the purified b-1,3 glucanase and laminarin and between the purified protease and the dry yeast presented antioxidant power / Doutorado / Doutor em Ciência de Alimentos

M.Sc. / Proteinases are involved in many cellular reactions involving protein degradation, such as degradation of storage proteins and protein degradation during senescence processes. Their action can be inhibited by proteinase inhibitors. Information is still limited about the regulation of these inhibitors in plants and their possible interaction with proteinases under stress conditions. To obtain a better understanding of the physiological role of a proteinase inhibitor in plants under stress, the expression of a papaya cysteine proteinase inhibitor (cystatin) and its relation to proteinase expression was investigated in more detail. For this purpose, expression of the inhibitor was studied in papaya plants exposed to different physiological stress conditions, such as high/low temperature, and treatment with selected chemicals, such as glutathione, OTC (L-2- Oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylate), bestatin ([(2S, 3R)-3-amino-2-hydroxy-4-phenyl butanoylj-L-leu) and 2.4-D (2,4-dichiorophenoxyacetic acid). Using detection tools like activity gel electrophoresis, immunoblotting and enzymatic assays, the production of the cystatin under stress was monitored in different papaya explants, such as roots, leaves and embryos. Inhibitor production increased under different stress conditions when compared to untreated controls. However, this increase was not dramatic in any of the stresses applied. Exact quantification of the increase by using immunoblotting as the only specific tool to determine cystatin expression, was difficult. Neither activity gel electrophoresis nor enzymatic assays were successful to further quantify the exact cystatin levels. Higher cystatin expression was accompanied with a decrease in proteinase activity. Transgenic tobacco plants carrying the gene for a rice cystatin had a significantly lower cysteine proteinase activity when compared to non-transgenic tobacco plants after prolonged cold stress. Furthermore, protein degradation and leaf yellowing as a consequence of cold treatment were prevented in transgenic plants. An attempt to obtain a transformed papaya plant to study silencing of cystatin expression under stress was unsuccessful. In this study, the protective role of a cystatin in cold stress was described for the first time.

Malaria has consistently been rated as the worst parasitic disease in the world. This disease affects an estimated 5 billion households annually. Malaria has a high mortality rate leading to distorted socio-economic development of the world at large. The major challenge pertaining to malaria is its continuous and rapid spread together with the emergence of drug resistance in Plasmodium species (vector agent of the disease). For this reason, researchers throughout the world are following new leads for possible drug targets and therefore, investigating ways of curbing the spread of the disease. Cysteine proteases have emerged as potential antimalarial chemotherapeutic targets. These particular proteases are found in all living organisms, Plasmodium cysteine proteases are known to degrade host hemoglobin during the life cycle of the parasite within the human host. The main objective of this study was to use various in silico methods to analyze the hemoglobinase function of cysteine proteases in P. falciparum and P. vivax. Falcipain-2 (FP2) of P. falciparum is the best characterized of these enzymes, it is a validated drug target. Both the three-dimensional structures of FP2 and its close homologue falcipain-3 (FP3) have been solved by the experimental technique X-ray crystallography. However, the homologue falcipain-2 (FP2’)’ and orthologues from P.vivax vivapain-2 (VP2) and vivapain-3 (VP3) have yet to be elucidated by experimental techniques. In an effort to achieve the principal goal of the study, homology models of the protein structures not already elucidated by experimental methods (FP2’, VP2 and VP3) were calculated using the well known spatial restraint program MODELLER. The derived models, FP2 and FP3 were docked to hemoglobin (their natural substrate). The protein-protein docking was done using the unbound docking program ZDOCK. The substrate-enzyme interactions were analyzed and amino acids involved in binding were observed. It is anticipated that the results obtained from the study will help focus inhibitor design for potential drugs against malaria. The residues found in both the P. falciparum and P. vivax cysteine proteases involved in hemoglobin binding have been identified and some of these are proposed to be the main focus for the design of a peptidomimetric inhibitor.

Protozoan infections such as Malaria, Leishmaniasis, Toxoplasmosis, Chaga’s disease and African trypanosomiasis caused by the Plasmodium, Leishmania, Toxoplasma and Trypanosoma genuses respectively; inflict a huge economic, health and social impact in endemic regions particularly tropical and sub-tropical regions. The combined infections are estimated at over a billion annually and approximately 1.1 million deaths annually. The global burden of the protozoan infections is worsened by the increased drug resistance, toxicity and the relatively high cost of treatment and prophylaxis. Therefore there has been a high demand for new drugs and drug targets that play a role in parasite virulence. Cysteine proteases have been validated as viable drug targets due to their role in the infectivity stage of the parasites within the human host. There is a variety of cysteine proteases hence they are subdivided into families and in this study we focus on the clan CA, papain family C1 proteases. The current inhibitors for the protozoan cysteine proteases lack selectivity and specificity which contributes to drug toxicity. Therefore there is a need to identify the differences and similarities between the host, vector and protozoan proteases. This study uses a variety of bioinformatics tools to assess these differences and similarities. The Plasmodium cysteine protease FP-2 is the most characterized protease hence it was used as a reference to all the other proteases and its homologs were retrieved, aligned and the evolutionary relationships established. The homologs were also analysed for common motifs and the physicochemical properties determined which were validated using the Kruskal-Wallis test. These analyses revealed that the host and vector cathepsins share similar properties while the parasite cathepsins differ. At sub-site level sub-site 2 showed greater variations suggesting diverse ligand specificity within the proteases, a revelation that is vital in the design of antiprotozoan inhibitors.

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